The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks have been among the NBA’s most glamorous franchises for decades. They play in two of the country’s biggest cities with large media followings and passionate fan bases.
The Lakers have also been the league’s most successful franchise outside of the Celtics, collecting 11 championships since moving from Minneapolis in 1961. Knicks fans have been thirsting for a title since New York beat the Lakers in the Finals twice in the early ’70s, though they made two trips to the Finals in the ’90s.
It’s hard to believe that a franchise with a winning tradition like the Lakers and a team with the advantage of playing in storied Madison Square Garden like the Knicks could fall on such hard times the past two seasons. Los Angeles won 27 games in 2013/14 and, thanks to Kobe Bryant’s torn rotator cuff, plunged even further into the abyss with a 21-61 mark last season. The Knicks also went from bad to worse, finishing eight games under .500 two seasons ago and then winning just 17 games in last season’s painful campaign marred by Carmelo Anthony’s knee issues, which limited him to a career-low 40 games.
Things appear to be looking up on both Coasts, thanks to trips to the lottery, trades, free agent signings and improving health. The Lakers drafted D’Angelo Russell to be their floor leader, signed free agents Brandon Bass and Louis Williams and traded for center Roy Hibbert. They’ll also have last year’s lottery selection, Julius Randle, back in action after a season-long injury and Bryant on the comeback trail.
The Knicks drafted European big man Kristaps Porzingis, signed free agents Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez to fill starting roles and retooled their bench. They’ll also have Anthony back to lead the offensive attack while playing in a division that had just one team finish above .500.
Neither club is expected to make the postseason but with the upgrades, they should be much more competitive or, at the very least, watchable. So our question of the day is as follows: Which team will win more games this season, the Lakers or the Knicks?
Take to the comments section below to sound off with your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot us a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com.
Knicks will win more games!!!! We have the deeper team & we also are in the weak EAST…Might I add we also have the best player in our division…We’ll make the playoffs, as a 6th or 7th seed…Can’t say the same for the LAKERS!!!!
Playing in the Atlantic certainly gives the Knicks an advantage over the Lakers in picking up wins within their division.
Knicks
Lopez > Hibbert.
Porzingis > Randle
Plus, Knicks fringe players (Afflalo, Seraphin, Calderon, OQuinn) have more NBA experience than the Lakers’ fringe players (Bass, Clarkson, Black, Sacre).
Also, D’Angelo Russell may be the better player eventually. But Jerian Grant (23 years old) is ready to contribute immediately.
A lot of it also has to do with the stars themselves. Which player will mesh better with the young players around them, Kobe or Carmelo?
Porzingis will not be better then randle next yr. Phil already said he’d be happy if he just played 20 minutes a game to get his feet under him.
Knicks fans are scared he could be a bust they hated the pick on draft night.. But they have no choice but to accept it and cheer for him now..
I’m pretty sure knick fans rather have randle then porzingis..
Lakers backcourt is light yrs better then the Knicks. I doubt grant does better then what Clarkson did last your..
And also Byron Scott hasd taken teams to the finals.. Fisher is the worst coach in the nba.
Lakers will win more games
Knicks no doubt
Lots of love for the Knicks so far. Any Lakers fans want to state their case?
I think the Knicks win more. I believe in Carmelo. He can lead them back to the playoffs. The question is: how many more games will NY than LA? 10 games? 15?
Laker fan here.
Regardless of the disparity in talent between the two clubs, one need not look further than the fact that the Knicks play in the L(EAST)ern Conference & the Lakers play in the WEST.
Switch the two teams, and the Lakers would win more games, but as currently constructed, the Knicks are guaranteed to have more wins in the 2015-16 season based solely on that one simple fact.
The Lakers are the more talented team, and I think they can win more than the 20-25 I see the Knicks winning. You need someone besides Carmelo to make shots and they just don’t have anyone. Last year we learned pretty quickly that Carmelo can’t win games on his own.
The Lakers are not a top team and have more question marks than anything, but I see the Knicks as one of the two worst teams in the league again.
It will intriguing to see how fast Russell and Randle develop. Clarkson surprised a lot of people last season and now he’ll have to adjust to playing off the ball. But I do like the Lakers’ young talent compared to the Knicks’ youngsters; however, the Lakers obviously play in a tougher conference.
A healthy Kobe Bryant, a rejuvenated Roy Hibbert and an instantly productive D’Angelo Russell could make the Lakers dangerous. I’ll say they’ll be better than the Knicks, but not by much.
Being completely honest here, I don’t see the Knicks not being a bottom-5 team. They got Porzingis, but I don’t see him becoming a significant player for a few years. I also dont’t think he’ll be able to thrive in New York because of this immense pressure that’s been put on him. Europeans just don’t tend to do well in those types of situations. If he’s going to have a successful career, I don’t see it happening in a toxic environment like New York.
Afflalo has been a league average player the last couple of years and he’s projected to become below league average in the years of his contract. Lopez is an underrated signing, but I don’t see it having much of an impact due to the lack of defensive talent (even potential) anywhere else on the roster. One other aspect to look at is Melo. The guy has never won cuz he can’t be a #1 option on a winning team; it’s simply not possible. He doesn’t make the people around him better. On top of that, the guy has had like 3 full healthy seasons in his career. HIs lack of efficiency and inablility to stay in the lineup is quite concerning.
On the other hand, the Lakers aren’t guaranteed to do much better, but the potential is much greater. At worst, they’ll win as many games as the Knicks. If Randle and Russell are able to develop quicker than expected and Kobe stays relatively healthy, I could see them pulling off a Jazz-like season and winning 35-40 games. The Kobe question is a big “if” but if there’s anyone who can defeat father time, it’s him. The Hibbert trade could be a boom or bust. When Indiana was winning, he looked like the best center in the NBA. When things started going downhill and blame was being passed around, problems were caused and his play diminished. I think coming to LA will wake up his career and bring a whole new challenge for him and get him excited about playing basketball again. My final predictions: Knicks 22-60, Lakers 35-47
I like the potential of the Lakers’ young guys; the only drawback compared to the Knicks is the tougher conference.
The Knicks have the least talented roster in the East and their best player is also the most selfish player in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony and a roster of guys who would be back-ups on many other NBA teams is a pretty lousy team. The only question for the Knicks is will they have the most or second most Ping-Pong balls in the 2016 lottery. The Lakers do have two several young players they can build around but Kobe Bryant is way past his prime and Hibbert was run out of Indiana and is mostly average anyway. They are the worst team in the West but unlike the Knicks, they do have a future.
It should be noted that both teams don’t have much incentive to keep losing. The Lakers owe a pick to the Sixers that is only top 3 protected and the Nuggets have the option of swapping first rounders with the Knicks.
Don’t be delusional. Knicks are a better roster in an easier conference. Even Knicks summer league team handled Lakers with Randle, Clarkson and Russell playing. Knicks star player in his prime, Lakers without a star player in their prime.