Los Angeles Clippers tickets were, at best, an afterthought for decades in the city. The Clippers had one of the worst records in the NBA over a period of several years, and the team never went anywhere in the postseason on the rare occasions that they actually got there. The team was a mess, and perhaps no franchise in American professional sports had less hope in the big picture than the Clippers.
My, how times have changed. The Clippers had a wildly-successful 2005-06 season, and made a playoff run that had the entire basketball world watching attentively. On the heels of this newfound success, the Clippers are coming into the season with high expectations, and below we’ll take a look at their prospects for the upcoming season.
Additions
Although the Clippers did add some talent by signing F Tim Thomas and drafting C Paul Davis, the Clippers’ “additions” were really more centered on who they kept, and how these decisions were such a departure from the Clippers of the past. The team had three players who were either free agents or about to reach that status, and the Clippers signed them all.
Elton Brand, who is so underrated it’s not even funny, re-signed with a lucrative deal. Veteran PG Sam Cassell also re-signed to continue to provide leadership from the point guard position. Last, and certainly not least, the Clippers re-signed C Chris Kaman, who was about to enter his contract year. These signings were stunning to fans and league followers, as owner Donald Sterling was notorious for his tight-wad ways. Keeping their core in place represents a perceived commitment to winning, which is a refreshing change in Clipper land. Fans will now be able to use Los Angeles Clippers tickets and recognize the players in consecutive years.
Strong Suit
The Clippers are a team that can beat you in several ways. If they want to bang down low, they’ll run the offense through Kaman and Brand and beat you in the paint for a slower, more methodical style of play. The Clippers also have athletes all over the floor, and Cassell and young and talented PG Shaun Livingston can find them. If teams pack it in during half-court sets, the Clippers can certainly get out and run and slash with wing players like Cory Maggette. If teams go zone, the Clippers now have a long-distance sharp shooter in Thomas, who can light it up from three-point land, even though he’s 6″10′.
The Clippers are young, talented and hungry. They’re also in the Western Conference, which means that they’ll have a tough road to the NBA Finals. The west has teams like the Spurs, Mavericks, Suns, Jazz and even cross-town rival Lakers, all of whom look primed for big seasons. If the Clippers can stay healthy and continue to play with the confidence they displayed last season, Los Angeles Clippers tickets will be available well into the playoffs, and they’ll become “the” hot tickets in the city.
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