When I was in high school, the day I hated most was test day, there was nothing worse than having the strain that comes with preparing for a big test, and the stress that comes with actually taking the test. Well that is until I started at APU this Fall, now Mid-Terms and Finals take that spot.
With that being said, the Los Angeles Lakers are about embark on something more challenging than their 9 game road trip in February. A 4-game Mid-Western swing, where they will step toe-to-toe, like 2 dancers on the floor, with 4 of the top teams not only in the Western Conference, but the entire NBA.
With such a test in front of them, what are the questions that will need to be answered for the Lakers to have a successful roadie?
How do the Lakers match up with each team?
New Orleans Hornet: This brings a challenge for the Lakers, as opposing point guards have seemed to have their way vs. the Lakers. The key will be to make the brilliant Chris Paul a scorer and not a playmaker. In their last meeting, Paul had 32 points, but only 5 assists as the Lakers dominated early and often to embarrass the Hornets by 29 points in New Orleans.
Houston Rocket: The hottest team in the NBA is firing on all cylinders. Tracy McGrady is playing some of the best ball of his career. The Lakers and Rockets have split the past 2 meetings, both teams winning on the other’s home court. This will be a battle of wills, and the Lakers will have to play their best to bring the Rockets back to earth.
Dallas Mavericks: This is the game that does not worry me as much as the others. So that means this is a game we could very easily lose if we are not focused, (see Sacramento game). We match up very well with the Mavericks, and they have no answer for Kobe Bryant, as he always seems to play his best against the Mavericks. The key to the game is to not let the Mavericks have the edge in the physical play.
Utah Jazz: Finally, this marathon ends in a place that has never been too friendly to the Los Angeles Lakers… Utah. They have played extremely well ever since the trade for Kyle Korver. Deron Williams always gives the Lakers fits, and we need to slow him down, and not allow Boozer to dominate the paint.
Can the Lakers regain true focus?
Say what you want, the Lakers have not looked like the most focused group since the great game vs. Dallas. Will they be ready to play against the elite competition that this road trip brings? And will they keep their composure when things seem to be going wrong?
Will the Lakers add Ira Newble?
There has been speculation that the Lakers are considering adding Ira Newble, I for one think he would be an excellent pick up, and can really help the team defense. He is a veteran and could be a big piece for the bench, as the playoffs inch closer and closer.
Will Kobe clinch the MVP on the trip?
If the Lakers can go 3-1 or even 4-0, that should lock up the MVP for Kobe Bryant. This is why he is paid the big bucks. To deliver when the season is in the balance. The Lakers have a golden chance here to do something really big and put some distance between us and the rest of the west. It is up to the Big Mamba, to make sure that focus remains strong, and that should be no problem, as this is what he lives for.
This is certainly a big trip for the Lakers. Do well, and take control of the Western Conference. Lose focus, and possibly fall back to the middle of the pack. Yes, this a big test for the Los Angeles Lakers, and its time to see what this team is really made of. And to think, all this intensity and importance on 4 games without our up and coming young phenom Andrew Bynum.
It’s time for the Lakers to step up to the plate and play some playoff games in March. The bell is about to ring, will the Lakers answer the call? We will know by this time next week!
The Cougar is a TLN Staff contributor, you can contact him at TheCougar@theLakersNation.com.
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Should be able to win each game if we play to our potential. Got to pick up the defense though, all are high powered offences and the Rockets play some TOUGH defence
I most agree to this part:
”
If the Lakers can go 3-1 or even 4-0, that should lock up the MVP for Kobe Bryant. This is why he is paid the big bucks. To deliver when the season is in the balance. The Lakers have a golden chance here to do something really big and put some distance between us and the rest of the west. It is up to the Big Mamba, to make sure that focus remains strong, and that should be no problem, as this is what he lives for.
This is certainly a big trip for the Lakers. Do well, and take control of the Western Conference.
”
certainly a big and important trip. biggest chance for kobe and the lakers to draw a line between mvp and eliteness.
like always, can’t wait for the 18th. this time, i will have a gasol jersey. I haven’t really beleived anybody yet that Gasol plays for Lakers. I think all the articles and videos are fake, and you guys are playing with me. I will have to see Gasol in real life personally to beleive that he is for real in Lakers. We need to beat the Mavs this time man. I have talked so much {Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.} about the Mavs that, if it happens otherwise, I will have to wear a mask to work. Watever,.. always been proud, and always wll be … a laker.
Isn’t it kind of odd that the Rockets and the media make it sound like they are a better team without Yao?
It could just be me, but you hear stuff like their defense has picked up, Rafer Alston has dramatically improved, T-Mac has upped his game (that’s a given), Shane Battier is really defending well, Luis Scola is a proven player now, and they picked up the tempo.
Sounds kinda weird to me.
There is only one team that worries me and that is the Hornets. We HAVE TO! play good team defense. If we keep letting the point guards beat us we will loose all four games. The only teams with true inside presence is the Jazz and Hornets. Not worried about Houston but I am looking forward to Kobe torching T-mac. But the real test will be the Hornets because of Chris Paul. Remember Team defense, Rebounding, and stoping Chris Paul and all PG’s will have the biggest impact in all 4 games.
i dont see rockets as big of a challenge as the other teams.
if we blow them out i think there going back to reality. (life without Yao.)
the lake show will win all 4 road games. ira newble will be laker. kobe will be mvp!
Lakers need to play each game like its their last..these 4 games are very crucial we can go to # 1 to # 6 in a heart beat..but i believe DEFENSE is going to be a huge factor..
LAL 101 NO 97 Final
LAL 107 HOU 100
LAL 98 DAL 94
LAL 105 JAZ 99
Lakers are ready for the test…LEts show them what we are made of…were not here to win..were here to take it all the way!!!!!!
Remember when we had that number ((((#4)))) theory well its back folks and you better believe in the (((#4))) We are on a urge of an “”4″” game road trip that is the real test
we get this 4 game road trip
kobe will get his 4 rings
1996 PHIL WINS FINALS
+4= 2000 PHIS WINS FINALS
+4= 2004 LAST TIME WE WENT TO FINALS…..etc..
+4=2008===??
0.4 Fisher wins game in SEMI final and so on the theory continues…..
Not to be pessimistic, but we could easily go 1-3 or even 0-4 this trip though it is unlikely. I’m merely pointing out the strength of the foes. If they get a win vs. NO to start, good things will happen. If they drop the first game, it will just be an uphill battle all the way. Win vs. HOU would be sweetest of them all…
For The Lakers to go 4-0 “THE BENCHMOB” have to push themselves to another level.
{Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.}!!!
the only threat to the lakers is spurs.
there defense is consistent,still the team to beat even though,lakers is my favourite team.it will be a interesting series if they play each other,lakers would win in 6 or 7
tony parker vs derek fisher
bruce bowen vs kobe bryant
michael finley vs lamar odom
tim duncan vs pau gasol
kurt thomas vs andrew bynum
this series would be fun to watch.
spurs bench vs lakers bench
damon stoudemire vs jordan farmar
manu ginobili vs sasha vuajic
ime udoka vs luke walton/ trevor ariza
robert horry/ matt bonner vs vladimir romanvic
frabicio orberto vs ronny turiaf / dj mbenga
the BIG TEST is their DEFENSE.. offensively we are unstoppable, but D-fense is the key to a successful road trip
i hope so! i would not mind the Lakers ending houston’s streak and begin to separate themselves from the rest of the west these are all important games…
Has anyone except me noticed that Pau has lost his energy and slowed down over the last couple games. Like at times I would be asking myself Is Pau even playing? Then I see the tall guy in a 16 jersey grabbing a rebound. The first 5 games were fantastic but I think Kobe has been taking the spotlight and slowed down Pau. Statwise, he’s been doing okay,but has been a little off. Again this is just my oppinion and I’m not saying this is a bad thing.
lakers going 4-0 the only team that scares me in the west is the Spurs, because they have experience, and detroit from the east for the same reason. oo and they veterans too.
The only team that really stacks up against the Lakers are Spurs, mainly because of their experience winning titles, but thats another topic.
As for this road trip, am I the only one who notices that that the Utah Jazz are 28-3 at home? That should be the only team that we should be “worried” about. As for the Hornets, the game plan is simple stay on the shooters, let chris paul carry the scoring load and we win, thats not a difficult win, we did it before we’ll do it again, simple enough you just execute and we’ll win by like 20 like last time. As for the Rockets winning 20 games in a row, people seem to think theyre all suddenly elite? Please, wakeup, Tmac, Alston, Mutumbo, Battier, and Scola IS NOT better than our lineup of Fish, Kb, Vlad, LO, and Pau, are a lot better and our bench is better by far. As for Dallas, theyre just not that good against us. We’ll go 4-0, if we do lose, which i doubt, itll likely be against Utah, only because they just seem to play better at home. Just because we havent played well in the last couple games, people seem to think we’ll go 0-4. The only problem in those games was just energy and effort, mainly because this team is such a confident bunch, they know they can beat those crappy teams any day. Lakers will step it up like they always do against the best, effort and energy wont be a problem, its execution under pressure and physical play that might be a problem.
We’ll go 4-0. GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
as much as i want the lakers 2 go 4-0 my guess is 2~2 which can mean a drop n the rankings. But the rest of western conferance contenders have just as hard schedule. Were still n a good position!
They have a 80% chance of going 2-2, 75% of going for 3-1 and 60% of going 4-0 (these games will be close - maybe overtime)
I agree. This is the biggest test for the Lakers this season. I’m really only worried about one game and that is against Utah. They are physical and Deron Williams has had his way against the Lakers.
Time to man up.