First Clipper Game of the Year; Clippers 92: Bucks 86

If it weren’t for all the red, white and blue I would have sworn that I was walking down Figueroa towards Staples Center to watch a Laker game. This although was not the case. For the first time in my life as a Clipper fan I was walking with hundreds of other people through the gates and into the arena; and the best part about this was that it was 45 minutes before game time. Clipper Nation has really swept across LA, and boy has it come quickly.

The Clips have now won their 3rd straight and improved their overall record to 4-2. Through much of the first half, I have to say I was a bit disappointed, I was coming into the game expecting the same fluid basketball that the team has shown over the past couple games. I was in for a rude awakening as the Clippers managed to only score 38 points in the first half; 18 of those points came in the first quarter and 20 in the second. Even though the majority of the first half looked as though the Clippers were the team of any previous year, there was still a looming “excitement” in the air. With scattered chants of CP3 whenever Paul had the ball or MVP when Blake got to the free-throw line, there was always a buzz around the center. It was something which I as a longtime Clipper fan have never experienced.

Once the 3rd quarter started the team was starting to look the way I was expecting them too. With a few blocks from DJ and a couple of slams from Blake; one of those coming off a fast-break alley-opp from Chris Paul (something I was dying to see live), the crowd had something to cheer and get out of their seats about. Being at the game is like nothing you can experience watching it at home. Sure in previous years Clipper fans would gladly save their money and watch it on their couch but there is something about being at Staples when they play that is really special. The crowd even started to do the wave for a good 5 minutes; one that would put Dodger fans to shame.

I am proud to say that I have supported this team through thick and thin and that finally, although there is still a lot of work to be done, Clipper fans have a team that they can be very proud of.