2011 NBA Tipoff: Los Angeles Against Golden State Will Be a Golden Matchup

Los Angeles is used to the media for the NBA. Just not for the Clippers.

The Bay Area is used to the hype for professional sports. Just not for the Warriors.

Now, on Christmas Day, with Monta Ellis and Golden State on the rise and Chris Paul and the Clippers all over the media, these two teams square off, looking to prove themselves and unwrap a special gift.

Laker fans are used to the attention, and Clipper fans are used to envying the Lakers attention. And that looked to be the same when the Lakers had a deal in place to acquire CP3 from New Orleans.

Then David Stern got in the way.

Now, with Chris Paul a Clipper, Paul and Blake Griffin headline a strong team that dominated Kobe and the Lakers last night. In the regular season, they want to prove what they can do against the rest of the NBA.

Paul led the Hornets, now cellar-dwellers, to the playoffs, and he brought basketball to Louisiana. CP3 finished second in MVP voting for the 2007-08 campaign, and with Griffin to slam the ball for him, he looks poised for more of that.

Golden State has prized youngster Stephen Curry, who has proven that he can play in the NBA after a stellar college career at Davidson. Monta Ellis has taken the reins for Golden State and steered them to victories with his superior skills, driving past defenders and laying the ball in the hoop.

The Warriors haven't been to the playoffs since the 2006-07 season, but Ellis scoring and leading Golden State to a win has become a common sight. Ellis has a mediocre supporting cast, but Dorell Wright can shoot and David Lee can score and rebound to support Ellis.

Once Golden State figures out the puzzle, they will surpass Sacramento and Phoenix and enter the top three in the Pacific. Kobe will keep Los Angeles around the top, and Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will battle their cross-city rivals for first, but Golden State will hang around, and compete for a playoff spot.

That's why this game is so important. With the Big Three of Boston taking on 'Melo and the Knicks, an NBA Finals rematch, the MVP taking on the star, and Kevin Durant against Dwight Howard, all will overshadow CP3's debut in a Western showdown, but this game is definitely one to watch.

So, if you're looking for a star passer and dribbler to feed the beast for a grand Christmas Day gift, you've come to the right place.

Golden State against the Los Angeles Clippers. Those are two teams that normally don't make for an intriguing match-up.

When it's dynamic sharpshooter is taking on a beast and an assist machine, it's a game to watch. So just relax and enjoy yourself on Christmas night, because the NBA's got you covered.