Maybe it's the Battle for LA, maybe it isn't. Historically speaking, the Lakers and Clippers don't exactly stand on equal footing, either in NBA titles (the Lakers have 16, the Clippers have none) or in popularity among the masses. But that doesn't mean they aren't standing nose to nose this season.
The Clippers won both preseason meetings between the teams last month, and defeated the Lakers 102-94 in their first meeting on Jan. 14. Chris Paul went for 33 points and six assists to lead the Clips to the win in the first meeting, but injured his hamstring in the process. He has not played in the five games since, with the Clippers going 3-2 over that span. He is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday.
When the two teams take the floor Wednesday night at Staples Center, a game that will be broadcast on both FOX Sports West and Prime Ticket, it will be the Clippers' latest chance to prove they're the Lakers' equal. With the Lakers having lost three straight games and the Clippers holding a one-game lead over the Lake Show in the Pacific Division, it might even be an opportunity to nudge their opponent off its pedestal as the best team on the block.
For now, here's how the teams compare, position by position.
Let the battle begin.
POINT GUARD: Chris Paul vs. Derek Fisher. Lakers fans still curse NBA commissioner David Stern for nixing the trade that would have put Paul in Laker purple rather than the red, white and blue of the Clippers. Paul's arrival in a preseason deal with the New Orleans Hornets on Dec. 14 lifted the Clips from a very good team to a potential elite one in the Western Conference. He's a pass-first point guard, but as he showed against the Heat (27 points) and Lakers (33), he's capable of scoring big when needed. Mo Williams and Chauncey Billups have picked up the extra minutes at the point with Paul out and have performed well. The Lakers had a trade for Paul squashed by Stern, so they're relying on the 37-year-old veteran Fisher, who's averaging 4.2 assists per game, second on the team behind Kobe Bryant's 5.6, but is no longer a scoring threat. Backup Steve Blake has not played since Jan. 11 with a rib injury and rookie Darius Morris has not been asked to do much in his six appearances, so Fisher has had to play extended minutes — not a good thing.
Advantage: Clippers
SHOOTING GUARD: Chauncey Billups vs. Kobe Bryant. Is there a better player in the league right now than Bryant? He's playing with a torn ligament in his shooting hand, but you wouldn't know it with his league-leading 30.5 scoring average. He's going to be a matchup problem for Billups, a savvy veteran who will give away five inches in height to the 6-foot-6 Bryant. But you don't defend Bryant with just one player; Billups will need help from Paul, forward Caron Butler and anyone else who happens to be near the Lakers star. Billups is a point guard playing off guard, but he's a three-point threat and knows how to create shots for himself. He's just no Kobe Bryant.
Advantage: Lakers
SMALL FORWARD: Caron Butler vs. Matt Barnes. Butler, one of three new Clippers starters (with Paul and Billups), has evolved into more than a complementary player. He has scored at least 20 points in four of the last seven games and shows no ill effects from a ruptured patella tendon injury that limited him to 29 games with the Dallas Mavericks last season. Barnes started the season on the bench, but supplanted Devin Ebanks in the Lakers' third game and plays with energy and enthusiasm. He's not the scorer Butler is, but he likes to hit the boards and doesn't mind banging bodies.
Advantage: Clippers
POWER FORWARD: Blake Griffin vs. Pau Gasol. This could be the best matchup of the night. Forget the fact that Gasol was trade bait for Paul or potentially Orlando's Dwight Howard; he gives the Lakers a reliable scoring option when Bryant looks inside and makes 51.8 percent of his shots. But Griffin, last season's Rookie of the Year and Slam Dunk champ, will give Gasol a handful defensively. Griffin loves getting the ball in the post, but he worked on his jump shot in the offseason and likes to test it early. He has recorded a double-double in 10 of his 13 games this season while also scoring 20 or more 10 times. Gasol will look for help defending him.
Advantage: Clippers
CENTER: DeAndre Jordan vs. Andrew Bynum. Jordan is emerging as a defensive presence, averaging a league-best three blocked shots a game, and is improving as a defensive rebounder, averaging 9.7 rebounds over the last six games. His highlight-reel dunks get a lot of attention, but he's still developing on the offensive end of the floor. Bynum, on the other hand, is establishing himself as a real force, averaging 15.8 points and 13.6 rebounds. Coach Mike Brown's offensive system — which evolved from the twin towers of David Robinson and Tim Duncan when Brown was an assistant with the Spurs — is making Bynum and Gasol focal points of the offense as Bynum looks to finally realize his potential. Jordan will need to avoid foul trouble if he's going to keep Bynum in check.
Advantage: Lakers
BENCH: The Lakers have been hit by injuries and absences among their backups, but the real disappointment has been small forward Metta World Peace, who was expected to strengthen the team's bench scoring. He's shooting just 32 percent and has whiffed on 29 of 34 three-pointers. Blake (rib injury) is the only injury affecting the Lakers right now, which hurts the team's depth at guard. Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy and Jason Kapono have been decent. The bench has continued to struggle, despite its potential. Clippers backup point guard Mo Williams isn't happy he's not starting, but he's making himself a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year with his shooting, passing and floor leadership. Recently added Reggie Evans is only 6-foot-8, but he's an energetic rebounder who's willing to take an elbow and get dirty. Randy Foye, who is 6-foot-4, might see considerable time because he's a better defensive matchup for Bryant. He has reached double figures in scoring in three of his four games since the Paul injury.
Advantage: Clippers
COACHING: Vinny Del Negro vs. Mike Brown. The better resume belongs to Brown, who took the LeBron James-led Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007, but was fired after the team lost in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals. Del Negro is in his second season with the Clippers after coaching the Bulls to .500 records in two consecutive years. Brown puts an emphasis on defense, and the Lakers rank among the league's leaders in opponents shooting percentage and points per game. He's also smart enough to let Bryant take charge on the floor, although his real challenge will be to make sure Gasol and Bynum get enough touches to keep the offense moving. Del Negro seems to be molding his team into a cohesive unit despite a shortened training camp, but the Clippers remain a poor rebounding and defensive team. If they're going to be contenders for the playoffs and beyond, they'll need to improve in both areas.
Advantage: Lakers
