To start the NBA opening day matchups, a battle of LA's teams are set as the Clippers try to be the best team in the city of angels as they face the Lakers.

The Clips, who hopes to win it all this year after hiring an experienced coach in Doc Rivers, are previously faced some turmoil with their owner.

After a three-way trade between the Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks that would send JJ Redick to the Los Angeles team was almost withdrawn by their owner Donald Sterling.

This decision of the owner almost had their winning hopes down if the newly hired Rivers immediately resign after the withdrawal. Luckily the head coached talked some sense into the owner's mind to push thru with the trade. The former Celtics coach said that it would help the team pursue the main goal - to win the championship.

The Lakers, on the other hand, are having some minor troubles as well as they have Kobe sidelined for few games due to an injury.

This will be the first time in seven seasons that the season would start without Kobe in the lineup.

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said that he isn't that worried about starting with the Black Mamba since it's just the start of the season and he will be back soon anyway. The five-time champion suffered a tear from his left Achilles tendon in April that paved way for him to be sidelined for a while.

"He's making progress and he'll be back as soon as he can. No use worrying about it. You only worry about it when people don't work hard or are not doing what they're supposed to be doing. That's not a problem."

The Lakers Vice President Jim Buss however still believes that Kobe, who will become a free agent soon, is still their franchise player despite his age and can still carry and bring the team the glory.

"I don't think we're done winning championships with him yet. I want to put an end to any speculation that we would allow Kobe to become a free agent. Kobe is a top priority for us. He's a Laker legend and always will be."