There are times in sports where the tension between two teams is inauthentic. Yes, games can be competitive. But that doesn’t mean there’s any real beef. That doesn’t mean they don’t really like each other.
But last year between the Lakers and the Clippers? It was apparently all real, according to an account in Jared Dudley’s new mini-book “Inside the NBA Bubble.”
Dudley talked about the real beef between the Lakers and the Clippers last year. Apparently, most of it stems from Paul George.
Dudley said the Lakers didn’t have a problem with Kawhi Leonard talking confidently about the Clippers chances. They didn’t have a problem when someone like Patrick Beverley did it, either.
But George? Apparently, that’s crossing the line, according to excerpts gathered by Harrison Feagan of SB Nation.
“We hear some of those guys talking about how they’re the team to beat in LA. It’s fine if Kawhi says stuff like that. He’s defending a championship. We don’t trip if someone like Patrick Beverley is talking trash; that’s how he feeds his family. We get it. We respect the hustle…But we think it’s disrespectful for Paul George, who hasn’t won, to put himself on the level of Bron and AD. This motivates us. When we see those guys around the compound, we don’t really kick it with them.”
Sheesh. Paul George really can’t catch a break. First, in the bubble, it was the Pandemic P jokes and hitting the side of the backboard in Game 7 of the Nuggets series.
Now, come to find out, George is actually the reason why the Lakers took so much pride in outlasting the Clippers. This seemed to really be a thing with George. It wasn’t just the Lakers that were bothered by him either — it was reportedly his own teammates, too, according to The Athletic.
It’s a new season now and George is playing well, so this is firmly in the past. None of it really matters anymore — especially since the Clippers have the second-best record in the Western Conference right now.
All I know, though, is that we absolutely need a Lakers vs. Clippers series. This has to happen. Please, Basketball Gods, give us this.
