For the 160th time in NBA history, L.A.’s two powerhouses, the Lakers and Clippers, faced off against each other on the world’s biggest stage. Without their two best players, the Lakers lost this battle, succumbing to their rival with a final score of 104-86.
Still, it’s what happened before the game’s final buzzer that has everyone talking — a specific graphic made by everyone’s favorite network, ESPN.
We all know the history behind these clubs, and how truly different both franchises are from each other. The Lakers, who are (arguably) basketball’s most successful franchise, have a long and glamorous record of existence, headlined by superstars, mega fans, and 17 Championships. The Clippers haven’t been as lucky, and have instead spent most of their existence fighting for relevancy in a league that has never really taken them seriously.
Well, as the final buzzer sounded on today’s game, the past of these squads was once again put on full display, with ESPN displaying a rather brutal graphic detailing just how far behind the Clips really are in the grand scheme of things.
A look at the LA rivalry 👀 pic.twitter.com/75EIJYVBA8
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 4, 2021
Naturally, fans from all over responded with varying degrees of emotion.
This graphic seems so unnecessary.
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/ui8NHVSscW
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/Officialj0nn/status/1378829604530556929
Greatest NBA franchise of all time vs worst NBA franchise of all time
— Century 🅙 (@CenturyOG) April 4, 2021
Lmao espn with the Shade pic.twitter.com/1bcV2sQVO1
— LeTOPSCORERALLTIME (@TheGoated1one) April 4, 2021
as a clipper fan, I love this. it makes the wins over the lakers for the last 8 seasons all that much better. I could care less about franchise history.
— Mark (@BorePlan) April 4, 2021
*CONFERENCE FINALS APPEARANCES
FLIPPERS: 0 pic.twitter.com/7RppurvsUP
— Mike_Jr_The_III (@MikeRc_11) April 4, 2021
ESPN really doing the Clippers dirty. pic.twitter.com/Cvzv88fSDI
— Asterikus (@ASTERlKUS) April 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/KingJamesBeard/status/1378840290119852041https://twitter.com/notmalikk/status/1378829228360265728
By all means, ESPN did not do anything wrong by telling us the facts, even if it rubs some folk the wrong way. The truth of the matter is, the Lakers have always been the better organization, and until the Clippers start adding titles to their resume, they’ll always be seen as the inferior team.
Needless to say, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have the chance to begin to change that this season. We’ll see soon enough whether or not they’re successful.
