Lacklustre Clippers Clipped by Pelicans

Well it isn't every day that someone like myself has the opportunity to go to an NBA game, let alone a match in Los Angeles and one to see the Clippers or the Lakers for that matter. So it was an opportunity that I couldn't turn down when I had the chance to snap up a ticket. Unfortunately I was unable to buy a ticket for a Lakers game to add to the whole basketball in Los Angeles experience, as the price for the ticket was way too expensive for me and I had to resign knowing that just seeing the Clippers was a feat in itself on this holiday. Oh and the World Cup in Russia had made a rather larger dent in the holiday war chest than I had budgeted, but that is what life is all about? Anyway, let us return to Los Angeles, it was a rather crisp and cold night. It had rained prior and it is rather akin to Perth, or Australian winters (excluding the top end or Tasmania) where the nights were cold and the days were not too bad, unless it was a grey and miserable wet day.

So I wasn't exactly staying in a place in Los Angeles that is considered safe for myself, or for anyone for that matter, but it was easily accessible by public transport so that is the reason why. Call me foolish, foolhardy, or somewhat stupid, I tend to put myself in these situations but again it is part of the adventure of travels and of course an eye-opening and enriching experience. But I caught the silver LA metro line up to the city centre and then i walked down towards the Staples Centre. Like all basketball venues I've been to in Portland and in Perth, the outside looks deceptively small but once you go in, it is huge. Anyway, I should go back to talking about the game!

I found my seat and it was quite high up, but that is OK I wasn't upset by the fact I was thankful to even be here to watch a game and to be in the country as it is just a fantastic place to visit and spend time in. But it wasn't too high where I wasn't able to see the players or the action, it was just right I thought. So I was watching the action all unfold but I must disclose like I have many times hopefully before, I enjoy basketball but I am no way an expert or an aficionado of the sport. However, I was witnessing the Clippers playing rather poorly and the visitors from New Orleans were running rings around them. It was something I wasn't used to. I had totally forgotten that New Orleans even had a team and I was initially confused by this, however a quick google thanks to the WiFi supplied by the stadium brought me up to speed with the whole Hornets fiasco and shuffling around.

The Pelicans were just never under huge threat and were able to diligently build upon their lead over the course of the four quarters and the Clippers just seemed to be Clipped, now that is terrible, but they were just not kicking it into a high gear and just seemed too stiff, predictable and bland. Even the off court entertainment seemed the exact same way where all the noise from the PA, the guys and girls talking on the mics and the music blasted over the time-outs or quarter breaks to generate some kind of atmosphere. Perhaps this is a regular thing for basketball in LA, or in general, but I think I was perhaps spoilt for watching a few Trailblazers games where the atmosphere there was very loud, intense and very passionate; very much like the Timbers games too.

I think I would assume that this is what the atmosphere would be like if I were to visit Old Trafford, or any of the Emirates (Etihad for City) named cloned stadiums to watch Manchester City or Arsenal. It would just be for 'the plastics' and genuine fans would be few and far between and drowned out by the stadium's PA system. The Clippers though did stage a very slow but gradual comeback against the visitors, as they were starting to nail the basket and were stringing passes together and building a very patient and diligent game. But it just was too late with the hosts falling 2 points shy at the final buzzer 117 to 119.

The food though was very much like at the Blazers' games in content and in price, albeit slightly more expensive by a buck or 3. That of course comes down to LA and the demographics compared to Portland being a 'smaller' city obviously than LA. So I had nachos with thick goopy nacho cheese sauce, which I have to admit, is unhealthily delicious with jalapenos and a large cup of doctor pepper for 20 dollars. I also had a few beers which were 10 dollars each. So this became very expensive fast, especially when I was converting from AUD to USD. As I was rather high up in the centre, I didn't want to go all the way down and go through the rat race to find more food and drink, but there was plenty on offer when I saw it going up to my seat. But I just have to say I thought it was a great experience. I hope that I am lucky enough to return, but I am just thankful that I did have this opportunity to watch some basketball in LA and to see yet another NBA game.