For fans of the Los Angeles Lakers that don't live in the L.A. area, they received some good news on Tuesday. The full 2011-2012 NBA schedule was released, and during this lockout-shortened NBA campaignKobe Bryant and the Lakers will be on national television in 29 of their 66 games.
The first game with national television exposure is their first game of the season, a 2 p.m. PST tilt on Christmas Day with reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center, a game televised by ABC. That is one of five Sunday games on ABC this season for the Lakers, along with March 4, 2012 against the Miami Heat and one week later hosting the Boston Celtics. The final two Sundays of the regular season for the Lakers also feature home games on ABC, April 15 against the Dallas Mavericks, and April 22 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers' first four games of the regular season are on national television, as their December 26 game at the Sacramento Kings will be on NBA TV, followed by home games on TNT against the Utah Jazz (December 27) and New York Knicks (December 29).
The Lakers are on ESPN and TNT 10 times each, and NBA TV four times. They play on ESPN at the Orlando Magic on January 20, though I wonder which uniform center Dwight Howard will be wearing.
For more Lakers news and infomation, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.