San Antonio at Los Angeles

Oh how the mighty have fallen, or have they? The Spurs are off to a sluggish start, due largely to missing key players with injuries. There is still a talent pool on the court and more important - a long-established winning mindset. The Spurs have basically re-invented themselves. Through the first five games, teams were just coming right at them and enticing them in a full-court game, wearing them down and taking it to them. The Spurs went 1-4 during their first five games. They then remade themselves and settled into a playoff-like half-court game. The 100+ they allowed in their first five has shrunk to 81.3 points per game, and the Spurs have suddenly have won three of four. The Clippers are simply a horrible team that should not be favored against anyone. The Clippers are 1-8 on the season and six of the eight losses have come by double-digits including four at home. The wrong team is favored here, so I'll back the Spurs.