INGLEWOOD, Calif. — There aren’t any black cats running around the Los Angeles Clippers franchise, and the renaming of a vast new facility that would be the envy of an owner without deep pockets like Steve Ballmer. There is no need for unnecessary fumigation.
James Harden made the last of two free throws that would have tied the game in overtime as the Clippers lost 116-113 to the Phoenix Suns in their regular season debut at Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. It wasn’t funny or appropriate to leave that out.
It was just the first game of a new season for the Clippers, and it was the first season in a long while that expectations of a championship did not reach the tip of everyone’s tongues, making it a somewhat stressful season with very little margin for error.
But that’s probably where the Clippers work best as they straddle two eras. Purgatory is the result of both choice and circumstance, a space that we can carve out for ourselves through deft movement.
Last year, Ballmer’s new playpen opened its doors in Inglewood, making it the Clippers’ boldest and grandest attempt to leave their mark on Los Angeles, but still stuck in the Lakers’ giant shadow. It seems that this was the best chance to seize that opportunity. Such a journey.
After all, Russell Westbrook was on the roster, Paul George was on the roster, and Kawhi Leonard was on his way to playing in the most games since his time with the Spurs.
Four celebrities and four Los Angeles-area children carried the city’s flag, helping connect the neighborhood to the new building. The building where children used to shoot on the outdoor court before going through the actual turnstiles, a building that is fully functional but still difficult to navigate. This often happens when a new arena opens.
There’s a huge floor-length jumbotron that’s visually stunning, and it’s loaded with all the technology to get fans back in their seats and back into the game as quickly as possible.
But Westbrook wasn’t ready to accept a reduced role and George wasn’t ready to accept a sub-max salary, so Harden is the only viable player left at this point. As for Leonard, it’s anyone’s guess that he will be out indefinitely due to another knee surgery in the offseason and the turmoil at USA Basketball, which saw him return as an Olympian this summer. By the way.
In Harden’s case, his numbers weren’t quite as vintage, but he was able to muster 29 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in nearly 40 minutes, shaking off a 2-for-11 start and 24 points in the second half. was recorded.
He helped lift the Clippers from a sluggish start, trailing by 14 points, to an energetic comeback that got fans excited. Will he be able to get back to being the night-to-night machine he was in Houston compared to the distributor and occasional scorer boss he’s been with the past three (!) times since January 2021?
Although it seems unlikely, he is the best option.
“We competed, we played hard, and I feel like it was a game we all should have won,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “There’s no question how hard we played. What a ride we were in. Overall, I thought our guys played a good game.”
Regarding Harden’s missed free throw and subsequent mishandling of an inbounds pass when the Clippers were trying to tie the game with a 3-pointer in overtime, Lue said the team was “in perfect position” for the win. He said he had no regrets. Too much at any given moment.
There were special moments in this building, especially when Ballmer went to the section known as “The Wall.” Fans stand throughout the game, exchanging chants and playful jabs at the opposing team as the conglomerate is placed behind the basket near the goal. visitor side.
“The wall is crazy. That’s our sixth man,” Lue said. “They’re into the game. I think they made (Kevin Durant) miss two free throws in a row. We’re going to need that. It was good to see.”
Ballmer jumped on the microphone to welcome fans to the Intuit Dome before the game went dark, but sat in raw misery as Harden missed a free throw — Kevin Durant It hadn’t been that long since he hit a vintage high-arching jumper over two Clippers, including the man who came to the rescue.
“Yeah, K made some, some tough shots, especially that one in the fourth quarter where I tried to contest it, but I don’t know how he made it,” Harden said. He spoke with half admiration and half anger. .
“History, you know, Inglewood, Intuit Dome, the fans showed up, we went out and performed,” Harden said. “And we just kind of came out short. But I think they gave us great, great energy tonight.”
Lu went on to mention this initiative, which represents a major shift in the organization’s philosophy. No offense intended, this is a team that is working hard right now, and the only way to keep the Clippers going is to rely on a wild card like Kai Jones to grow, or Derrick Jones Jr. or Terrence. Mann will have to take the next step.
But that element starts with Harden, who for the first time in a while isn’t surrounded by preseason or offseason controversy. That’s not praiseworthy, but it’s notable that he’s in the spot, and with roster uncertainty, he’ll be expected to produce even more.
“Until Kawhi comes back, I want him to be special,” Lue said.
There was no irony in Lou’s words, as no one knew when Leonard would return. People will say he’s done great with his rehab and hasn’t had any setbacks. A positive sign to say the least.
But even though Leonard and his myriad injuries took the public by surprise, it helped the Clippers choose a path forward in the interim.
For the Clippers, this has to be them for now. Their ambitious bet to acquire Leonard and Paul George in the summer of 2019 was that George would be an MVP finalist in Oklahoma City and Leonard would limp while leading the Toronto Raptors to an improbable championship. It was, but it was worth it.
Even with only one conference finals game and all the picks and picks swapped to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the ending was ultimately unsatisfying. But it was an opportunity that had to be seized because it created an identity, or at least the hope of an identity, for the Clippers.
They have remained an important franchise for over a decade after being the butt of jokes around the league for years. Going back to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, they have long been on the national stage, even when the Lakers were struggling in the wilderness. However, beyond the cuteness of the Lob City era, I didn’t really get caught up in it.
But the league needed to see how players like Leonard, George, and later Harden were treated in this iteration. Having this brand new facility shows the commitment that even though the Lakers are arguably the biggest brand name in sports, and arguably the NBA, this organization has to stand alone. There is.
With Harden coming off his 48-minute supernova and Leonard remaining unknown, the Clippers could be the destination for the next free agent who no longer sees them as a clown franchise or a Donald Sterling franchise. There is.
They now have their own home, their own unique walls, their own place within this NBA ecosystem. It seems like the Clippers will forever be the Clippers, and that may be the case eventually.
But they intend to continue seizing opportunities, at least with intention and investment, even if they sit idle for the time being.
