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Still not a Clippers town?

Are Kobe Bryant and the Lakers still L.A.'s favorite team even if they're no longer the city's best team?
(Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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The Clippers are favored to beat the Lakers on Friday night. By a lot.

But if that happens, and the Clippers beat the Lakers a fourth consecutive time dating to last season, it will still be a Lakers town.

Or so the Lakers say.

Coach Byron Scott chuckled at the question. He played on three Lakers championship teams, after all, and the Clippers have never made it past the second round of the playoffs.

“When they get about 13 banners, then it will be a rivalry,” Scott said Friday, cognizant the Lakers have won 16 titles.

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Los Angeles is “going to always be purple and gold.” Scott said, adding the Clippers have “a lot” of catching up to do.

The Clippers made some small indentations last season, handing the Lakers their worst loss ever, against any team, a 142-94 stunner in March that was a Lakers designated home game. Ouch.

The Clippers also won back-to-back season series against the Lakers for the first time since moving to Los Angeles for the 1984-85 season.

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But the Lakers say the overall advantage still belongs to them, until further notice.

“Right now it’s apples to oranges when you talk about the history of the organization,” said Jeremy Lin, in his first season as a Lakers point guard.

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