The Los Angeles Clippers will open their new arena with new uniforms.
The Clippers revealed their new uniforms, and the franchise strives to make it to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Currently, the Clippers are fourth in the Western Conference but only 2.5 games away from the top seed.
An NBA Final run would be the perfect way to end LA’s tenure at Staples Center.
The Clippers are Staples Center’s afterthought, which was okay with former owner Donald Sterling. The Clippers have no one to blame for their black sheep status, but Sterling chose to treat the franchise as an ego booster where winning a title was as far down on the list as the Clippers’ choice of home dates and time.
Those days seem long ago, as current owner Steve Ballmer has shown that he’s willing to do anything and everything to win the franchise’s first title.
Under former head coach Doc Rivers, the Clippers always found a way to disappoint.
Ballmer and current head coach Tyrone Lue have made steps to break that trend as long as LA finds a way to stay healthy.
Health has been a difficult thing for the franchise, especially Kawhi Leonard.
This season, Leonard has looked like his old self. In 51 games, he’s averaging 23.9 points per game in 34.1 minutes.
Paul George and James Harden have an additional burden. The two are trying to accomplish the only item that needs to be added to their resume, a ring.
Both have been through playoff disappointment in other cities. George’s Oklahoma City team got Dame-Timed in Portland. Harden’s Houston team choked away a winnable series against the Warriors.
If Leonard is healthy, he can lead Ballmer, George, and Harden to a title as he did in Toronto when he carried the Raptors to its only title.
It would be the perfect way to open up the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome.
There wouldn’t be a better storybook beginning for a franchise needing one.
