Clips Passing in the Night?

This could be the beginning of a fun era for the Clippers and something unfamiliar for the Lakers.

The Clippers have a new attitude and are eager to finally share top billing with their higher-profile rival, or at least prove two teams are deserving of the marquee. Perception is hard to change, and it’s still early, but they’re off to a good start.

As the Lakers play host to the Clippers tonight at Staples Center, L.A.’s “other team” might be its best now and well into future.

“Things could be changing,” Clipper forward Elton Brand said. “It’s early, but it’s somewhat of a role reversal.”

And it’s not an overnight trend.

The Clippers were the best team at Staples last season, with a record of 37-45, good for third in the Western Conference’s Pacific Division, three games ahead of the fourth-place Lakers. The Clippers and Lakers split the season series, 2-2, in the Lakers’ first year after center Shaquille O’Neal’s departure, and the Lakers lead the all-time series, 124-41.

At 6-2 this season, the Clippers have their best record in franchise history through eight games. They routed the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

The Lakers started 3-1, lost three in a row and evened their record at 4-4 with a victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Up next, an in-house rivalry that’s suddenly competitive.

“We play in the same building, and the fans and the media make the game so serious, so, yeah, it’s a big game for us,” Clipper center Chris Kaman said. “Maybe, in the back of our minds, we want to get this one because of the city.”

Of course, it’s not time to signal a changing of the guard after only eight games, but even the Lakers are impressed.

“They have a quality scoring group together,” said Coach Phil Jackson, 17-3 against the Clippers in his first stint with the Lakers.

“They started off very well. They should be a team that should be able to compete this year if health stays with them.”

The Clippers believe they’re a playoff-caliber team because of the off-season addition of guards Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley, and more depth compared with last season. Even the loss of promising second-year point guard Shaun Livingston, sidelined indefinitely because of back problems, has not curtailed their enthusiasm.

And with key players such as Brand, forward Corey Maggette, Mobley and Kaman under multiyear contracts, the Clippers say they’re built for long-term success.

“These are the new Clippers,” Maggette said. “I’ve been here for six seasons of losing, but it’s different now. We just don’t want to get cocky or bigheaded about being 6-2. It’s early.”

The Clippers have had only five winning seasons and six playoff appearances in 34 seasons. The team hasn’t finished .500 in more than a decade.

The Lakers have won nine NBA championships since 1972. They have failed to qualify for postseason play twice since the 1975-76 season.

Obviously, the Clippers are still playing catch-up.

“We have a lot to accomplish to get to their level,” Maggette said. “The Lakers have so much tradition with wins and rings, and we don’t have any, so the biggest statement is just to win every game.”

But history can’t be changed.

“Your organization starts at the top, and everybody knows that,” Jackson said. “What the direction is, and the desire is from that, a lot of times is what spills out of the end result. I’m not saying anything about the direction [of] the Clippers [in the past], but they always [seemed] to be content with a certain level of play.

“This time, they’ve made a commitment. It’s good to see. It’s good for the NBA, it’s good for Los Angeles, and people that have been Clipper fans. I know they’re happy with it.”

Sensing the Clippers were on the rise, Laker All-Star guard Kobe Bryant said he strongly considered signing with them as a free agent before last season. Bryant accepted a seven-year, $136.4-million deal to remain with the Lakers.

“After I signed with the Lakers, I said that the Clippers are going to be turning things around,” Bryant said. “That’s just the impression I got. That’s what they told me, and that’s the imagery I had from them.

“It just seemed like they were ready to take the next step, and the owner was committed to making it happen. So it’s really not surprising to me that they went out and made the acquisitions that they did.”

Cassell and Mobley have provided the difference, the Clippers said.

In addition to scoring and leadership, they have brought a swagger.

“I didn’t come here to lose,” Mobley said. “I knew these guys had talent, the talent to compete with the best teams, but you can’t win just with talent in this league.

“You have to know how to win ... you have to understand about playing the game the right way. That’s what me and Sam brought.”

Cassell and Mobley encouraged players to ignore the team’s history and focus on the present, and General Manager Elgin Baylor does too.

“I don’t look back. We’re looking toward the future with this ballclub,” Baylor said. “That’s the way we should approach it. That’s what we should stay focused on.

“We want to be a winning team, and if being a winning team makes you the premier team in town, then that’s great.”

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The Clippers signed backup point guard Howard Eisley, an 11-year veteran who has averaged 6.7 points and 3.6 assists in his career.... Cassell was excused from practice Thursday because of a family emergency, a team spokesman said.... Clipper guard Quinton Ross, who left Tuesday’s game because of back spasms, received a cortisone shot and did not practice.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Battle of L.A.

Lakers vs. Clippers

Tonight, 7:30

Staples Center, Ch. 5, FSNW

*--* HOW THEY COMPARE

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How the Lakers and Clippers match up, with NBA rank through Wednesday’s games:

*--* LAKERS CLIPPERS AVG. RANK AVG. RANK PPG 93.9 20 99.0 7t FG% 438 17 463 10 FT% 734 19 797 3 3-pt.% 308 25 313 24 Reb. 41.50 19 43.75 6 Assists 19.63 20 21.25 10 Steals 8.25 9 6.63 23 TO 16.88 26 16.75 25

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