Starring: Two franchises headed in different directions. What is the Lakers' identity so far? Mike Brown is unsure himself. Are the problems more on the defensive end or the offensive end? Tonight, the Lakers face their so-called "rivals", the Los Angeles Clippers. Last game, there were 5 technical fouls assessed, as the game became chippy. Matt Barnes had some choice words for Blake Griffin:

He's an amazing athlete. He can dunk, he can do everything, he just flops. I don't understand. He can do all this stuff on the offensive end but on the defensive end.. he just does some other stuff. I just don't understand.

Blake Griffin's response:

I don't really have much to say to him or to that. If he's mad that I try to take a charge, so be it. I'm not worried about Matt Barnes and if he thinks I'm flopping.

It should be an entertaining game. Let's hope the Lakers' first full-contact practice since training camp will sharpen their focus tonight.

Much more after the jump...

Lakers News:

• It's serious times for Lakers and Clippers - latimes.com
• Lakers remain unsure about team's identity - latimes.com
• Little clarity provided about Pau Gasol's role - latimes.com
• Mike Brown: NBA reassesses Blake Griffin's push on Darius Morris - latimes.com
• The Kobe System stresses adaptation - latimes.com
• Lakers have plenty of issues to deal with on offense - latimes.com
• WEDNESDAY PREVIEW: vs. Clippers (9-5) - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
• Lakers get ready for Round 2 with the Clippers - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
• Gasol: Lakers need to be more like Orlando - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
• League reviews Blake Griffin’s shove of Darius Morris - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register

NBA.com:

• Gasol & Bynum: Low Post Touches " Lakers Blog
• Gasol Practice Interview Summary " Lakers Blog
• Bulls Have To Grind With/Without Deng " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog
• Blogtable: Struggling Knicks " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog
• Blogtable: Rubio or Irving? " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog
• Blogtable: Love or Griffin? " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog
• The Regression Of John Wall " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog

ESPN:

• Wading into dangerous waters - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPN Los Angeles
• Balancing Pau Gasol's facilitating with scoring - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPN Los Angeles
• NBA -- Most disappointing players and teams - ESPN
• Rapid Reaction: Knicks 111, Bobcats 78 - Knicks Blog - ESPN New York
• Cavs slow LeBron but can't stop Heat - Heat Index Blog - ESPN

Yahoo! Sports:

• Gordon waiting on Stern to give him extension - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
• Luol Deng’s bad break could be a good thing for the Chicago Bulls | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports
• A new NBA revenue sharing plan is taking shape | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports

ProBasketball Talk

• Wittman promises up-tempo, simplified offense for Wizards | ProBasketballTalk
• Baseline to Baseline recaps: ‘Melo is off but Knicks aren’t | ProBasketballTalk
• Suns won’t offer contract extension to Robin Lopez | ProBasketballTalk
• Andrea Bargnani returns, scores season high 36 points to lead Raptors past Suns | ProBasketballTalk
• Report: Stern clears way for Hornets to offer Eric Gordon four-year deal | ProBasketballTalk
• Kings Arena Update: Critical Sac City Council meeting postponed at last minute | ProBasketballTalk

SLAM Online:

• SLAM ONLINE | " Pau Gasol: Lakers Need to Feed the Post More
• SLAM ONLINE | " LeBron James Mentoring Cleveland Cavaliers Rookies
• SLAM ONLINE | " Video: Lakers Discuss Blake Griffin’s Flops, Rivalry With Clippers
• SLAM ONLINE | " New Day
• SLAM ONLINE | " Rivalry or Not: Lakers vs Clippers, Round 2

Blog and Other Links:

• Forum Blue And Gold " Discussing Clippers-Lakers
• Time For Pau Gasol To Be More Demanding - Lake Show Life
• It's Time for the Lakers to Return to the Basics | Lakers Nation
• Lakers Begin Crucial Stretch of Season, Starting with Clippers on Wednesday | Lakers Nation
• Lakers vs. Clippers Pre-Game Report: Battle L.A., Round Two | Lakers Nation
• If Kobe Bryant Was Into Social Media | Lakers Nation
• Lakers News: Chris Paul May Play Wednesday Versus Lakers | Lakers Nation
• The Future is an Unpredictable Place For Lakers | Laker Nation
• NBA Extension Buzz 1.25.12 - CBSSports.com
• Report Card: Like a Bosh - CBSSports.com
• Report: Kevin Love, Wolves agree to 4-year deal? - CBSSports.com
• NBA players: Rose, Crawford have best crossovers - CBSSports.com
• Damion James (foot) has season-ending surgery - CBSSports.com
• Bobcats G D.J. Augustin (foot) to miss 4 games - CBSSports.com
• Magic Johnson, Mark Cuban bid for Dodgers - CBSSports.com
• Is Rubio’s game based off substance or style? | NBA Playbook

Multimedia:

• LAL – LAC Preview Podcast: Brian Sieman " Lakers Blog
• Video: Rudy Gay with two dunks in 12 seconds or less | ProBasketballTalk