“LeBron James’ Lakers are better than Kevin Durant and James Harden’s Nets”: Bill Simmons explains why LeBron and co are still favorites for the title

Bill Simmons says that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are the best team in the league, over Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.

With all the recent hype surrounding James Harden and his play with the Brooklyn Nets, it is easy to forget that the Los Angeles Lakers currently hold the best record in the league by a significant margin.

The defending champs are boasting an 11-4 record, following their loss to Steph Curry and the Warriors on MLK Day. Going into this 2020-21 NBA season, the Lakers were deemed to be the favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy once again.

Also Read: “We need a couple of these in a row”: Despite beating LeBron James and the Lakers, Stephen Curry wants Warriors to build a win streak

However, with James Harden making his way to Brooklyn to team up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Lakers fans aren’t so sure anymore about whether or not LeBron James will clinch his 5^th championship this season.

Bill Simmons says that LeBron James and the Lakers are still the team to beat

Bill Simmons of the Ringer is firm in his belief that the Los Angeles Lakers are still the best team in the league, despite the Brooklyn Nets’ blockbuster trade. He took to his podcast to talk about the possibility of a Lakers-Nets NBA Finals. He said:

“I still think the Lakers are the best team. Brooklyn can put KD on LeBron James but who do they have for Anthony Davis? They traded Allen who was their answer. The only way for them to win is by sheer offensive outpour, it could happen but I just have never seen a team win it all that way, without defense.”

Also Read: “Draymond Green traveled late in win over Lakers”: LeBron James adamant about blatant non-call that gave Warriors 4-point lead with less than 2 minutes left

The James Harden trade took so long mainly because the Nets were weighing the cons of giving up on defense. Jarrett Allen has been dealt away to the Cavaliers, so there is no player on the Nets who can effectively guard Davis off the dribble, in the post or in the pick-and-roll.

Kevin Durant is their best defender, but he’ll have his hands full with having LeBron James be his defensive assignment.