Clippers vs. Lakers

How great it is to be in LA this basketball season, with both teams a threat to win the NBA title…I had a chance to see each team play on November 11 and 15 last week…I attended the Clippers vs. Toronto Raptors on Veterans Day, thanks to my friend and AAU associate Gino Grajeda…As we watched from the Delta Lounge, it seemed like the Raptors were missing something, which of course was Kawhi Leonard…Now a Clipper and despite facing a double team everywhere he went, Kawhi almost recorded a triple double as the Clippers won…The Clippers are going with a slogan of “Street Lights over Spotlights”, and while I do not agree with making a reference to anyone else while advertising yourself (the Lakers use a spotlight for great dramatic purpose during introductions), I do recognize the Clippers making a reference to their work within the city…Besides building a great roster and coaching staff, the Clippers made a donation that will build/refurbish some 350 LA Park and Rec courts throughout LA.  Steve Ballmer and staff are wise to brand with the upcoming generations and make a real difference…Now the Clippers need to build their own place, playing “third fiddle” to the Lakers and the hockey Kings at the Staples Center must hurt…Besides civic improvement efforts, another area the Clippers clearly dominate is “in-game promotions”…The Chick-fil-A 4th quarter promotion, whereupon if an opposing player misses both free throws while at the line the whole crowd gets a chicken sandwich, is brilliant.  The Chick-fil-A “cows” walking out of the tunnel to get the crowd going after the first miss is hilarious…On Friday (Nov. 15) my son Vaun treated me to some great seats to watch the Lakers play the Sacramento Kings at Staples…After the drama that is the “spotlight introductions” for the 15 time NBA champions, perhaps the greatest franchise in all of sports, LeBron James turned back the clock and played like the LeBron of old (young?) as the Lakers ruined ex-coach Luke Walton’s return to town…Sharing the game with my boy, close to 20 years after we shared the 2000 title team and Kobe Bryant in his prime was memorable, and a moment like that serve’s as an example that the Clippers have a lot of work left to take over LA with their streetlights…It’s a big city though, and two teams going for a title sure is fun…Making plans for their Christmas showdown and the Western Conference Finals…GO LA!