Los Angeles Clippers: Sweet Revenge On Tap Against Lakers
Is this the face of the best power forward in the league? Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
The days of viewing a game against the Los Angeles Clippers as an easy win are gone. Instead, the Clippers are enjoying their finest season in their franchise history. The 2012-13 season marks the first time the Buffalo Braves, San Diego Clippers or these current Clippers have ever won 50 games. As an added bonus, they can aid in sending the Los Angeles Lakers to the lottery.
The Lakers aren’t too familiar with the lottery. In fact, they’ve only been out of playoffs twice since the Clippers arrived in L.A. Once was the 1993-94 season (led by Vlade Divac and Nick Van Exel) and the other was the 2004-05 season (Chris Mihm started 75 games … egads).
Check out this awesome video of Derek Fisher making his return back in 2004-05 .. .how many returns does this guy get, anyways?
During that time, the Clippers have been looked at as second-class citizens in L.A. Then, Chris Paul arrived and things began to change. The 2011-12 season was the first time in franchise history that the Clippers had a winning percentage higher than .600, with a .606 mark. This season, the Clippers are winning at a .658 clip, which is a full .132 better than the Lakers.
Because the Lakers have been so dominant over the years, it’s hard to consider them and the Clippers rivals. Yes, they reside in the same city. Yes, they play in the same arena. Until last year, that was where the similarities ended.
Now, the young and exciting Clippers are led by annual MVP-candidate Paul and one of the best and most explosive power forwards in the game in Blake Griffin. The Lakers have a more star-studded starting lineup, but they aren’t near as athletic and have struggled against the younger teams in the NBA that can take advantage of their defensive deficiencies.
In their previous matchups, the Clippers have dominated and are up 3-0 in the season series.
11-2-12 LAC 105, LAL 95 (20 Lakers turnovers)
1-4-13 LAC 107, LAL 102 (47-36 Clippers rebounding advantage)
2-14-13 LAC 125, LAL 101 (47-37 Clippers rebounding advantage)
Now that Pau Gasol is back to team up with Dwight Howard in the paint, one can assume the Clippers won’t automatically run away with the rebounding advantage. Still, the matchups just don’t favor the Lakers outside of whomever Kobe Bryant is up against.
It would be a much better story for the Clippers and Lakers to face each other in the Western Conference Finals, but the Clippers will take their revenge however they can get it.