Lakers week in review

Last week, the NBA released the schedule for the 2013-14 season.

The Lakers may be in for a challenging start -- which could mean losing record by the time the franchise hits December. If the Lakers are indeed rebuilding, they’ll do so on a national stage, well represented by major TV networks.

Before the regular season begins, the Lakers will play two exhibition games in China. It’s doubtful Kobe Bryant will be ready to play by then, though he says he’s “shattered” the recovery timetable for Achilles surgery.

Bryant recently took time to moonlight as a hard-driving coach while touring China with Nike.

Bryant’s motivation to push through his injury can be summed up by the number “six.”

The quality of Bryant’s return remains to be seen, but in a side-by-side video comparison, his game remarkably resembles that of Michael Jordan’s.

In a local radio interview, Lakers owner/executive Jeanie Buss said she doesn’t think Phil Jackson is done coaching. She also said her late father, Dr. Jerry Buss, might have persuaded Dwight Howard to stay

New Lakers assistant coach Johnny Davis said the players need to come together as a true team to have success this season.

Watch two legendary centers battle: Hall of Fame Laker Wilt Chamberlain vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (in his pre-Lakers days with the Milwaukee Bucks).

The Phoenix Suns purchased the Internet domain name “beat.la.”

The D-Fenders hired Bob MacKinnon as head coach.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.