Unfortunately, the Lakers’ road will not get any easier and they will have a grueling month of March. The Lakers will face daunting tasks, and they will have to enter enemy territory during the next 31 days.
The Lakers do not play any back-to-back games in the month of March, but they will be going up against serious championship contenders. If the Lakers want to regain the lead in the Western Conference, they have to have a successful month and they must beat their biggest threats.
The Lakers can bring themselves back into the race for the top seed in the West with a dominant month. As the first marquee match-up approaches, here are the previews to the Lakers’ biggest games in March.
Next: March 6th and March 8th
March 6th at San Antonio Spurs
The Lakers first notable game will be this Sunday when they travel to San Antonio to play the best team in the NBA. The Spurs currently hold the best record in the league and they have been the top ranked team for nearly the entire season. The Lakers have lost their previous two meetings with the Spurs, including a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer in front of the Staples Center crowd. However, this time around, the Lakers are a much more improved team and they have won all five of their games since the All-Star break.
As of March 4th the Lakers are 7.5 games behind the Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference, but a Lakers win on Sunday could cut that deficit to 6.5 games. Tony Parker will most likely not participate in this game, so the Lakers must take full advantage of the Spurs void at the starting point guard position. The Lakers need to win in San Antonio in order to start their month on the right foot.
March 8th at Atlanta Hawks
After a day’s worth of rest, the Lakers will travel to the Phillips Arena to play the young Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers played the Hawks in Staples Center on February 22nd, and they won in convincing fashion. However, the only way the Lakers can sweep the season series is if they win a game in front of the hostile Atlanta crowd.
The Hawks are a very mercurial team, as in certain games they will resemble a championship team, while other times they are very nonchalant. Atlanta, however, has changed up its roster by adding point guard Kirk Hinrich. Although the Hawks have been overlooked by many analysts, they are fully capable of pulling off an upset.
Next: March 10th and March 12th
March 10th at Miami Heat
The crowd will be absolutely packed, and the Miami fans will see an epic clash of two NBA powerhouses. The Lakers played a horrendous game on Christmas, and their effort and energy was completely non-existent. In order for the Los Angeles to come out on top, they must be focused and fully engaged in the game. The Heat will try to turn the game into a track-meet, but the Lakers must force Miami to play a half-court game.
March 12th at Dallas Mavericks
This will be the Lakers second of three meetings with the Dallas Mavericks, and they hope the outcome of this game will be different from the one on January 19th. The Mavericks are also battling the Lakers for playoff positioning, and if the standings stay the way they are, the Lakers and Mavs would play each other in the second round. This mid-March match-up will the final game of the Lakers’ four game road-trip, so it is imperative for them to head home on the winning side.
The Mavericks will present many problems for the Lakers, since they have the ability to “catch fire” in the blink of an eye. However, the game will be decided based on the performance of the teams’ benches. The team with the most productive reserves will end up victorious in this Western Conference showdown.
Next: March 14th and March 20th
March 14th vs. Orlando Magic
However, this game will be held in Staples Center and the Lakers hope for a better result versus the Magic. The Lakers will have problems defending Dwight Howard, but their offensive firepower can definitely overpower the Magic. The only way the Magic can win this game is if they stop the Lakers’ wing players from having a prolific scoring game.
March 20th vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The Los Angeles Lakers are leading the season series 2-0, and in their previous meeting against the Blazers, the Lakers escaped with a thrilling overtime victory. This time around, the Blazers will suit up former All-Star Gerald Wallace, a player who is known for his energy and effort. Portland is a new team, and the acquisition of Wallace will make this game very interesting. It is likely that the Lakers will play the Blazers in the playoffs, so a victory would surely benefit Los Angeles.
Next: March 27th and March 31st
March 27th vs. New Orleans Hornets
March 31st vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Lakers will have their second meeting with the Mavericks, but this time the venue will be the Staples Center. The Lakers will play their final game of a seven game home-stand, and they will be looking to head into the final month of the regular season with a win. If all the pieces fall into place, this late-March game could have serious playoff implications. A victory could jump the Lakers above the third seed in the West, while a loss can hurt the Lakers’ chances for an ideal playoff position.