Clippers vs Lakers: 4 Reasons This Is Best Rivalry in Western Conference
For the foreseeable future, the Clippers and Lakers will own top billing amongst Western Conference heavyweights. No other rivalry carries as many compelling storylines and attractions on the left side of the map.
Oklahoma City and Memphis is a nice budding rivalry amongst talented young teams, but at the end of the day, it's still Oklahoma City and Memphis; that can never compare.
Three key elements make the battle for L.A. the pinnacle in Western Conference rivalries:
California Love
The fact that both teams call California home is just one aspect. That factor helped the Kings and Lakers rivalry reach its peak in the early 2000s. This rivalry has both teams calling Los Angeles home, and the same arena their home court.
In other sports, there are teams that share or have shared home fields, but never in the same conference and division.
Imagine if the Giants and Jets were in the same conference or division. Those battles would be even more fierce than they already are.
The Clippers and Lakers are set up to battle for Pacific Division and Western Conference supremacy, as well as a mythical claim as the Kings of L.A. The Lakers promotional team is already hyping it that way.
Check this video out to promote their first regular-season matchup:
That is for a regular season game; can you imagine what it would be like if the two teams met in the postseason?
David & Goliath
Of course the Clippers have been in California since 1978, and in Los Angeles since 1984, but it was a silent rivalry at best because the Clippers have been horrible. The Clippers are 361-555 this century with one playoff berth, in their lone winning season in 12 years.
Compare that to the Lakers run of 587-333, that includes four NBA titles, 10 playoff berths and only one season out of the playoffs.
Beyond recent history, the Lakers are amongst the two most successful franchises in history, while the Clippers have been the epitome of futility. It has been a tough road for the Clippers. It's even tougher when the model of success shares the city with you for the past 28 years, and the same home court for the past 13.
The Clippers' recent ascension is like the little man rising up to challenge the giant. The Clippers and Lakers sit one-two in the Pacific Division standings, without the success to validate that there is no rivalry.
Star Power
No NBA rivalry is worth anything without superstars. The Lakers seemed to regenerate them as easily as they recreate purple and gold uniforms; while it has been contrastingly as rare for the Clippers.
It could be because of ownership; the Busses, especially Jerry, have made a great reputation for themselves as Lakers kings, while Donald Sterling was once called the worst owner in professional sports.
Things have changed for the Clippers, armed with Blake Griffin, Chauncey Billups and the mayor of "Lob City" Chris Paul, the Clippers have a cast of stars to rival Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace.
Take a look at the courtside seats for the next Clippers game you watch; you can see anyone from Michael Clarke Duncan to Rihanna. Stars come out to see stars.
Chippy-ness
Sure it's a word, and you know what it means. Any NBA rivalry has to have a little nastiness to it, to intrigue us. Blake Griffin and Matt Barnes just ensured about 10,000 more viewers for tonight's game with their little tiff.
Check this exchange out between the two:
The teams can say what they want out of their mouth about it not being a rivalry, but all the hard fouls, technicals and barbs in press conferences tell a different story. The Clippers want respect and keys to the city, while the Lakers don't want to give it up, or even acknowledge the Clippers as relevant.
This type of thing is exactly what great rivalries are made of.
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