Clippers-Lakers Is Close To Becoming Real (Or Is It?)

[Wammy Giveaway]

As of today...

1 Suns
8 **WILD**

4 Nuggets
5 Lakers

3 Clippers
6 Mavericks

2 Jazz
7 **WILD**

9 Spurs
10 Warriors

7 Blazers
8 Grizzlies

Clipper fans on Twitter are somehow worried about the Clippers facing the Lakers, and rightfully so. Clippers have never gotten out of 2nd round in their 50+ years combined with their days as Braves in Buffalo, New York, and in San Diego, CA. The way the Clippers are eliminated is either one of heartbreak or humiliation. Since becoming part of the western conference, they have lost to nine unique teams (in order: Jazz (x3), Rockets (x2), Suns, Spurs, Grizzlies, Thunder, Blazers, Warriors, Nuggets). And if the standings hold as they are now, there is a big chance that the Clippers 1st round opponent will be their arch nemesis, the Big Brother Lakers. Why are they afraid, ask and ye shall receive:

1. Say the Clippers lose to the Lakers. The Hallway series has been one of the most anticipated playoff matchups for quite some time, yet the Clippers and Lakers have never met, not even once. Lakers have 17 championships to fall back on when things are dire, Clippers have only known misery. If they were to meet (finally) and Clippers did truly lose to them, it would validate the Laker's dominance over Little Brother in every way, especially now having a playoff series victory to prove it. Lakers would become the 10th unique team to deny the Clippers a conference finals berth. Their elimination could damage them psychologically to the point the Clippers are finally convinced their franchise is dead no matter what they do for the future. Kawhi Leonard could want out, and the team would be back in the lottery.

2. But, what if the Clippers were to win. The next battle in their quest to get out of the 2nd round may be of the heart by being forced to defeat Chris Paul, the former savior gift wrapped to them by David Stern and where Lob City was born. Part of the Clippers want to see Paul finally win a ring, and given their reluctance to win due to personal attachments over players who meant so much to them, it might not be a surprise to see Clippers drop the ball in a sort of wink-wink way. However, by virtue of beating Lakers, Clippers cannot afford to drop a series for any reason, and at any time. Get eliminated in any round, even in NBA Finals, and Lakers will have the last laugh: it'll be as if Clippers lost to Lakers anyway. Clippers will be forced to win it all, no exceptions, no extentions, no excuses. But it will ensure Kawhi Leonard stays, and they get a championship out of it for their troubles.

The risk of losing to the Lakers is great. But the risk of losing to another team after beating the Lakers is even greater. The time has come to face their fears.

Who would you rather face in the playoffs as your 1st round opponent?

[Kelphus]

fLakers in the second round. Clips are not going to fall from second, and fLakers would need to drop several games to get into play in games