The
If there's a game the Lakers get, it's in New York but even that may be a stretch -- presuming the game is in fact played, with a winter storm causing the
To date, the Lakers (12-33) are one game worse than the cumulative prediction of 13-32.
Tuesday vs. Washington Wizards
The Wizards are among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, second to just the
With
Prediction: Wizards
Thursday vs. Chicago Bulls
Gasol is also an All-Star starter, helping to lead the Bulls to the fourth-best record in the East, just 1 1/2 games behind the Wizards (with the
Only five teams are above .500 in the Eastern Conference -- the Lakers draw two of them to open Week 14.
Prediction: Bulls
Sunday at New York Knicks
The Knicks are a rare team with a record worse than the Lakers.
New York is in a position similar to the Lakers', thinking about the NBA draft and free agency, with a plodding here and now.
While the Lakers average 99.3 points a game (yielding 106.1), the Knicks have trouble scoring at just 92.8 a night. New York isn't great defensively either, allowing 100.8 a game.
Assuming the game isn't affected by weather, the Lakers have a real shot to get one on the road.
The Lakers simply haven't looked like a winning team for some time.
Prediction: Knicks
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.