Clipper faithful finally have a winner.

Clipper fans finally have a reason to smile. After 27 years in Los Angeles, Clipper fans have only seen THREE winning seasons. The Clippers have never won a division title, a conference championship or even sniffed an NBA title. But now, things are finally starting to turn.

It all started with the drafting of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in back to back years. They were set in the paint. Throw in a few players on the perimeter, and this team could succeed. However, Blake Griffin broke his kneecap and was forced to sit out his rookie season. The Clippers won 29 games in the 2009-2010 season. The following year, not much changed. The Clippers were still overshadowed by the Lakers, the team they share an arena with. They won 32 games, but you began to get a feeling that this team was on the rise.

Blake Griffin exploded onto the NBA scene with his electrifying dunks, but that was all the Clippers were known for. In December of 2011, Donald Sterling made a move that would change the Clippers franchise forever. The Clippers acquired Chris Paul in a trade from the New Orleans Hornets. Heading into the shortened 2011-2012 NBA season, the Clippers were finally on the map. Much to the dismay of Kobe Bryant, many believed that the Clippers had the best team in Los Angeles.

This is why parity is good in sports. I mean, imagine what Clippers faithful (the few that exist) are experiencing this season. The Clippers are 28-21 this season are currently in 4th place in the West. Lets be honest, if you like the Clippers living in Los Angeles, you have to be pretty strange. The Lakers have won 7 NBA titles since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles and are one the greatest franchises in NBA history. Come on. How did people miss that bandwagon? How can you live in L.A. and not be a Lakers fan?

Imagine how miserable it has been over the years watching the team that you share a building with win over, and over again. But after 27 years, you are a still a fan. Now thats devotion. There aren't many franchises in professional sports that have been as consistently bad as the Clippers. Maybe toss the Cincinnati Bengals into the conversation, but thats a different topic. The fans deserve this team. They deserve a winner. After all the losing, and all the shame, its time. Its safe to say they've now got what they've been waiting for all these years. Enjoy it while it lasts.


--GM