Bynum is alone on center stage

I guess we can dispense with that “intracity rivalry” angle for this one.

If both local teams still have “Los Angeles” in their names, the rivalry barely even exists in the minds of the Clippers, who are overmatched against .500 teams.

For the Lakers, the season series is four scrimmages that count in the standings -- two of which go down as road games! -- such as Wednesday night’s 108-97 romp.

Striking the perfect note, a Laker went for 42 points but it wasn’t Kobe Bryant.

It was Andrew Bynum, breaking his career high by 14 points. It counts too, even if he didn’t do it against Marcus Camby, Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman, but DeAndre Jordan and Brian Skinner.

In the Boston Celtics’ heyday in the ‘60s, everyone else swore that Red Auerbach ran the league and he and Mendy Rudolph, who refereed the big games, were business partners or blood relatives.

These days, the Lakers are the only team that plays 43 games at home and 39 on the road.

As Red would have said, is this a great league or what?

As far as the Clippers still being here . . . are they?

According to published reports, they still play in Staples Center. However, as far as being identified with Los Angeles, their presence is more ceremonial, like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

In this case, it’s more like the Los Angeles Clippers of Atlantis, as the franchise disappears before our eyes.

These days, you have a better chance to spotting Elvis than a Clippers starter.

You may remember, after losing Elton Brand (Clippers star for many years), Mike Dunleavy (embattled coach and general manager), who had, himself, just emerged from the doghouse of Donald T. Sterling (madcap owner with a legendary record of futility) put together a promising-looking roster.

Unfortunately, the operative word is looking and you had to look quick.

A 5-2 spurt took them to 8-18 on Dec. 19, awakening playoff hopes (for next season). Then Randolph went out, joining Kaman, soon to be followed by Baron Davis.

Randolph and Davis are expected back soon, although -- oh, darn -- it wasn’t in time to play the Lakers.

Unfortunately, a word comes that comes up a lot for the Clippers, they just lost Camby for two weeks, although that one’s on me.

Paying tribute to his professionalism, I wrote a column calling him the Last Clipper Standing. He keeled over that night, or at least twisted his ankle.

These days, it’s even dangerous for Clippers to rehab. Davis, who was out with a bruised tailbone, just tweaked his hamstring working out.

Of course, when everyone is out for an extended period, there is a certain level of eyebrow raising.

“I’ve heard it before,” said an upbeat Davis before the game. “I have thick skin. . . .

“Every team has to go through some hard times. Hopefully, this will be our tough time.”

If there’s worse coming, Dunleavy, Davis and/or the franchise may not make it.

Mismatches don’t come more pronounced than Wednesday night’s when the Clippers started Al Thornton, Mardy Collins, Eric Gordon, Skinner and Jordan, or as a team official called it, “our $8-million lineup.”

Actually, the official was high. The Clippers’ starters are making a total of $7.1 million this season. For purposes of comparison, Bryant makes $21.3 million, all by himself.

In one of the better-kept secrets in local basketball circles, the Clippers junior varsity has played its rear ends off.

Wednesday night, they rallied from an early eight-point deficit, led, 27-25, after one quarter and went up by six points early in the second period, led by sharpshooting Steve Novak (third-year forward, in his first season here.)

Thus alerted to their presence, the Lakers then squashed them. It ended in an exuberant dunk show in which Lamar Odom couldn’t contain himself, making a rude gesture -- it was either that or he was adjusting his uniform shorts -- as he hung on the rim after throwing one down.

With nothing else to do, the Clippers can, at least, play their kids, like the 20-year-old Jordan, who went for his career high, 23 points, too.

So there may be other days. Just not soon.

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mark.heisler@latimes.com