Dalton Knecht Highlights Road Challenges Lakers Amid Season Struggles

The Los Angeles Lakers have faced a challenging start to the season, with a schedule heavily weighted towards road games. To date, the team has played 13 road games, compared to just 11 at home, making them one of the Western Conference’s most traveled squads. Only the Dallas Mavericks have faced more road challenges, having played 14 games away from home.

This travel-heavy schedule has taken its toll. The Lakers recently wrapped up a difficult four-game road trip, managing just one win—a performance that underscores their struggles to find consistency on the road. These issues have raised questions about the team’s ability to perform away from the comfort of their home crowd at Crypto.com Arena.

Dalton Knecht Addresses the Impact of Road Games

Even rookie Dalton Knecht has recognized the strain of an imbalanced schedule. Speaking after the team’s much-needed home victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, Knecht reflected on the challenges of playing so many games away from Los Angeles.

“I think it definitely, not having all these home games kind of affected us,” Knecht said. “But also, at the same time, we should have won some games that we lost. So at the end of the day, we just got to keep going out there and watching our film and trying to get better and learn.”

The Lakers showcased a more cohesive performance in their 107-98 win over Portland, with the home-court advantage offering a much-needed respite. While Knecht struggled offensively, shooting 3-for-9, he made his presence felt on the boards, grabbing eight rebounds, the second-most for the Lakers behind Anthony Davis.

Road Struggles Continue to Plague the Lakers

The Lakers’ performance on the road has been a glaring issue, with the team winning only 38% of their away games so far this season. For comparison, the Lakers finished near .500 on the road over the last two seasons, demonstrating the significant drop-off in their road performance this year.

The last time the Lakers struggled this much away from home was during the 2021-22 season, when they won only 29% of their road games, finished with just 33 total wins, and missed the playoffs entirely. This season’s road woes raise concerns about whether the team is headed for a similar fate or can rally to remain competitive in a tough Western Conference.

Rest, Recovery, and Redemption: What’s Next for the Lakers?

With over 25% of the NBA season in the books, there’s still time for the Lakers to address their road issues and climb the standings. Currently enjoying a short homestand, the team is focused on rest and recovery as they prepare for the next phase of the season, including NBA Cup action and a pivotal upcoming road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

This game provides an opportunity for the Lakers to demonstrate that their current road record—while concerning—is not indicative of their full potential. The team hopes to use lessons from recent defeats to build better chemistry and execution away from home.

Turning the Tide on the Road

Historically, the Lakers’ success has depended on their ability to win consistently both at home and on the road. While their struggles this season highlight areas for improvement, the team’s talent and depth remain promising. As LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and emerging contributors like Dalton Knecht step up, fans remain hopeful that the Lakers can reverse their road fortunes and solidify their status as postseason contenders.

The road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging, but with the right adjustments, this team has the potential to overcome its early setbacks. Can the Lakers rise to the occasion and reclaim their dominance on the road? Only time will tell.