SB Nation Los Angeles - Lakers Vs. Clippers: Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant Lead Lakers To 4th Straight Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2012-04-05T04:00:46-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26902822012-04-05T04:00:46-07:002012-04-05T04:00:46-07:00Clippers Vs. Lakers Highlights Include Blake Griffin Dunks, Andrew Bynum Faces [VIDEO]
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<p><br>The matchup between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> was full of spectacular highlights and moments. Let's start with the dunks (<a target="_blank" href="http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/4/4/2927030/blake-griffin-pau-gasol-dunks-lakers-vs-clippers-highlights">which you can just view here if needed</a>), shall we?</p>
<p>After the jump, a bunch of animated GIFs (if you're having trouble viewing any of them, click on the image and you should be able to see the animation).</p>
<p>Blake Griffin got a putback dunk over Pau Gasol.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032862/blake.gif"><img alt="Blake_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032862/blake_medium.gif"></a></p>
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<p>Then the Clippers center wasn't satisfied with his bloodlust, so he decided to put Gasol on another poster.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032868/blakee.gif"><img alt="Blakee_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032868/blakee_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Gasol doesn't seem happy at dying twice in one game.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032874/gasol2_1.jpg"><img alt="Gasol2_1_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032874/gasol2_1_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>Andrew Bynum made faces! Like here.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032877/bynum.gif"><img alt="Bynum_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032877/bynum_medium.gif"></a><br>And here.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032880/ooh.gif"><img alt="Ooh_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032880/ooh_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Let's finish things off with Kobe Bryant and those beautiful baseline fadeaways. Here's one of them.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032856/KOBE.gif"><img alt="Kobe_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032856/KOBE_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Then after Bryant nailed a dagger baseline fadeaway at the end of the game, he flew off into the night.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032847/kobe2.gif"><img alt="Kobe2_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032847/kobe2_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Just another day in the Battle for Los Angeles.</p>
<p><i><b>To talk about the game with Clippers fans, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com">head to Clips Nation</a>. To talk about the result with Lakers fans, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com">go to Silver Screen and Roll</a>. </b></i></p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/4/5/2927098/clippers-vs-lakers-blake-griffin-pau-gasol-andrew-bynum-kobe-bryant-animated-gifsAvinash Kunnath2012-04-04T22:23:10-07:002012-04-04T22:23:10-07:00Lakers Vs. Clippers Final Score: Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant Lead Lakers To 113-108 Win
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<p><span>Andrew Bynum</span> and <span>Kobe Bryant</span> helped withstand a furious Clippers rally in the fourth quarter, leading the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> to a 113-108 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> Wednesday night at Staples Center. The victory was huge in the Pacific Division race, as the Lakers are now up two games in the loss column over the Clippers and hold the tiebreaker by virtue of winning two of three games with the Clippers.</p>
<p>The Lakers managed to build a 14-point lead in the final minute of the third quarter, but <span>Chris Paul</span> led a comeback rally for the Clippers. A 26-11 run by the Clippers culminated in a three-foot hook shot by <span>DeAndre Jordan</span> with 3:30 left to give the Clippers a 104-103 lead. But the Lakers ended the game on a 10-4 run for their fourth straight victory.</p>
<p>The win snapped a six-game winning streak for the Clippers, their longest streak in 20 years. <span>Caron Butler</span> led the Clippers with 28 points.</p>
<p>Bynum had 36 points and eight rebounds, while Bryant had 31 points, six rebounds, and five rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 51.8% on the night. <span>Ramon Sessions</span> was magnificent for the Lakers as well with 16 points, six rebounds, and eight assists, and had a driving layup with 47.4 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a four-point lead.</p>
<p>Paul had 22 points and a season-high 16 assists, while <span>Blake Griffin</span> had 15 points, 14 rebounds and two highlight dunks for the Clippers, who shot 45.3% on the night.</p>
<p>The Clippers next head to Sacramento Thursday night to battle the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Kings</a>. The Lakers host Houston Friday night.</p>
<p><i><b>For more news and notes on Clippers basketball, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/">Clips Nation</a>. To quench your Lakers thirst, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Silver Screen and Roll</a>.</b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/4/4/2927102/lakers-vs-clippers-final-score-andrew-bynum-kobe-bryant-chris-paulEric Stephen2012-04-04T21:27:45-07:002012-04-04T21:27:45-07:00Blake Griffin Kills Pau Gasol Twice During Clippers Vs. Lakers [VIDEO]
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<p><span>Pau Gasol</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> had a solid career in the NBA, perhaps bordering on Hall of Fame worthy by all accounts. He's one of the most skilled European big men in NBA history, and was <span>Kobe Bryant's</span> partner-in-crime en route to two NBA championships. Gasol doesn't nearly get the credit he deserves for his offensive ability and overall strength and durability, using a variety of post moves to get on the board while piling up double-doubles throughout his career.</p>
<p>And now he is dead. <span>Blake Griffin</span> killed him. Rest in peace Pau.</p>
<p>Found out how he died [not once, but twice] after the jump.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://losangeles.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=26889" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="26889-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p>Check out the animation of this dunk.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032799/blake.gif"><img alt="Blake_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032799/blake_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>For some reason, he decided to come back to life and do it all over again. He chose ... poorly.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://losangeles.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=26891" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="26891-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe>
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<p>Here's an animation of this.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032796/blakee.gif"><img alt="Blakee_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1032796/blakee_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p><i><b>To discuss the result with Lakers fans,<a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com"> head on over to Silver Screen and Roll</a>. Discuss the game with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> fans <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com">at Clips Nation</a>. And check out the SB Nation NBA channel by checking the links below.</b></i></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL4460A111BD749236&hl=en_US" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/4/4/2927030/blake-griffin-pau-gasol-dunks-lakers-vs-clippers-highlightsAvinash Kunnath2012-04-04T15:24:17-07:002012-04-04T15:24:17-07:00Clippers Vs. Lakers: Game Time, TV Info And More
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<p>The red-hot <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> host their crosstown rivals, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> on Wednesday night in a battle that could help decide the Pacific Division. The two teams open play on Wednesday separated by just a game in the loss column in the season's final month. Here are the relevant details of Wednesday's NBA contest.</p>
<p><b>Records</b>: Lakers (34-20); Clippers (32-21)</p>
<p><b>Location</b>: Staples Center, with the Clippers designated as the home team.</p>
<p><b>Time</b>: 7:30 p.m. PDT</p>
<p><b>TV</b>: ESPN, KCAL, and Prime Ticket; plenty of choices to watch this game.</p>
<p><b>Series History</b>: The two clubs have split two games this season, with each team winning on their floor. The Clippers prevailed 102-94 on January 14, and the Lakers returned the favor with a 96-91 triumph on January 25. This is the third and final meeting between these two teams this season, so the winning team would hold the first tirebreaker should they end the season tied. The two teams have split their last 10 meetings with the Clippers as the home team.</p>
<p><b>Going Streaking</b>: The Clippers have won six straight games for the first time since 1992. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1984, the only longer run was an eight-game winning streak in 1991.</p>
<p><i><b>For more news and notes on Clippers basketball, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com">Clips Nation</a>. To quench your Lakers thirst, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com">Silver Screen and Roll</a>.</b></i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/4/4/2926267/clippers-vs-lakers-game-time-tv-info-espnEric Stephen2012-04-04T08:30:18-07:002012-04-04T08:30:18-07:00Lakers Vs. Clippers Preview: Why The Division Title Actually Matters
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<p>The winner will have the inside track to the Western Conference three seed and a chance to delay facing the OKC Thunder as long as possible.</p> <p>More than two teams will be present when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> tonight at Staples Center. Not physically in the building - but there in spirit, hovering over the proceedings - will be the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a>. With less than a month left in the regular season, the Thunder are the heavy favorites to take the top seed in the Western Conference. They've been the best in the West since day one and offer gruesome matchup difficulties for anybody, but especially for the Lake Show. Twice the Lakers have faced the Thunder this year, and twice they've had their doors blown off. If there's a path back to the NBA Finals for the purple and gold, it involves winning the Pacific Division, finishing with the third seed in the West, handling the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> in the second round and then hoping someone either knocks off the Thunder before the conference finals or wears them down enough to give the Lakers a puncher's chance. And none of <i>that</i> is possible without finishing ahead of the Clippers, which makes tonight's contest more than usually important.</p>
<p>With a victory, the Lakers would have a 2½-game lead over the Clippers, plus the season tiebreaker, with 11 games to play. A late collapse is always possible, of course, but the three seed would be pretty well in the bag. A loss would cut the Lakers' lead to just a half game - almost nothing, really - and give the season tiebreaker to the Clips, setting up a sprint to the finish. That's a scenario the Lakers would rather avoid. At age 33, <span>Kobe Bryant</span> leads the NBA in minutes played. <span>Pau Gasol</span>, age 31, is fifth and could climb the rankings if <span>Andrew Bynum</span> is on the shelf for a while with his sprained left ankle. As the regular season winds to a close, <span>Mike Brown</span> will (or should, at any rate) be looking to rest Kobe and Pau for the punishing playoff march ahead. If he has to go to the whip down the stretch, it'll be a weary team he drags into the postseason.</p>
<p>The two L.A. squads haven't faced each other since January, when they played twice. Both games were slow in tempo but high in offensive efficiency. On January 14, Chris Paul and <span>Chauncey Billups</span> combined to make seven three-pointers, the Clips averaged 1.17 points per possession (0.09 better than their season-long mark), and the Lakers fell by eight. The rematch on January 25 was close the entire way, but a balanced Laker offense sliced through Vinnie Del Negro's ever-shaky defense in the fourth quarter to seal the five-point victory. Across the two games combined, the Lakers scored 1.11 points per trip to the Clippers' 1.13.</p>
<p>Both sides have undergone roster surgery since then. Billups is out for the season, replaced in the Clips' starting lineup by Randy Foye. Also missing is <span>Mo Williams</span>, who's nursing a toe injury. <span>Nick Young</span> was brought in at the deadline to shore up two-guard depth. And we shouldn't forget the unlikeable <span>Kenyon Martin</span>, who's been enjoyably awful since he emerged from China and signed with the Clippers in early February.</p>
<p>So there are some new pieces since the Lakers last got a good look at their Staples Center cotenants. Fundamentally, though, the character of this Clippers team hasn't changed. The ball will be in <span>Chris Paul's</span> hands a lot, and he'll look to set up <span>Blake Griffin</span> as often and as advantageously as possible. Foye and Young are the wild cards. The Lakers, as they do seemingly every year, excel at defending the three-point line, but at times they overfocus on opponents' star offensive threats at the expense of checking role players.</p>
<p>There haven't been as many tweaks to the Laker roster, but if anything they've been more important. Have you met Mr. Ramon Sessions? Where once the gap in point-guard quality separating the Clippers and Lakers was the width of the solar system, it's now only the difference between the best point guard in the game (respect, CP3) and a guy who's very talented in his own right. Time was, Chris Paul could look at the opposite bench, see <span>Derek Fisher</span> getting ready for the opening tap and pretty much decide to take the night off at the defensive end of the floor. With Sessions in the house, turbo-charging the Laker attack, Paul has an honest night's work on his hands.</p>
<p>As with so many things in Lakerdom, tonight's outcome could depend on the availability and form of Andrew Bynum. The young center's defensive influence was a big reason the Clippers struggled to score inside in both January games. He's the one Laker large and mean enough to deter Blake's kamikaze dives at the rim, and of course he's a top post threat who could blow up the Clips' often-weak interior D. Will he play on Wednesday night? People seem to think so, even though Bynum skipped Tuesday night's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">Nets</a> as he rested his ankle. Even if he does go, Bynum's mental state and motivation are difficult things to predict these days. Over the past couple weeks he's been mired in a little rebellious phase. He's been benched for shooting a three-pointer, refused to participate in team huddles (while <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-simers-lakers-20120401,0,7504466.column">"getting his Zen on"</a>), <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7771310/sources-los-angeles-lakers-andrew-bynum-fined-undisclosed-amount-numerous-infractions">demanded more shots</a> and then was fined for blowing off a meeting with Mitch Kupchak. It's all a little concerning, to be honest. Just when you'd hope a team would be coming together in time for a late-season push, Bynum has chosen to become a disruption.</p>
<p>What's nice for local hoops fans is how the preseason nonsense surrounding these two teams has fallen away, leaving only basketball. Lakers-Clippers is no longer about botched CP3 trades, the "Lob City" nickname or the tired "Which team owns the city?" debate. It's just about two flawed but very good squads fighting for wins and playoff position. Classic, tangible goals. It's games like these, not the hype and related ephemera, that build toward a real rivalry.</p>
<p><i>Follow Dex on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dexterfishmore">@dexterfishmore</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/4/4/2924394/lakers-vs-clippers-preview-why-the-division-title-actually-matters-andrew-bynum-blake-griffinDexter Fishmore