A TRUE LEGEND NOT JUST IN LAKERS BASKETBALL AND THE NBA.
A TRUE LEGEND NOT JUST IN BASKETBALL IN GENERAL.
A TRUE LEGEND NOT JUST IN SOCAL SPORTS FOR THAT MATTER, BUT…
A TRUE LEGEND IN SPORTS, PERIOD.
I’m not going to go on about the nine NBA championships that he won – one as a player in 1972 and eight as an executive as he basically built the Magic Johnson/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar “Showtime” dynasty in the 1980s.
Or how, along with Elgin Baylor, essentially started pro basketball in Los Angeles as his rookie year in 1960 was also the Laker’s first year in Southern California, having moved to the Sports Arena from Minneapolis that season.
Or any of the other stats and accolades that he attained over the course of his career.
Or how if Yankee Stadium was the House That Babe Ruth built,
Or if Dodger Stadium was the house that Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale built,
Or if Pauley Pavilion at UCLA was the House that John Wooden built,
Then the Forum in Inglewood, which opened in 1967, was the House that West and Baylor built;
I’ll leave that for ESPN, Fox Sports, and other sports channels and news sites to cover.
I’ll just say this…
Without Jerry West, there would have been no Los Angeles Lakers as we know them.
And I’m talking about off the court after his playing career was done as well as on.
That was my prominent thought when I heard about his death this morning.
And along with the surprise of me posting Laker-based stuff on this blog in the middle of baseball season,
That will be my prominent thought going forward.
Of course it goes without saying that this multiple Hall of Famer and a member of the NBA’s All-Time 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams, whose impact was so big that he was and remains the model for the NBA’s logo,
Will be missed on an extremely pronounced scale.
REST IN PEACE, MR. WEST.
AND BE SURE TO GIVE BILL WALTON AND ALL THE OTHER HOOPS LEGENDS OUR PERSONAL WARM REGARDS
I can see why the NBA logo (at top right hand corner) was modeled after this man. Photo courtesy of si.com
The soon-to-be head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers? Photo courtesy of latimes.com
MY THOUGHTS REGARDING THE POSSIBLE OF THE LAKERS HIRING THIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COLLEGE COACH
It’s been all over the sports news in So Cal the past couple of days;
The Lakers seemingly very much wanting to hire Dan Hurley, the University of Connecticut’s men’s basketball coach whose Huskies won their second straight NCAA championship a couple of months ago.
According to various sources, the Lakers want this guy badly, to the tune of offering him at least $100 million according to the Lakers Nation site.
After reading the feature article and Bill Plaschke’s column in the Los Angeles Times regarding this coach and his personality and approach,
Here’s what I have to say about the whole thing…
It’s not going to work.
Hurley should stay at Connecticut and build a legacy there, like John Wooden did at UCLA.
Here’s why…
Dan Hurley, the son of longtime New Jersey high school hoops coach Bob Hurley and brother of former Duke standout and current Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley, has a personality that can be best describes as intense and in-your-face;
In Plaschke’s column, he quoted Hurley as saying that he can be “an a**hole” in order to get players to perform to their capabilities and win;
He has also had incidents with opposing fans in the form of yelling at them and saying things a coach shouldn’t say.
An intense and in your face style personality and style can work for high school and college kids – Bob Knight, the legendary coach who led Indiana to three national championships and was the leader of college basketball’s last undefeated team in 1976, is the perfect example of that.
But as far as men in the NBA?
One word…
NO.
Can anyone imagine Hurley trying to get in LeBron James’ or Anthony Davis’ faces when he feels they need to do a better job at something?
Not without some confrontations between player and coach that no one needs.
In short, men trying to feed their families in the NBA will tire of Hurley’s personality and approach fairly quickly.
And unless he changes such, which I doubt as one can’t change his personality in the tradition of the leopard not being able to change his spots,
Add to that the fact that successful college coaches rarely succeed in the NBA or even the NFL;
Pete Carroll, who was fired by the New York Jets and the New England Patriots before he came to USC and ignited the Trojans’ glory days in the 2000’s, and Nick Saban, who was fired by the Miami Dolphins before he became about as God-like as Bear Bryant at Alabama with all that dominance, are perfect examples of that.
Well, let’s just put it like this,
Should Dan Hurley be indeed hired as the Lakers’ new head coach,
I would give him two years at the helm.
At the most.
Unless they – at the very least – go far in next season’s playoffs, which I honestly don’t see them doing.
Of course, my opinion means absolutely nothing as the Lakers will probably hire Hurley and give him the keys to the Lake Show kingdom.
But that’s how I see all of this.
I’m looking forward to see how this works out at this time next year.
AN UPDATE:
Hurley did, in my opinion, the right thing and the smart thing in announcing that he turned down the Lakers’ $70 million offer to remain in Storrs, CT as the Connecticut coach and go for a third straight national championship next season;
Something that hasn’t been done in college basketball in nearly fifty years, since John Wooden’s seven NCAA titles in a row from 1967-73 in Westwood.
I wonder if he read this post and took my advice to heart…
FILE PHOTO: Apr 8, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley celebrates after winning the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Photo courtesy of reuters.com
HOW I SEE THINGS ULTIMATELY UNFOLDING FOR THE THREE SO CAL WINTER SPORTS TEAMS IN THEIR PLAYOFF RUNS
SEASON RECORDS AT A GLANCE…
Los Angeles Clippers: 51-31, Fourth place in the Western Conference
PACIFIC DIVISION CHAMPIONS, finishing two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns
FIRST ROUND OPPONENT: Dallas Mavericks, starting Sunday, April 21st
Los Angeles Lakers: 47-35, Seventh place in the Western Conference
Finished third in the Pacific Division, four games behind the Clippers
Won three of four games over the Clippers in this season’s Hallway Series
Beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 110-106, in the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 16th
FIRST ROUND OPPONENT: Denver Nuggets, starting Saturday, April 20th
Los Angeles Kings: 43-27-11, 97 points, Eighth place in the Western Conference (one more regular season game to go)
Currently in fourth place in the Pacific Division
Clinched spot in the playoffs as a Wild Card (as of now)
REGULAR SEASON FINALE: Chicago Blackhawks at Crypto.com Arena, Thursday, April 18th
FIRST ROUND OPPONENT: Dallas Stars if the regular season ended today, also possibly the Edmonton Oilers – TBD
L.A. Kings players enjoying a moment…
MY PREDICTIONS:
I’ll give the three winter sports teams,
Who happen to share the same arena in downtown L.A. for their home games – though the Clippers will be moving to Inglewood next season, playing at the Intuit Dome next to SoFi Stadium,
Plenty of credit for having solid seasons that ended with winning records and postseason berths.
However…
From what I’ve seen from those Lakers, Clippers and Kings,
They gave me the impression of teams that weren’t consistent enough in their play;
One night they would be outstanding world beaters, the next night they would be so bad, they’d lose to CIF State Champion Studio City Harvard-Westlake (in the Lakers and Clippers’ case) or the University of Denver, who won hockey’s NCAA title in what is called the Frozen Four (in the Kings’ case)
Because of that, and the opponents those three teams will be facing in their first round,
I feel I have no choice but to officially predict…
First round exits for the Clippers, Lakers and Kings.
In either five or six games.
I certainly hope they prove me wrong, as it would be nice to see a Lakers vs Clippers Western Conference Finals,
Or the Kings hoisting what would be their third Stanley Cup.
But I simply don’t see that happening,
Especially with the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard hurting and the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and LeBron James seemingly being so brittle.
So I’ll just go back to enjoying baseball and softball,
And rooting for the Dodgers to get it together as they haven’t been so great as of late.
A Clipper and a Laker going at it during a Hallway Series game…
CHECKING OUT SO CAL’S TWO NBA TEAMS AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH THEM SO FAR
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Season Record: 12-9, seventh place in the Western Conference
Third place in the Pacific Division
Winners of their last two games
Team Leaders:
LeBron James, F – 28.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 6.8 apg
Anthony Davis, C – 25.9 ppg, 12.5 rpg
D’Angelo Russell, PG – 17.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.1 apg
Last Game: Beat the Houston Rockets, 107-97, on December 2nd
Next Game: vs the Phoenix Suns in the NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinal, on December 5th
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Season Record: 9-10, ninth place in the Western Conference
Fourth place in the Pacific Division
Winners of two of their last three games
Team Leaders:
Paul George, F – 23.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg,
Kawhi Leonard, F – 21.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg
James Harden, G – 15.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.4 apg
Russell Westbrook, PG – 12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.3 apg
Last Game: Beat the Golden State Warriors, 113-112, on December 2nd
Next Game: vs the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, December 6th
HALLWAY SERIES – Lakers vs Clippers
Lakers beat Clippers, 130-125, on November 1st
FUTURE HALLWAY SERIES GAMES (all games at Crypco.com Arena):
Sunday, January 7th
Tuesday, January 23rd
Wednesday, February 28th
Thoughts:
A couple of honest feelings are prevalent in my head regarding those two NBA teams that have been sharing the same facility in downtown L.A. for nearly 25 years,
And they have been prevalent in my gray matter for a while…
The NBA season begins way, way too early and ends far, far too late; basketball season should NEVER begin in the middle of football season and end in the middle of baseball season; which is why college basketball gets it right with the Final Four being held during the first weekend of April.
and,
To be perfectly honest, except for the Shaquille O’Neal/Kobe Bryant (RIP) championship years at the turn of this century pro basketball in general died for me, at least to some degree, at the end of the Lakers’ “Showtime” dynasty around 1990 – I have always stated that those Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Magic Johnson-led Lakers in the 1980s would have absolutely slaughtered the Shaq/Kobe Lakers if they met in a best-of-seven series, me lately being generous in giving the 2000s Lake Show one win as opposed to my asserting that they would have been swept in four straight.
I particularly don’t know about this in-season tournament with the crazy decorated courts;
I understand that the NBA’s owners and other higher-ups want to boost interest in the league while college football and the NFL is peaking, and that they feel an in-season tournament will help with TV revenue.
But I guess I’m old school in the sense that it’s all just a bit too much for me.
As for how those Lakers and Clippers are actually doing according to little old me,
Two words sum it up at least at this point in the season…
Underachieving mediocrity.
Those two franchises continue to sport four of the best basketball players on the planet, one of them having broken Kareem’s all-time scoring record last year,
And their combined record as of this writing: 21-19
Which along with a little thing called football season still being in effect, more or less explains my lack of interest in closely following them at this time.
Which will probably change a bit later this month as Christmas Day is always a big day for the NBA with their many games being played on that holiday.
But unless the Clippers and/or the Lakers go on a tear and go deep in the playoffs,
Baseball will take precedence in my heart of a fan this coming April.
Nothing personal, but that’s how I feel.
I certainly hope those two teams finish at the top of the standings,
And if they meet in the playoffs, I will definitely give them full feature coverage in this blog.
You know I can’t do a post like this without including a pic of this man, who happens to be the NBA’s all-time scoring leader…
Looks like it rained on this outdoor basketball court…
THE REASONS FOR NOT HAVING BASKETBALL POSTS ON THIS BLOG AS OF THIS MOMENT ARE FAIRLY SIMPLE ONES, THAT ARE TWOFOLD:
I feel that November is too early to focus on basketball, both the pro and the college kind, right now as I’ve always felt that November – and especially October in the NBA’s case – is too early to start the basketball season
and…
Football season is still going strong, and beginning to peak at the high school and college levels with the CIF Southern Section and Los Angeles City playoffs in full swing and the traditional college rivalry games – including our Crosstown Rivalry – coming very soon
In other words,
I just feel that there’s no time for me to give the proper coverage that the Lakers, the Clippers, and UCLA’s and USC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams deserve at this time.
At least until after Thanksgiving, as my plans are to have articles on So Cal’s pro and college basketball teams in early December, after college football’s regular season ends.
So don’t worry So Cal hoops fans, you’ll see stuff on the Lake Show, Clipper Nation, and the hard court versions of the Bruins and Trojans soon enough,
As well as some of the other colleges in So Cal whose hoops teams are having good starts to their seasons;
By the Christmas holidays to be precise.
In the meantime…
Next week will be a big week for this blog, the biggest week of the year;
Being that it will be Crosstown Rivalry Week as for the tenth year I will be posting articles covering the annual and upcoming clash between UCLA and USC.
Among the posts will be,
The 35th anniversary commemoration of something personally historic – my very first in-person UCLA vs USC game, and…
A 30th anniversary commemoration of what was an epic Bruin-Trojan battle at the Coliseum that I had the pleasure of seeing live
As well as my annual preview of the game, my post game analysis of the game,
And the number one tradition of this So Cal Sports Chronicles blog…
My annual predictions of how I see the Crosstown Rivalry Clash unfolding and my pick of who I see winning the game and the Victory Bell, INCLUDING MY PREDICTION OF THE FINAL SCORE.
Which will appear on this blog exactly two days before the kick off at the Coliseum,
Which in this case will be on Thursday, November 16th.
So as I hope one can understand, although the hoops coverage will eventually appear there’s simply no room for me to do any real focusing on basketball as of right now.
But as has been the case since 2015, I’m planning this year’s Crosstown Rivalry Football coverage to be a good one;
The Lakers’ LeBron James (left) and the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (right) facing off during a recent game. Photo courtesy of th.bing.com
CHECKING OUT SOCAL’S TWO PRO BASKETBALL TEAMS AS THEY HAVE BOTH MADE THE NBA POSTSEASON
AND HOW I SEE THEIR PLAYOFF FATES UNFOLDING
Regular Season At A Glance…
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Record: 44-38, tied with the Golden State Warriors for fifth place in the Western Conference
Will be the fifth seed for the conference playoffs
Will play the fourth-seeded Phoenix Suns in the best-of-seven conference quarterfinals starting on Sunday, April 16th in Phoenix
Will face either the top-seeded Denver Nuggets or whoever emerges as the eighth seed from the play-in tournament in the conference semifinals if they beat the Suns
Top Players:
Kawhi Leonard, F: 23.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Paul George, G: 23.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg (currently injured, but may be available in the Phoenix series)
Russell Westbrook, PG: 15.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 7.6 apg
Ivica Zubac, C: 10.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg
Marcus Morris, F: 11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Record: 43-39, seventh place in the Western Conference
Third winning season in the past four years
Will be the seventh seed for the conference playoffs
Will face the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in a play-in tournament game at Crypco.com Arena on Tuesday, April 11th
Will face the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the conference quarterfinals starting on Sunday, April 16th if they beat the Timberwolves
Top Players:
LeBron James, F: 28.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 6.8 apg
Anthony Davis, C: 25.9 ppg, 12.5 rpg
DeAngelo Russell, PG: 17.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.1 apg
Dennis Schroder, PG: 12.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.5 apg
Austin Reaves, G: 13.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Kawhi Leonard (left) scoring on the Lakers with Anthony Davis (right) looking on. Photo courtesy of hoopshype.com
Thoughts and Predictions:
It’s nice to see that both of SoCal’s NBA teams who call the arena formerly known as Staples Center home,
Finished with winning records, and
Will play in the postseason
When the Lakers faced the Clippers in the fourth game of their Hallway Series last April 5th, it induced some interest from me due to the fact that the two teams had the exact same record going into that latest showdown.
Of course, that was before the Clippers once again showed who was the better pro hoops team in L.A. with their 125-118 win over the Lakers, their 11th straight and their 36th win in the last 43 meetings between the two clubs;
Not to mention the third straight year that Clipper Nation swept the Lake Show.
Which is why Janet Jackson’s classic “What Have You Done For Me Lately” is the perfect song to play for Laker fans who point at the 17 banners whenever Clipper fans lord their dominance over them.
As for how I see things playing out over the next two months for these two teams…
Having played well of late, and being that this play-in game will be at home,
Though I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they lost,
The Lakers’ chances of beating the Timberwolves and moving on to play Memphis in the official first round are pretty good.
However,
That will most likely be as far as they will go as that Lake Show is too inconsistent to give them a real chance of beating the Grizzlies in a seven-game series.
As has been the case these past few seasons, they need more lock-down defenders.
But kudos to LeBron and company for that winning record, which they certainly earned as they struggled mightily for much of the campaign.
The Clippers had a 1-2 record against Phoenix this season, and they’ll open on the road as the Suns will have the home court advantage in this first round,
But I see them having a decent chance to win and move on to the conference semifinals,
Particularly if Paul George, who suffered a hyperextended knee on March 21st and hasn’t played since, is healthy enough to be available at some point in that series.
If he’s not and doesn’t play, it will be a tough go and it won’t be surprising to see the Clippers’ season end early.
But if George does play, I like their chances.
Even if they will most likely fall to the Denver Nuggets in that second round.
If either the Clippers or the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals, I’ll have a complete preview of that and a prediction of whether that Lake Show will hang a record 18th banner in Crypco.com Arena’s rafters,
Or if Clipper Nation will be at long last celebrating that first title.
Until then…
The Clippers’ Nicholas Batum (#33) trying to guard LeBron James (right) as he brings the ball up the court. Photo courtesy of bonusbettor.com
A THIRTY-NINE YEAR OLD RECORD FALLS AS THE LAKERS’ STAR PASSES AN ALL-TIME LEGENDARY ICON
It happened about an hour or so ago at the arena formerly known as Staples Center (as of this writing, of course).
And it’s being kept in the Lakers’ family, which I’m glad about.
It was a foregone conclusion that LeBron James would break Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, which he set when he passed Wilt Chamberlain against the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas in 1984;
I was a junior in high school back then, and now being in my mid-fifties,
Well, that should illustrate how long Kareem held that mark.
It was a fadeaway jumper that sealed the deal, as shown here (courtesy of YouTube, click on the link):
I’ve always liked those white uniforms! Photo courtesy of silverscreenandroll.com
I remember LeBron as a high school super-phenom at St. Vincent – St. Mary High in Akron, Ohio, everyone proclaiming him as the chosen one and the next hoops legend.
After…
Four NBA Championships
Four MVP awards
Four NBA Finals MVP awards
Nineteen NBA All-Star Games
Three NBA All-Star MVP awards
Two Olympic Gold Medals for Team USA
A spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team
Four-time AP Athlete of the Year
Three-time Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, and now…
The NBA’s all-time scoring record
I think it’s kind of safe to say that LeBron has achieved exactly what everyone had predicted for him when he began his career with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers twenty years ago.
As he has stated that he wants to play into his forties (he’s currently thirty-eight) and possibly alongside his son Bronny, who’s currently a huge star at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth and as sure as I’m typing this will be a one-and-done player at whatever college he plays for and will be a very high first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft if not the number one overall pick,
It’s a fairly sure bet that LeBron will pass 40,000 points before he hangs them up.
But for now,
Let me join the sports universe in congratulating this basketball legend,
And officially state that I’m looking forward to his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame,
Which I predict he will be elected by a unanimous vote.
CONGRATULATIONS, LEBRON!
Going up against a San Antonio Spur. Photo courtesy of allindiaroundup.com
The Christmas tree display at L.A. Live in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of hero-and-leander.com
BEING THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON US,
WITH CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, KWANZAA, AND NEW YEAR’S EVE/DAY BEING CELEBRATED…
I believe it’s high time to post my official list of what I reckon the twelve pro sports teams and the two major college sports programs that call the Southern California region home would like to find in their Christmas stocking.
Having said that, let me go ahead and wish everyone a very,
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Los Angeles Dodgers: A shortstop, some more pitching (both starting and relieving), and another good hitting outfielder via the free agency route
Los Angeles Angels: The same thing that they’ve needed and have hoped to see in their stocking for the past several years – PITCHING, PITCHING, PITCHING!
Los Angeles Rams: A healthy Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, plus some good young players from the draft that can make an immediate impact in 2023
Los Angeles Chargers: A berth in the AFC playoffs
Los Angeles Lakers: A healthy Anthony Davis, a LeBron James that continues to play like he’s fifteen years younger, and a berth in the Western Conference playoffs that will result in a 18th NBA championship
Los Angeles Clippers: A healthy Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and a playoff run that will last past the second round
Los Angeles Sparks: A return to the WNBA’s elite
Los Angeles Kings: See Los Angeles Chargers, only substitute Western Conference for AFC
Anaheim Ducks: More talent so they can end the season not having the NHL’s worst record
LAFC: A second straight MLS Cup championship in 2023
Los Angeles Galaxy: A win over LAFC in an El Trafico postseason match
Angel City FC: A 2023 season that’s better than their inaugural 2022 season that culminates in a NWSL playoff berth
UCLA Bruins: A win for the football team in the upcoming Sun Bowl, some top football players obtained through the transfer portal – especially players on defense who can stop passing attacks – for 2023, a Final Four berth (at minimum) for both the men’s AND women’s basketball teams, a national championship in 2023 for the softball team, and great seasons for every other team, particularly baseball, beach volleyball and women’s gymnastics
USC Trojans: A healthy Caleb Williams for the upcoming Cotton Bowl, and an undefeated season complete with a berth in the College Football Playoff AND a national championship in 2023
The Grove’s Christmas display. Photo courtesy of thrillist.com
The Lakers’ LeBron James (right) going against the Clippers’ Paul George (left). Photo courtesy of actionnetwork.com
LOOKING AT HOW OUR TWO NBA TEAMS’ SEASONS ARE UNFOLDING TO THIS POINT
At A Glance / By The Numbers
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Current Record: 13-10, fifth place in the NBA’s Western Conference
Second place in the Pacific Division behind the Phoenix Suns
Key Players:
Paul George, F – 23.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.3 apg
Kawhi Leonard, F – 10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Marcus Morris, F – 14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Ivica Zubac, C – 10.6 ppg, 11.7 rpg
Norman Powell, G – 14.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg
John Wall, PG – 12.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.6 apg
Last Game: Lost to the Utah Jazz, 125-112, on November 30th
Next Game: vs the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, December 3rd
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Current Record: 8-12, 13th place in the NBA’s Western Conference
Fifth (and last) place in the Pacific Division
Key Players:
LeBron James, F – 25.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.2 apg
Anthony Davis, C – 26.2 ppg, 12.8 rpg
Russell Westbrook, PG – 15.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 7.3 apg
Lonnie Walker IV, G – 16.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Austin Reaves, G – 10.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Last Game: Beat the Portland Trailblazers, 128-109, on November 30th
Next Game: at the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, December 2nd
CROSS HALL / BATTLE FOR L.A. SERIES (all games at Crypto.com Arena – the place formerly known as Staples Center)
Clippers beat Lakers, 103-97, on October 20th
Clippers beat Lakers, 114-101, on November 9th
Tuesday, January 24th
Wednesday, April 5th
NOTE: Clippers have won nine straight and 34 out of the past 41 games against the Lakers
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook driving to the basket against a Clipper during a game from earlier this season. Photo courtesy of tonamcdonough.blogspot.com
A Few Thoughts:
For the Lakers and Laker Nation, that 2020 championship won in the COVID-19 bubble was a flat-out and straight-up aberration.
How can I say otherwise when during the two season before and after that triumph, they were a bad basketball team.
Like lots of other fans and pundits, I more or less buried them after they had won but two of their first eleven games, with their rival Clippers continuing to own them in two of those losses.
Being that they have gone 6-3 since then, including a bone-breaking last second shot loss to the Indiana Pacers,
Because they have been playing better of late after that AWFUL 2-9 start, I haven’t thrown dirt on that Lake Show’s grave just yet.
But I think it’s safe to give my opinion that they’ll be lucky to make the playoffs this year. Again.
Knowing that this won’t be a popular view – at all,
Only a commitment to a youth movement, which includes probably and eventually letting go of two sure fire Hall of Famers in Russell Westbrook and LeBron James (who will break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all time scoring record very soon) along with seriously letting much too injury prone Anthony Davis go as well, will return the Lakers to the NBA’s elite.
The problem is, that won’t happen as the fans will will not stand for any of that.
And neither will owner Jeanie Buss.
Such is the burden of a franchise whose 17 NBA titles is tied with the Boston Celtics for the most in history.
As for the Clippers…
Once again, they are the better basketball team in the arena formerly known as Staples Center, as they have been for the past several seasons save for 2019-20.
Incidentally, for all those Laker fans who are screaming “Count the banners!” right about now, I have a song that was a big hit in the mid-1980s that completely holds true today regarding that purple and gold-wearing team.
A song that needs to be the number one question asked of that club.
And a song that you REALLY need to listen to that I dedicate to you all;
It’s called “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” by Janet Jackson.
Here’s the link to the video (which former Laker Girl Paula Abdul choreographed and has a cameo in by the way), courtesy of YouTube:
If their two superstars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, could only stop missing games due to being injured so much and get healthy once and for all,
Those Clippers would be serious contenders in the West.
But until Leonard and George, whose chances to make the Basketball Hall of Fame are likewise quite good, can stay on the court and not be so brittle,
I see another season where they’ll likely make the playoffs, but once again will enter as a lower seed and will be lucky to get past the second round.
At least they’ll probably continue to beat up on their Laker rivals,
Unless of course Anthony, Russell and LeBron lead that team on such an incredible tear that reminds their Laker Nation of the Shaq/Kobe and “Showtime” days.
As someone who grew up during the time when Kareem, James Worthy and Magic Johnson were spectacularly leading that show at the Forum with Jack Nicholson and all the other A-list celebrities sitting court side with those Laker Girls doing their thing,
I miss those Showtime days.
I really do.
The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (right) driving on the Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (left) in a game in 2021. Photo courtesy of celengenkangen.blogspot.com
The football teams from SoCal’s two biggest institutions of higher learning in their 2012 Crosstown Rivalry Clash. Photo courtesy of gentlemensguideoc.com
RANKING THE FIVE BEST RIVALRIES THAT THE LOS ANGELES AREA HAS TO OFFER
There was a post featuring a photo of players from the various SoCal sports rivalries, featuring a caption asking which rivalries that the fans from this region consider the biggest and most intense in this area.
I posted my opinions of such in the comments section on both the Twitter and Facebook posts, ranking what I consider the top five rivalries in Southern California.
I thought it would be a good idea to list that personal ranking here;
The rivalry that I strongly consider – by a long way – the best and most intense one in SoCal was an easy no-brainer choice, being that I have played a relatively small part of such.
Let’s not waste anymore time;
Here’s my – and millions of others – choice for the number one sports rivalry in the greater Los Angeles Area…
No explanation necessary as far as these helmets. Photo courtesy of blogspot.com
1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (UCLA) BRUINS vs UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (USC) TROJANS
All-Time Series (football): USC leads 49-33-7
All-Time Series (men’s basketball): UCLA leads 143-111
That this is the oldest rivalry in SoCal sports – the first contest between these two schools was a baseball game that the then-Southern Branch of U.C. Cubs (they became the Bruins in 1927) played against the Trojans in 1920, the Southern Branch Cubs winning 7-6 – is only the tippy-tip of this giant iceberg.
For the past hundred years-plus, UCLA and USC have been joined at the hip in all the sports in which the two schools field teams, not just football and men’s basketball.
And from personal experience as I was a member of the UCLA Bruin Marching and Varsity Bands from 1988-1991, it has not always been an harmonious fit as in some ways, I would compare it to the Montagues and the Capulets from Romeo and Juliet.
Or the Sharks and the Jets from West Side Story.
Considering the successes those Bruins and Trojans have had in sports in general,
UCLA’s 119 NCAA championships being the most of any public college/university in the country, second only to Stanford overall, with USC’s 110 titles placing them third
USC athletes having won 326 medals in the Olympic games, including 153 gold (more than any U.S. university) , with UCLA athletes winning 254 Olympic medals, including 129 gold
Considering the many traditions that this rivalry has shared, notably the Victory Bell, which has been awarded to the winner of the football clash since 1942, and,
Considering that those two institutions are a mere twelve miles apart with students, boosters, alumni and fans swearing eternal allegiance to one or the other and seeing the opposite school as the enemy, expressing such not only during the week of the football clash but whenever they get together in any sport,
Well, let’s put it like this,
If there’s any sports fan in Southern California that has another rivalry in this area ahead of UCLA vs USC, I would very much like to meet him or her.
I could say much more about this Bruin-Trojan rivalry, but you’ll have to wait until the week of November 19th – which is when this year’s football game will be – for my annual Crosstown Rivalry coverage on this blog.
Some EL TRAFICO action during last week’s MLS Western Conference Semifinals. Photo courtesy of cappertek.com
2. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB (LAFC) vs LOS ANGELES GALAXY – EL TRAFICO
All-Time Series: Galaxy leads 7-4-5
NOTE: LAFC ended the Galaxy’s season twice in the MLS playoffs in 2019 and 2022
First Game: March 31, 2018 – Galaxy won 4-3
Most Recent Game: October 20, 2022, MLS Western Conference Semifinals, LAFC won 3-2
This may be the youngest rivalry in SoCal sports by far,
But in only four years and sixteen games (and counting), this El Trafico has been intense among the fans I particular as I recall seeing fans of the two MLS teams fighting on a clip posted on Twitter.
The fact that two of these soccer matches featuring these two teams located 12.3 miles apart have been in the postseason with the losing team going home has certainly helped this rivalry’s intensity.
And it will definitely continue.
A King and a Duck getting it during a Freeway Faceoff game. Photo courtesy of lakingsinsider.com
3. LOS ANGELES KINGS vs ANAHEIM DUCKS – THE FREEWAY FACEOFF
All-Time Series: Ducks lead 77-59-11-16
NOTE: The two teams have met once in the postseason, in the 2014 Western Conference Quarterfinals; the Kings beat the Ducks, four games to three
First Game: December 2, 1993 – Kings won, 3-2
Most Recent Game: April 23, 2022 – Kings won, 4-2
Last season notwithstanding, when the Kings made the playoffs,
This Freeway Faceoff has been played strictly for bragging rights in recent years as neither of these teams, located 32.3 miles apart, have been very good.
And neither of these teams have gotten off to good starts this season either, as I reckon this year’s games between these two teams will pretty much make their season again.
However,
That has oftentimes made for more intense games between the players and more intense interactions among the fans, and this rivalry has been no exception.
I believe it was last season when the Kings and the Ducks players got into a bench clearing brawl right at the very beginning of the game when the puck dropped, which was reminiscent of the 1977 comedy classic Slap Shot.
If that doesn’t illustrate how intense and (sometimes) hateful this hockey rivalry is, nothing does.
LeBron James (left) going against Kawhi Leonard (right). Photo courtesy of pranav-horton-web.blogspot.com
4. LOS ANGELES LAKERS vs LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
All-Time Series: Lakers lead, 104-62 NOTE: Clippers have won eight straight and 33 of the last forty games vs the Lakers
First Game: November 24, 1984 – Lakers won, 108-103
Most Recent Game: October 20, 2022 – Clippers won, 103-97
My biggest thought regarding this “Cross Hall” series?
The fact that after every Clipper win over their purple and gold-clad team, Laker fans always chirp about their 17 championship banners and how Clipper fans have no right to talk until they hang one.
The 2020 NBA title in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, my reaction to those Laker fans is summed up in five words,
“Stop living in the past!”
Which is why this rivalry hasn’t been on the front burner lately, the Clippers having been so dominating. Just retired and sure Hall of Famer in five years Albert Pujols in front of former Dodger Matt Kemp during a spring training game. Photo courtesy of zimbio.com
5. LOS ANGELES DODGERS vs LOS ANGELES ANGELS – FREEWAY SERIES
All-Time Series (regular season): Angels lead, 73-67
NOTE: Dodgers have won the last six games over the Angels
First Game (regular season): June 17, 1997 – Dodgers won, 4-3
Most Recent Game (regular season): July 16, 2022 – Dodgers won, 7-1
Until a few years ago, the Angels have saved their best ball playing for their 37.9 miles away neighbors as they have always seemed to have been extra motivated to play the more established, elite, and blue-blooded franchise.
Such hasn’t been the case as of late, however, as like pretty much everyone else (except for the San Diego Padres in this year’s recent NLDS), the Angels have been roadkill for the Dodgers.
I think that’s why Angel fans seem to have a certain animosity for their blue-clad neighbors, as since the Dodgers’ semi-dynasty – division championships nine of the past ten seasons with three World Series in a four-year span and their seventh World Series title in 2020 – began,
Those Halos from Orange County have been more of a red-capped step child than ever,
Especially since they’ve had seven straight losing seasons now.
This Freeway Series rivalry will become more of one when the Angels improve and start winning again.
But until then, it’s only the historical part of this rivalry, the two teams having met in spring training exhibition games since 1962,
That has gotten me to include it on this list.
Nov 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; in the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports I’ve always liked the color contrasts with UCLA’s and USC’s jerseys; it makes the Crosstown Rivalry that much special! Photo courtesy of limpingoncloud9.com