LOS ANGELES — This figured to be a difficult season for the Los Angeles Lakers, but even they didn’t expect it to be this bad, to the point where they’ve won only five of their first 30 games.
But this season hasn’t been exactly what the L.A. Clippers envisioned, either. Their 94-84 victory over the Lakers on Friday at Staples Center ended a losing streak at three games and lifted them to 17-13, not awful but certainly not persuasive proof they can go deeper into the playoffs than their usual second-round exit in a punishingly good conference.
“You are what your record says you are, all the time,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said, leaving open the question of who they are.