Roughly a week after Seattle (and soon to be Oklahoma) drafted UCLA sophomore guard Russell Westbrook with the No. 4 selection in the NBA draft, the Clippers brought back home another former Bruin star.

Westbrook was the highest drafted guard from UCLA since Davis was chosen at No. 3 by the then Charlotte Hornets almost a decade ago.

Now the two Southern California products will go at it when their teams meet each other on the basketball court.

Ironically both have more in common than just being from So. Cal, Davis is from South Los Angeles and Westbrook from Lawndale. Their game is similar in that both point guards pride themselves on playing defense and are explosively athletic on the offensive end.

That is where the similarity ends, however.

Davis, acquired by the  Clippers as the cream of the free agent crop, is a superstar who will change the balance of the Pacific division and perhaps the Western Conference.

He give the Clippers something that not even the Lakers have, a point guard who has the ability to carry a team either with his offensive production or on the defensive end of the court.

Now, all Davis has to do is convince Elton Brand to stay as he originally said he would  before the deal to seal Davis was done.

Brand was recently contemplating leaving for a more lucrative offer with Davis’ old team the Warriors.

While money is always an major sticking point, the opportunity to compete for a  prominent playoff spot and probably even a championship should sway his decision to stay.

What Brand has never had, in Chicago with the Bulls are with the Clippers is a guard to play with like Davis, a dynamic performer who annually ranks among the elite in points and assist.

Like wise, Davis has not had a complement such as Brand, a bruising power forward who can finish, rebound and score from mid range.

Westbrook will have the take his bumps before he can get to the level of Davis, but  he will have his opportunity early playing alongside Rookie of the Year scoring machine Kevin Durant.

Westbrook only averaged four points per game as a freshman at UCLA, but last year more than doubled his scoring output and enjoyed eye-popping  performances in during the Bruins regular season and NCAA tournament run.

The Clippers also drafted Indiana guard Eric Gordon who will be a tremendous asset to Davis and the team.

The powerful Gordon will get his shot to play right off the bat and with a tutor such as Davis to teach him the ropes could ultimately be the steal of the draft.

Published in : Sports, Keep the Faith