Clippers to hold training camp in San Diego

Back in the days before the Los Angeles Clippers opened their state of the art practice facility in Playa Vista, the team always went away for training camp. The days of heading to Santa Barbara ended a in Sept. 2008 when the training facility opened and the team began holding training camp on site.

This year it's going to be different. The Clippers are off to UC San Diego for training camp beginning October 1. Why? I don't really know, but I'll ask. Teams often prefer to get out of town for training camp so that players can focus on basketball, without the distractions of their every day life in their own town. It can also be a team building experience to go away together for a week. The team has an entirely new coaching staff and half the roster has turned over. Many of them have been playing in Playa Vista for the better part of the summer, but camp might be the perfect time to get everyone together in a new setting. Or maybe this is just how Doc Rivers likes to do things.

The team will hold two-a-day practices at UCSD in La Jolla Tuesday through Friday and a final morning practice on Saturday. The practices are closed to the general public.

No word yet on an intra-squad scrimmage this year.

By the way, this is all just a little over two weeks away. It's been a long off-season, but it's almost over citizens. Basketball is coming soon!