The LA Clippers lost a barnburner against the Lakers on Wednesday night. After the Clips went up by as many as 19 points, the Lakers rallied to take a nine point lead themselves in the second half.
A heroic fourth quarter by Paul George sent the game into overtime, where the Clippers were unable to finish the job due to key players fouling out. The loss snapped the Clippers’ 11-game win streak against the Purple and Gold, a streak that dated back to July of 2020.
The Lakers’ win sent both teams home with a 3-2 record. Despite leaving with a loss, this game could actually end up being a blessing in disguise for the Clippers for one reason: it will allow them to stop focusing on the Lakers.
The Clippers’ loss will allow them to re-focus on achieving their potential
Fans know how much had been made of the Clippers’ exceedingly long winning streak against the team from across the hallway. In a rivalry where the Lakers have historically had the edge, it was truly a spectacle to see the Clippers have their number for so long.
But after a while, it almost seemed as if the Clippers may have been focusing too much on beating the Lakers and keeping their streak alive. Such an impressive recent record against their rivals was certainly always at the backs of their minds.
Of course, the Clippers came into Wednesday night’s game with every intention of extending the streak to 12, as they well should have. But since that narrative is now in the past, they can move forward without feeling like they have to beat the Lakers every time to be successful.
Instead, they can simply focus on building as a team and reaching their sky-high potential. The Clippers do not need to use the Lakers as a motivator or even as their measuring stick, and Wednesday’s loss will allow them to re-focus on themselves.