The Los Angeles Clippers are no longer just LA's other team. Yet, even with their 48 point drubbing of the Lakers, the contention is that the Lakers have banners in Staples Center, and the Clippers only have selfies.

The only way to rectify that is by hanging a championship banner. Last year's Pacific Division winner is trivial, and hanging that would be a joke. Coach Doc Rivers did not leave the pomp and tradition of Boston for division titles-and the Clippers did not give up a future first rounder to get Doc Rivers just for an additional 5-10 regular season wins. It's all about the title!

Right now, the LA Clippers are on a 11-game winning streak, officially the hottest in the NBA (standings from nba.com). The San Antonio Spurs also have a ten game winning streak (and first to 50 again) but they have always been penciled in as contenders. Is it time to do the same for the Clippers.

NBA scouts think so. Eastern Conference Scouts talked to Marc Stein of ESPN, and they focused on Blake Griffin's game:

"The team that's made the big jump in the West is the Clippers. They've taken a major step forward defensively. Really, really impressive last time I saw them. It's living proof that you shouldn't pre-judge things 30 or 40 games into the season, because he looked absolutely confused back then. You would sit there wondering: 'Are they ever gonna get there?' But now you watch them and they definitely seem to understand what they're doing as a group. They play with good energy [defensively]. "

Even Clippers' coach Doc Rivers has assigned more plays for Griffin. From the LA Daily News: "I just think he's good at it and he takes some pressure off of Chris. You don't want Chris handling the ball every possession, all game. I don't know how you'd physically go through a game, a year and definitely the playoffs like that. I think it's important there is more than one facilitator on your team."

The superstar forward just turned 25 last March 16, and he will be the face of the Clippers' franchise for years to come. The maturation of his game makes the Clippers legitimate contenders, but their other starting big man was worth noticing. From Marc Stein/ESPN:

"A lot of it has to do with DeAndre Jordan's development. When you talk about players who've improved since last season, he's a big part of their success. But I just see a team that's more in sync. Everyone talking on D, everyone's anticipating rotations, moving on the flight of the ball. The makings are there for them to ramp it up another notch."

'Another notch' from the Playoffs means the Western Conference Finals. From there, who knows? The Finals is not out of reach for this young team.