2012-2013: Lob City Takes Over Southern California
Talk about adding talent to a squad and taking over the hype in a city. The LA Clippers did just that in 2012 when Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Ryan Hollins, Lamar Odom and Caron Butler would all join CP3 and Co. in LA to chase the playoffs once again under Del Negro.
The team came out of the gates quickly and became only the third team in NBA history at the time to go an entire month without losing a game. On December 30, 2012, the Clippers defeated Utah to complete a 16-0 month of December and state their case as a major Western Conference contender.
Later in the season, the Clippers would clinch their first 50-win season in franchise history and four days later they would clinch their first Pacific division title after they defeated the Lakers.
The season came to a close with a 56-26 record which notched the Clippers the fourth overall seed in the Western Conference and another date in the first round with Memphis. This was around the time when Memphis called LA “Flop-City” and brought flip flops to all of their home playoff games in that series.
The Clippers iconic season would once again end with an early exit as the Grizzlies defeated LA in six games en route to a WCF appearance after defeating Oklahoma City and then losing to San Antonio.
Despite yet another early exit, the Clippers were quickly becoming more than just the “other team in LA”. They were creating their own identity and forming a winning culture around guys from within and Paul. Let’s move on to yet another exciting season.