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Why don't these two guys tip-off the season against... each other? Fernando Medina (NBAE/Getty Images) |
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Let the Countdown Begin!
posted by Dena | August 3 @ 2:37 pm
What’s up Clipper Nation? It’s been a long, crazy week here in Clipper Land. The 2007-08 schedule was announced yesterday, which officially marks the beginning of the new and exciting season. Is Opening Night really only 13 short weeks away? Let the countdown begin!
Let’s take a look …
First off, hooray for starting the season at home. Second, let’s give three big cheers to the NBA for giving us the Warriors as our opponent. Clipper Nation knows that last season, the eighth seed was ours to be had and not Golden State’s. At least until …
1. That fateful 105-100 home loss to the then lowly Kings. Our boys just didn’t show up. At least not until midway through the third quarter. We had the tie-breaker… we had the tools to win… and at the buzzer we suddenly found ourselves down… one… whole… game…
2. The Mavericks decided NOT to show up against the Warriors for the second-to-last game of the season instead of resting their starters (yeah, THAT was a brilliant idea Mavs…). Had they played their starters, the outcome of that game would have been a little different than 111-82 Warriors. I’m just sayin’…
The rest is history. Golden State picked up an easy 120-98 win at Portland (who had successfully entered the Oden sweepstakes at this point) and moved on to beat the Mavs in the first round. That could have been the Clippers… and Clipper Nation knows it. It’s going to be ELECTRIFYING in STAPLES Center on Friday, November 2nd.
The rest of our schedule is solid. The second game of the season is against Durant and the Sonics, then we hit the Central Division for three straight games. The best part of the Clippers’ schedule comes on the week of my birthday! We don’t have a game ON the day I turn 27 again, but we do have:
- 2/20 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- 2/22 vs. Utah Jazz
- 2/23 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- 2/25 vs. Boston Celtics
- 2/27 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Shameless sales pitch of the day: I highly recommend you look at our packages and BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW to make sure you get to see these games. They’ll sell out, no question.
I really love our schedule. Starting off against the Warriors is great, and having our last home game of the season against the Lakers is money. Not thrilled about finishing the last three games on the road though…
Unfortunately, it seems that opening night for the league is starting off on two left feet. This year, TNT’s back-to-back opening night games tip off with Greg Oden and the Trail Blazers taking on the “we’ve won four championships in eight seasons but not all NBA fans think we’re fun to watch” Spurs. Sure, the Oden factor is a HUGE draw, but… San Antonio vs. Portland? Really?
It’s no secret that the NBA schedules the league’s first game of the season with two teams that have a good combination of drama and fan interest. This tactic is used to boost ratings and a chance to replay those really exciting TNT commercials over and over and over again.
It’s also customary that the season opens with the defending champs and their ring ceremony against either the team’s big conference foe or a hugely interesting match-up based on off-season moves. Last year we saw Shaq, D-Wade and the Heat get obliterated by Ben Wallace and the Chicago Bulls (a 108-66 demolition). The teams weren’t exactly “rivals” per se, but with the Bulls’ off-season signing of Ben Wallace - a consistent Heat/Shaq freezer – and a six-game first round meeting in the 2005 Playoffs between, the match-up made some sense.
We also usually get to see an Eastern Conference match-up, but this year, not so much! I’ll say it again… San Antonio vs. Portland? Really?
Immediately following that game (I predict Spurs win 89-72 despite 44 points and 19 boards from Oden), we’re treated to the Rockets at the Lakers. Is anybody else over Kobe still being considered the biggest draw in the league? You know which team in the West deserves more love than that other L.A. team (aside from the Clips)? The Sonics!
The two TNT games I’d love to see on opening night instead would be first Boston vs. New York for the Eastern Conference representation, then Portland vs. Seattle in the West. Why not start the season with the four teams who have made the most significant changes to their roster that the fans are all dying to see? Why not?! Nobody’s going to tune in for the Spurs’ fourth ring ceremony anyway… at least not the fans that live outside of San Antonio…
Since Monday NBA fans have been foaming at the mouth to see Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen take the court together. Why not put them up against another 2006-07 debacle-turned-contender and tip-off against Zach Randolph and the Knicks? And if Oden’s going to be the big draw for Opening Night, so should Kevin Durant. Then let us all sit back and enjoy the show.
OK enough schedule ramblings… on to your e-mails!
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And the "TMTOTH" Award Goes to …
As the keeper of all e-mails that come through Clippers.com (this blog, Fan Art, Create-A-Caption, etc.), often times I’ll start my day off with some of the most outrageous e-mails in the history of outrageous e-mails. Case and point…
Today I received an e-mail from a Clippers fanatic. Unfortunately, this fan did not provide his name, so we’ll just call him CM50 2K Live. Maybe it was to stay humble as the winner of this week’s “Too Much Time on Their Hands” (TMTOTH) award. Remember, I am the proud winner of last week’s award after reading “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in one day. Suddenly my accomplishment doesn’t seem so… silly?
CM50 2K Live sent me the picture you see at the right. He says, “The Ultimate Player, Corey Maggette, deserves an ultimate tribute. That's why I decided to break the unofficial Guinness Video Game Records for Most Points Scored in a Single NBA Game.”
Hard work, consistency and A LOT of patience, 72 hours later CM50 2K Live's Clippers virtually beat the Mavericks 3001-121 led by Corey Maggette’s 894 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. What CM50 2K Live DIDN’T say is if he was playing against the computer or his kid brother; but he did offer his explanation as to why he worked so tirelessly to get this virtual victory.
“For once in my life, I want to see "Maximus" Maggette on top of all charts! Corey Maggette truly deserves some credit for his hard work ethic, year in year out. C-Magg is a tireless worker, and really doesn't have a true off-season. But unlike Elton Brand, Corey still hasn't received the All-Star recognition he deserves.”
CM50 2K Live would also like you to know that these two photos were completely unaltered. He even offered to send me the NBA Live DAT & DBF-files. I’m not sure that’s necessary…
More power to you, CM50 2K Live. You are correct that Corey is a stud when it comes to hard work on and off the court. Hopefully he’ll earn his first All-Star bid this season. In the mean time, maybe it’s time you got out of the house and, I don’t know… went on a date? (Just kidding. No, really, I am.)
Love your enthusiasm, buddy. Save some of that for the season!
More from Clipper Nation…
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Life Lessons From… Al Bundy?
Alek Milshteyn from Los Angeles writes…
Hi! Since you're talking about Simpsons, you wouldn't mind remind Clipper Nation about the life of Al Bundy?
Of course, Alek. Al Bundy was married... with children. He wore blue shirts and gray pants, worked at a shoe store and hated fat women. His favorite past time was sitting on the couch and watching TV with one hand holding a beer and his other down the front of his pants. His wife Peggy found cooking and cleaning to get in the way of her shopping and Bon-Bon eating, his son Bud was the smart one, and his daughter Kelly was, well... the pretty blonde. His "miserable" life induced great laughter in many households for ten years from 1987-1997.
There are two very big life lessons that come to mind when it comes to Al Bundy and “Married With Children.”
1. In the episode “The Agony of Defeet,” Al, who has been having nightmares about feet, is chosen to be a judge in a beauty contest at the store. He shows up at the contest, dressed to the nines in a tux expecting hot babes, when the judges assume their positions kneeling on the floor. Al says “that's a great idea, we can look up their dresses! [looking up] The Gods have smiled on Al Bundy!” Only the models aren’t beautiful women, they’re FEET!
Lesson learned: Hope for the best, expect the worst. I think I got that in a fortune cookie once.
2. Al Bundy scored four touchdowns for Polk High in a single game against Andrew Johns High School. “Touchdown Bundy” was named MVP, and had a scholarship for college but lost it after he broke his leg. Al went on to become… a shoe salesman.
Lesson learned: you can be a star athlete all you want, but unless you have a back up plan, you might wind up like Al Bundy: Married… With Children, and working at a shoe store.
Charles Von Hollen from Connecticut sent me this video of Carl Hood from Marist College, with the note that “The point guard with the sick passes is Jared Jordan.” Thanks Charles!
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I'd like to wish a very happy (upcoming) birthday to the following wonderful people in the Clippers family...
1. Does David Beckham have season tickets to the Clippers?
2. Is this video not one of the funniest things you have seen this week?
3. Who do you think are the ugliest players in the NBA?
Ty,
1. No word yet whether Becks and Posh will be attending our games this season. If they do, Clipper Nation will know. Whether it’s through Clippers.com, TMZ or US Weekly, you’ll know. Promise.
2. That’s one of my biggest fears… walking down the steps at STAPLES Center during a game and taking a tumble in front of a TNT camera. Poor Beyonce…
3. No comment on the ugliest players, but I will end today’s blog with my top five best looking active players in the NBA.
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5. Tony Parker. Marrying a Desperate Housewife and having a French accent definitely helps.
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4. Ben Wallace. His nickname is “The Body” and with good reason. And when he wears the corn rows… fierce.
3. Dwyane Wade. A great player and a good looking guy who gets bonus points for having a silly sense of humor. Loved him in this commercial… Sexaaaay.
2. Ray Allen. Listen, an NBA player doesn’t get leading roles in two movies ("He Got Game," "Harvard Man") on his playing (or acting) ability. Wasn’t he also named ESPN’s No. 2 best looking athlete behind Anna Kournikova a few years ago? Either way, I heart him.
1. Our very own Corey Maggette. Clipper Nation, this man needs no explanation.
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