Los Angeles Clippers: Lob City Rejection Proves Clips' Focus Isn't on Highlights

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are determined to avoid becoming the All-Hype Team, version 2.

Paul may direct one of the most exciting shows in the NBA throwing alley-oops to Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, but the Los Angeles Clippers are off the Lob City label.  LA showed maturity turning down the highlight-suggestive nickname showing where their focus truly lies: on winning an NBA championship.

According to ESPN’s Arash Markazi, Griffin is growing to hate the title that he created saying:

"

It's unfortunate.  It's one of those things where we understand it, but that's not what we're about.  Before the game we're not going out thinking, 'All right, it's Lob City tonight.'  We're just trying to win games and trying to get better.  If anybody says it in [the locker room], it's just a joke, making fun of the whole thing.  It's not on our minds at all.

"

And the athlete finishing those lobs isn’t the only one against the name.  Paul also was quoted saying:

"

We're improving because we're communicating better.  We're trusting each other.  It's something we can't control.  We are a complete team, and we want to continue to be a complete team.  That's the only way we're going to win games.  It doesn't matter if you get 10 lobs and lose the game.  It's all about winning at the end of the day.

"

Clippers fans have to love that attitude.  Their team isn’t just interested in stealing the Lakers’ Hollywood spotlight by taking over SportsCenter’s top 10 players.  Both LA teams now have their eyes on the prize, which is something you couldn’t have predicted a couple of years ago.

They may not have much depth down low and Chauncey Billups isn’t a traditional shooting guard by any means, but the Clippers' combination of youth and wisdom, athleticism and skill as well as talent and hunger will make them a legitimate playoff contender in 2012.

Los Angeles, don’t look now; not the Lakers, but the Clippers are on top of the Pacific Division.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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