It is too early to see into the crystal ball future for what Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has in store for his franchise. One thing remains however, today’s game 7 against the Houston Rockets will be the biggest game in history for LA’s other team. After blowing a 15 point lead late in the fourth quarter of Game 6, the Clippers will have to win against Houston on the road and make it to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.
Let’s just step back though and think. The Clippers playing in a game that has real meaning? A game that takes this team (once the laughing stock of the NBA) to the Western Conference Finals? There are too many negative superlatives we could add on, but yes THIS team, the team that once took Michael Olowokandi first overall over Vince Carter and Paul Pierce in the 1999 draft, is one win away from the conference finals.
Whether they win or lose, the fate of the Clippers is about to change. A new owner, with plans to rebrand the team, is either on the verge of opening the doors to a new era of success or suffering a historic collapse in typical Clippers fashion. However, one fact that remains is that for the first time in its team history, the Clippers made real noise.
They defeated the San Antonio Spurs who were once again snake bitten by a fantastic shot. Over a decade after the Lakers’ Derek Fisher stunned San Antonio with 0.4 seconds left, Chris Paul, the engine of the Clippers squad, hit the game winner in Game 7 of the first round.
So how does the future look for the Clippers after the ugly side of the franchise reared its ugly head yet again? A debacle that was as much about the Rockets determination and will as it was about the complacency of a team that walked to the finish line.
Today is a chance for the Clippers to truly make everyone forget about the horrible draft picks and the years of hype, but no results. But now is the chance to make everything right. So it begins and we end with the Game 7 poem:
Twas the night before Game 7
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Except for Donald Sterling in V. Stiviano’s blouse
All the jerseys were hung
By the dryer with care
With hopes J.J Redick’s jump shot
Would soon be there.
All the Rockets fans were snuggled in their beds
Well dreams of making it to the NBA Finals
Danced in their heads
And Steve Ballmer with his Clipper t-shirt
Under his suit
Well Leslie Alexander rocked his Steve Francis jersey
And his matching cowboy boots.
When out in the desert
There rose such a clatter
Alexander jumped on his horse
To see what was the matter.
Away into the heat Alexander went
Well Steve checked to see
If CP3’s hamstring still bent
Away they went
Fired up from the season
Hoping that Dwight Howard and De’Andre Jordan
Could make free throws without treason
Knowing that there
Is only more time to dance
Before one team falls
Well the others advance
So came the showdown
To determine the fates of all
Which franchise will rise
And which other will fall.
