Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer spent $2 billion in an attempt to finally get out of the Lakers’ shadow. The Intuit Dome — the Clippers’ state-of-the-art arena — is the result, and on Wednesday night it hosted its first ever game as LA’s other team faced the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers’ new arena gimmick even had Kevin Durant missing clutch free throws
‘The Wall’ is an innovative feature at the Clippers’ new arena, and Kevin Durant was its first victim.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
The Suns beat the Clippers, 116-113, in overtime. The Clippers were without injured star Kawhi Leonard for this game, and also saw Paul George walk to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency this summer over a contract dispute. The Clippers are probably going to struggle this year in a loaded Western Conference, but they have one thing going for them that no other team can boast: “The Wall.”
“The Wall” is one of the signature features of the Intuit Dome — right there with an unlimited supply of toilets and sports’ biggest and most high-tech video board. “The Wall” is Ballmer’s idea of a college basketball student section in the NBA. Located behind one of the baskets, “The Wall” has 51 uninterrupted rows of fans at a steep vertical incline that are expected to be loud and annoying to the opposition all game. The first 13 rows are standing room only.
Kevin Durant came to the line for a pair of free throws in crunch-time shooting against the backdrop of the wall. Durant somehow missed both:
The Suns shot 73 percent from the line on the night. In the fourth quarter shooting against “The Wall,” Phoenix made only 66 percent of its free throws (6-of-9).
Here’s what it looks like from the top of “The Wall.” It’s steep!
Here’s what “The Wall” looks like from ground level at the other end of the floor:
And here’s how it looked on the broadcast with Durant at the line in the fourth quarter:
Here’s Ballmer in his new fan section:
Will “The Wall” actually give the Clippers a true homecourt advantage? I’m not ready to buy that after only one game. The Clippers led by 10 points at the end of the third quarter, but blew the game despite the Suns shooting against “The Wall” in the fourth quarter. What the Clippers really need a healthy Kawhi Leonard, but that feels very unlikely to ever happen again.
More important, perhaps, is that other players think the stadium is cool and just might have “The Wall” in their head when they step to the foul line. Here’s what Durant said about “The Wall” after the game.
The Clippers might be an eyesore this season, but their arena is unlike anything else in sports today. I kind of want to fly out to LA and get tickets for “The Wall.” I can’t be the only one.
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