2011 LA Lakers and 2026 LA Dodgers have some similarities.

posted by u/GoodNinja18 · 2026-11-01 15:19 UTC

Despite being 15 years apart and playing different sports, I found there's quite many facts in common with the Lakers (NBA) and Dodgers (MLB):

Both are based in LA.

Both are the biggest market teams in their respective sport with among the highest payrolls.

Both were two-time defending champs that were looking to threepeat.

Both teams were favoured to win it all, at the start of the season (close enough for Lakers but it's like Lakers/Heat)

Both teams have multiple superstars in their 30s. Ohtani/Betts/Freeman. Bryant/Gasol.

Both were defeated by a small or medium sized market team.

Both of the teams swept the LA teams of their respective sport.

Both the Mavs and Brewers were expected to lose the series.

Both the Mavs and Brewers never won a title (at the time of the sweep).

Both winners of these respective series ended up winning a title, not to mention their very first title in franchise history.

Both of the Finals opponents of the winners ended up facing a team in the Final round from the state of Florida (Rays and Heat).

Both of these seasons will have their CBA expire and have a potential lockout (2012 NBA lockout and 2027 potential MLB lockout).

Who was the bigger disappointment in your opinion? The 2011 Lakers? Or 2026 Dodgers?

## Top comments

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2. u/ClairQuilty · 2026-11-01 15:24 UTC

Lakers. I didn’t find the Dodgers defeat very disappointing, insofar as—unlike the Lakers—they’re way better positioned for the long term. My spicy take is that they’ll be as good or better the next five years as they have been for the past

3. u/LastMongoose7448 · 2026-11-01 15:33 UTC

Depends on the CBA, and how they handle all the deferred money. I see a team that ages and is stuck with a huge payroll. Their bankruptcy agreement is how they’re able to keep television revenue from the league sharing agreement. You can bet that will all be on the table with the new negations.

They have a talented farm system, but how patient will the fanbase be with them vs trading them for more aging stars?

4. u/Gimme_Sum_Roy · 2026-11-01 15:52 UTC

I don’t know if they will be but they def need to be better

5. u/Thin-Remote-9817 · 2026-11-01 15:24 UTC

Dallas isnt a small or medium market......

I the lakers were not the preseason favorite in 2011....the heat were the favorites.

6. u/LincolnsLawyer · 2026-11-01 15:27 UTC

Soon as The Heatles got together they were the favorite far and away. As a Lakers fan I knew it was over lol

7. u/Thomas-The-Tutor · 2026-11-01 15:34 UTC

Can you list the differences now?

8. u/ManufacturerBest2758 · 2026-11-01 16:18 UTC

Size of the ball

9. u/HolyRomanPrince · 2026-11-01 16:01 UTC

The Lakers loss wasn’t all that surprising if you watched that team. The perimeter defense from Kobe and Fish had obviously slipped even in 2010 when Russ was wearing them out in the 1st round. They just got lucky that Nelson was injured in 09 and Rondo was the perfect style of player to not need great guard defense. 2011 was just a worst case scenario culminating at the same time. Lot of miles on Kobe and Pau and 30 year old role players from 08-11

10. u/Mundane-News9720 · 2026-11-01 16:25 UTC

I’ve mentioned this in the dodgers sub before as well. On top of all of these, the past results also were eerily similar. During the repeat, the Lakers beat the Magic 4-1 in 09’ and the Celtics 4-3 in a brutal 10’ finals. The Dodgers also beat the Yankees 4-1 in 24’ and the Jays 4-3 in 25’. Both teams got swept by the eventual champs the following seasons.

11. u/GotMoFans · 2026-11-01 17:55 UTC

NYC is a bigger market than LA, so neither is the biggest market team in their respective sports.

The Knicks/Nets and Yankees/Mets held/hold that claim.

12. u/kidgrifter · 2026-11-01 16:04 UTC

What was the other L.A. team the Dodgers swept this year? This just boggles the mind.

13. u/BkniBottomTranqulity · 2026-11-01 21:00 UTC

They must mean that the dodgers swept the angels in one of the series they played

14. u/Fragrant_Plant39 · 2026-11-01 16:50 UTC

Typical reddit not being able to three peat what failures lol

15. u/Sensitive-Avocado865 · 2026-11-01 17:47 UTC

Lakers got swept, Dodgers at least made it a series. Plus that Lakers core was cooked after, this Dodgers team isn't going anywhere.

16. u/eowbotm · 2026-11-01 15:22 UTC

We'll see how the Brewers do

17. u/JustAnotherDay1977 · 2026-11-01 15:25 UTC

Yeah, I don’t understand that comment either. I have a t shirt with the answer…

18. u/sus4th · 2026-11-01 15:49 UTC

Yeah, most of the media outlets still say the Dodgers can win it in 9 games /s

19. u/DG04511 · 2026-11-01 15:57 UTC

Pau Gasol was never a superstar. He was a solid secondary all-star level player at his peak.

20. u/GotMoFans · 2026-11-01 17:57 UTC

Pau Gasol was a superstar-level player. He just wasn’t overly popular.

He was the lead player on three Grizzlies playoff teams.

When he was traded to the Lakers, I thought they’d have a dynasty.

Bynum and Odom were the “solid secondary all-star level players” you are describing.