Lakers' Early Gauntlet: A Brutal Test for Darvin Ham
The NBA schedule makers didn't do the Lakers any favors to start the 2024-25 season. We're talking a legitimate gauntlet right out of the gate. November, in particular, looks like a meat grinder, and it’s going to tell us a lot about this new-look roster and Darvin Ham’s ability to manage it.
They kick things off on October 22nd at home against Minnesota, a team that pushed Denver to seven games in the second round last year. Three days later, it’s a trip to Phoenix to face Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. That’s two legitimate playoff teams in the first three days. Then they get the Clippers, now officially in their new arena, on October 29th. That's a hell of a way to open the year.
Here's the thing: those early tests set the tone. If the Lakers stumble through October, say they go 2-4 or 3-3, the noise around Ham’s job security is going to get deafening. Remember, they started 2-10 just two seasons ago. You can’t afford that with LeBron James turning 40 in December. Every game matters for this group, especially when you consider the Western Conference is absolutely loaded. There are at least eight teams who fancy themselves contenders.
The November Nightmare
November is where it really gets spicy. The Lakers are looking at a stretch that includes back-to-back road games against the Spurs on November 6th and Mavericks on November 8th. Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic aren’t exactly easy outs. Then they're home for a couple before hitting the road again for what might be their toughest trip of the season: at the Thunder on November 17th, then a back-to-back at the Grizzlies on November 19th and at the Pelicans on November 20th.
That’s three playoff-caliber teams in four nights, all away from the friendly confines of Crypto.com Arena. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 33 points on them in OKC last year. Ja Morant, assuming he’s healthy, always brings it against LA. And New Orleans, even without Zion Williamson at his peak, is a physical team. If they come out of that road swing even 1-2, it’d be a win. Anything worse, and they could be looking at a significant hole in the standings.
And it doesn't ease up. They’ve got the Bucks at home on November 24th, then Denver comes to town on November 26th. The Nuggets have owned them, sweeping them in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and winning the first eight matchups against Ham's Lakers before LA finally broke through in March 2024. Nikola Jokic is just a nightmare for them.
Survival Mode for the Purple and Gold
Look, no one expects an undefeated start. But this early slate requires focus and health. Anthony Davis has to be available for these big matchups. LeBron can’t afford to coast. D’Angelo Russell needs to be consistent. This isn’t a schedule where you can figure things out on the fly. You've got to be ready to roll from day one.
My hot take? Despite the brutal start, I think the Lakers will surprise some people early. They'll drop a few ugly ones, sure, but I predict they'll emerge from November with a winning record, somewhere around 10-7 or 11-6. Ham will have them defensively locked in, and LeBron will play with a chip on his shoulder after all the offseason noise. They'll pull out a couple of those tough road games they're not "supposed" to win, simply because they have to.