With five NBA Championship titles from 2000 to 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers have undoubtedly dominated not only the City of Angels, but also the entire NBA. Trailing only the Boston Celtics for the most championship victories in the history of the league, the success story for the Lakers isn’t new, but has that dominance finally shifted to “The Other Basketball Team in L.A.?”
The Clippers, for lack of a better word, have been awful since the franchise was originally introduced as the Buffalo Braves in 1970. In the 43 seasons since, the Clippers have made the playoffs only eight times, and have never advanced past the semifinals. To put that into perspective, the Lakers have missed the playoffs five times in that same span, while taking home 11 championship trophies.
But the tides may be soon changing, as the Clippers showed in the 2011-2012 season that they are tired of being overshadowed by the Purple and Gold. The Clips are currently in first place in their division with a record of 18-6, seven games ahead of the Lakers, and are only two games behind Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Led by the seemingly immortal athleticism of Blake Griffin and the finesse of superstar point guard Chris Paul, the Clippers, who are currently riding a 10-game win streak, have all of the tools to be a legitimate contender this year, and for seasons to come.
Los Angeles has been a huge part of American sports folklore and while the old ages of the Lakers’ stars seem to be finally catching up with them, the Clippers bring an exciting new twist to the city’s story. If you’re staying at one of Signature Vacation Homes’ luxurious Los Angeles vacation rentals, make sure you put one night aside to visit the Staples Center and get in on all of the action.