The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a 7-0 start for the second time in three seasons, and for the fifth time in franchise history. Their best start was 11-0, in 1997-98, a mark that is on the horizon. As they head into the third week of the season, the Lakers have a good chance to push their start to 10-0 with three winnable games.
↵Here is the Lakers' schedule this week:
↵Tuesday: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-6)
↵Minnesota is simply not a good basketball team, and it has lost 16 straight road games dating back to last season. It is highly unlikely that Kurt Rambis will deliver his former team its first loss this season.
↵Thursday: at Denver Nuggets (4-2)
↵This is the toughest game of the week, as the Lakers head to Denver, a place that has given them trouble since Carmelo Anthony was drafted. The Lakers are just 4-9 in the Mile High City dating back to 2004, and have lost three straight regular-season games there. Then again, the Lakers are 4-1 in Denver in the postseason with Pau Gasol on board, so maybe it's not such a house of horrors after all.
↵Sunday: vs. Phoenix Suns (3-3)
↵The Lakers' size makes them a tough matchup for Phoenix, a fact which was evident in the Lakers' 114-106 win in Phoenix on Oct. 29. With the Suns, you know what you are going to get: they are third in the NBA in offensive rating (111.5 points per 100 possessions) and 27th in the NBA in defensive rating (111.3).
↵It seems as if the two home games are quite winnable, but the trip to Denver will provide the toughest test of the week. However, the Lakers don't have any back-to-back games this week (they have just 15 all season, the fewest in the NBA), so don't be surprised if they are 10-0 by this time next week.
↵For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.