The LA Lakers, who have played 40 games this season, have the same record of 19–21 and are ranked 11th in the West. While some fans were upset that the side was far from reaching expectations, others chose for a funny take when they compared the Purple and Gold’s run to crosstown rivals, the Golden State Warriors.

This season, Golden State has lost as many games as the Lakers while only managing one win. Despite the recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the team’s 12th-place ranking of 18–21 provided a comfort to some Los Angeles supporters.

A fan clarified that the Lakers were superior to the Warriors this season, for the record.

Long before the season began, both teams were expected to be first-round picks in the playoffs. Their teams were off to auspicious starts, and their players were in good health. But as the season gets closer to the halfway point, the teams are out of the middle of a deep and tough Western Conference due to injuries and inconsistent play.

Will the Warriors and Lakers qualify for the postseason?

Both the Lakers and the Warriors don’t appear to be able to secure a postseason spot as of this writing.

Despite their depth and adaptability, LA is in desperate need of help. The squad is also struggling with injuries, lack of identity, and shooting problems. LeBron James and Anthony Davis continue to be the team’s primary sources of scoring every night.

Now, other teams are playing double defense against Davis in an attempt to limit his output and quicken the tempo while also trying to slow him down, which has further hurt the club this year.

If the team wants to make the playoffs and then aim for a deeper run, they need a third superstar since Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell have shown up and gone out.

Conversely, the Warriors face similar issues and typically rely on Steph Curry to save them. Golden State is far from being the elite team they once were due to injuries, superstar slumps, and Draymond Green’s suspension drama. The team’s confidence is very low. The addition of seasoned veteran Chris Paul has not significantly improved their offense, and their bench is youthful and inexperienced.

With their current records, neither team is a playoff contender and therefore not eligible for this tournament’s play-in round. With 42 games left, it’s imperative that both teams make the required moves at the trade deadline in order to take full use of James and Curry’s potential and improve their chances of obtaining the Larry O’Brien.