New York Knicks: Five games to look forward to in 2017-18

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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 6: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game on February 6, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Revisiting The Past, Watching The Future

Date: Tuesday, December 12
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Venue: Madison Square Garden

On Tuesday, December 12, two of the most valuable and recognizable organizations in professional sports will square off on national television. It just so happens that both of those organizations are rebuilding around polarizing point guards and forwards with superstar potential.

The fun layer to this potential encounter is that the New York Knicks will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

New York and Los Angeles meeting at Madison Square Garden always carries some measure of hype. The Knicks and Lakers have met in the NBA Finals on five separate occasions, including the 1970 and 1973 encounters that New York won.

Even 44 years later, the mere mention of the Knicks and Lakers indicates that something significant is going to transpire.

Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, and Brook Lopez will lead the Lakers into New York. On the other end, the Knicks will turn to Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez—and perhaps Carmelo Anthony—for answers.

This game may not have significant short-term ramifications, but both the Knicks and Lakers have bright futures with promising young cores.

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