This makes me smile. If not laugh. If not snort in derision.

I saw the final minutes of the Lakers’ 107-102 loss to the Clippers tonight, and when ESPN went back to the studio, the question was posed: “Is Los Angeles a Clippers town now?”

This is how you will know if L.A. has become a Clippers town:

–When the Clippers have won an NBA title. They don’t have to win 16, as the Lakers have, or 10, as the Lakers have since 1980. Just one will do, for starters. Taking into account the “what have you done for me lately?” demographic.

–When the Clippers win a conference title. Or even play for one. They have never done that.

–When the Clippers win a division title. Never done that, either.

–When the Clippers are able to retain a quality player whose contract is up. (See: Chris Paul.)

–When the Clippers regularly take a season series from the Lakers. They could do it this season: 2-0 with two to play. If they win one of those, that would give them a season series over the Lakers for only the second time since Donald Sterling’s team moved to Los Angeles in 1984.

Los Angeles will be a Clippers town when they have their own arena, when they play more games on national television, when they are good for decades at a time, when they have a guy who spent his career with them in the Hall of Fame.

All this is not impossible. In the late 1970s, the notion that the Angels would be as popular as the Dodgers seemed ridiculous. Now, they are generally seen as the better-run franchise, even if the Dodgers continue to draw more fans.

If the Lakers go limp, as the Dodgers have for a quarter century, and the Clippers win a title or two, as the Angels have … it could happen.

But is Los Angeles a Clippers town now? No. Not even close. Not even on the radar.