New-era Los Angeles Clippers seek next playoff step

 Expectations are high for the new-era Los Angeles Clippers, freed from the shadow that former owner Donald Sterling's racist remarks cast over last season's NBA playoff run.
With Sterling expelled from the league and the NBA pressing him to sell, former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer swept to the rescue with a breathtaking $2 billion purchase of the club.
Blake Griffin, the Clippers' exhilarating power forward, described Sterling -- whose rambling attempts at defending his actions featured large as the story unfolded -- as a "weird uncle" while Ballmer is "like a cool dad who gives you candy."
But even though Ballmer's purchase of the club is signed and sealed as far as the NBA is concerned, the repercussions of the affair linger.
Sterling might not be expected to get far with his remaining anti-trust lawsuit against the league, but in the wake of the scandal a whiff of racism has already affected another team, with Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson moving to sell his controlling interest in the team after racially charged remarks he made in an e-mail two years ago came to light.
Hawks president Danny Ferry has also been disciplined by the club for derogatory comments about British player Luol Deng's African heritage.
A heightened sensitivity and zero-tolerance policy toward racism may not be the only after-effect of the Sterling saga.
The $2 billion paid for the Clippers -- a team Sterling bought in 1981 for $12 million -- far eclipsed the previous record price of $550 million paid for the Milwaukee Bucks just last April.
The eye-popping price tag reportedly had Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov mulling a sale of all or part of the Brooklyn Nets, the club he purchased in 2009 for $200 million.
All of that is by the by for Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who ably shepherded his players through the minefield of the scandal and hopes this year they can play without distractions and improve on their second-round playoff showing.
The two-time defending Pacific Division champions had a conference final berth in their sights before a game-five collapse against Oklahoma City.
The Clippers were ahead by seven points in the final 50 seconds, but ended up losing 105-104 and the Thunder won the series on the Clippers' floor two days later.
Clippers point guard Chris Paul, whose foul on Russell Westbrook in the closing seconds led to the winning three free throws in the game five defeat, says the disaster will motivate him and his team-mates this season.
"Last year we had a great opportunity, but game five was horrible and it's no secret why we lost game five. But I think this year gives us an opportunity to get right back there," he said.
- Time to shine -
Despite his status among the game's elite point guards, 10-year-veteran Paul knows significant playoff success is a conspicuous void on his resume.
"It's the truth, it doesn't matter if it's fair or not," Paul, 29, said.
"That's a huge deal, especially to me and us as a team," added Paul, who knows that anything less than a run to their first Western Conference final will be a backward step for the Clippers.
Veterans J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes also return for the Clippers and aiming to go further than last season.
"This is our prime, and we have to really seize the moment and take advantage of what we have here -- arguably the most talented team from top to bottom in the league, the best coach in the league," Barnes said.
"It's our time to shine."
Source: AFP