The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers shared somewhat of a rivalry in the past, mostly due to the fact that both teams played in the same arena. However, the rivalry took on a whole new meaning last season when the Clippers became legitimate Western Conference threats. To make matters more intriguing, the Clippers acquired Chris Paul last season, the same point guard the Lakers were on the verge of trading for until David Stern and the league office vetoed the deal.
The Lakers played the Clippers several times last season, and during a January meeting between the two teams, Pau Gasol patted Paul on his head, thinking it was a nice gesture.
Gasol and the Lakers were on the verge of winning the game and Gasol wanted to confront Paul. At first thought, the pat on the head seemed innocuous; however, Paul took offense to it then and still is irked by the incident. Paul spoke to GQ Magazine and how Gasol’s gesture was over the line.
“We call that sonnin’, ” he explains to me. “Like when I take Li’l Chris to the bathroom, I’ll walk with my hand on his head. That’s my son. You know what I mean? I understand that Gasol is that tall, but don’t do to me what I do to my son.”
Paul is one of the most competitive players in the NBA, and just like Kobe Bryant, he hates losing. Every competitor hates to lose, and Chris Paul is one of them.
The Lakers and Clippers have both revamped their rosters this off-season, so it will be very interesting to see these two franchises and these two stars back on the court.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuZqcF7-R_0