Mark Cuban was around in that highly anticipated matchup involving his team, the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers.
And as expected the game was highly emotional, seeing some anxious moments such as those elbow exchanges between Dirk Nowitzki and DeAndre Jordan.
Fortunately, nothing went out of hand. However, it is pretty clear that despite denials from key figures of both camps that nothing was brewing, the tension was pretty much up in the air.
Well, who wouldn't feel it?
Everyone knows how Mark Cuban took exception to that celebrated shunning that DeAndre Jordan did when he opted to re-sign with the Clippers when contract-signing time came, and such left the Mavericks in total disarray.
Word wars between Mark Cuban and Doc Rivers were also in the air, not to mention potshots made by Chandler Parson who was a vital figure in trying to lure Jordan to Dallas.
So, will this rivalry escalate? If you ask Cuban, he believes that that Clippers are not relevant enough to be considered as chief rivals. Summing it all up, he doesn't care much about the team that pulled the rug from under them.
The Clippers went on to take that match (104–88) but surely, this was not the last of it. The two teams will meet again on Nov. 11, and things are expected to be equally feverish.
Jordan is expected to hear it from the Dallas fans and it won't be surprising if that game will be as heated (if not more) as what fans got to witness at the Staples Center.
Cuban surely knows that his team is not among the favorites, although they are not seen to be the whipping boys as well. The Mavs will still be competing but expect that level to go up a notch, especially if they play against the Clippers.
