It has been both funny and entertaining to listen to Laker and Clipper fans go back and forth. The season is just a quarter of the way through and folks are talking about a rivalry in Los Angeles. These two teams have lived at the opposite ends of the NBA spectrum for so long that there has never been a rivalry. By definition, rivals are on equal footing at some point. These teams have had beaten each other and won on the same level that the other has or there is no rivalry. The Lakers have won 17 world championships and almost double that in conference championships (32) as a franchise. The Clippers have won none, including when they were the Buffalo Braves in the 1970s. That 0 league titles, 0 conference and 0 division championships in 42 years. I understand that not everyone can win but to not have at least competed at all is mind blowing. The Clippers have 3 second place finishes over this time which lets us further know just how much of a non-rivalry this has been in LA. Los Angeles has been a Laker town since the Lakers moved here in 1960. Every time I've been inside the Staples Center, I am quickly reminded that of all the professional sports teams that call this arena "home", only the Clippers are without any type of championship banner. The deepest the Clippers have been no further than the conference semi-final round in the playoffs in their 42 years. They accomplished this 4 times, most recently in the 2005-06 season when they finished 47-35. This was also the first time the Clippers went to the second round of the playoffs while in LA and second time overall. The Clippers beat the Nuggets 4-1 and then lost to the Suns in a hard fought seven game series. Clipper fans were looking forward to seeing how far Elton Brand and Sam Cassell would take them. As surprising as this hope showed up, it went away even faster. The Clippers win totals would be 40, 23, 19 and 29 over the next 4 years. Once again, the Clippers went back to being the "PaperClips" we have always known them to be.
Now, the Clippers have added CP3 to play with Blake Griffin, even if its for 1 more season past this one, and folks are saying the Clippers are a rival to the Lakers. Really?? I like the whole "Lob City" thing. I can see the Clippers placing their own stamp on LA with this lob city gimmick but that will only last for so long. Its like the big sister allow her little brother to hang with her and her hot friends. Its cute at first but gets old rather quickly. For arguments sake, what if the Clippers won the title this year? It would mean that the Clippers would be the defending champs for the first time and have actual bragging rights over the Lakers but there would still be a 17-1 championship ratio and history of winning still in the Lakers favor. I will say that we are being treated to the beginning of a rivalry but by no means are the Lakers and Clippers rivals. At least, not yet.
When you think of rivals, Lakers/Celtics comes to mind. Or Bulls/Pistons or Bulls/Cavs. One could argue Spurs/Lakers or Knicks/Pacers but that is about it. The Bulls/Heat is a more believable rivalry at this point. No one knows what the Clippers have yet. The Clippers don't even know what they have. The Clippers have beaten the Lakers in the regular season before. We can have whatever opinion on where the Lakers are and where the Clippers are going but in the end, the season will play out and either the Clippers will be who they have been or they will be who we think they are. Either way, its put up or shut up time for the Clippers. The bad thing for the Lakers is that they have to answer questions about themselves or the Clippers could rise past them.
The Lakers can only use their legacy for so long. At some point, especially if the Clippers keep Blake and CP3 beyond next season, the Lakers will have to either rebuild by slowly getting younger while utilizing whatever Kobe has left over the next 2-3 seasons. Laker fans can think what they want but Kobe will not be playing past 20 years and even 20 could be far fetching. The Lakers are still contenders just not overwhelming favorites as they once were. At the moment, the Lakers priority needs to be on getting a PG. I can hear the some fans now, "We tried and the league cheated us!". While I understand, the Lakers need to remember that CP3 isn't the only PG in the NBA. More importantly, Laker fans should remember what happened the last time 2 superstars played for the Lakers. Yes, championships were won but how many could have been had Shaq stayed? Kobe isn't Jordan. He may be this generation's "version" of Jordan but he can't carry a team through a season, into the playoffs and to a title. Kobe needs to sit Bynum and Gasol down and let them know that either they both get on his level of commitment and determination or get the hell out. The Lakers can get themselves back to the top of the west by not panicking and making moves that guts the team. Get a PG and figure out what planet World Peace is on. I have never seen a player that has gone from they way ArtestArtest. As is, the Lakers will make the playoffs but not much else.
With some many questions for both of these teams to answer, its not fair to the teams and a waste of time to say anything right now. Let's talk again at the beginning of March. By then, we all will know what changes have come and will have the best understanding of what LA has. At some point, the Clippers will beat the Lakers when it matters. Laker fans, you can lie to yourself all you want, but for every day we see the Lakers as LAs team, we are one day closer to the Clippers finally hanging a championship banner inside Staples Center. Just wait, in a couple of years, OKC/Clippers could be a rivalry our grand kids will be talking about.
D!
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