Chauncey Billups and Clippers Are No Match for Lakers

But it is incorrect.

Billups was pretty candid about his feelings toward the Lakers, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

“They are trying to stack the deck over there, but I tell you what – I’m very pleased with my team and what we’ve been able to do and I will just say this – don’t nobody scare me, man,” said the former Piston with a chuckle.

Whether or not Billups truly believes that the Clippers are better than their cross-building rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, is irrelevant. As a member of the former, he cannot be completely honest.

We can.

Yes, the Lakers have attempted to “stack the deck,” and you know what, they’ve succeeded. Steve Nash’s acquisition alone was enough to transform the Lakers from borderline title contenders, into one of the few championship favorites. Add Dwight Howard, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks to an equation that already consists of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and you have a recipe for dominancy.

The Clippers, though? Not so much.

Bringing back Billups was a necessity, and to be honest, a shrewd move. Even at 35, the guy can still score while efficiently handling the point guard duties in Chris Paul’s stead.

But just because the Clippers have a perennial scorer in Billups and a supposed Big Three in Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, doesn’t mean they have no reason to fear the Lakers.

Donald Sterling’s crew may seem impressive on paper, but they’re simply not as deep as the new-look Lakers now are. Though a role player like Billups is a huge score, notable contributors like Jamal Crawford and Caron Butler are fading…fast. Factor in the one-dimensionality of both Griffin and Jordan, and you’ve got a team built to sell tickets, while merely feigning title contention.

And Paul’s thumb surgery—no matter how minor—is still surgery, and therefore a pitfall in the Clippers’ blueprint for success.

I’ll never go as far as to call Los Angeles’ red-jerseyed step-child a bust, because they’re not. They’ll win basketball games, plenty of them, in fact, but they’re not built to win when it counts.

Paul’s precise passing can only carry Griffin so far. Jordan’s ineptitude on offense can only be covered up by his defensive prowess for so long. And the Clippers can only maintain they’re in the same league as the Lakers for now.

Simply put, the Lakers are constructed to devastate in all facets of the game, from top to bottom.

The Clippers, though? They’re a porous formation with too many shortcomings on either end of the ball to truly contend for a title, let alone with the Lakers.

So, really, this is less about Billups and company’s declaration that the Lakers don’t phase them, and more about the acceptance of reality.

Because, in truth, the Clippers should fear the Lakers.

Among plenty of other teams.