“Clippers DeAndre Jordan screams after slaming in two points as Rockets Dwight Howard is unable to defend him during second half action at Staples Center Sunday, May 10, 2015. Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-95 to go up 3-1 in the series. ( Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News ) “
Just as Magic Johnson spent over an entire decade winning NBA championships and cementing his permanent legacy here in Los Angeles, the Clippers provided the perfect contrast as L.A.’s other NBA team.
They lost a lot. They had terrible management. They made horrible personnel decisions.
All of which made the Lakers’ legend argue something he never dreamed of imagining.
“I never thought I would say this, but I think the Clippers can win the NBA Championship. They have a little bit of everything,” Magic Johnson tweeted on Monday. “The Clippers have outside shooting, Blake [Griffin] is dominating, the best leader and coach in Chris Paul & Doc Rivers and great team defense!”
Of course, this transformation did not happen over night.
The Clippers acquired Griffin with the No. 1 pick in 2009, a season-ending injury before his first year started delaying an eventual rookie of the year award in 2011. The Clippers then scooped up Chris Paul later that year in a deal from New Orleans after the NBA rejected the original trade to the Lakers. Doc Rivers came to coach two years later. The NBA finally dismissed meddling owner Donald Sterling after racially disparaging comments went public, and former Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer took his place.
But the Clippers’ chances to win this year’s NBA championship has improved. They have a 3-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals, and can close out the series with a Game 5 win in Houston on Tuesday. The Clippers also survived a seven-game first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, the former defending NBA champions.
“If the Clippers end up winning they would have to thank the Spurs, for pushing them to play at a higher level,” tweeted Johnson. “Clippers vs. Spurs in Rd 1 reminded me of the Bulls vs. Pistons. The Pistons taught the Bulls how to win and it looks like the Spurs have taught the Clippers how to win.”
Time and time again, the Pistons beat the Bulls in the playoffs spanning the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals (4-1), 1989 Eastern Conference Finals (4-2) and 1990 Eastern Conference Finals (1991). Meanwhile, the Clippers failed to advance past the second round for three consecutive seasons, including a four-game sweep to San Antonio (2012) as well as six-game series losses to Memphis (2013) and Oklahoma City (2014).
“Blake Griffin reminds me of Scottie Pippen. Scottie didn’t like the physicality of the Pistons but broke through in ’91,” tweeted Johnson, mindful that Griffin has recorded three triple-doubles thus far in the playoffs. “Before, teams could take Blake out of the game with physical play, but now he’s broken through and trying to lead the Clippers to the Finals!”
Will that happen?
Johnson sure hopes so, enthusiastically cheering for the Clippers as the Lakers stay sidelined from the postseason for the second consecutive year.
“I would love to see LeBron James and the Cavs vs. Chris Paul and the Clippers in the NBA Finals,” Johnson tweeted. “What a matchup that would be!”
And one, Johnson originally never thought would happen.
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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com