Eh--I am a SA native and Spurs fan and less well versed in LA team standing. But didn't the LA Clippers finish ahead of the Lakers last season and haven't they started this season the same way thus far??
One season. One bloody season.
Go to Staples Center, home of the Lakers (and the Clippers). Look at the wall, that has the banners and jerseys. Number of championship banners for the Lakers: 15. Number of championship banners for the Clippers: ZERO.
The Lakers have LOST more Finals series than the Clippers have made playoff appearances. And the Lakers have won at least one more playoff series than have the Clippers (ZERO).
Also, for a little more historical perspective: in the last 45 years, the number of playoff misses for the Lakers: 4. In that same time period, the number of playoff APPEARANCES for the Clippers: FIVE (74-75 as the Braves, 92, 93, 97 for the Clippers), with no playoff series wins.
So perhaps Shrum is worse than the Clippers.