Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has explained the decision to cover up the championship banners and retired jerseys of the Lakers in the Staples Centre.

With the two franchises sharing the same arena, the Clippers made the news earlier this week after they displayed banners of their own players to cover those belonging to their rivals.

"Last year when the Clippers were blowing us out, I was sitting there with Eddie Lacerte, our trainer, and he taps me on the leg and says, 'Look at that,'" Rivers said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"I look up and you see all the banners. He said, 'Man, I would never have that.' And I thought 'Well, he's right.' Again, the Lakers can blame a Boston Guy," he concluded.

The city rivals won't have long to wait to go head to head as they are scheduled to open the season against each other on Tuesday night.