Beverley reiterates: Clippers, not Lakers, best team in LA

Patrick Beverley said it from Day 1 this season... and he's proven to be correct.

The Clippers, not the LeBron James-led Lakers, are the best team in Los Angeles, a point reinforced with the Clippers' 113-105 conquest of the Lakers on Monday night at Staples Center.

"There was seven people in here on media day," Beverley explained in the Clippers locker room after beating the Lakers. "I told Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], look [around] the room, there's seven people ... watch at the end of the year [how many more there will be]. Like I said about us being the best team in LA, a lot of people don't believe me, it's fine.

"Women lie. Men lie. Numbers don't."

The Clippers, winners of three games in a row, stand seventh in the Western Conference playoff chase. The Lakers, meanwhile, have dropped nine of the last 12 games. Beverley had 13 points, nine boards, four dimes and five dimes in the win over the Lakers and the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder answered the challenge of defending the 6-8, 260-pound James, often times picking up the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player at the time line.

His efforts were not lost on teammate Montrezl Harrell.

"Aggravating, defensive, hard-nosed, competitive," Harrell said of Beverley. "That is what he brings to our game, that is what he brings every night. Before the coaches even went down to who's got who, Pat came in and said, 'I got LeBron.'

"A guy who is below-average height when it comes to matching up with a guy of that caliber, but he doesn't care. That is what makes him special."

Beverley has never been shy about his motivation when it comes to James.

"I played for Miami, with LeBron," Beverley, who was in training camp with the Heat in 2010, said. "They cut me. I got drafted by the Lakers, they traded me to Miami. Bron got there, they cut me.

"I remember it like it was yesterday. So yeah, there's a chip on my shoulder."