The NBA playoffs start this Sunday and the Lakers still have a lot of work to do.
The Lakers lost last night against the Kings, who only won a third of their games this season, with a record of 22-44. Granted Mike Brown decided to rest some of his star athletes, like Kobe, but I find a 17-point win by the Kings bothersome, especially with a strong set of bench players who have performed the rest of the year.
The Lakers are 41-25 this season, with Kobe sitting out 7 of those games. I am most curious to see how Bynum fairs in the playoffs; they’re going to need Bynum to be at his best to take on tough teams like the Thunder, assuming the Lakers get to later rounds.
Hopefully, the rest time was worth it. The Lakers take on the Nuggets Sunday to start this first round of the playoffs.
Don’t forget to check out our Lakers Nation grades for this year’s team.
Lakers’ First Round Playoff Schedule
- Game 1 | Sun April 29 | Denver at L.A. Lakers | 12:30PM ABC
- Game 2 | Tue May 1 | Denver at L.A. Lakers | 7:30PM FS West/TNT
- Game 3 | Fri May 4 | L.A. Lakers at Denver | 7:30PM KCAL/ESPN
- Game 4 | Sun May 6 | L.A. Lakers at Denver | 6:30PM KCAL/TNT
- Game 5 | Tue May 8 | Denver at L.A. Lakers | TBD FS West/TBD
- Game 6 | Thu May 10 | L.A. Lakers at Denver | TBD KCAL/TBD
- Game 7 | Sat May 12 | Denver at L.A. Lakers | TBD FS West/TNT
Lakers Nation News
Cracks the Lakers Must Seal Before the Playoffs
Our Grades for This Year’s Regular Season Lakers
Video: Lakers Nation Looks Back at the Season
Toros Force a Game 3 Over the D-Fenders
Post Season Prep: It’s Go Time for the Lakers
How the Lakers Will Make a Run for the Finals
James Harden Talks About the World Peace Elbow
Lakers Fall to the Kings in Season Finale
Lakers vs Nuggets Playoff Schedule
Lakers News
Nuggets Tempo a Concern for the Lakers [ESPN]
Playoff Preview: Denver Nuggets [Forum Blue and Gold]
Kobe Gives Words of Advice to Blake Griffin [Ball Don’t Lie]
Beast or Burden: At Year’s End [Silver Screen and Roll]
Bryant and Gasol Now Own a Horse Together [Yahoo Sports]
Lakers over OKC in the West for Final Picks [CBS Sports]
Ben Bolch Talks Kobe Not Going for the Scoring Title [LA Times]
Ramon Sessions Puts Shoulder Sprain Behind Him [OC Register]
Ebanks will Start in World Peace’s Place [ESPN]
Lakers Gear Up For Another Title Run [Silver Screen and Roll]
NBA News
Bobcats the Worst Team in the NBA [Yahoo Sports]
Predicted NBA Awards Ballot [OC Register]
Grizzlies vs Clippers Prediction [Ball Don’t Lie]
Miami Heat not Holding Up? [CBS Sports]
Who is Your Coach of the Year? [NBA.com]
Kevin Durant Almost Gave Up Basketball Twice [Sports Illustrated]
Durant vs LeBron: MVP [Yahoo Sports]
2012 NBA Playoff Bracket [Laker Liker]
Top Ten Biggest Disappointments [OC Register]
Welcome Back Al Jefferson [NBA.com]
