This should be an exciting one. Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose are likely going to put on a show for the fans because this will be the first time they play against each other since the 2011-2012 NBA season. The last time these two faced off was Christmas day in 2011, and that one ended up being a thriller in which the Bulls stole the game from the Lakers in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
9. Los Angeles Lakers @ Brooklyn Nets: November 27th, 2013
The once hated Celtics in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have now moved to Brooklyn to play alongside Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez. While there is no apparent bad blood between the Lakers and the Nets, Bryant and Gasol have had their differences with Pierce and Garnett, and whenever these four matchup opposite of each other it has proven to provide sure entertainment.
8. Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs: November 1st, 2013
This matchup does not quite light up the fire that it used to about five years ago, but it still is a key matchup in the Western Conference. The Lakers and Spurs faced off against each other in the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs resulting in a 4-0 sweep in favor of San Antonio. Surely the Lakers will be looking to get some revenge against their rival franchise.
7. Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors: October 30th, 2013
The Lakers and Warriors provided one of the best games of the season last December with their OT thriller in Oakland. Without a doubt you can count on the fans in Oakland to be passionate and for the energy in that arena to uplift the Warriors. Kobe has always put on a show whenever he makes a trip to The Bay, so we shouldn’t expect anything less than that on this night.
6. Los Angeles Lakers @ New York Knicks: January 26th, 2014
With the Carmelo to LA rumors emerging this summer, the Lakers-Knicks matchup is going to be one of the more interesting games of the season. Regardless if the Lakers win or lose, that will be the talk and the hype of this game. Carmelo has made it publicly known that he’ll weight his options when the 2014 off-season arrives, and the Lakers are expected to be one of the destinations that will interest him.
5. Los Angeles Lakers @ Houston Rockets: November 7th, 2013
This will be the first time the Lakers see Dwight Howard since he decided to leave Los Angeles to join the Houston Rockets. This should be a passionate event to say the least. With all the issues that erupted throughout last season, both Dwight Howard and the Kobe Bryant will be looking to dominate this game and lead their team to an emotional victory.
4. Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder: December 13th, 2013
The Thunder have become a force to reckon with in the Western Conference over the past few years. The Lakers will be looking forward to going to Oklahoma City and making a statement that they are still a team that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Kobe loves to go against Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook, so expect some trash-talking and intensity throughout this one.
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers: October 29th, 2013
A few years ago this matchup would not even be considered in the top 10 must see games. The night should be a really fun one for fans here in Los Angeles. The Clippers have evolved from laughing stocks into contenders, and feel as if the city of Los Angeles belongs to them now. Unfortunately for them, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have a lot of pride, and won’t shy away from any challenge that involves the city of Los Angeles. The Clippers swept the season series last year so look for the Lakers to play much better against their hallway foe.
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat: December 25th, 2013
Any time Kobe Bryant and LeBron James face off against each other it is must-see television. These are the two most popular players in basketball, and to many, the two best players. Kobe loves to face off against the best, and with James’ recent success in the NBA (back-t0-back championships), we should expect Kobe to be aggressive and have a statement game. Heat Nation vs. Lakers Nation has become one of the more popular rivals on social media, but it hasn’t necessarily translated to that way on the basketball court. Nevertheless, it should still be a fun one to watch.
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets: February 19th, 2014
This will be the most profiled game of the 2013-2014 season. Dwight Howard makes his return back to the city of Los Angeles as a member of the Houston Rockets. Laker fans will be sure to give him the warmest of welcomes (sarcasm), and the Lakers as a team will look to show Dwight why he made the biggest mistake of his career in leaving one of the greatest franchises in the history of sports.