Los Angeles Clippers' rivalries.

[SimonJ4Life]

As you know, Los Angeles Clippers were not that good prior to Blake Griffin's arrival, and they only got better ever since. They got that good that they now are considered title contenders. Now We all know who are the Clippers' biggest and only rivalry, and it's the Battle for Los Angeles, with the Lakers. Now the rivalry was always accounted as "Not a rivalry" because the battle has ALWAYS been one sided, and hopefully the next few seasons will be the same as 13'-14' season was. I say that the Lakers-Clippers rivalry always was and always be a rivalry, there is no doubt the 2 teams despise each other no matter what. So ok, Clippers are better, and it's their biggest rivalry, but it's also the only one. Of course Lakers in their history never competed on achievements with the Clippers cuz they were clearly better in the past 3 decades until very recently. So Clippers won't have their own equivalent of Lakers-Celtics rivalry, but who said they won't have a good divisional or or inter division rivalries? Title contenders deserve rivalries after all.
This is my list of LA Clippers' rivalries the way I see things:

Clippers-Lakers Rivalry: Hallway Series, Battle For Los Angeles, name it how you want, but fact is, there is no denial it's a rivalry. The teams hate each other, the fans hate each other. The weaker team will always look up to the better team. A playoff meeting between each other didn't happen yet, but when it will, be sure it will sell a lot of tickets, and the ironic thing is, all the seven games will take place at the same arena.

Clippers-Warriors Rivalry: Both share a similar history, both got better in latest years, both are Californian teams, both seek to be division champions, both never reached the western finals since they moved to California and both want it, and surely both teams dislike each other. A moment of almost-fight happened not once in their games, and most importantly, in the latest playoff in quarter finals, either team could have own game 7 and lose to the Thunder, the series was very intense. If people will look at it correctly, it may the West's next best rivalry in the conference for years to come.

Clippers-Grizzlies Rivalry: Way before people saw Oakland-based Golden State as a possible rival, Grizzlies were considered the next big rivalry for the Clippers besides the Lakers. They met twice in the quarter finals,
And in each time each team won. When a third clash will happen, no matter who will win as long as it happened, the. I will consider it a rivalry.

But in the end, Lakers and Warriors are the true 2 rivals of the Clippers.

Who do you guys see as Clippers' rivals?

[50CALguns]

It's the Lakers. No question about it.

Generally rivalries are forged in the Playoffs, through competitive battles, but in this case the inter-city dynamic is the omni-present, paramount factor.

I think the Memphis thing is over, Golden State will take it's place. But with expectations as high as they are, the Clips should be looking past those guys and targeting the Sonics.


As for an eastern Conf rival, I kind of like the idea of L.A. vs N.Y.--Clips vs Knicks

[SimonJ4Life]

It's the Lakers. No question about it.

Generally rivalries are forged in the Playoffs, through competitive battles, but in this case the inter-city dynamic is the omni-present, paramount factor.

I think the Memphis thing is over, Golden State will take it's place. But with expectations as high as they are, the Clips should be looking past those guys and targeting the Sonics.


As for an eastern Conf rival, I kind of like the idea of L.A. vs N.Y.--Clips vs Knicks

I can say for sure that most likely Chicago will be Eastern conference champions. I doubt it, but I HOPE and WANT for once the Clippers will get what they deserve, a ring.

[Wammy Giveaway]

The Clippers have many rivalries, but I'll list the significant ones:

1. Grizzlies: The 27-point comeback victory in Game 1 says it all. Memphis thought the Clippers rigged their way to a second round in the 2012 Lockout Playoffs. In the 2013 NBA Playoffs, when they realized the Clippers were one game away from a 3-0 lead and automatic series advancement, the Grizzlies woke up, got their revenge in four straight, and got Chris Paul ejected from Game 6 for the first time in his career. His ejection and rumored leave to join Carmelo Anthony with the Knicks prompted a coaching trade for Doc Rivers to ensure he'd stay in Los Angeles. The Clippers may not be tough as far as a Ron Artest-type player goes, but they are on line to becoming a more mature team.

2. Warriors: Golden State's return to the playoffs was a product of the Clipper's refusal to take them seriously in the 2012-13 season. L.A. thought Golden State was lottery bound; easy to beat and automatic Ws written in their schedule, but they underestimated the hot shooting of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. By losing three games to the Warriors in the 2012-13 season, Golden State gained a psychological edge, knowing they would always get the best over the Clippers. The Warriors even succeeded in scripting the ejection of Blake Griffin, nearly forcing the Clippers to trade their superstar savior in an attempt to get even (see Griffin-Melo talks). Losing Game 1 in the playoffs opened the Clipper's eyes into finally respecting Golden State as a title contender. Sterling scandal aside, the Clippers finally atoned for their sin of pride, beating the Warriors in seven.

3. Lakers: Sins of the father. In 1979, Donald Sterling helped Dr. Jerry Buss purchase the Lakers with a $2.7 million loan in exchange for apartment buildings. For his help, Buss thanked Sterling by introducing him to the NBA and encouraged him to purchase the Clippers from Irv Levin. Sterling even helped the Lakers in defeating the Celtics - the Clipper's true father - by trading Byron Scott for Norm Nixon. Everything Sterling did to help the Lakers resulted in tortuous Clipper seasons. It was the same thing as Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee selling Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1918. Though Blake Griffin's highlight reel plays paved the way for the Clipper's resurrection, it was technically David Stern's veto of the original Laker trade that finally gave the Clippers hope. Rivalries are born in the playoffs, even if for only one meeting. And the future has not been written yet.

[Neddy]

Of course Lakers in their history never competed on achievements with the Clippers cuz they were clearly better in the past 3 decades until very recently.

not true.

when Magic announced his retirement due to being found positive of HIV, our beloved Clippers made back to back playoffs under Larry Brown while Sedale Threatt led flakers were a lottery team.

[LACtdom]

I hope that we develop a rivalry with OKC simply because I think we are very evenly matched and will be for a few more years. Rivalries with teams we are clearly better than (Lakers, Memphis, possibly GSW) aren't very exciting to me.

[mttwlsn16]

I really enjoy our GS games since the 2 teams seem to hate each other

[SimonJ4Life]

I hope that we develop a rivalry with OKC simply because I think we are very evenly matched and will be for a few more years. Rivalries with teams we are clearly better than (Lakers, Memphis, possibly GSW) aren't very exciting to me.

The Warriors and Clippers despise each other, and let's admit it, the games between them, especially the latest Post-season series, where game 7 really could have any result and not just dominant victory, it could have gone either way. Both teams would lose to OKC. Clippers as of now can't really have a rivalry with the Thunder, since they are way better, no common history or anything. Let's not forget the Clips won one of the games in the series in a fluke. The Dubs and the Clips however do despise each other, both of them have weak history in California until recently where both team got a dominating duo (Griffin & Paul vs Curry & Thompson), and both are competing for division championship, and mainly, while both rosters hate each other, each roster has a point guard which is probably the best in the league, and they are best friends… now THATS a rivalry. The best rivalry possible for years to come, I say there might be even clashes between Dubs fans and Clips fans.
Unless Durant makes his own home return to the Wizards, OKC will always be the better team.

[QRich3]

I hope that we develop a rivalry with OKC simply because I think we are very evenly matched and will be for a few more years. Rivalries with teams we are clearly better than (Lakers, Memphis, possibly GSW) aren't very exciting to me.

The Warriors and Clippers despise each other, and let's admit it, the games between them, especially the latest Post-season series, where game 7 really could have any result and not just dominant victory, it could have gone either way. Both teams would lose to OKC. Clippers as of now can't really have a rivalry with the Thunder, since they are way better, no common history or anything. Let's not forget the Clips won one of the games in the series in a fluke. The Dubs and the Clips however do despise each other, both of them have weak history in California until recently where both team got a dominating duo (Griffin & Paul vs Curry & Thompson), and both are competing for division championship, and mainly, while both rosters hate each other, each roster has a point guard which is probably the best in the league, and they are best friends… now THATS a rivalry. The best rivalry possible for years to come, I say there might be even clashes between Dubs fans and Clips fans.
Unless Durant makes his own home return to the Wizards, OKC will always be the better team.

You really look like a Lakers/Dubs troll registering a fake Clipper fan account.

OKC are not "way better" than us, we'd have won the series 5 times out of 10 at the very least, and if there was a fluke in that series it was game 5.

If there is one true rivalry with this current team it's the Grizzlies, I'd love to see them next post season. They are quite underrated as well, I don't think it'd be a cakewalk for us at all. But in the end, for the Clippers to be taken seriously they'll have to go through the Spurs eventually, there's no rivalry yet cause they're the ones that are truly ahead of us, but it's the real test for us.

[SimonJ4Life]

I hope that we develop a rivalry with OKC simply because I think we are very evenly matched and will be for a few more years. Rivalries with teams we are clearly better than (Lakers, Memphis, possibly GSW) aren't very exciting to me.

The Warriors and Clippers despise each other, and let's admit it, the games between them, especially the latest Post-season series, where game 7 really could have any result and not just dominant victory, it could have gone either way. Both teams would lose to OKC. Clippers as of now can't really have a rivalry with the Thunder, since they are way better, no common history or anything. Let's not forget the Clips won one of the games in the series in a fluke. The Dubs and the Clips however do despise each other, both of them have weak history in California until recently where both team got a dominating duo (Griffin & Paul vs Curry & Thompson), and both are competing for division championship, and mainly, while both rosters hate each other, each roster has a point guard which is probably the best in the league, and they are best friends… now THATS a rivalry. The best rivalry possible for years to come, I say there might be even clashes between Dubs fans and Clips fans.
Unless Durant makes his own home return to the Wizards, OKC will always be the better team.

You really look like a Lakers/Dubs troll registering a fake Clipper fan account.

OKC are not "way better" than us, we'd have won the series 5 times out of 10 at the very least, and if there was a fluke in that series it was game 5.

If there is one true rivalry with this current team it's the Grizzlies, I'd love to see them next post season. They are quite underrated as well, I don't think it'd be a cakewalk for us at all. But in the end, for the Clippers to be taken seriously they'll have to go through the Spurs eventually, there's no rivalry yet cause they're the ones that are truly ahead of us, but it's the real test for us.

Well im sorry, i am a Clippers fan, and not a bandwagon fan, but i must admit, I thought the series between OKC and LAC will be the best series LAC had ever experienced, with even reaching to Game 7, unfortunately, i didnt enjoy it at all, when the Heat had no chance at all of getting into the finals, or at least be reach there and be a little weaker than before (as we saw its true, of course its not because they were weak, but because of lack of motivation to get a third ring), i thought its the Clippers' chance to break out with their first title.
but i do see a future against the Thunder, maybe a rivalry. but, as of now, i really gotta say the the Dubs seem like rivals, and not just rivals, if may i say, it can develop into being the best rivalry in the West for the upcoming years, of course i eventually hope Clippers will rival with Thunder when the Dubs get weaker, but as of now, even with their similar history, similar ambitions and similar current situation, i cant say anything on Clippers-Warriors relationship but the fact its an authentic Basketball rivalry for the same goal.
Lakers-Clippers rivalry shouldnt be called "not a rivalry". even though the competition has always been one-sided, lately for our advantage, you know the 2 teams hate each other, the fans do, Lakers call us the Younger brothers, we call them the olds who live in the past. fact is, the more we and Lakers hate each other, the more rivalry it is whether people like it or not.
The Grizzlies are another story, of course by now they have been rivals to us, with the playoff meetings, id really like to see another one, but im afraid we wont make it, even though we ARE good, and we are better, these lucky Grizzlies have 2 players that will always hunt us and the four straight wins that made us lose, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. However, i think, that a rivalry wont be happening. it seemed like one of those average clashes. of course they games against each other were always intense, but if tomorrow Gasol leaves the team, you can forget Grizzlies were even good. Lakers and Dubs, in my opinion really are our rivals. I hope to see soon GSW fall, and make me wrong when i said its a rivalry for years to come, i cant wait to see a Clippers-Thunder rivalry developing. however, you gotta admit, Clippers have proved us that no matter how good their players are, and boy they are great, they just cant seem to pass the obstacle of Second round, and in the past even first round, as long as Tunder has Durant or Westbrook remain Thunders, i just cant see Clippers passsing that obstacle. i want them to, but im saying what is logical to say, not what i want to see. Clippers have 2 All-Star players, that if each one of them left for his own, he would have been the Lebron of that team, but they are in the same team, and they cooperate perfectly, each one is good on its own way, but together they are a force, they just need better players around them. thing is, i dont how can you get any better players in those positions than Collison, Crawford, Jordan, Redick, and Davis. this year they have a clear backup center, so its all good, and even a better backup point Guard, but the SF position is as good as vacant to us.

[mttwlsn16]

I hope that we develop a rivalry with OKC simply because I think we are very evenly matched and will be for a few more years. Rivalries with teams we are clearly better than (Lakers, Memphis, possibly GSW) aren't very exciting to me.

The Warriors and Clippers despise each other, and let's admit it, the games between them, especially the latest Post-season series, where game 7 really could have any result and not just dominant victory, it could have gone either way. Both teams would lose to OKC. Clippers as of now can't really have a rivalry with the Thunder, since they are way better, no common history or anything. Let's not forget the Clips won one of the games in the series in a fluke. The Dubs and the Clips however do despise each other, both of them have weak history in California until recently where both team got a dominating duo (Griffin & Paul vs Curry & Thompson), and both are competing for division championship, and mainly, while both rosters hate each other, each roster has a point guard which is probably the best in the league, and they are best friends… now THATS a rivalry. The best rivalry possible for years to come, I say there might be even clashes between Dubs fans and Clips fans.
Unless Durant makes his own home return to the Wizards, OKC will always be the better team.

You really look like a Lakers/Dubs troll registering a fake Clipper fan account.

OKC are not "way better" than us, we'd have won the series 5 times out of 10 at the very least, and if there was a fluke in that series it was game 5.

If there is one true rivalry with this current team it's the Grizzlies, I'd love to see them next post season. They are quite underrated as well, I don't think it'd be a cakewalk for us at all. But in the end, for the Clippers to be taken seriously they'll have to go through the Spurs eventually, there's no rivalry yet cause they're the ones that are truly ahead of us, but it's the real test for us.

Prob vanilla/east bays 3rd acct