The Los Angeles Lakers will open their season tonight against their fellow Staples Center tenants, the Los Angeles Clippers, with Laker star Kobe Bryant sidelined by a torn left Achilles tendon.
The Clippers were 4-0 against the Lakers last season, part of a 56-26 record that was the best in the history of the franchise that began play in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves.
“They’re a good team,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said. “They’re going to fight for a championship right out of the gates and we’re going to have to get up to their level somehow.”
D’Antoni said he is not worried about how the Lakers will make up for the scoring of Bryant, who averaged a team-leading 27.3 points per game last season.
“It’s the presence, it’s the going to at the end of the game, it’s the tough moments you’re going to miss,” D’Antoni said.
D’Antoni said he did not know when Bryant would be able to begin practicing with the team.
“He’ll be back when he can get back,” D’Antoni said. “I’m sure he’s making progress.”
After undergoing surgery April 13, a day after he suffered the injury in a game against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers announced the recovery time would be a minimum of six to nine months.
There are eight players on the Laker roster who were not with the team last season, including both of tonight’s expected starting forwards, Nick Young and Shawne Williams.
Guard Jordan Farmar returned to the Lakers after a three-season absence.
He spent two of those seasons with the New Jersey Nets and played in Turkey last season.
This will be the fourth time since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles in
1984 that they have opened the season by playing the Lakers. The other times were in 1992, 2008 and 2009.
The game also marks the debut of Doc Rivers as the Clippers coach after coaching the Boston Celtics for the previous nine seasons.
There will be a moment of silence before the game in memory of Bill Sharman, who coached the Lakers to their first championship in Los Angeles in 1972. Sharman died Friday at 87 in his home in Redondo Beach.
There have been several changes to Staples Center since the end of last season.
New dining options are the Ludo Bird concession standand Black Crown Lounge.
Ludo Bird is Staples Center’s first chef-owned food stand, owned by Ludo Lefebvre. It is located in the main concourse across from Section 119 and features buttermilk Provencal fried chicken.
Ludo Bird’s menu also includes a fried chicken sandwich and popcorn chicken, side orders of “Ludo Slaw,” honey lavender biscuits, potato salad and house-made Ludo chips. A sweet and salty ice cream sandwich is available for dessert.
The Black Crown Lounge, located across from Section 118 on the main concourse, will unveil a new menu and sit down service tonight for its made-to- order hamburger menu.
The California Pizza Kitchen concession stand and bar located on the Main Concourse across from Section 110 has been completely redesigned with an updated stand and bar area and an added dining area. The wine list has been expanded.
A second location of the Tap Haus Beers and Brats craft beer stand has been added. The stands featuring 16 styles of micro-brewed beers and a wide selection of bratwurst and sausage are located on the Main Concourse at Section 113 and Section 118.
The San Manuel Club, Staples Center’s exclusive restaurant and bar, has been redesigned, with the former “view tables” upgraded to two distinct seating options.
The new Premier Tables are seven exclusive spaces featuring plush living-room style chairs that accommodate four people.
The Premiere Lounges are 18 private mini-suites that each accommodate four guests.
The Buss Stop and Cooke’s Corner carvery bars located on Suite Level A will feature new items such as roasted prime rib and hard carved turkey sandwiches, steak house chopped salad, a tostada salad and street tacos.
All the permanent seats inside the arena are being replaced with new foam padding and fabric. The project is expected to be completed in February.
There will also be all new folding chairs throughout the arena that feature custom chair bumpers that highlight the arena’s website and social media information.
Verizon Wi-Fi will be available for free throughout the arena by selecting Verizon Wi-Fi from the list of available networks.
All 1,400 televisions located throughout Staples Center on the Event Level, Main and Upper concourses, suite levels and inside all suites have been upgraded to full HD capability.
