Lakers Schedule: Predicting every game for the 2017-18 season

Week 3

(4-3)

After two strong performances, the Lakers will have a game that they should have lost turn into a win. This game against Detroit will feature a strong first half, maybe even a 15 point lead in the first half for Los Angeles. While potentially an emotional roller coaster for fans, the close finish will give critical experience in clutch moments to both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, with Ingram hitting the game winner.

(4-4)

Los Angeles has had trouble with Portland the last few seasons, and this might be a game where we see the first major professional flaw in Lonzo Ball. His focus on passing instead of being a scorer will ultimately drown the team into a hole they can’t climb out of. The final score will reflect a near comeback by the Lakers, but not because they were led by their floor general. Ball will finish with less than ten points and ten assists.

(4-5)

Alright, so the D’Angelo Russell trade is dead and gone and it needs to be moved on from. However, Los Angeles will host their former point guard and the Brooklyn Nets at the beginning of November, and it’s hard to argue that there wasn’t a more anticipated regular season game for the Lakers since Kobe Bryant’s finale versus Utah. Russell will torch Los Angeles on a revenge tour and drop a stat line of 40 points, 12 assists, and five boards.

(5-5)

Back to back losses won’t sit well with the young core. The team will be at a turning point in their tenth game together, and even though it’s not a super team in Memphis, the Lakers won’t break free in this one until the fourth quarter. However, the important thing here is that they finish the week strong and not on a losing note.