The Clippers are in uncharted waters for their franchise. They are the best team in the city of Los Angeles and a legitimate contender to make the NBA Finals in June. The franchise that for decades was the laughing stock of the NBA is now one of the marquee teams in the league.
The phrase this is not your father’s Clippers is certainly true. Head coach Doc Rivers was brought in to take Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and the rest of this group to that championship level, something Rivers did in Boston with the original “Big 3” of K.G, Pierce and Allen. They have been given the well-deserved nickname of Lob City by folks around the NBA and they do put on quite a show on most nights.
One of the more intriguing upcoming games will be when the Clippers take on the Chicago Bulls. Chris Paul against Derrick Rose would be considered a much anticipated point guard match-up a few years ago and now with Rose back in the fold, it is must-see basketball. Rose has missed more games than he has played since he was named an NBA MVP a few years back, but the Bulls have proven to be a tough team to beat even without him.
The Clippers will be very familiar with the newest Bull, Pau Gasol, who made the move to Chicago in the off-season as a free agent.
This is one of those match-ups on the NBA schedule that does not need much of a sales pitch; it really sells itself. High up-tempo offense matched up against a gritty defensive squad. They say defense travels and that theory will be tested this Monday at the Staples Center. Fans can find tickets available on the secondary market for an average ticket price of $177 dollars based on latest data gathered by Barry’s Tickets.
This is a game that might even interest Lakers fans, as this will be Gasol’s first trip back to L.A since leaving in the summer. In terms of the Clippers and the Bulls, they will not see each other again until March to finish up this inter-conference battle. It should be fun to see who sends an early season message to the other.
