
The event Wednesday night at Novo at L.A. Live was billed as “The Playbook,” a conversation with Lawrence Frank — the Clippers’ president of basketball operations — and icon Jerry West, a team consultant. Ballmer made it feel more like a pep rally crossed with a tent revival, complete with devout responses from the Clippers faithful. “We know we’ve got to earn everything in life,” he said at one point, and someone in the crowd yelled, “Yes!” When he said, “Nothing comes to us for free,” an emotional voice cried, “Right!”
