Los Angeles Clippers: Last Step Out Of The Sterling Era
By Marcus Bass
The view from the Los Angeles Clippers media day was packed with anxious reporters looking to get a feel for what plans the team had in store for the upcoming season. Questions were asked about player health, certain skills worked on in the offseason, head coach Doc Rivers‘strategy on offense and defense and everything in between.
Although it should’ve been a day for reasonable optimism and excitement, the pink elephant in the room was still Donald Sterling. Even in his exile, the Clippers are yet to shake his funk.
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The last step for the Clippers to step out of the Donald Sterling tyranny, is to vacate him from conversation.
Media day is tiring for coaches and players. It’s nothing more than a formal session of regurgitation. Questions that’ve been asked all summer, and many that will continue will into the season. Rivers and the Clippers team would’ve preferred all questions to relate to the hardwood, however questions about their former infamous owner were brought up once again — kind of.
Even when mentioning Steve Ballmer, the majority of questions asked pertained to the difference in ownership. Surely Ballmer doesn’t want to become synonymous with Donald Sterling, and in order for the Clippers organization to continue looking forward they don’t need to be reminded of the past.
Doc Rivers was the consummate professional at the podium on media day. Similar to how he’s been his entire playing and coaching career. Although it’s complete truth and a reasonable explanation for the Clippers falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the post season due to the Sterling distraction, Rivers and Clippers players have refused to use that as an excuse.
The Clippers coaching staff and players were pretty lighthearted and playful. Completely night-and-day from the majority of temperaments in the Clippers exit interviews last season. The brooding team that were licking full body and mental wounds after a tumultuous post season were playful, excited and breathing fresh air.
Words like “ready to move forward,” “refocus” and “tough summer” were frequently mentioned by the Clippers starters and Rivers. Even point guard Chris Paul said “it’s not about what happened last season, it’s all about moving forward”.
It’s more comical than it is ironic that the Clippers had such a crazed summer and start the year by holding training camp in “Sin City” Las Vegas. They have every reason to feel confident and assured. They’re all apart of history. There’s a special bond that’s held by this Clippers team who will return the majority of last year’s squad.
The Clippers are entering training camp the best way possible. Lighthearted, focused, healthy and energetic. Filling in multiple holes that were discovered in the previous season, they’re a stronger team at every position. Out of the storm, a contender has emerged.