Los Angeles Lakers Schedule: Five important games

The NBA released its 2019-20 full schedule on Monday afternoon and thanks to the tandem of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers are again a premier franchise to showcase.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be on national television 31 times including prime spots on opening night, Christmas Day and on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

While being a marquee franchise remains an important part of the Lakers legacy, this year they are considered contenders for an NBA title for the first time in six years. That being the case, there will be plenty of opportunities for the Lakers to prove they are contenders.

Here are five important games on the calendar:

October 25th vs. Utah Jazz

The Lakers face off against the Los Angeles Clippers on opening night, that is the game everyone wants to see, but just as important is the Lakers’ second game of the season. October 25th is the Lakers home opener against the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz are a playoff team that made a big trade during the off-season to get point guard Mike Conley to pair with budding superstar Donovan Mitchell. Along with the current two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Golbert, the Jazz are a sleeper contender in the West.

The Lakers playing them this early in the season will be a good barometer of how good both teams really are.

November 10th vs. Toronto Raptors

The Lakers face off against the defending champions at home early in the season. Most folks probably think the Raptors won’t be as tough as last season with the loss of Kawhi Leonard. The Lakers should be careful to not underestimate the Raptors.

Last year the Raptors were 17-5 without Leonard, the Raptors represent another early challenge for the Lakers and how they will look this season.

December 25th vs. Los Angeles Clippers

We already mentioned that the Lakers open with the Clippers. Despite how high the anticipation for that game might be, the first marquee matchup is likely on Christmas. It is likely Clippers forward Paul George won’t be ready for opening night after having shoulder surgery in the summer.

So NBA fans will likely have to wait for Christmas to watch the Lakers and Clippers superstar tandems to face off, that’s quite a Christmas present.

January 20th vs. Boston Celtics

Lakers versus Celtics is always a marquee matchup in this writer’s mind. Consider me biased but even the worst Lakers season is made slightly better with a win against the Celtics. The Lakers go to T.D. Garden as part of their annual “Grammy Trip.”

This year proves to be a tougher road trip than most as the Lakers face the Houston Rockets, Celtics, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. A win against the Celtics might signal a strong start to a difficult trip.

April 9th vs. Golden State Warriors

This matchup against the Warriors is late in the season and it could go a long way to judging how the Lakers go as spring turns to the playoffs. It is also likely this will be the first matchup against the Warriors where they are at full strength.

Injured player Klay Thompson will likely make his return to the Warriors lineup in March so by April he will still be getting up to speed. This late-game may make a big difference in the Los Angeles Lakers playoff seeding and would be good prep for a run at the NBA title.