Lakers Schedule Breakdown: Highlights, Lowlights, and Big Challenges Ahead

In a normal offseason, the August schedule release is one of those signpost events that lets fans know the season is creeping closer. It's a fun chance to try and predict what's coming.  Things never quite work out as predicted, but that's part of the fun.  Of course, this year, a certain blip in the news cycle has radically changed the subject for Lakers fans, who now wonder what's coming with the second ownership change in 15 months. But that doesn't mean the schedule didnt' come out! So we break it down. What are the highlights? The lowlights? The most challenging parts?  Start with the beginning. The Lakers are home-heavy, and get just about as tolerable an opening 18 game stretch as you could ask for. A couple games against elite squads, a couple against bottom feeders, and a bunch against potentially-solid-but-still-lower-tier Western Conference teams like Golden State, Portand and Utah. JJ Redick and his staff will have an opportunity to get a huge crew of new players acclimated, and because they see the same opponents multiple times (2x vs. GSW, 2x vs. Portland, 2x vs. Sacto, 3x vs. Utah) learn how different lineup adjustments can work against the same opponent which can be helpful with a new roster.  Things get significantly more challenging in the second half of the year, so that's tough, but the Lakers benefit from closing with a very home heavy schedule.  One that includes consecutive games against Minnesota (games 80 and 81) that could prove very, very significant.    HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky    Photo Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images   Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.