Los Angeles Lakers: 3 intriguing back-to-back sets for 2018-19 season

2. Nov. 3 at Portland Trail Blazers, Nov. 4 vs. Toronto Raptors

The first part of this back-to-back takes the Los Angeles Lakers to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Portland Trail Blazers. I wrote about this matchup a little bit in the previously mentioned marquee matchups article as this is the site of each team’s first game of the season.

Portland is a difficult place to play, and despite an expected regression, the backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is capable of getting buckets on any team in the league. It will be a test for the Lakers’ young backcourt players and how far along they are defensively, such as Lonzo and Josh Hart.

Once again, the second night of the back-to-back poses the more difficult matchup, and this one has a little more buzz around a regular home game. The Toronto Raptors are among the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and the trade of DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard catapults them to the top of the conference if Kawhi returns to old form. LeBron owns the Raptors, but this team has a different leader and animal at the top with Kawhi on the roster.

Speaking of Kawhi, it’s no secret he wants to play in Los Angeles, particularly the Lakers, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. Expect the Lakers crowd to be out in full force, wooing and cheering him every time he touches the ball along with some “Kawhi to L.A.” chants. It will be a weird environment with a crowd cheering on a visiting opponent who has never played for them, but Leonard should receive a strong welcome. Not to mention Kawhi vs. LeBron is one of the best individual matchups of the last six years.