The Lakers and Clippers have not yet even played a game against each other with their revamped rosters, but Kawhi Leonard has already started the war of the words. In his introductory press conference with his new team, the Klaw pointed out that the Clippers have been the superior team in the past few years:
Kawhi Leonard on the shadow of the #Lakers – "I mean… The last few years, as far as from a basketball standpoint, the #Clippers have been the better team."
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) July 24, 2019
The Clippers have long been considered to be the little brother of the two Los Angeles teams. The Lakers consistently got more media coverage, attracted bigger names, and simply won more games.
However, Kawhi is right that the script has been flipped in the past seasons. While the Clippers still haven't had any sustained playoff success, the Lakers haven't made the playoffs in six years.
This is the first time both teams have been serious title contenders. Both L.A. teams have become marquee destinations. Both teams boast a duo of superstars that are arguably the best in the league. Both teams have assembled a supporting cast that is deep and skilled, with possible stars in the making.
The days of the Clippers being a team to be taken lightly are definitely over, and the STAPLES Center matchups between the neighbors are sure to provide some great basketball. Only time will tell which L.A team will end up on top this year.
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