The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the least unsuccessful franchises in the NBA, a team that has been associated with futility but has emerged as a leading title contender this year behind the All-Star tandem of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

New coach Doc Rivers, who transferred from the Boston Celtics, is dreaming big for the franchise by even researching and talking about a Clippers championship parade, the same way he did while he was the coach of the Boston Celtics prior to the start of the 2008 NBA season.

"I like our team. I like what we have in the locker room. I like our guys. Our guys like each other. They all like me today but we know once the season starts and minutes are divided out, all that changes. That's when we'll find out who we really are," Rivers told ESPN.com.

Rivers admitted he also planned a championship parade for the Boston Celtics in 2008, when the team had just acquired future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to complement its franchise star Paul Pierce.

The coach had also ordered the cover up of the LA Lakers' championship banners during Clippers home games, a move that was received harshly by Lakers fans but welcomed by Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

The Clippers are widely regarded as the better team than the Lakers these days, especially with Kobe Bryant out of the Lakers due to an injury. After losing to the Lakers on opening day, the Clippers have won two in a row, beating the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.