With the Lakers set to open their season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday Night, the questions about whether the Lakers are in the midst of a rivalry with their roommates have surfaced.
For much of the history of both teams, the Lakers have dominated in head-to-head contests and accomplishments, but the Clippers have seen more success in the last few years with the emergence of Chris Paul, Blake Griffn and DeAndre Jordan.
Doc Rivers was asked about the Lakers, and had some kind words to say about pundits saying that the Lakers will have a down year while explaining his thoughts on the rivalry with the Lakers.
"I hear all this stuff about what they’re not going to be. I think they’re going to be a pretty good team." – Doc Rivers on the Lakers
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 28, 2013
However, Doc Rivers said he is in a rivalry with the Lakers. "I’ve been it for a long time. To me, I’m in the same rivalry."
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 28, 2013
Rivers, as we all remember, was the coach of the Celtics during the Lakers run of three consecutive trips to the Finals, with the Lakers splitting with Rivers’ Celtics in the two meetings that they had during that span.
Rivers knows this organization well enough to have a personal rivalry with the team, and with the way the fortunes of the Clippers have turned in the last few years, the rivalry between the two teams could be a very real thing for the first time since they’ve shared the city, and the Clippers covering up the Lakers banners during their home games could be a sign of things to come.
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