Image by: elfidomx
By Thomas Stone
The sports hub of Los Angeles has always rested wherever the Lakers call home. Whether they were based at the iconic Forum – or the house that Kobe Bryant built, the Staples Center – no one has ever doubted the dominance of L.A.’s most famous team, the Lakers.
Now, it looks as if that reign is taking a hiatus, all thanks to the Lakers cross-building rival, the Los Angeles Clippers.
As of Sunday afternoon. the Clippers (or “Lob City” if you prefer) are tied for the best record in the Western Conference with Oklahoma City Thunder at 27-8, and just won their 12th straight game at home. That is as impressive as it gets.
But that’s not the biggest shocker coming out of L.A. – the meteor-like impact that is the fact that the Clippers have usurped the Lakers as top billing in the City of Angels is what is causing the ground to quake. It is as if Pepsi was suddenly outselling Coke. It is that big a deal, especially if you are a Clips fan.
Just a few nights ago, the Clippers and Lakers met for an anticipated derby showdown to prove which team is tops in L.A. The Clippers demonstrated their worth by beating their big brothers, the Lakers, by five points. That win by the Clips sank the Lakers‘ season record to 15-17, keeping them three games out of the final playoff spot in the West.
That win also cemented the Clippers’ superstar status in L.A. for the time-being, due to their on-court brilliance, and the Lakers’ inability to win games on a consistent basis. The Clippers also have their own stars now, reminiscent of the Lakers “Showtime” days, like internationally loved sensations forward Blake Griffin and point guard Chris Paul.
Because the Clippers are able to beat the Lakers consistently, and maintain a better record, they are, without a doubt, the best team in Los Angeles right now.