Clippers vs. Lakers: Lob City Takes over Staples When Lakers Welcome Clippers

You never want to write the obituary of the team that has given you so much joy in the past, but it's time for me to concede that the Los Angeles Clippers are the team that will flourish in 2012, while the Lakers continue to embarrass themselves. 

Call them what you want: Lob City, The Clip Show or Lob Angeles. I will put forth a less sexy moniker that is far more fitting and relevant. 

The Lakers come into Wednesday's Civil War with no excuses. The dudes down the hall may be getting back Chris Paul, but there is always the hope that rust pervades on his jump shot.

Consider that the Lakers have had since Sunday to rest, relax and prepare, not that I expect it to matter.  

The glass that I usually see as half full suddenly seems to be missing a great deal of substance. The Lakers are slower this season, more plodding and predictable. Dare I say, they are horrendous. 

The star quality that usually rests with the Lakers is all Clippers fare at the moment. While they have Blake Griffin dunking, we have Pau Gasol playing away from the basket and complaining. 

They have DeAndre Jordan jamming, and we settle for Andrew Bynum getting passed over for Black Mamba shots. 

The Lakers are coming off a three-game losing streak that would better be described as a gruesome scene from one of the Saw movies. 

They were punked by a Dwyane Wade-less Heat team, trounced by the Orlando Magic and then undone by a Pacers team they should have handled. 

I certainly hope Mike Brown's zany offense doesn't include the team relying on Kobe Bryant every game. You know, seeing as how he has only one healthy wrist at the moment. 

This team has gone 11 straight games without breaching 100 points, and they are looking far more confused in what they are being asked to do. 

Gasol is playing away from the basket, and he's constantly asking for more touches despite his 13.8 points per game and 41 percent shooting in the last five games. 

Gasol has lost his edge, Bryant is banged up and Bynum is being grossly underused. 

The Clippers welcome back CP3 and continue to get stronger, while the Lakers are torn asunder. Look away, Lakers fans, because the city is going down the drain. 

The streets that were paved with purple and gold will soon run red. 

Follow @gabezal