B INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There's no black cat circling the Los Angeles Clippers franchise, nor is there any need for unnecessary fumigation to rechristen their new, sprawling stadium, which they're sure to be the envy of owners who don't have the deep pockets of Steve Ballmer.
B It wasn't even funny or fitting that James Harden missed two game-tying free throws in the regular-season debut at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday night, as the Clippers lost 116-113 to the Phoenix Suns.
B It was merely Game 1 of a new season for the Clippers, the first in some time in which championship expectations weren't on everyone's mind, a season in which the margin for error is razor-thin and a little stressful.
B But that's probably where the Clippers work best, as they move between two eras, a purgatory that's the result of both choice and circumstance - a space they can break free from with a few clever moves.
B When Ballmer's new playpen opened its doors in Inglewood and the Clippers made the boldest, grandest attempt yet to gain a foothold in Los Angeles and step out of the Lakers' great shadow, it seemed like last year was the best opportunity to make such a journey.
After all, Russell Westbrook and Paul George were on the schedule, and Kawhi Leonard was on pace to play the most games since his days with the Spurs.
B Four big names, four kids from the greater L.A. area who could fly the flag for the city and connect the neighborhood to the new building. A building where kids could shoot on an outdoor court before going through the actual turnstiles, a building that, for all its bells and whistles, was still confusing to navigate - which is usually the case when a new arena opens.
The giant, floor-length jumbotron is a visual marvel, and all the technology is designed to make it easier for fans to get back to their seats and into the action as quickly as possible.
But only Harden remains as the top player for now, as Westbrook was unwilling to play a lesser role and George was unwilling to pay a salary below the cap. As for Leonard, it's all a matter of time, as he's out indefinitely after another knee surgery in the season and a confusing time with USA Basketball that sent him home from the Olympics last summer.
Harden's numbers weren't quite as classic, but he did manage to put up 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in nearly 40 minutes, botching a two-of-11 start and scoring 24 points in the second half.
He helped the Clippers mount an energetic comeback that had fans cheering after a slow start that saw them trail by 14 points. Can he go back to being the "Every Night Machine" he was in Houston versus the distributor and occasional scorer he was at his last three (!) stops, all since January 2021?
B It seems unlikely, but he's the best option.
"We fought, we played hard. We all feel like we should have won the game," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "There's no question about how hard we played. How well tuned we were. Overall, I think our guys did a good job of battling.”
B Regarding Harden’s free throw miss and subsequent missed pass as the Clippers tried to tie the game in overtime with a 3-pointer, Lue said his team was “in a perfect position” to win, but he didn’t want to complain too much about any one moment.
B The building had its moments, most notably when Ballmer walked to an area known as “The Wall,” where fans are on their feet all game, chanting and throwing playful jabs at the opposing team, as the conglomerate is located behind the basket near the visiting side.
The wall is crazy. That's our sixth man," Lue said. "They're in the game. I think they missed (Kevin Durant) two free throws in a row. We'll need that. It was good to see."
Ballmer took the microphone to greet the fans at the Intuit Dome before the game kicked off and sat in animated misery when Harden's free throw missed - not long after Kevin Durant hit a classic high jumper over two Clippers, including Harden, who came to the rescue.
"Yeah, K hit some tough shots, especially the one in the fourth quarter when I tried to challenge him and he still made it," Harden said, half admiring and half exasperated.
"The story, you know, Inglewood, Intuit Dome, the fans came and they showed up," Harden said. "And we just came up short. But I think they gave us a lot, a lot of energy tonight.”
October 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA A general view of the Intuit Dome during the opening game between the Phoenix Suns and the LA Clippers. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Lue repeatedly pointed to the effort, which represents a fundamental shift in the philosophy of this organization. This is now a team that is struggling, one that will have to rely on wild cards like Kai Jones to develop, or Derrick Jones Jr. or Terance Mann to take the next step to keep the Clippers afloat.
That starts with Harden, who for the first time in a long time isn't surrounded by preseason or postseason controversy. Not that that deserves applause, but it's worth noting that he's sitting right there, and his performance will be relied on even more because of the roster uncertainty.
"We need him to be special until Kawhi comes back," Lue said.
There was no hint of irony in Lue's words, because no one knows when Leonard will return. People will say he's doing a good job in rehab and hasn't suffered any setbacks - a positive sign, to say the least.
But even if the Clippers are collectively laughing at Leonard and his myriad injuries, it's helped them find a way in the meantime.
B For the Clippers, that's the path they must take now. Their ambitious bid to sign Leonard and Paul George in the summer of 2019 - George was an MVP finalist in Oklahoma City and Leonard led his leg and the Toronto Raptors to an improbable championship - was more than worth it.
The ending was ultimately unsatisfying, even with only a Conference Finals appearance as a result and all the picks and pick swaps that came with the Oklahoma City Thunder. But it was a chance the Clippers had to take because it created an identity, or at least the expectation of one.
B The Clippers have been a relevant team for more than a decade now after years of being laughed at in the league. They've been a presence on the national stage since Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, even when the Lakers were struggling in the wilderness. But beyond the cuteness of the Lob City era, not much stuck.
But the league needed to see how that generation treated its players like Leonard and George and later Harden. This brand new facility shows the organization's commitment to standing on its own, even though the Lakers are arguably the biggest brand name in sports, but certainly in the NBA.
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