Now that the NBA lockout is over, fans are rushing to the games. Don’t just root for your home team. Sports correspondent Phil Wallace  has sized up this year’s teams and picked out those with the top players and the most crowd-pleasing arenas.

Basketball is back… albeit with a later start this year. Instead of just watching at home, here are five arenas worth the travel time.

STAPLES Center – Los Angeles, CA

Credit: Flickr Creative Commons, user JoeJohnson2

The only arena to host two NBA teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angles Clippers, Staples Center is now the place to be in LA. The Lakers have always been the premiere team in the city, garnering sellout crowds despite high ticket prices. But now the Clippers are the “it” team in LA after trading for smooth point guard Chris Paul last month and drafting dunking power forward Blake Griffin last year. Their games are now selling out too, but you can still get great deals at ScoreBig.com or the Barry’s Tickets in the lobby of the Luxe Hotel across the street. Try getting a ticket in the lower bowl, since sitting above three levels of luxury suites can be hard on the eyes. Some of the best deals in the arena are in the 200-level behind the basket.

Evenings at Staples Center don’t have to be limited to just basketball. Staples Center is located at the foot of Downtown Los Angeles and is part of AEG’s new LA Live Complex. Dine at high-end restaurants like Trader Vic’s, Katsuya, or WP24 and grab a drink at the ESPN Zone, Yardhouse, Lucky Strike Lanes, or the Conga Room.

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