New York Knicks vs LA Lakers Picks and Predictions Nov 23
New York Knicks vs LA Lakers Betting Preview
WagerTalk NBA handicapper Tony Finn offers his New York Knicks vs LA Lakers betting preview for Tuesday, November 23. At the time of posting, the Knicks have risen to a 5-point home favorite over the visiting Lakers, with the total sitting at 214.5 points.
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New York Knicks vs LA Lakers Predictions
- New York Knicks -5 vs LA Lakers
- Total: 214.5 Points
- The under is 7-0 in the Knicks’ last seven games.
- The Lakers are 6-15 against the spread in their last 21 games.
- The Knicks have covered the spread in five of the last six meetings between these two teams.
Circa of Las Vegas waited until the Tuesday morning bell before posting a number on the Lakers and Knicks event. Circa opened New York as 5.5-point home favorites, with the total checking in at 214.5.
The Los Angeles Lakers (9-9, 8th in NBA – West) and New York Knicks (9-8, 7th in NBA – East) are in Madison Square Garden for a non-conference showdown. Los Angeles and New York have had scheme changes and injuries to adjust to in the early stages of the 2021-22 campaign. Unfortunately, the showcase event will be missing one of the main attractions as the Lakers LeBron James has decided to serve his league-imposed suspension.
The Knicks are a pedestrian 4-5 on their homecourt of MSG. The Knicks have morphed from an isolation offense that they orchestrated a year ago to a spread offense focusing on perimeter shooting. New York heads into this Tuesday night matchup shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc.
The Lakers have scuffled away from Staples Arena with a 2-4 road mark. Los Angeles has played 10 of their 18 games without James this season due to injury. However, tonight they will work the Garden hardwood without him due to suspension. James will not play tonight as he serves a one-game suspension for his role in the quarrel with Isaiah Stewart and the Pistons on Sunday.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers’ offense is not close to being as efficient without James on the court. With James on the floor, the Lakers average 113.4 points per 100 possessions. However, when James is not a part of the game night rotation, the Los Angeles metrics have the Lakers scoring just 101.9 points per 100 possessions.
Los Angeles is an entirely different animal with or without James playing the conductor roll for this Lakers team. As James has progressed over the years, he had used nearly two more seconds of the shot clock than when he morphed into the floor general with more ball-handling responsibilities.
Without James, the Lakers begin their offense in transition almost 17 percent of the time.
The Lakers starting lineup for tonight’s game as MSG is expected to find Russell Westbrook at the point, Avery Bradley at the No. #2, T. Horton-Tucker playing the swing, and Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordon working the frontcourt at the No. #4 and #5.
Before the suspension was announced, LeBron was expected to play despite being listed as questionable to the same ab strain that held him out of the lineup for two weeks.
The Lakers announced early this morning that Austin Reaves became a possible addition to the active roster at the New York Garden by upgrading him from “out” to “doubtful.”
Several social media outlets have been featuring banter that essentially is calling for Frank Vogel’s job.
New York Knicks
Former Kansas Jayhawk and Houston Cougar shooting guard Quentin Grimes lead the Knicks in shooting percentage from 3-point range connecting on 50 percent of these shot attempts.
The defensive-minded Knicks under coach Tom Thibodeau have been transformed. Thibodeau was vocal about the scheme change in the offseason. In interviews with the New York press, he often urged his players to commit to the three-point shot.
What we’re seeing in the NBA today is the premium that’s put on shooting,” Thibodeau told the New York press. “Oftentimes, there’s at least four 3-point shooters on the floor. Now we’re seeing that there’s five. One of the things why I think we’re effective when Julius (Randle) is at the five and Obi (Toppin) is at the four is because the floor is opened up, and now we have driving gaps where we can get to the basket. The great value in our team is the versatility.”
Thibodeau earned 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year honors by taking the Knicks to their first NBA Playoff berth since 2013.
The Thibodeau’s defense-first philosophy had the Knicks as the top team in the league, allowing the fewest points per game (104.7), lowest opposing field goal pct. (.440) and lowest opposition 3PT pct. (.337). Last year’s numbers are not close to the defensive metrics the Knicks have through 17 games this season.
New York Knicks vs LA Lakers Injury Report
Lakers
Anthony Davis (thigh) is probable
Austin Reaves (hamstring) was upgraded from out to doubtful
Kendrick Nunn (knee) is out
Trevor Ariza (ankle) is out.
Knicks
Derrick Rose (ankle) is questionable
Taj Gibson (groin) is doubtful
Mitchell Robinson (concussion) is out
The best chance for the Lakers to overcome the loss of James is to push the pace against New York.
Los Angeles is at its best offensively when they start the offense in transition off live rebounds, which is over 30 percent of the time. The Lakers average 1.23 points per possession with a transition play when King James is not on the floor. When Westbrook or one of the Lakers backcourt players are working in LeBron’s spot in the offense, the Lakers metric is 1.138 per play off live rebounds.
The Knicks rank 16th in defensive efficiency in transition, allowing 1.162 off live rebounds and overall allowing 1.187 points per play per CleaningtheGlass.
New York Knicks vs LA Lakers Analysis from The GoldSheet
No LeBron for LA in this one as he’ll be serving his one-game suspension for instigating a fight and, well, bloodying Piston C Isaiah Stewart. The Knicks have had the best of this series lately, covering 5 of the last 6 (3-3 SU) against the once-mighty Lakers. New York will be without C Mitchel Robinson, as he’s in concussion protocol, and Taj Gibson is iffy with a sore groin, so expect Nerlens Noel to play extended minutes. But don’t forget Julius Randle is another of ex-Laker high draft picks who like to stick it to their old employer. LA is coming off a win against Detroit (well, they won the fight too), but the Lakers are just 2-6 vs. the points after a SU win, and the Knicks do have a winning record (which, by the way, is more than the Lakers can say). Play New York.
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