Living in the Shadows: An LA Clippers Story.

[RMJH4]

Curry for 6th man

Thats the hope, Rookie of the Year could be very difficult to win!

that defense about to be atrocious but should put numbers up offensively

Light it up from deep could be the way to go!

Good luck in the upcoming season

Thanks man!

[djp73]

I love a throwback chise, the mix of true to life transactions you have in here along with the changes you've made presents a great "what if?" scenario. Great analysis of the top teams as well as your own. Go Celtics!

[Soapy]

yall actually held your own against one of the better teams

[chosenone58]

Solid start against the Lake Show. Curry played well.

[RMJH4]

Game 2: LA Clippers 102 - 95 Phoenix Suns.

October 28th, 2009 by NBA.com

Clippers Starters
R. Felton
E. Gordon
A. Thornton
B. Diaw
C. Kaman

Suns Starters
S. Nash
J. Richardson
G. Hill
A. Stoudemire
C. Frye

Game Leaders
Pts - 20 - J. Richardson (Suns), 19 - E. Gordon (Clippers)
Rebs - 10 - C. Frye (Suns), 8 - C. Kaman (Clippers)
Asts - 9 - S. Nash (Suns), 6 - S. Curry (Clippers)
Stls - 3 - S. Nash (Suns), 2 - S. Curry (Clippers)
Blks - 1 - C. Frye (Suns), 3 - C. Kaman (Clippers)

E. Gordon (Clippers)
29pts, 2 rebs,1 stl.

Game Recap by David Aldridge.

One night after falling short against their cross-town rivals, the Clippers responded with a hard-fought 102-95 win over the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Eric Gordon led the way with 19 points, while rookie Stephen Curry provided a spark off the bench with 15 points and six assists.

Despite a 20-point effort from Jason Richardson and a near double-double from Channing Frye (10 rebounds, 14 points), the Suns couldn’t overcome the Clippers’ balanced attack. Raymond Felton controlled the tempo with 11 points and five assists, while Chris Kaman anchored the paint with eight rebounds and three blocks.

The game was a back-and-forth affair through three quarters, but the Clippers took control late in the fourth behind Gordon’s scoring and a key defensive sequence from Boris Diaw, who forced Amar’e Stoudemire into a crucial turnover in the final minutes.

Phoenix had its chances down the stretch, but Steve Nash’s potential game-tying three with under a minute left rimmed out, and Curry sealed the win with two clutch free throws.

"We knew we had to bounce back after last night," said Clippers head coach Mike Budenholzer. "We played with more energy on defense and executed better in the fourth quarter."

The win gives the Clippers their first victory of the season, moving them to 1-1, while Phoenix drops to 0-1 in their season opener.

[RMJH4]

Game 3: LA Clippers 77 - 91 Utah Jazz.

October 30th, 2009 by NBA.com

Clippers Starters
R. Felton
E. Gordon
A. Thornton
B. Diaw
C. Kaman

Jazz Starters
D. Williams
R. Brewer
A. Kirilenko
C. Boozer
M. Okur

Game Leaders
Pts - 30 - D. Williams (Jazz), 23 - C. Kaman (Clippers)
Rebs - 9 - C. Boozer (Jazz), 16 - C. Kaman (Clippers)
Asts - 7 - D. Williams (Jazz), 7 - R. Felton (Clippers)
Stls - 3 - E. Maynor (Jazz), 3 - C. Kaman (Clippers)
Blks - 2 - A. Kirilenko (Jazz), 2 - E. Gordon (Clippers)

D. Williams (Jazz)
30pts, 5 rebs, 7 asts, 1 stl, 1 blk.

Game Recap by David Aldridge.

The Utah Jazz flexed their defensive muscle and rode a dominant performance from Deron Williams to take down the Los Angeles Clippers 91-77 at EnergySolutions Arena.

Williams was in full control from start to finish, torching the Clippers for 30 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, leading Utah to their first win of the season. Carlos Boozer added 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Andrei Kirilenko filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and suffocating defense on Al Thornton.

Despite the loss, Chris Kaman delivered a monster performance, finishing with 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 steals, keeping the Clippers in the game for much of the first half. However, L.A.’s offense sputtered in the second half, as they shot just 38.2% from the field and 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.

After trailing by just three at halftime, the Clippers were outscored 27-15 in the third quarter, struggling to generate offense against Utah’s physical interior defense.

"Deron dictated the game from the jump," Clippers coach Mike Budenholzer admitted postgame. "We have to be more disciplined on both ends to beat a team like this."

Utah dominated the paint, outscoring L.A. 48-32 inside, while their defense held rookie Stephen Curry to just 6 points on 3-of-12 shooting off the bench.

The Clippers (1-2) will look to bounce back as they return home to face the Dallas Mavericks, while the Jazz (1-1) will host the Sacramento Kings.

[RMJH4]

Game 4: Dallas Mavericks 78 - 81 LA Clippers

October 31st, 2009 by NBA.com

Mavericks Starters
J. Kidd
J. Howard
S. Marion
D. Nowitzki
E. Dampier

Clippers Starters
R. Felton
E. Gordon
R. Bell
B. Diaw
C. Kaman

Game Leaders
Pts - 13 - R. Felton, E. Gordon (Clippers), 23 - D. Nowitzki (Mavericks)
Rebs - 15 - C. Kaman (Clippers), 8 - D. Gooden (Mavericks)
Asts - 4 - R. Felton (Clippers), 7 - J. Kidd (Mavericks)
Stls - 4 - R. Bell (Clippers), 3 - J. Barea (Mavericks)
Blks - 2 - A. Thornton (Clippers), 4 - S. Marion (Mavericks)

R. Felton (Clippers)
13pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts, 3 stls, 1 blk.

Game Recap by David Aldridge.

On a night when offense was hard to come by, Raymond Felton and Eric Gordon delivered just enough firepower to help the Clippers grind out an 81-78 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center.

Felton and Gordon each scored 13 points, leading a Clippers squad that overcame a fourth-quarter surge from Dirk Nowitzki to secure their second win of the season. Chris Kaman anchored the paint with 15 rebounds, while Raja Bell’s tough perimeter defense (4 steals) helped slow down Dallas’ offensive flow.

Nowitzki finished with 23 points and 6 rebounds, but missed a contested three-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime. Shawn Marion added 10 points and 4 blocks, while Jason Kidd controlled the tempo with 7 assists, but the Mavericks struggled from deep, shooting just 3-of-17 from beyond the arc.

The game was a defensive slugfest, with neither team shooting over 42% from the field. The Clippers led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but Dallas stormed back behind Nowitzki and Josh Howard, cutting the lead to just one point with under a minute to go.

With 25 seconds left and the Clippers up 79-78, Gordon drove into the lane and finished a tough layup over Dampier, giving L.A. a three-point cushion. Dallas had one final chance, but Bell and Al Thornton trapped Nowitzki on the perimeter, forcing him into a contested miss as time expired.

"We showed toughness tonight," Felton said postgame. "It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way to win."

The Clippers improve to 2-2 on the season and will hope to piece together a good performance on both ends like this again.

[RMJH4]

Steve Ballmer Exploring New Arena for Clippers, Could Look Outside California

For the Los Angeles Clippers, "home" has always been more of a rental than a residence. Since 1999, they’ve been shacking up in Staples Center, living in the Lakers’ shadow, their banners swallowed by purple-and-gold dominance. Even when they briefly flirted with relevancy in the early 2000s, they were still just "the other team in LA." And now, Steve Ballmer—Microsoft billionaire, basketball obsessive, and the most caffeinated owner in pro sports—isn’t having it anymore.

The Staples Problem

For a man who built an empire on software innovation, sharing an arena with a more successful brand feels… outdated. Since purchasing the Clippers in 2008, Ballmer has envisioned a future where the franchise is no longer the Lakers’ little brother.
Staples Center, with its sleek downtown design and Hollywood clientele, is the epicenter of LA basketball culture. Except, that culture is overwhelmingly purple and gold. From the championship banners to the crowd that only fills in for Lakers games, the Clippers remain a tenant in a house they don’t own. They don’t control scheduling priority, in-game presentation, or the overall experience. And when you’ve got an owner like Ballmer—someone who likely spent his morning breaking down the angles of Steph Curry’s jumper in Excel—being a second-class citizen in your own home is unacceptable.

Build It or Bolt?

So, what’s the plan? Ballmer wants a new home, one built specifically for the Clippers and their fans. He’s reportedly scouted multiple locations around LA, with Inglewood leading the pack as a prime candidate. The idea: an arena near SoFi Stadium, where the Clippers could finally carve out an identity of their own. But—and this is where things get interesting—sources suggest Ballmer isn’t limiting his options to just California. If LA politicians slow-roll his arena dreams, he’s ready to explore alternatives.

The name that keeps popping up? Seattle.

The Seattle Factor

For the uninitiated, Ballmer’s Seattle ties run deep. He spent decades in the Pacific Northwest running Microsoft. He was one of the biggest names linked to the failed attempts at keeping the Sonics in town before Clay Bennett packed them up and shipped them to Oklahoma City in 2008. If there’s anyone with the money, the vision, and the motivation to bring basketball back to Seattle, it’s Ballmer.
And let’s be real: Seattle is desperate for an NBA return. The Sonics’ departure still stings, and KeyArena (or whatever it’s called these days) is begging for a tenant. If Ballmer doesn’t get his arena in LA, moving the Clippers to Seattle wouldn’t just be a possibility—it might be a priority.

What Happens Next?

For now, the Clippers are locked into Staples, and no official plans have been announced. But when Steve Ballmer wants something, he tends to get it. Whether that means finally securing a Clippers-only arena in Inglewood or shocking the league by relocating to Seattle, one thing is clear: The days of the Clippers playing second fiddle are numbered.
It’s not a matter of if the Clippers leave Staples—it’s a matter of when and where they’ll go next.

[RMJH4]

I love a throwback chise, the mix of true to life transactions you have in here along with the changes you've made presents a great "what if?" scenario. Great analysis of the top teams as well as your own. Go Celtics!

Thank you! Yes have put quite a bit of time into this. Use 30 team control to craft the moves a little, some are true to life and others are based on rumors inside the association, loved this feature in the old 2ks!Celtics getting another chance at getting a 2nd title shot with the Big 4.

yall actually held your own against one of the better teams

Yes have been impressed so far. lot of shooters on the team now, so could find ourselves in games unexpectedly a lot!

Solid start against the Lake Show. Curry played well.

Curry was good, his passing is better than I expected at this stage. Shooting is good and so is his driving to the hoop.

[chosenone58]

Grantland! Classic