3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (March 11)
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers head to Los Angeles Mar. 11 to take on the Lakers. There’s a number of storylines to watch for in this game outside of the obvious noise surrounding James’ upcoming free agency this summer, but we’ll start with the King and what people think could be his final game playing as a visitor in the Staples Center.
I’m not sure LeBron will actually make the jump to the Lakers this offseason, but that won’t stop the Lakers fans from voicing their opinions on where he should play next season. Who knows if his acting and business enterprises will push the move to LA; I’m just excited to see if the Lakers faithful treats this like a unofficial recruiting visit to woo the King.
Outside of the LeBron intrigue lies two seperate reunions for players on both sides. Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. return to face their old team after being traded before the All-Star break. I expect them to share some laughs with their old teammates, especially given how liked they were in a close-knit locker room.
The big-name player sent to Los Angeles in that trade, Isaiah Thomas, also gets a chance to enact some revenge against a Cavs team that he failed to connect with on and off the court during his time in Cleveland. Expect IT to take this game (like most) personal, and hopefully his health will have picked up by that point.
This game will be a great watch on a Sunday night filled with big names, reunions and plenty of future intrigue.