The silver and black are looking sharp. They are on top of their game through nine contests so far this year. The Spurs have now won seven straight and have the second best record in the NBA, second only to the 8-0 Hornets, who are the only team to beat them.

The weekend started out with a 116-93 romp of the Philadelphia 76ers at the AT&T Center on Saturday. Tim Duncan played a meager 24 minutes and didn’t produce like he usually does. He scored just 7 points, had 6 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. It didn’t matter. The Spurs got help from everyone else. DeJuan Blair had 13 points and 12 rebounds in just 24 minutes to aid down low.

The game was over by the start of the third quarter as the Spurs outscored the Sixers 35-12. Led by George Hill’s 16 points, the bench came in and did their job and were able to close the game as it was already out of reach. And of course there’s the usual suspects who played well in Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili who contributed 24 and 18 points respectively. But the Spurs were expected to win that game.

The second game of the back-to-back was against the Oklahoma City Thunder at their place. Duncan again played an underwhelming game, but once again they didn’t need him. He played 23 minutes, scoring just 6 points this time with 4 rebounds. The Spurs won 117-104 behind the sharpshooting of a certain “Red Rocket.”

Bonner, in just his second game back from an injury sustained on opening night, went 7-for-7 from three, scoring 21 points. It was the best shooting display for the Spurs since Steve Smith went 8-for-8 in 2001.

The Spurs actually shot better from long range (55%) than overall field goal percentage (41%). The sharpshooting is without a doubt what saved the Spurs in this game, as they gave up 66 points in the first half. However, they did hold the wunderkind Kevin Durant to 23 points on 10-of-23 shooting.

Once again Blair picked up the slack on the boards, nabbing 11 of them to go with 9 points and a couple of steals. Parker posted another 24-point night, Ginobili hit 11-11 free throws for 21 points, and Richard Jefferson scored 18.

Two days, two games, two wins, and a seven game winning streak to start the season. So what is the reason for this early success and will it continue?

Spurs fans have constantly bashed Bonner. He’s way too inconsistent, he’s one-dimensional, he’s a liability on the defensive end… But Bonner proved his usefulness last night. He is out on the court to spread the floor. Let’s not forget that he has led this team in three-point shooting in the past. Every player has a role and Bonner knows his and plays within it.

Duncan has now scored in single digits three straight games. All wins. It’s clear that Duncan is no longer the player he once was, but the Spurs don’t need him to be. He has proved he can still produce consistently in the allotted minutes Gregg Popovih gives him. Parker, Ginobili, and now Jefferson are there to share the scoring load when Duncan has an off night or when he is seeing increased defensive pressure.

No other player has been more influential to the success of this team than Richard Jefferson. He has clearly reverted back to his playing days with Nets. He is attacking, looking for his shot, and has found a nice Bruce Bowen-esque stroke from the corner. If he continues to play at an elevated level, he could be mentioned in talks for the most improved player, even at 30 years of age.

What a luxury it is to know that the big three are no longer alone. Jefferson has stepped in and filled a huge void. Blair, although the expected sophomore leap has been lacking so far judging from his stellar preseason, he is still producing at a steady rate. And let’s not neglect the added firepower on the bench. Gary Neal has had a number of excellent shooting nights, not to mention his good rebounding as well. George Hill has been a little less than impressive, but remains solid. And once James Anderson gets back from injury and Tiago Splitter gets more and more reps with the team, they become that much deeper. Their bench can play with many starting fives in the league.

The Spurs are coming out of the gate with guns blazing. Every year they are written off, yet every year they prove another group of naysayers wrong. The chips are falling nicely yet again for this rejuvenated club. They’ve nowhere to go but up. And with the Lakers’ recent stumbles showing some chinks in the armor, I’m not so sure the gap between one and two in the West is so big now. As if it ever was…

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Today’s magic number is 60. Tony Parker (20), Tim Duncan (23), and Manu Ginobili (22) all scored 20+ points last night in the Spurs’ 122-109 win over the Pacers. It’s likely that 60 will be the magic number for this team throughout the season. When the big three all chip in at least 20 points, everything else usually falls into place.

One of those things that fell into place was Richard Jefferson. In a meager 21 minutes he put in 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a telling 7-of-10 from the free throw line. He is clearly looking to attack and shoot more, which can only be a good thing for the Spurs. If he plays like he did last night on a night-to-night basis, the Spurs can be dangerous once more.

George Hill contributed another 16 points in 28 minutes off the bench that included a four-point play in the fourth quarter where the Spurs began to pull away. I’m really intrigued with this kid’s developmental direction. He finished second in the most improved player votes and this year he hopes to progress even more. I love his upside am expecting big things from him.

How about Oklahoma State rookie James Anderson last night? First of all, I’m surprised Gregg Popovich played him 27 minutes. He had 10 points, making half of his eight shots to go along with two three pointers. That was encouraging to see his stat line. Hopefully Pop doesn’t shy away from feeding him similar minutes as the season continues.

DeJuan Blair only played 20 minutes, which was a little disheartening after the solid preseason he had. He did, however, have an underwhelming performance with nine points, making two of his nine shots and corralling only three rebounds. Once Tiago Splitter is healthy, in time, I think he should start and get Blair solid minutes off the bench. He’s more effective as an energy and hustle guy off the pine rather than starting at the four or five spot. Speaking of Splitter…

Coach Pop said Splitter will likely be out for Saturday’s game against the Hornets, but should be ready to go on Monday vs. the Clippers. It’s easy to sympathize with Splitter. He wants to play so badly, and to hurt his ankle just three days into training camp was a huge downer for him and the team. I can’t wait to see this guy in action. His presence will be a big-time plus, especially on the defensive end.

Overall, game one was a success. As Duncan said, you don’t want to give up 100+ every night. But when the offense is clicking like it was last night, all is well. Splitter’s absence was felt though with Roy Hibbert going for 28 points. He is just too big and Duncan is just too slow to keep up. He wasn’t double-teamed either, so he had his way on offense for the most part. He never warranted a double in the past, so it’s understandable why the Spurs didn’t do it last night.

The Hornets are next on the docket in a Saturday night contest. That should be a good game with Parker going up against Chris Paul. Hopefully the ol’ Silver and Black can get the win at home against a seemingly improved division rival.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The 2010-2011 NBA season is less than a week away, ladies and gentleman. Players, analysts, and fans can finally stop yapping about who is going to do what and watch the action unfold. It’s time to shut up and play.

My NBA Finals match-up is not a popular one. I have pitted the “old” Boston Celtics with the “less old” San Antonio Spurs. I have outlined in a previous article the reasons for my prediction. I will hold true to this prediction through thick and thin as the regular season plays out. Any analyst or fan predicting a result outside the established norm has to have a strong conviction. That is what I have, and am subsequently here to instate it. The projected three-peat champion Lakers will fall this year due to a vastly improved Spurs roster. There are a number of keys in order for this to come to fruition.

WARNING: What follows may shock some readers (especially delusional Laker “fans” caught up in the mystique and inaccurate belief that they are the only championship team in the West)
NOTE: I am not a Laker hater. I’m just a man who believes in the improbable.

Key No. 1: The Development of DeJuan Blair
Blair is coming off a rookie campaign in which he averaged 7.8 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game in just 18 minutes. He is looking to build on that this season, one in which he will be getting more playing time. In fact, he could possibly be starting for Coach Popovich.

I think Blair was underutilized last year. He could have definitely seen more playing time. Popovich usually doesn’t like to play young guys major minutes in the playoffs especially, which is understandable. In the two games where he started in place of Tim Duncan, he posted a pair of 20-20 performances. That is the first time a rookie has had two 20-20 games in the same season. Not too shabby.

Blair has worked on his overall game this summer, even developing a mid-range face-up game. His incredible appetite to rebound will always be there. All that was needed was a little maturation in his skill set. His stature at 6’7’ is pretty small for the PF/C position, but what he lacks in height, he makes up for in size. He has a massive frame, allowing him to outmuscle and out hustle a number of guys on the court.

I’m excited to see the progression he’s made. He certainly has looked good in the preseason.

Key No. 2: Tiago Splitter’s Influence on a Game
The Brazilian big man Splitter was one of the biggest offseason acquisitions this summer. His three-year $10 million deal is one of the thriftiest and best contracts, considering the talent they are receiving.

Splitter is expected to come in and make a tremendous impact on both ends of the floor. The area where he will prove most effective is on the defensive end. Duncan’s mobility continues to fade, and it reflects on the defensive end more than anything. With the arrival of Splitter, he can defend the opposing team’s best low post scorer as well as the pick-and-roll.

He was the MVP and the top big man in the Spanish League. He knows his way around a basketball court, and he is a lively 25 years old. His arrival with the silver and black fills two major needs in another competent big man alongside Duncan as well as improved defense, something that killed them against the Suns in last year’s postseason exit. He will be vital in guarding the Lakers’ bigs and even offsetting their offensive production.

Key No. 3: Staying Injury-Free
The Big Three’s health has usually been a concern in the years where they didn’t play for a championship. In the 2008 Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, Manu Ginobili was essentially playing on one leg. He was nowhere near his normal self and it cost them. Last year, Tony Parker was in and out of the lineup as he missed 26 games. Duncan will always have those creaky knees and that bulky brace until “the wheels fall off,” as he so eloquently put it.

Duncan’s minutes have steadily declined with his health in mind during the regular season. It’s a smart strategy. They will be able to rest him with more confidence this year because they have other able bodies that can perform in Splitter, Blair, Antonio McDyess, and Matt Bonner.

Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker didn’t play basketball over the summer as opposed to other years in which they incurred a number of ailments. A healthy core means a healthy team. If they can all stay healthy, this team is without a doubt tops in the West. And let’s not forget the Lakers are also struggling in this category.

Key No. 4: Resurgence of Tony Parker
Everyone loves trade rumors. Parker has seen and heard his fair share with this being his last year of his contract. Two years ago Parker averaged a career high 22 points a game. Last year that number dipped to 16, largely due to his shoulder and ankle injuries.

In order for this team to become a major player in the loaded West, Parker has to have another career year. I believe he can pull it off. Let’s not forget this guy is a Finals MVP.

Ginobili virtually carried the Spurs to the playoffs at the tail end of last season, earning him a contract extension. I think Parker can and will perform his way into a new contract this year. He was once considered one of the best point guards in the league until his injury mishaps last year. He can reach that plateau of special players once again with an outstanding year.

Key No. 5: Richard Jefferson and the Transition Game
With new, young talent this year, Popovich has emphasized his desire for this team to run the fast break more often. In two preseason games, they scored 29 and 30 points in transition. No one is expecting them to be the run and gun Warriors or Mike D’Antoni-led Suns, but an increase in transition scoring adds another level to the already exceptional half-court group. It’s not exactly a foreign concept either, as the Spurs beat the 2005 Suns at their own game, scoring over 100 in all five playoff games.

The guy that will have the biggest impact in this area of the offense is without a doubt Richard Jefferson. RJ’s production suffered last season. He looked indecisive and out of place in the offense. That was partially due to the inactivity on the break. The 2009-2010 Spurs averaged a lowly 12 fast break points. In Jefferson’s days with the Nets, he had Jason Kidd leading a number of fast breaks where he would grab a rebound and bolt up the court to create something. This is where RJ is the most effective and is one of the reasons why this team will run more.

In half-court sets, at least in the preseason, Jefferson’s indecisiveness is gone even if his production is still the same. That can improve through an 82-game season.

Key No. 6: A Renewed Defensive Focus
As the cliché goes, defense wins championships. The Spurs have lost some of their tenacity on that end of the floor since their last championship in 2007. That is what happens with the departure of the best in Bruce Bowen and the aging of their best interior defender in Duncan.

Popovich has always stressed defense. During training camp, he was looking for a small forward in particular to provide defense. Whether it is Jefferson, George Hill, or even newcomers Bobby Simmons and James Anderson, he wants a defensive revival. It may not be much better than last year, but it can improve. Splitter and Blair are sure to help down low. Hill is looking to improve one-on-one defense, something he struggled with at times last year even with his length.

Team defense is a key for any title hopeful team. The Spurs had that in their championship years. They have lost that in the last couple of years, but it can still improve. A team can only do so much against the Lebron James’ and Kobe Bryant’s of the league. Team defense takes on an elevated meaning on teams with that kind of talent.

Do all of these keys need to happen in order for the Spurs to knock off the Lakers? Probably. Is it out of the question? Absolutely not. This franchise has won four titles riding on the coattails of impossibility. Who’s to say they can’t get one more?

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

You know, for all of the hating and animosity toward Richard Jefferson for last year’s performance, you would think he was a player of Lebron James’ caliber. I have one simple reason for writing this article and that is this: Spurs fans, will you lighten up on the RJ bashing a little?

Yes, Richard Jefferson averaged his lowest points per game (12.3) since his rookie season last year. Yes, he looked dormant and uncomfortable on the court at times last season. But come on, he played as well as he could in a system that was new to him. Simply put, plays were not run for him. Jefferson is a reactor type of player. He plays off of his teammates. On a team with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, he does not need to be the man.

The Spurs half-court offensive possessions boil down to the point guard with the ball at the top of the key (usually Parker, Hill, or Ginobili), with Duncan or McDyess running screen and rolls and reacting to what the defense gives them. Other times, Parker will bring the ball up the court and dump it into Duncan and let him work. People would often criticize Jefferson for standing around on the three point line and not really being involved in the offense. In order for Jefferson to be most effective, he needs to be a slasher. He is at his best when he is moving. He was the most effective doing this when he was with the Nets playing with Jason Kidd.

I think Coach Pop should run some plays for RJ this year. I mean specifically to put RJ in the best position to score. The Spurs have the weapons this year for RJ to play within his strength. Imagine a scenario: you have Duncan and Splitter playing the double post, Parker at the point, and Ginobili and Jefferson on the wings. Either Duncan or Splitter screen for Parker while the other big man screens Jefferson’s man as he cuts across the lane. Ginobili then comes across from the other wing, their defenders are in a scramble, and you have RJ or Ginobili open for a mid-range jumper or in a penetrating position. Jefferson can find himself open for a mid-range jumper as well off of Parker and Ginobili’s dribble penetration. He can knock that shot down, rather than hoisting up a three.

Based on the assumption of the Spurs new and old offensive talent this year, Jefferson has an opportunity to shine. With Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili doing the bulk of the scoring, Tiago Splitter, George Hill, DeJuan Blair, RJ, and even James Anderson can play off of them. Again, playing off of your teammates’ strengths is key. It’s at that time when a player is most effective.

So from one Spurs fan to another, let’s try and cut RJ some slack. This will be a telling year in terms of whether or not RJ fits into this team’s chemistry. I’m hoping he finally gets it. With time, I think he will. But let’s try to be a little understanding of his circumstances.

My bold prediction: RJ averages 15-16 PPG this year (thumbs crossed). Do they really need him to score 20 a game this year? I don’t think so.In the meantime, let’s just sit back, cheer our Spurs on, and hope for the very best. GO SPURS GO!

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Upon reading ESPN’s NBA summer forecast, I saw what I thought I would see. Out of the 93 panelists, 88 picked the Lakers to win the west for the 4th straight season. Who would have guessed right? They kept their core together while also adding veterans Steve Blake and Matt Barnes.

The other five panelists’ picks were what really surprised me. The Rockets and Thunder were picked to win the west by two panelists apiece. As I sat there looking at this, I was baffled. Sure, the Thunder made a monumental leap last year, but to make the Finals this coming year? That is a bit premature methinks. And the Rockets? Yao Ming has not been healthy for a full season in quite some time now. Even with him, they are not a championship caliber team. I’m not sure what makes them look so attractive.

One panelist picked the Dallas Mavericks. Yes, the same Mavericks team that underachieved yet again last spring by being ousted in the first round as the number 2 seed by the number 7 seed Spurs. Again I ask, what makes them a title contender?

Not only was I shocked to see those trio of teams as predicted Finals teams, but I also was shocked not to see a trace of the Nuggets, Jazz, or Spurs. Sure, the Nuggets have the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors to deal with along with an ailing head coach in George Karl, but they are still a great squad. Although the Jazz lost Carlos Boozer, they gained Al Jefferson to fill the gap. And the always potent Spurs could surprise some people this year. The rapid development of George Hill, DeJuan Blair, and the acquisition of the best big from Europe in Tiago Splitter could be enough to vault them into title contention again, provided everyone stays healthy and Richard Jefferson plays to his potential.

The west isn’t as narrow as everyone thinks. There could be a surprise or two left in the teams thought to be below the mighty Lakers.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

When DeJuan Blair stole the ball at midcourt, drove to the basket and rose up for a two-handed thunder slam that shook the Erwin Center rafters, the entire San Antonio Spurs bench jumped up and began slapping high fives.

Fortunately, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich restrained himself, and general manager R.C. Buford muzzled any giggles from behind the bench.

Their self-restraint has been remarkable in the preseason, considering they probably engineered the biggest NBA steal since the Lakers ripped off the Grizzlies for Pau Gasol.

No one would blame San Antonio for beating its chest because on the virtual eve of the opening of the NBA regular season, it seems the consummate NBA franchise hoodwinked the rest of the league when it drafted the Pittsburgh power forward with an attitude in the second round.


Click here to read the full article – By KIRK BOHLS of statesman.com

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