May 22nd: "Affalo, Farmar set workouts"

[Phil]

Affalo, Farmar set workouts
BY BRIAN DOHN, Staff Writer

The most significant stretch of UCLA's 2006-07 basketball season begins today, nearly six months before the season tips off.

The two prominent players in UCLA's unexpected run to the national championship game loss to Florida - shooting guard Arron Afflalo and point guard Jordan Farmar - begin workouts for NBA teams.

Afflalo said he has workouts scheduled with four teams, beginning with the Lakers. By this time next week, Afflalo said he will also work out for the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Through UCLA, Farmar said he is not conducting interviews until he reaches a decision on whether he will remain in the draft. But he will work out for the Clippers today. His mother, Mindy Kolani, said her son also had workouts scheduled with the Lakers and the New Jersey Nets.

Farmar is also trying to solidify workouts with Sacramento, and possibly a few others, but Kolani said "I'm not sure that's been completely cemented."

[Phil]

Even Lakers fans are on board

GAME 7: The Clippers have a chance to succeed where LA's other team failed today in Phoenix.

10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, May 21, 2006

By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise

EL SEGUNDO - The fans eased up to Corey Maggette while he ate dinner and extended their hands. They told Maggette they were die-hard Lakers fans.
Terry Pierson / The Press-Enterprise
Forward Elton Brand leads the Clippers into today's Game 7 with the Suns, averaging 30 points and 10.7 rebounds in the series.

But their beloved Lakers had been kicked to the playoff curb by the very same Phoenix Suns who the Clippers face tonight in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals at US Airways Center in Phoenix.

The fans wanted Maggette to know they still were loyal to the Lakers, but they had shifted their support to the Clippers and wanted them to represent the city of Los Angeles.

Maggette shook his head, finding it hard to believe what he heard. He smiled at the fans who wished him and the Clippers well after they tied the best-of-seven series at 3-3 with a victory in Game 6 Thursday night at Staples Center.

"It's weird. It was like they were on drugs or something," said Maggette, the Clippers' standout sixth man. "It's great to have the fans behind us. It's never been that way. All you can do is take it as a positive."