Lakers vs Clippers

Cross-town Rivalry Needs Another Slogan

With the NBA season hitting on all cylinders and ready to dive full-force into the playoffs, intriguing matchups will unfold with much hype and pre-game build up.  

Such is the case for most formidable teams that will feature a great story line, exciting match-ups, cat-and-mouse coaching, excessive media coverage and most importantly, Playoff-like Basketball.

So in preparation for the Lakers vs. Clippers game this Saturday, the airwaves in Los Angeles are back at it again, hyping a game with nothing to hype about.

Although the Lakers are 5-5 in their last 10 games against the Clippers and 10-6 in their last 15 overall contests, many Angelinos in the Southland like to think of this as a "rivalry." Or maybe, it's the media brainwash from ESPN as they lead into each highlight with the word rivalry and couldn't tell you what Pacific Standard Time is from Ralph Laurer.

First and Foremost, let's not forget what a rivalry is. Although there is the simple geographic proximity between the two teams and the fact that they share a lease for Staples Center (Hockey team Los Angeles Kings have control of the arena), the Lakers' sheer ownage of the across-the-locker-room Clippers shuts down any talk of "rivalry."

We don't call the Memphis Grizzlies rivals right? They beat us every now and then when Kobe doesn't feel like dropping 56 in three quarters.

Rivalries are created once they escalate to games that matter (I.E. playoffs, finals, games that "count") Great examples would be the Celtics and Lakers from the Bird and Magic days. From 1979-1988, the Showtime Lakers won five championships and the Celtics won three. Three of those eight championships showcased the two teams against one another.

The Pistons and Bulls of the late-1980's/early 90's saw basketball at its highest competition with rosters full of future hall-of-famers. Games were played with fierce intensity and defensive styles changed to special stipulations (The Jordan Rules). Memories from games like that can still be replayed in our heads and argued until this day.

So one should ask themselves…What are your Clippers/Lakers memories over the course of its history?

Is it that any decent Clipper has switched to the Lakers and we have sent them our junk in return? Is it Shaq's career-high 61 on his birthday in 2000? Or is it pimple-faced high school kids like Darius Miles looking for a pimple-faced Frankie Muniz to hug and Quentin Richardson leaping to the rafters after a 2002 victory…In January.

Overall, the Lakers have lost just two series in franchise history (1992-93 & 1974-75) to the Clippers. One sided rivalry wont you say?

So if you want to go ahead and call it a "rivalry," go right ahead. Just expect consistent results, similar to their 45-128 overall record against the Lake show.

Comments (2)

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written by Junior, February 20, 2008

HAHA 45 to 128. Why would anyone call this a rivalry? We only watch the Clippers when the Lakers ain't on!

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written by Styles1, February 20, 2008

They better prepare themselves for an ass-whoppin'... especially after the beating that we gave the Hawks tonight!!

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