Clippers vs. Blazers - Game Preview and Open Thread

	vs.
19-35		29-28
Staples Center
Feb. 27, 2008 - 7:30 PM
Probable starters:
Brevin Knight	PG	Steve Blake
Cat Mobley	SG	Martell Webster
Corey Maggette	SF	Travis Outlaw
Tim Thomas	PF	LaMarcus Aldridge
Aaron Williams	C	Joel Przybilla

For someone obsessed with the Clippers, I don't go to a lot of games.  With ClipperKids and a ClipperWidow, it's just not easy to take the time to get up there to LA.  So I watch the vast majority of games on TV.

But when a friend had some Clippers tickets that went unsold in a Charity Auction, it seemed like a perfect opportunity.  I bought great seats for the minimum auction bid, and it was for a good cause.  So as you may recall, I was in a luxury seat for the Clippers game against the Heat.  Of course they lost.  To the worst team in the league.  But the suite was nice.  Good food.

When a friend was visiting from out of town and wanted to go to a game, I bought some seats for the Charlotte game.  It didn't figure to be a great game by any means, but it was a likely win.   Turns out, that was the first game of flu-season, and neither Kaman nor Maggette played.  It's bad enough to be without Brand and Livingston - but that Charlotte game was the first of four straight they played without 4 of their top 5 players.  Come on.

Tonight is the second set of charity auction seats.  Not a luxury box, but significantly better seats than I would usually buy.  And back in December, this figured to be a GREAT game to see.

• It's after the All Star Break!  Brand will be playing!  Um, no.
• As well as his rehab is going, maybe Livingston will even be back in the lineup!  That would be no.
• Portland is on fire!  They're going to be fighting for a playoff spot!  Um, see, they had started that 17-1 streak when I first got the tickets.  But they're 7-15 since then, and haven't beaten a team with a winning record since Jan 9.
• I'll get to see Brandon Roy!  See, thing is, Roy's got a sprained ankle and won't be playing tonight.
• I'll get to see Chris Kaman up close!  Yes I will.  In his suit sitting next to Brand and Livingston because his bad back is still a problem.
• Former Clipper Darius Miles?  That would be no.  Still not playing.
• Former Clipper Bo Outlaw?  Idiot, that's Travis Outlaw who plays for the Blazers.
• Crowd favorite Sam Cassell?  No.  His "Sprained Wrist" (those are air quotes, not real quotes) will likely keep him out of this game.

Look, I don't mean to diminish the experience of watching Aaron Williams and Brevin Knight, but... oh who am I kidding?  That experience sucks.  Basically, the Clippers are going to start four guys in whom I have little or no interest.  Mobley's a fine player and has done well for the Clippers, but if they traded him this summer for cap relief and a late first round pick I'd be happy.    Tim Thomas, make it a second round pick.  Of the starters, that leaves Corey Maggette, who is the least likely starter after Williams to actually BE a Clipper next season.  Which leaves me watching Al Thornton with particular interest.  Because really, what else is there to do?  

There's always Nick Fazekas.  And a chance to get an up close look at Greg Oden's fro-hawk.  He better still have the fro-hawk!  If he got another hair cut I'm going to be so pissed.