Staples Center

A Cross-Staples Center matchup not meant to be...

2006-08-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

Phoenix 121
L.A. Lakers 90

Phoenix showed evryone that the whole "you can't win a series after being down 3-1" theory isn't always true.

Nash was limping the entire second half. Kobe scored once - on a free throw because of a 3 second violation - the entire second half. Charles Barkley's halftime report was accurate - this game was over at the half.

(Yes, I know that the Lakers weren't supposed to even make the Playoffs this year based on their first half of the season, but the Suns weren't supposed to come back from a 3-1 deficit either...)

Now L.A.'s only hope is the Clippers. Sad, sad. I reeaally wanted a cross-Staples Center matchup.

Go Clippers! :)

Hmm..., I just realized that the Lakers were 34-48 last year. So, technically, this is an improvement, right?

Away Games

2006-08-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

To my two and a half readers, at which NHL arenas have you seen games? My wife and I plan, eventually, to see them all. So far I have been to the following arenas:
RBC Center (obviously) - Carolina
Greensboro (pre-move) - Carolina
Cap Center (I've not been to MCI yet) - Washington
Continental - New Jersey
Nassau - New York Islanders
Arrowhead (Duck) Pond - Anaheim
Staples Center - Los Angeles
HP Pavilion (Shark Tank) - San Jose

Sports: Spanning the globe to give you the constant variety of sports

2006-07-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

If you are above a certain age you will remember this: Spanning the globe to give you the constant variety of sports. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, the human drama of athletic competition. This is ABC's Wide World of Sports.

I have been following World Cup 2006 with more interest than in the past. I didn't order up cable, nor am I pub crawling looking for games on TV or nor am watching at odd-hours on Spanish or Korean language television.

Nonetheless, as an observer of culture, it has been lots of fun. The viewing and enjoyment of sports is such a typically male activity. With Title IX, more women can participate in sports and a certain percentage of women enjoy watching sports but I do wonder if the experience is as visceral?

I've heard some say that team and honor are deeply male virtues. Just as there are "chick" flicks, there are "buddy" movies and they are usually inspirational team sports movies or war movies or crime/bad guy fighting action adventure films.

Thus, soccer, though less a part of the American psyche can tap into that sense of team and honor.

On top of those "male" aspects there is the national pride angle.

Los Angeles has a large Korean community. Thus, on Sunday, I couldn't help but root for them against the French. I pumped my fists as Korea got that late goal to tie the game. ABC's cameras showed the tens (?) of thousands of red-clad fans in the German stadium going crazy then they switched to Los Angeles' Staples Center where they opened the doors to thousands of fans who watched the game on the jumbo scoreboard and they too exploded in celebration.

I didn't see the game on Saturday between Italy and USA but by all reports it was a gutsy performance by the undermanned USA team.

Some of my predictions have flopped but it has been a good geography lesson and lots of fun.

CLIPS MIGHT JUST HALF A CHANCE

2006-07-10T18:11:00.001-07:00

A great second half of defense made up for a historically awful first half and allowed the Clips to make the third-biggest comeback in their history and hold on to defeat the Denver Nuggets, 111-109, last night at Staples Center. With the win, the Clips move 3.5 games ahead of the Nuggets, take the season series, 3-1, and will likely hold home court if the teams meet in the first round.

In the first half, the Nuggets drove, drilled and dunked their way to the best-shooting first half in recorded NBA history, hitting 81.6% on 31 field goals off 26 assists. They scored 38 and 39 points in the first two quarters against absolutely no resistance whatsoever from the Clippers.

But after Coach Dunleavy chewed the team a new [butt]hole at halftime (a far less exciting activity since Marko Jaric left town), the Clips applied the clamps, holding the Nuggets to 16 points in each of the final two frames. Shaun Livingston and Quinton Ross led the way, Q finally frustrating Carmelo Anthony into throwing the ball into the stands with 1:11 to play and the game still up for grabs. The resulting free throws -- misses by Dunleavy's handpicked replacement, Reggie Evans, and a technical FT by Sam Cassell -- provided the razor-thin margin of victory.

Both teams had chances to win in the closing moments, but by hanging on through the frantic finish, the Clips earned the most important win of their remaining schedule. Given the disparity between their schedules, the Clips and Memphis should exchange seedings within the week (keep in mind that the Grizz haven't won in Denver in forever and want no part of the Nugz). I'm fairly confident that the Clips can stave off the Lakers and avoid dropping to the 7 spot.

If they play their cards right -- doing just enough to avoid the perception of tanking games while giving their key veterans ample rest down the stretch -- they should be well positioned to give a good account of themselves in round one. If nothing else, they're now in the Nuggets' heads. As Michael Eaves reported, he asked them whom they wished to face in the first round, and to a man, the Nuggets answered, "We don't want to play the Clippers." Nice!

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POSTSCRIPT: Tonight's game in Phoenix was a variation on the theme of second-half defense. Against the Suns, the Clips actually erased an 11-point lead before halftime, leading 59-55 at the break en route to an unlikely 119-105 victory in the absence of floor leader Cassell.

Livingston and Ross were the story again tonight. Shaun finished three rebounds shy of a triple-double at 12-7-13 in 36 great, growth-enhancing minutes. Q Ross held Livy's Canadian counterpart, Steve Nash, in check with just nine points and five assists. Elton Brand returned to first-half form with a monster 34-15 double-double. Corey Maggette had a 23-10 double-double and just two turnovers in 28 minutes, while Chris Kaman and Vladimir Radmanovic both fell a board shy at 11-9 and Ross and Cuttino Mobley contributed 12 points apiece. The Clips clicked on all cylinders, connecting on 54.8% FGs (55.6% 3FGs), outrebounding the Suns, 52-37, and only turning the ball over 12 times.

That's the good news. Now, the bad news: These two unexpected wins will make it a bit harder to drop inconspicuously to the 6 spot. They're now 1.5 up on Memphis with two weeks to play. They've got to start losing some ballgames. Fortunately, Friday night brings just what the doctor ordered: a visit to Staples from the Sacramento Kings, whose ownership of the Clippers extends three seasons without a loss. Knowing what they need, I might even stick around for the second half of that one.

Click on Clipper Talk and join the discussion. -- Jordan

CLIPS MIGHT JUST HALF A CHANCE

2006-07-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

CLIPS MIGHT JUST HALF A CHANCE

2006-07-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

CLIPS MIGHT JUST HALF A CHANCE

2006-07-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

HOW SWEEP IT IS FOR CLIPS

2006-07-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

Finally, a team the Clippers can beat. The Trail Blazers took the positives, but the Clips took the W last night at Staples Center, 97-93, completing the first season sweep of Portland in their history in too-close-for-comfort fashion. With the victory, the team equals a Clipper record for most wins with 45.

Brad Gilbert would be proud, because the Clips won this one ugly. They allowed 45.6% shooting by a balanced Blazer attack that saw eight men score seven or more points. Portland competed evenly with the playoff-bound Clips in most categories in a game that featured four ties and 15 lead changes.

Elton Brand led the way for L.A. with 25 points on 12-16 shooting, evoking memories of the E.B. who was a first-half contender for league MVP. Sam Cassell posted a 19-point, 10-assist double-double on poor shooting, while Chris Kaman contributed 14 and 11 but continued to put the ball on the floor unnecessarily. Cuttino Mobley, overdue for a good game, made 3-4 FGs and 7-8 FTs for 13.

Afterward, Nate McMillan said, "I do respect the way this team played tonight. These young guys came out and fought and played together. All the things we've been talking about all season long. We got that tonight." Mike Dunleavy, meanwhile, bemoaned his veterans' inconsistency and lack of toughness. A win's a win, but we'd all like to see more energy and better execution, greater urgency and a sense of purpose with the playoffs nigh at hand and Corey Maggette out indefinitely with a herniated disc.

Still, the Clips sit in the catbird seat at sixth, .5 games behind Memphis and 1.5 games ahead of Denver for home court. With the Nuggets' loss last night in Utah, they'll need two more wins in their last three (vs. SAC, vs. HOU, @ SEA) than the Clips cull in their final four (@ SEA, vs. SEA, @ MEM, @ DAL). A sweep of Seattle would secure home court if the Clips stay at 6, but Chris Wilcox's Sonics -- with recent wins over San Antonio, Phoenix and Memphis -- aren't the same team the Clips last faced three months ago to the day.

Click on Clipper Talk and join the discussion. -- Jordan

Staples Center

2006-02-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

Staples Center is a multipurpose sports arena in downtown Los Angeles, California at the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District. It is located near the intersection of Interstate highways I-10 and I-110. It is named for the Staples office-supply company, one of the center's corporate sponsors that paid for naming rights.