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David Stern’s veto not just turned Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant from potential teammates to contenders but also changed the tide when it comes to basketball in Los Angeles
In 1984, the Los Angeles Clippers moved from San Diego to Los Angeles and despite a loss in their first game to the city’s more famous franchise the Associated Press dubbed it as the beginning of a cross-town rivalry. But was it?
From 1984 up until the time Chris Paul signed with the Clippers, the head-to-head record between the rivals stood at 98-29 with the Los Angeles Lakers enjoying a winning percentage of 77.16.
Multiple players and newspapers have stated that rivalries are built when games are played between two equally matched teams. Before Paul arrived there were three instances or seasons when the records of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers were pretty similar. Does being evenly matched in three out of 27 seasons qualify it to be a rivalry? Nonetheless, it was always called one because the two teams shared the same city and post 1999, the same arena too.
The rivalry could possibly be compared to the recently renewed Manchester rivalry in the EPL.
20 to 30 years into the future when this rivalry will be written about, Chris Paul’s move to the Clippers, after NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed his trade to the Lakers, would be termed as the turning point. His arrival not only attracted more players to the Clippers franchise but also, along with Blake Griffin, he took the franchise to the Playoffs and a winning record for the first time in five years.
During the season of 2011-2012, the season shortened due to a lockout, the records of the Lakers (41-25) and Clippers (40-26) were separated by only one game. That is the closest the records of these two franchises have been in the history of their rivalry.
Considering the teams’ current statuses, in the coming years that might also be considered as the last season the Lakers started as favourites to win the season series. The very next season was historic for the Clippers.
It was the first time they had swept the season series with the Lakers and the first time they had won the Pacific Division title since moving to Los Angeles.
The injury plagued Lakers are finding it tough to prevent themselves from falling into the bottom two of the Conference after losing 10 of their last 11
After the disastrous season of 2012-2013, the Lakers are in rebuilding mode while the Clippers look legitimate title contenders and are determined to go deeper into the post-season than the first round.
Friday night in the Staples Center saw a showdown between the two teams from Los Angeles. The Lakers playing a road game were blown away, losing by a margin of 36 points. The highlights of the box score were that the Lakers gave away 43 points in the first quarter and were outscored 31-8 in the third quarter.
Meanwhile for the Clippers, this game was sweet revenge for the opening day loss, a match that was stolen from their grasp by the Lakers’ bench.
This game might be remembered as the turning point in this cross-town rivalry. Over the last two seasons, the gap has gotten closer between these two teams and during that tenure no team was blown out the way the Lakers were Friday night.
The injury-plagued Lakers have now lost 10 of their last 11 games and are currently ranked 13th in the West, ahead of Sacramento by just half a game. The gap of 2.5 games from the Utah Jazz isn’t small either given the circumstances the Lakers are in.
On the other hand the Clippers are having a very contrasting season to the one the Lakers are. Despite losing Paul to a right shoulder separation in a game against the Dallas Mavericks, the team has won three of the next four games without him and has been a turnover forcing machine.
In the last three games, all victories, the Clippers have scored 76 points off opponent’s turnovers. The 16 steals against the Lakers was a season high and a huge testament to their defensive pressure.
The story of these two franchises might not be so for just this season. This might be a preview of things to come in the next few years.
Although Kobe Bryant has signed a two year extension with the Lakers, no amount of off-season activity by the franchise is going to make the Lakers a contender for the Playoffs, let alone the NBA championship.
The young superstar duo of Paul and Griffin, aged 28 and 24 respectively, will no doubt be the backbone of the Clippers’ franchise for some time to come given their age. Until the time they remain with the Clippers, a Lakers win would be considered an upset, when some years ago it was usual business to see the Lakers sweep the season series.
Unless the Lakers find another superstar to build around after Kobe Bryant, the roles will be irrevocably reversed, with the Clippers being the new championship contenders from Hollywood.
It’s funny how just a David Stern veto has changed the tides when it comes to basketball in L.A.
Guess the Lakers players!
