There were only two games tonight in the NBA, but they were both good matchups. The Spurs beat the Mavs in Dallas, 97-91, even though Tim Duncan didn’t play very well. It’s early, but San Antonio’s win on the road is a statement. The Spurs found something in Francisco Elson, a seven-foot forward/center whom they signed away from the Denver Nuggets. He is a tremendous athlete and can run the floor. Against the Mavs, he tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds and blocked two shots in 26 minutes. Look for his role to increase as he gains more experience. With Duncan and Manu Ginobili completely healthy, the Spurs look like the class of the West.
In the other game, the Clippers bounced back from a loss at Phoenix last night to nip the Nuggets, 96-95. Carmelo Anthony was ejected early in the third quarter after drawing two technicals for arguing with the officials, so the Clippers really should have won this game by a larger margin. In truth, they were lucky to escape with a win. Sam Cassell made a bonehead turnover late in the game with his team up one that led to a J.R. Smith dunk. But Cassell is nothing if not crafty, and he drew a foul on the next possession to give the Clippers the win. He finished with 35 points, six rebounds and six assists. On the other hand, Smith is primed for a breakout year as the Nuggets’ starting shooting guard. He led Denver with 21 points and provides the long-range shooting that the Nuggets so desperately need.
On a side note, the NBA should consider giving home court advantage to whomever wins the season series. This would place a bigger emphasis on regular season games and give the players something else to play for. If two teams split the season series, then home court would go to the team with the better record, as it does now. Thoughts?
