Well, it turns out they are, and with a huge win over the Pacers tonight, it's only a matter of time before these guys start making headlines.
That "washed up point guard" everyone was talking about... Sam Cassell... He just dropped 35 in the face of the now 3-1 Pacers.
That "tall white guy" that isn't enough of a presence down low... Chris Kaman... He just pulled down 22 rebounds.
The bottom line, is that this team is playing with heart. For those who don't know why this is even more amazing that it would usually be, the Clippers are playing without their franchise player, Elton Brand until at least February. Elton, by far has been the most productive Clipper in recent memory, and when he went down in August, tearing an achilles in a daily workout, the 2007-2008 season instantly went down the drain; or so we thought.
ESPN the Magazine predicted the Clippers to finish the season 14th out of 15 in the Western Conference, and judging by how last season went, nobody really doubted it.
Still though, I leave myself wondering "when is this going to end?"
Give 'em some credit
This is the media's worst nightmare. All summer long; Kobe this, Kobe that. All September long; Kobe this, Kobe that. All October long; Kobe this, Kobe that. Basically, in Los Angeles, the media is fixated on the enigma that Kobe Bryant is, and the impact that he has on the Lakers.
It's a fact that there is an overwhelming majority of Lakers fans Southern California, but if the Clippers keep getting swept under the mat by the media, something needs to be done.
The Lakers, fresh off of two convincing victories, fan's hearts hand, returned to style of play that strikes resemblance to a time when things weren't so great in la la land. That time happened to be the first three quarters of opening night, and just about the majority of the last two seasons.
The Lakers home loss tonight against New Orleans brought fans back down to earth from that two-day acid trip that the midday radio hosts had them strung up on. "The Lakers are BACK." "This team is for real." "Kobe is happy."
Sounds a lot like me the other day, eh?
Anyhow, The Lakers still posted four in double figures: Kobe, Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar, and Vladdy, but nothing really out of the ordinary jumped out at me this game.
The real story was on the other side of the ball.
Chris Paul broke a team record with assists, dishing out 21... yeah, 21 FREAKING ASSISTS.
Peja Stojakovic also broke a team record; three-pointers netted in a game, with 10.
Regardless of what really went on in this game, the hardcore Laker fans are going to say that the Hornets played unusually well. Considering the win brings their record to 4-0, we may have to eradicate the "unusual"; the Hornets look hot.
Around the league:
Speaking of hot, the team that ESPN the Magazine projected to finish 14 out of 15 in the west is undefeated. That's right, in case you missed it, the Clippers embarrassed the Bulls by a score of 97-91 tonight. An embarrassment by only 6 points? YEAH. We're talking about the Elton Brand-less Shawn Livingston-less Clippers going up against an Eastern Conference top five team at home.
Tally?
Clippers 3-0
Bulls 0-4
As cute as it is to see the Clippers on top of the Pacific Division standings, you just have to think that this can't last much longer.
I'm a realistic observer of the vast world that surrounds the Los Angeles Lakers. You can thank Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Elden Campbell, Cedric Ceballos, and Vlade Divac for making that possible. The greatest person of all time is Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn. There's no getting around that. Me? I'm eighteen years old and working my way to a journalism degree.
That "washed up point guard" everyone was talking about... Sam Cassell... He just dropped 35 in the face of the now 3-1 Pacers.
The Lakers home loss tonight against New Orleans brought fans back down to earth from that two-day acid trip that the midday radio hosts had them strung up on. "The Lakers are BACK." "This team is for real." "Kobe is happy."
