Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers vs Knicks: Preview, prediction and analysis

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Tonight’s Lakers vs Knicks game will allow us to further evaluate the young core in place.

Being at 10-15 isn’t usually a good place to be, but for the Lakers it’s different. If it weren’t for the bizarre pile up of injuries that they’ve had to deal with, they wouldn’t be here.

During the healing process for key player like D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young, Portland has managed to sneak past Los Angeles for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

Playoffs are still far away, but being in the hunt is a big deal.

In contrast, New York comes into the game as a middle-of-the-pack Eastern Conference sleeper.

Both teams have undergone plenty of notable changes, while they’ve handled those respective transitions fairly well.

New York is learning how to embrace Derrick Rose for how he is now rather than how he used to be. Los Angeles is still somewhat getting over the lack of Kobe Bryant on the floor.

It's Los Angeles vs. New York tonight at 6:30 PT!

TV: @SpectrumSN & @spectdeportes
Radio: 710 ESPN & 1330 KWKWhttps://t.co/5H5zDtrjcu

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 11, 2016

To each their own, though.

If the Lakers can get a win, it’ll be because of their bench. Throughout the early course of the season, no team’s bench has had more influence on the outcome of games.

In addition to that, they’ll need their starters to at least meet their expectations. Sure, they’re banged up right now, but that’s not an excuse for poor play from your starting five.

Lou Williams continues to be brilliant, coming more out of his shell now than ever before. Once the injury wave subsides, the Lakers will be back to keeping us entertained, but also playing for keeps.

These are far from the two best teams in the league, but head-to-head will still provide plenty to watch.

Mainly, it just comes down to who is hungrier when it matters most.

And we can’t count either team out of that conversation just yet.