This is the question of the day, (for some people anyway). For years California's basketball culture has been colored purple and gold despite the state having 4 teams. In So Cal sports the Lake show reigns supreme by far!! In fact in parts of L.A., you could be in danger speaking anti- Laker talk. The Clippers on the other hand have made only 3 or 4 appearances in the playoffs in 30 years!! Since the Paul deal, people have instantly assumed the LA Clippers are instantly the the NEW POWER OF LA. Lakers fans are furious at the assumption. Let's weight it though. Chris Paul is a proven, leader, floor general, distributor and defender who will be teaming up with one of the most explosive, young front court players in the league, Blake Griffin, with a super solid supporting cast that also includes championship experience in Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups. That's a lot. That's a a lot running at you at one time.........BUT let's not jump to any crazy conclusions here people. How easily we forget. No, LA didn't win it all last year and yeah they were swept in the playoffs but it was by the team that went on to beat the Miami Heat for the NBA title. Other than the loss of Lamar Odom they're bringing the main core back. A healthy and rested Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Matt Barnes or yeah and some guy named Kobe Bryant that always has something to prove. This specific team has won 2 recent Championships and its two leaders have 5 as Lakers since 2000. Kobe is as healthy as he's been since 2007-2008. He won the back to back ailing, with multiple injuries including a fractured pointer on his shooting hand. Yeah they have a new coach with a new system but lets be real, KB24 and Fish run that show and if you think the BLACK MAMBA is gonna let someone come in and take the town, you've got the wrong sheriff. Kobe lives to be underestimated and doubted. Its more to changing a city's heart in basketball than picking up Chris Paul, no slight to CP3. This is where dominance of the CELTICS was challenged and won, where the NBA logo himself engraved his legacy, where Wilt Chamberlain changed the big man landscape of the league, where Kareem gave guys nightmare of the sky hook while running beside the greatest PG ever in Magic Johnson, and BIG GAME James Worthy finished fast breaks like whipped cream finishes off a banana split. To be frank, Laker nation has a run that is too long and too strong for a single trade to a franchise ,that has to figure out how to get there, to come in and RUN THIS TOWN!
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