LA Lakers News – 2013 Lakers Updates
Despite bringing in a pair of marquee names in the offseason (Steve Nash and Dwight Howard), the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves struggling just to make the playoffs. The Lake Show, while still led on the floor by Kobe Bryant (currently third in the NBA in points per game), were a coaching carousel early in the season before settling on Mike D'Antoni. Not only that, but the team was struggling — and continues to struggle — with injuries to key players. Both newcomers, Nash and Howard, have been on the injury list for significant periods of time, as well as Pau Gasol; Howard's injuries are a key loss, as he ranks in the league's top five in rebounding and blocked shots. The only player to appear in as many games as Bryant has been forward Metta World Peace.
And, while offensively the Lakers are doing quite well — top ten rankings in the league in both points per game and rebounds — as a team, they need a reminder that basketball has two sides, offense and defense, as they are in the bottom quarter of the league in points allowed. Staples Center faithful can only hope that their boys in purple and gold can turn things around for a stretch run into the playoffs — otherwise they'll be on the outside watching Lob City and wondering what could have been. Lakers tickets average $268 at
Staples Center, the second most expensive home game ticket in the
NBA behind the
New York Knicks. On the road, LA Lakers tickets average $70 less per ticket ($198) — only the world champion
Miami Heat have a greater demand for road game tickets in the league. Who are the Lakers playing at Staples Center? The Lakers schedule includes upcoming home games with the
Boston Celtics (2/20),
Portland Trail Blazers (2/22),
Atlanta Hawks (3/3) and
Chicago Bulls (3/10).