On Thursday morning before the San Antonio Spurs 107-97 loss to the Boston Celtics, I wrote a piece titled "Who must step it up?". In the column I discussed why Richard Jefferson was the main Spur who needed to use these last few games to step up his performance for the playoffs. 

I wrote that Jefferson had the potential to increase his scoring between to 14-15 points without having any offensive plays run for him.

During the Spurs-Celtics game, I scouted Jefferson every time he was on the court to see if he’d be more aggressive. Here is a running analysis of how he played:

First Quarter

Jefferson made an open three pointer from the middle of the key. 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 3 points.

Jefferson missed an open three pointer from the corner. 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3 points.

Jefferson drove in, kicked to Manu for an open three pointer, Manu missed. (1 slash for Jefferson)

Jefferson made an open three pointer from the top of the key. 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, 6 points.

Jefferson drove in, but missed an 8-foot one-handed fade away. 2-4 FG, 2-3 3PT, 6 points. (2 slashes)

Jefferson drove in and kicked out. (3 slashes)

As Celtics coach Doc Rivers pulled forward Paul Pierce out of the game, Gregg Popovich pulled Jefferson out of the game with a minute remaining. Jefferson played 11:12 in the first quarter.

Second Quarter no comments

After dropping games to teams like the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Bobcats and Indiana Pacers as of late, the Boston Celtics had their eyes set on the San Antonio Spurs and had no intention of dropping another game.

The Celtics are now that much closer to re-claiming first place in the East, while the Lakers are now within arms length of the Spurs after the Spurs dropped their fifth straights loss 97-107 on Thursday night.

Before the game, the Spurs returned Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess to the lineup.

Early on, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Celtics. Tony Parker was slashing through the lane and scoring at will, but Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo found a way to answer back on the other end of the court.

While both teams got out to a fast pace in the first quarter, both also struggled on offense in the second quarter and the game was all tied up after one half.

The third quarter was key for the Celtics. With the Spurs continuing to struggle, and missing six three-pointers in the quarter, the Celtics got scoring out of just about everyone on the floor for them. While the offensive struggles hurt, what hurt more was that the Spurs were not able to defend well enough to keep the Celtics from making runs.

The Spurs also had trouble rotating and closing out on wide open shooters. While Ray Allen had a terrible shooting night due to double teams, the Celtics and Allen were smart enough to get the ball to the open man, which left Spurs players running at players with more than enough space.

While Gary Neal and Tim Duncan tried to get the Spurs back in the game, they weren't able to make the stops to make a considerable dent in the Celtics' lead.

“The game was won when we got a little three happy in the third quarter. Then the transition defense didn’t follow," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Some of the shots were very good and open, some were contested. The transition after it is really important and they took advantage of it. They made it a ten-point game at that point and we couldn't get back in it and that was the game.”

Tony Parker led both teams in scoring and finished the game with 23 points and eight assists. Tim Duncan had 20 in his return and Richard Jefferson added 14. Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 22 points and 14 assists. 

Notes:
• The Spurs are now 57-18 on the season.
• They are now 33-5 at home.
• This is the first five-game losing streak of the Duncan era.
• The Los Angeles Lakers are now within 2.5 games. 

• NESN.com asks whether the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the Western Conference:

For the past few years, the answer to this question has been a no-brainer, as the Los Angeles Lakers have seen heaps of success behind their fearless leader Kobe Bryant and their frighteningly deep bench that doesn't shy away from the postseason.

But now, as we head toward what should be another exciting trip into the NBA playoffs, are the Purple and Gold still the best in the west?

• Express News' Tim Griffin talks about Tiago Splitter working on foul shooting:

Spurs rookie forward Tiago Splitter spent a few minutes after his teammates left  the court experimenting with different foul shots under the watchful eye of Spurs assistant coach Chip Engelland. Splitter is struggling from the line, hitting 55.9 percent from the foul line.

• MVPTexas.com asks if the Spurs are fading down the stretch.

Hit the jump to read about an the dreaded ".4," Austin Toros player making it to the NBA, newest Spur to make his debut, former Spur Bruce Bowen is a Cuban music fan and more.

San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili recently spoke a variety of topics on his blog, manuginobili.com.

He spoke out on injuries, the number one seed, the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and more. Also, please excuse the rough translations provided by Google Translate.

Here is what he had to say about his injury and other injured Spurs:

Last Sunday, when I hit Marc Gasol, Memphis, and I got hit in the thigh, I really could not bend his leg and it hurt a lot, so I immediately put ice on the bench and could not play the next day against Portland. It is true that it was the first game that I missed this season, but it is normal: in 82 games regular season is always some one is lost.

Tony Parker (hit in the left kneecap) and Antonio McDyess (sore back), nor were against Portland, will play, probably because the absence of them were more foresight, but instead Tim Duncan is still in doubt. Greatly improved his sprained left ankle and also trained with us yesterday for a while, but that's another decision to be taken on game time. Obviously, he wants to be, but the coach Pop is a little concerned, preferring to have 10 points for the playoffs.

Manu on facing the Celtics, the number one seed and if Spurs fans should be worried:

The clash with Boston, this evening at home is very important because now we are a bit complicated the possibility of securing the No. 1 and we need wins after four successive defeats this. Boston is a great team, very experienced and defend very well, but we also believe that we are and we can beat. We're in the final stretch of the season and we have to play better every day, because if one gets distracted the playoffs, is out in the first round.

In addition, we expected a final schedule (eight games) hard and come from mistakes in several outcomes closed, making mistakes and inaccuracies. That's something we never had happened in the season. But there is no crisis in San Antonio, just have to go back to our best level. We did not lose because we played badly or we kicked, we could have won those four games and we did because we missed the end.We know that in 82 bouts commitments can be negative. Pero, de todas maneras, estamos bien. But anyway, we're fine. If at the beginning of the season I would have said we would be leading with three games ahead of the final two weeks of the regular season, have signed immediately!

Manu on if the Spurs can have success if they do not have the number one seed, the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose:

With tonight's big home game against the Boston Celtics, we turned to our friends from the best Celtics blog we know for their pre-game takes on the game.

Listen as Red's Army invades Project Spurs to preview and predict tonight's game while wearing their green-tinted glasses.

With a win tonight, the San Antonio Spurs can tie the season series, and it will also be the first team the Spurs see the Celtics since the Kendrick Perkins trade. The Spurs are currently 14-0 against Eastern Conference teams at home, but the Celtics have won four straight in San Antonio.

So will the guys from Red's Army go three-for-three on predicting a win for the Celtics or will one of them take the green glasses off for the five minutes they used for their recordings? Listen as John Karalis, KWAPT and Jay Ouellette from Red's Army sound off below.

John Karalis

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KWAPT

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Jay

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So you've heard what the guys from Red's Army have to say, but what do Spurs fans have to say about their takes? Comment on whether you agree or disagree and leave your take in the comments below.

Tonight the San Antonio Spurs will face the Boston Celtics in what could be an NBA Finals preview. However, with the injury bug hitting the Spurs, will San Antonio trot out a full roster against Boston?

Check out the video to see the Spurs' "Big Three" practicing, what Tony Parker had to say, Celtics' coach Doc Rivers talks about the heath of his team, and more.

(video woai.com)

With the playoffs fast approaching, you may ask the question: who must step up for the San Antonio Spurs? The most obvious response from anyone (national media down to the local fan) would be Richard Jefferson. 

Jefferson is always the immediate scapegoat. His respectability diminished when he struggled to produce with the Spurs last season.

The scary sight for opposing teams is that on the rare occasion, Jefferson displays that hidden all-star ability (whether it is a 19-point scoring outburst or making “SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays of the Night” with a thrilling dunk or dazzling layup) the Spurs can take their potential to another level.

Jefferson began the season playing at a high level early, but has deteriorated to a non-aggressive three-point shooter.

Jefferson must find a way to use these last eight games as an approach to find his playoff identity and a sense of who he is going to be through that run.

Will Jefferson awaken the hidden All-Star that lies dormant inside of him? Or will he continue to carry the tag of the “scapegoat”?

The Most Recent Memory of Jefferson

Monday night in the Spurs loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Richard Jefferson had the opportunity to insert himself and make a real impact. Then, the team was missing all three members of the “Big 3”; the stage was set for Jefferson to prove he still has the potential to carry a team and can be more than just a three-point shooter.

How did he respond? He only took five shots and got to the foul line twice.

There are those out there who argue, “He’s the fourth option with the Spurs, he doesn't get the amount of touches he got in the past with New Jersey and Milwaukee.”

Monday night was the perfect opportunity for Jefferson to get as many touches as he wanted, but to no avail, he only attacked seven times. Rookie James Anderson (5 points) and newly acquired swingman Danny Green (7 points) both produced more efficiently than Jefferson in much more limited minutes.

• The San Antonio Spurs will face the Boston Celtics tomorrow night and will have Jermaine O'Neal back in action:

“I’m going to play tomorrow," O'Neal said. "We talked a little bit about me playing back-to-back games. Obviously, it’s sensitive, but I told them the plan is to play back-to-back games, the plan is to play as many minutes as I can without limitation.” (boston.com)

• ProBasketBallTalk.com discusses the Spurs and Celtics recent slump but says do not count them out:

But the slumps Boston and San Antonio are going through now, those are not worth worrying about. These are veteran teams that understand what it takes to be ready for the playoffs. They will leave it all on the floor when it matters.

• Spurs' Tiago Splitter makes his debut at number 10 on the NBA.com Rookie Ladder while Gary Neal holds steady at number seven:

The Brazilian big man makes his debut on the Ladder, and it was inevitable with the injury to Tim Duncan. The Spurs have lost four in a row, but Splitter has still put up pretty good numbers. Since Duncan went down, Splitter has averaged 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the field. He doesn't turn the ball over much, either, which is nice to see. San Antonio might be struggling without their stars, but these trials can only help them -- and the rookie -- in the playoffs and beyond.

The Spurs are struggling with injuries and Neal has had his ups and downs. In the Spurs' first game without Tim Duncan, Neal scored a career-high 25 points on a career-best six 3-pointers in a 115-112 loss to Denver. Neal finished the week with a 3-for-14 shooting night in the Spurs' 100-92 loss to the Blazers (their fourth straight). Still, the week doesn't look so bad when looked at on the whole: 13.2 ppg while going 12-for-24 from beyond the arc.

• Express News' Tim Griffin talks about the Spurs in NBA Power Rankings.

Hit the jump to read about Austin Toros news, Da'Sean Butler's non-debut, how to help out a worthy cause by buying Spurs tickets, and more.

Last week we introduced our new feature, "Writers Sound Off." Our writers are now back at it again.

Each week, our writers will sound off on one topic of the week with short audio takes. If you are a Spurscast subscriber, you'll also be seeing podcasts with all of our takes together along with your weekly Spurscast.

Our topic this week was "where are the bigs" and we all gave our takes on why the San Antonio Spurs signings this year have been guards and forwards, when our biggest weakness is in the post. Listen below and then find out how to join in on the fun.

Michael De Leon, Founder -

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Robby Lim, Lead Writer -

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Paul Garcia, Staff Writer -

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Jake Faunce, Staff Writer -

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So those are our takes for the week. Feel free to use our comments section to give your take on if you agree/disagree or want to pick who's take was the best.

The other part of this new feature is "readers talk back." If you want to sound off on this week's topic, go to Vocaroo.com, record your audio, and in the email option, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or you can just record it on your computer with any audio recording app and send the mp3 file to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Your recordings will be featured on Project Spurs later this week.

Tomorrow night the San Antonio Spurs will take on the Boston Celtics in San Antonio in what could be an NBA Finals preview.

The last time these two teams met was in Boston where the Celtics were without Kevin Garnett yet the Spurs lost a close one, 105-103.

John Karalis of RedsArmy.com invited myself and Mike to join him in a podcast-preview of tomorrow's huge game. In the interview, we talk about the Celtics and Spurs slumping of late, keys for the Celtics and Spurs to focus on, give our game predictions and much more.

To listen to the show, click HERE to visit Reds Army.