The Los Angeles Clippers have solidified their home court advantage with seven straight wins at home. Can the Intuit Dome prove to be a tough place for opponents to play? LA is very sports-oriented when it comes to the diversity of fans and how much they love their teams. It’s also a place where tradition is taken seriously from generation to generation by fans.
Clippers Win Seven Straight in First Full Month at Intuit Dome
In the month of October and to start November, LA had not really established their home court dominance, especially in the very beginning. They lost their first four home games against the Phoenix Suns twice, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers lost the first three by an average margin of 3.3 points, showing signs of not being able to close out games. After struggling on the road in Oklahoma City and Houston, and still without star Kawhi Leonard, there wasn’t much to lean on coming back home, but that all changed.
Needing wins to cement themselves as a playoff contender in the Western Conference, the team finally got back on track at home. The Clippers have beaten some mediocre teams, but also some better teams such as the Golden State Warriors at home in November.
How Did the Clippers Get Here?
Down by 26 points after one quarter, the Clippers rallied to win their first game at the Intuit Dome against the San Antonio Spurs. The next game resulted in a win against the underachieving Philadelphia 76ers. That was followed by a nail-biting win against the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers then lost three in a row on the road, before getting a win in Utah against the Jazz.
Finally getting back home to Inglewood, LA rattled four straight key victories. The Clippers secured wins against the Utah Jazz, Golden Warriors, Orlando Magic and an NBA Cup game against the Sacramento Kings. It seems like head coach Tyronn Lue has figured out a way to win games that they are expected to win and make a statement against the best teams in the league.
The Intuit Dome Creates a New Legacy for the Clippers
The Intuit Dome was built for the hope that Clippers fans show up and show out at every home game. Finally having their own arena and being out of the shadow of the Lakers in downtown LA, the Clippers have something to call their own. It’s a bit ironic that the Intuit Dome is neighbors directly with The Forum where the Lakers called home and cemented their legacy.
The LA Clippers have released rules for "The Wall" — the Intuit Dome's new section of 51 uninterrupted rows of fans.
• Cannot cheer for opposing team
• Cannot wear opponent gear
• Tickets can only be resold in Clippers marketplaceA season on "The Wall" ranges from $5K-$25K. pic.twitter.com/7hQEfDizdo
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 16, 2024
However, in a new generation in Clippers basketball, owner Steve Ballmer created a new identity for the Clippers. Many people know about the previous ownership with the Clippers and how disastrous it was tomthe team’s legacy. Now, the Intuit Dome is a chance to create a new legacy with a clean slate to work with.
As for one of the Intuit Dome’s premier sights, “The Wall” has been doing its job in the arena’s infancy. Whether it is by waving rubber chickens called “Chuckens” or getting creative with chants, Clippers fans have been doing their part. The fans seem to show up the most in the fourth quarter.
Free Chicken!
Chick-Fil-A has been partnered with the Clippers for years with a special promotion for fans in attendance. In the fourth quarter, if an opposing player misses two consecutive free throws, free chicken sandwiches for all! The following day, people can redeem their free chicken sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A by either downloading their app or using the rewards system. Some players have fallen victim to this promotion, specifically Devin Booker on opening night. The fans in “The Wall” did their job to disrupt the 87% career free throw shooter.
Clips Fly Out East For Thanksgiving
Next on the schedule, the Clips have a four game road trip ahead of them. The first three of these outings are on the east coast. It looks to be somewhat of a favorable road trip for LA. Games one and three on the road are opponents that have a combined record of 5-24. They are the very underwhelming Philadelphia 76ers (game takes place Sunday) and Washington Wizards. In between those matchups includes a trip to TD Garden and a date with the defending champions, the Boston Celtics. Finally, the trip wraps up on Black Friday in Minnesota for the Clippers’ third NBA Cup game against the Timberwolves.
