I am about to write something I’d never imagined possible.
But, in the city of glitz, glamour, big lights, and movie stars, have the Los Angeles Clippers surpassed the Los Angeles Lakers as the biggest basketball attraction in town?
The Lakers always have a way of staying relevant and competitive. Even before the trading deadline this season, we all kind of expect the Lakers to pull off something big, especially now. You would expect the Lakers not just to be motivated by the league/Hornets trading Chris Paul to the Clippers, when they would not deal Paul to the Lakers. But, the Lakers will be motivated because they are the number one team in L.A. Period. That’s their staple. That’s one of their greatest assets, that and their amazing legacy.
Only, Blake Griffin looks like he can change the fortune of the Clippers organization and change the competitive balance in L.A. while he’s on the court.
With the recent additions of Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, and now Chris Paul, the Los Angeles Clippers have revamped their roster and gotten maybe the steal of the off-season, swapping Paul for Eric Gordon, essentially. The Clippers also gave up Chris Kaman’s expiring contract and a pick, but in retrospect, is this deal any better than the one the Lakers offered? That deal would have given the Hornets Luis Scola, Lamar Odom, and Kevin Martin, three players who can give you 20 ppg on any given night.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have only lost Lamar Odom for a draft pick, so far. It’s fair to say they have taken a step back. But, I emphasize so far. There’s still time for the Lakers to pull something off. What I’m not sure. Regardless, that still leaves the Lakers with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Kobe Bryant and an aging Derek Fisher.
The Clippers now boast a lineup of Butler, Billups, DeAndre Jordan, Mo Williams, Paul, and Griffin.
I have to, at least, call it a draw. The Clippers have closed the gap. And the head-to-head match ups between these two teams should be fun to watch. We will not have to wait long, either, because the Lakers and Clippers meet twice in January, the 14th and the 25th.
With the season only a week or so away, this Paul trade has certainly made at least one team a lot more interesting.
And here’s another thing I think now, but would have never said in a million years before the Paul trade: I gotta get me some Clippers tickets!
Rob S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition living in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. De France has played, coached, and officiated competitive high school basketball in California for many years. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.
