Are the Clippers Closing the Gap with the Lakers? Not Quite

Los Angeles may find itself with two serious NBA Teams, now that the Clippers have shown that they’re ready for the next step. After last night’s pre-season game, the Clippers were out to prove a point that they no longer want to be in the Lakers shadow ,while the Lakers were adjusting to a new system and rotation for the season. A buzz was created that the gap between the two Los Angeles Basketball franchises is being closed, but is it really? Are the Clippers FINALLY catching up to  the Lakers? Can the Clippers becomes Los Angeles “IT” team? My answer is “not really”.

Before Clippers fans jump all over me and attack me, hear me out. The Clippers in the off-season made a big point of signing Caron Butler, Chauncy Billups and making the big trade for Chris Paul, but the blowout of the Lakers in the pre-season didn’t really show that the gap is closing, but that the Clippers will be a completely different team. The Clippers can beat the Lakers twice in the pre-season, then go on and win one game against the Lakers. While the Clippers were looking to make a point, the Lakers were testing rotations and seeing who fits where. Monday, no one saw a blowout, but it is the pre-season and Lakers aren’t known to play well in the pre-season.

Now, another thing that seperates the Lakers and Clippers as far as the gap goes, is that the Lakers are still the team to see. The Lakers have one of the best owners if not THE BEST owner, in Jerry Buss, and he made sure the Lakers are still the hottest ticket in town. While the Clippers finished on top of the Lakers in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 season, the Lakers were top 10 in attendence regardless of their record. The Clippers could finish with a better record than the Lakers, but the Lakers will remain the top ticket in town unless something major happens.

Finally, the point I usally hate bringing up is upon the rafters of Staples Center itself. The Clippers have only made the playoffs three times, and have gotten out of the first round just once since the move to Los Angeles. The Lakers have a standard of being Title contenders every single year, while the Clippers struggle to be playoff contenders. The Clippers this year will have to do a lot now and in the future, to even close the gap, but as long as the Lakers have Jerry Buss, Mitch Kupchack and Kobe Bryant, it will be hard to close it. Every move the Clippers have made towards the Lakers, the Lakers manage to move farther away, which means more Finals apperances and titles.

My main point is this: If the Clippers want to close the gap, beating the Lakers alone won’t do it. They’ll have to do it on the court and off the court. They beat the Lakers in the pre-season, now they have to do it when it counts multiple times, win titles, and so on. So far, you’re making the right moves but its not quite doing it yet.

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"Editor’s Note– Here’s how some of our other staff responded when asked if the Clippers were closing the gap:"

Derek: In a word, when you judge it by the offseason moves: YES.

Mr. LA Sports Fan: Not yet. The Clippers have the Lakers beat in terms of raw talent, but the Purple and Gold still have the edge with regard to intangibles. The Lakers are battle-tested and experienced. The Clippers are young, and just like Miami, they’ll need time to build their chemistry before surging to the top of the power rankings.

Michael: I think it’s starting slowly close, but definitely not closed. We lack the evidence that the Clippers know how to win together. So until they can show that they can, the gap is still as wide as ever, regardless of illusions.

Eugene: What gap?

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