If you’re like me and aching for NBA basketball to come back, today is a momentary glimpse of hope. The NBA released opening week schedules on Wednesday for all 30 teams and the purple and gold have two marquee matchups to begin their season.
As was reported earlier on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers are opening the season on the road on October 18th against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers’ home-opener will be an even bigger test as the team will host the Houston Rockets on October 20th. That game will be televised on ESPN.
The Rockets were the top team in the West during the regular season last year, finishing with a 65-17 record and taking the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
Houston will still be a formidable opponent although the makeup of the team has slightly changed. The Rockets lost Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and former Laker Trevor Ariza and signed Carmelo Anthony after the veteran was traded and then waived by the Atlanta Hawks.
Opening week will be a difficult challenge for the Lakers and a great test for the quality of the team as they adjust to playing with James. While these two games won’t make or break the Lakers’ season, they can show everyone whether or not they are true contenders, at least to start the year.
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