Los Angeles Clippers Bandwagon Grows By One After Win Over Portland

My wife recently watched the movie "It's Complicated." When she came home our 11-year-old son asked her what it was about. I answered for her that it was about a couple that were together, then broke up, then got back together. He said, "Sounds like High School Musical to me."

The kid is genius.

Hollywood has a way of recycling tried and true stories. The basics remain but the principles change. High school kids, older folks, circus performers, dogs, and much more have all been highlighted in movies about love won, lost, and re-won.

Another favorite Hollywood regurgitation is the story of the ugly duckling that transforms into a beautiful swan. The climactic part in those movies is when the swan appears and heads start to turn. Think Rachael Leigh Cook in "She's All That."

Now, I know I will catch a little grief for comparing the Clippers to Cook, but its clear that the L.A. team is starting to turn some heads.

No, no one is in any danger of whiplash like the actors who almost wet themselves when Cook returned to school looking hot, but people are noticing. Portland coach Nate McMillan is the most recent Clipper convert.

"I think the whole league feels that if that team is healthy and together, they are a serious threat in the West," McMillan said.

The Clippers and serious threat in the West have never been uttered in the same sentence with the possible exception of the 2006 season. Much less from a respected NBA coach.

The team is turning heads, but no one individual is causing more cranial criss-crossing than Chris Kaman. Is there any possible way we can work that into a nickname?  Chris "cranial criss-crossing causing" Kaman! Nice. Lets see if we can make that one stick.

The Clippers center remains the NBA's top scoring center. That's not the leading scorer in the Pacific Division, or the Western Division that's the entire league. No center in the Association drops more points than Kaman.

He is also second in rebounds.

If Kaman is not in in the All-Star game there is no sense in having the game. 

Second to Kaman in the "turning heads" department has to be a rejuvenated Marcus Camby. Everyone knew what type of player he was, few thought he had this much game left. He is providing defensive leadership and amazing numbers; in short Camby remains a force.

Baron Davis is finally heating up and playing like he wants to be here.

Eric Gordon is a stud with range. It's one thing to have an inside presence like Kaman and Camby but it's another to make teams pay for overplaying them. Gordon makes teams pay.

The team is turning heads and poised to welcome the draft's first pick later this month.  Blake Griffin's first game will insure the NBA spotlight points directly at the Clippers.

For now, however, the Clips remain in stealth mode. Playing well with a consistency rarely seen in these parts. True fans understand. Opposing coaches understand.

The bandwagon is growing. Can I make a little room for you?