Clippers Start Off Far From Home

Continuing the globalization of the NBA, the Clippers and Seattle SuperSonics -- “two of the league’s promising young teams,” Commissioner David Stern said -- were scheduled to open the season early this morning at Saitama, Japan.

The NBA, which will have about 80 international players from more than 35 countries and territories this season, became the first U.S. professional sports league to stage regular-season games outside North America when the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz split two games at Tokyo in 1990.

This is the sixth time NBA teams have opened the season in Japan, and it’s the second trip each for the Clippers and SuperSonics. They will play again Saturday -- Friday night Los Angeles time -- at Saitama Super Arena outside Tokyo.

In 1992, the SuperSonics swept two games against the Houston Rockets at Yokohama; two years later, the Clippers lost twice to the Portland Trail Blazers at Yokohama.

Although each of the participating teams is compensated for the loss of a sold-out home date -- the Clippers will be designated as the home team Saturday -- there is no other financial incentive for them to travel halfway around the world.

Rather, as Andy Roeser, Clipper executive vice president, noted before the team left Los Angeles on Sunday, it’s because “we’re part of a league.”

In other words, if the NBA schedules the trip, you make the trip.

Two years ago, the Lakers and Golden State Warriors were scheduled to play two exhibition games in Tokyo, but the trip was canceled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Interest in the games is huge in Japan. When the Orlando Magic swept two games from the New Jersey Nets in 1996 -- the only time Eastern Conference teams were involved -- the games drew capacity crowds of more than 38,000 to the Tokyo Dome. Three years later, in the same facility, the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves drew more than 65,000 for two games.

Saitama Super Arena, playing host to the event for the first time and the site of the 2006 FIBA World Basketball Championships for men, seats about 19,000 for basketball. A sellout was expected.

Coaches, of course, worry that the long trip will take a physical and mental toll on the players, but their concerns seem unfounded.

All but two of the 10 teams that have opened the season in Japan went on to reach the playoffs. In 1992-93, the SuperSonics reached the Western Conference finals and the Rockets recovered from their 0-2 start to win their division.

The only teams that didn’t reach the playoffs were the Clippers in the 1994-95 season and the pre-Jason Kidd Nets two seasons later. For two of the NBA’s longest-suffering franchises, however, neither result was unexpected.

After this trip, the Clippers don’t play again until Nov. 7 at Denver. Their home opener is Nov. 11 against Atlanta at Staples Center.