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Clippers Complete Sweep of Lakers — A Sign Of Things To Come?

By Gabriel Gonzalez

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The Clippers completed their season sweep of their hallway rival Lakers with a gritty 105-100 victory.  After a one-sided demolition on Sunday, the Clippers faced a far more resilient Los Angeles Lakers squad who managed to keep the game competitive.

While social media might have buzzed with #BattleLA, the fact is that it is a story of a kingdom in the midst of revolution.  While the Lakers’ 16 championship banners hang in the rafters, the team in championship contention is the one in red and white (and sometimes blue).  While the Lakers kept the scoreline close, the Clippers talent made the difference.  For every push that the purple and gold made, the Clippers were able to stay ahead and ultimately win the game as the clock began to wind down.

“The Clippers are going to turn Los Angeles into ‘Lob City’ this post-season”

Both Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick led the way for the Clippers with 27 points each.  Just as impressively, Chris Paul recorded 19 points and 10 assists to bring him to over 13,000 points.  The milestone puts him in elite company as only Isiah Thomas, Oscar Robertson, and Magic Johnson have recorded 13,000 points and 6,500 assists in less than 700 games.  The Clippers also had plenty of help on the defensive end with 17 rebounds and three blocks by DeAndre Jordan.

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While the Clippers had another impressive night, the Lakers showed that they had reviewed the footage from the previous game and improved immensely.  Four of the Lakers five starters ended in double-figures led by Jordan Clarkson‘s 20 points.  The effort showed in the scoreline as the Lakers did not trail by less than 15 points for most of the night and stayed within range going into the final frame.  While Jeremy Lin made two free throws to bring the Lakers to within three, Paul and Redick made four-straight to keep the Clippers ahead and ultimately win the game.

Despite adding 14 points for the Lakers, Lin addressed the struggles the team faced on Tuesday night. “We were chasing Paul and Redick all over.  They move the ball well, attack aggressively and they’re very active.”

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The game also featured the return of Jamal Crawford who made his first appearance since March. Crawford made four points in 19 minutes.  After the game Crawford stated “It said 19 minutes but it felt like 35.”  Crawford’s return will undoubtedly help bolster the team as they had toward the post-season on a four game win streak.

The game on Tuesday marks the Clippers 11th victory over the Lakers in 12 games, a clear indication of the team’s struggles in recent seasons.  While the dominance of the Clippers over their Staples Center rivals is the best it has been in team history, the team needs to find success in the post-season if they wish to become a legacy that will one day match the purple and gold.  The brilliance of Chris Paul has been opened to a wider audience since playing in Los Angeles.

Blake Griffin has blossomed into a perennial All-Star, a starter no less, since he dunked his way into the NBA consciousness.  That said, the Clippers have yet to make it past the second round of the playoffs.  No amount of ankle-breaking magic, thunderous dunks, or regular season confetti will matter if the Clippers are unable to reach the conference final or further.  The Clippers have long wanted the limelight enjoyed by the Lakers, and they must now shoulder the burden that comes with the winning culture in Los Angeles.

The mentality had long been that the Laker season is not a success if it does not end in a parade. Likewise, the Clippers season will be viewed as a monumental let-down if they can not make it to compete for gold.

The Clippers will be back in action on Saturday in their final marquee game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies.

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