Read More: Kobe Bryant (G – LAL), Kevin Durant (F – OKC), Russell Westbrook (G – OKC), Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers

With the cancellation on Friday of all November NBA games due to the ongoing labor strife, league commissioner David Stern has ruled out an 82-game regular season, if in fact there will be a season at all. Let’s assume for a moment that the league and the players union come to an agreement in time to begin play in December. Here is a look at what Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers missed out on.

The Lakers were set to open their regular season schedule on Tuesday, November 1 at Staples Center against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. But as it stands now, the Lakers will begin their truncated regular season on Friday, December 2 in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz.

Gone for the Lakers are home games against the San Antonio Spurs on November 9 and the New York Knicks on November 17, and a back-to-back pair against 2011 Western Conference semifinalists Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City on November 22 and 23. In all, the Lakers said goodbye to nine home games and five road contests with Friday’s news:

• November 1: vs. Oklahoma City
• November 2: at Golden State
• November 4: at Phoenix
• November 6: vs. New Orleans
• November 7: at Sacramento
• November 9: vs. San Antonio
• November 11: vs. Denver
• November 13: vs. Detroit
• November 15: vs. Washington
• November 17; vs. New York
• November 22: at Memphis
• November 23: at Oklahoma City
• November 25: vs. Sacramento
• November 29: vs. Minnesota

For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.

This is the third part of a series breaking down the Lakers’ potentially troublesome Western Conference opponents.

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Lakers’ record versus Memphis last season: 2-2 in regular season

How Grizzlies fared last season: Lost in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Western Conference semifinals

Why Memphis is a threat to the Lakers: For the same reason that Lakers forward Pau Gasol didn’t want to face the Grizzlies last season in the first round of the playoffs. Playing against  his brother, Marc, often peaks his interest, but it sometimes throws Pau out of his element. Mike Conley, who has organized offseason team workouts, has given Derek Fisher and the rest of the Lakers defense fits with his quickness. Ron Artest has proved inconsistent in stopping Rudy Gay. Tony Allen and Shane Battier have a strong track record in minimizing Kobe Bryant’s dominance. The matchup between Lamar Odom and Zach Randolph has proved to be a draw.

More importantly, the Grizzlies have momentum after winning their first playoff game last season in franchise history. Accounts suggest they’ll keep the core roster. They have renewed confidence. Gay will become more healthy. And the city cares more about the team.

Why the Lakers are a threat to Memphis:  Trading Pau to the Lakers in 2008 may have paved the way in assembling a roster that carried them through the Western Conference semifinals with Marc, Randolph, Conley, Battier, Allen, Gay and O.J. Mayo, but it’s debatable how much that could sustain. The stars didn’t necessarily align for Memphis’ playoff run. But there’s a compelling case, as argued by the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Geoff Calkins, that the Grizzlies’ playoff run could be sapped because of the current NBA lockout.

Verdict: Memphis’ wins last season against the Lakers happened when they weren’t taking the regular season seriously. This season, the Lakers won’t be as worn down.

RELATED:

Pau Gasol trade to Lakers spurred Grizzlies’ current playoff success

Lakers informal poll reveals their belief Portland and Memphis would give them biggest challenge in first round

Lakers will rebound against Dallas Mavericks next season

–Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo credit: Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies are set to open the new season on the road for two games before returning home for their opener Nov. 5 against Charlotte.

The NBA released schedules for the 2011-12 season Tuesday, even though owners have locked out players after the labor agreement expired.

Memphis and the Grizzlies are eager to capitalize on the team’s stunning run to the Western Conference semifinals before losing to Oklahoma City in seven games.

The Grizzlies are scheduled to start the season Nov. 2 at the Los Angeles Clippers with a visit to Utah before finally returning to Memphis for their home opener.

The champion Mavericks visit Memphis on Nov. 16, while the Lakers visit Nov. 22 and March 13. Memphis hosts Miami on Dec. 30.