• Want to win a pair of free tickets to a San Antonio Spurs home game this month? Of course you do! All you have to do it follow @projectspurstiq on Twitter to enter. Easy huh?

• The Spurs are off to a fantastic season and some feel they might be able to get to 70 wins. However, don't say that to coach Gregg Popovich:

The question received a predictable eye roll and exasperated sigh from Gregg Popovich. Are the Spurs thinking about 70? Yes, as in 70 wins.

"No, Jesus," San Antonio's no-nonsense coach replied. "You still drunk?"

Spurs opponents are the ones often feeling flattened by a post-New Year hangover. Popovich's 15th team is off to the best start in franchise annals, owns the league's best record by a startling four games and, to be fair, is on a 72-win pace.

"I wouldn't give it a moment's thought -- now or ever," Popovich added when pressed on 70. "I just think it's a ridiculous thought." (source nba.com)

• Popovich also spoke on the Spurs winning big games:

• Express News' Tim Griffin reports on injured Spurs' rookie James Anderson who should be back in action soon:

“He’s closer to the floor than he is to the bed,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s  closer to wearing a uniform than he is to wearing civilian clothes.”

Popovich said last week that he expects Anderson to return to the Spurs playing time by the end of the month. But he won’t accompany the team on a road trip this week that will include games at New York, Boston and Indiana.

“He’ll get a lot more out of the rehab here than he will on the road trip,” Popovich said.

• The Spurs extended their lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the Southwest Division with a recent win over Dallas. However, the Mavericks were without Dirk Nowitzki who was out with a knee injury. Now add Caron Butler to Dallas' injury list and he could be out for the entire season:

Missing Dirk Nowitzki for the third consecutive game because of a sprained right knee and Shawn Marion because of a thigh injury, the Mavericks suffered another blow when starting forward Caron Butler injured his right knee in the first quarter. The extend of his injury wasn't immediately known. (source latimes.com)

Though I'm sure Spurs fans would want to see how this team does against a fully healthy Mavericks team, but these injuries only help the Spurs in the Southwest Division.

• Speaking of the Mavericks, owner Mark Cuban recently said his team is cocky and points to the Spurs as a model for his team:

Cuban’s biggest concern about his team is that the Mavs have a tendency to get "too cocky."

But Cuban doesn’t believe the Mavs, a team loaded with accomplished veterans who don’t own championship rings, have fully bought in to the concept. He points to the Spurs, the team the Mavs are chasing in the West standings, as an example of a team that has embraced that obsessive approach. (source espn.com)

• Tim Duncan speaks on the Spurs executing on the court:

(videos courtesy of woai.com)

Box Score | Advanced Stats | GameFlow

The San Antonio Spurs extended their win streak to four games on New Year's Day and start 2011 off on the right foot with a 101-74 blowout of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs got out to an early lead over the Thunder with a 31-point first quarter and the Thunder found themselves playing from behind for the rest of the game.

When the Thunder tried to fight back, it didn't help that they missed countless shots at the basket and were held to to 33 percent shooting on the night.

Tim Duncan led all scorers with 21 points to go along with nine rebounds and a blocked shot. George Hill came off the bench for 16 points and Tony Parker notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists.

In Retrospect

Before the game, Jeff Garcia spoke with fellow Bloguin-ite Rob Kelley from Thunder Ballers and got his prediction on last night's game.

"The fact that the Spurs have an extra day off certainly will help them, but I feel that the Thunder are ready for their signature win of the 2010-2011 season. It comes against San Antonio tonight!"

Quoteable

“We got beat by the best team in basketball. They handed it to us pretty fare and square. They’re as good of a defensive and offensive team that we’ll face. We turned the ball over way to many times to stay in a game, against the best team.”

- Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

In Black and White

Spurs hand Kevin Durant's Thunder worst loss of season (The Oklahoman).

Like it’s 1999: Duncan, defense spell Thunder’s demise (San Antonio Express-News)

San Antonio stomps the Thunder, 101-74 (Daily Thunder).

Fantasy Focus

Tony Parker is averaging a career-high 7.1 assists per game to go along with his 17.7 points per game. That combination along with his 51 percent shooting from the field are enough to keep Parker as one of your starting guards.

Thunder forward Serge Ibaka is a player you may want to add to your watch list. He finished the game last night with 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. While he may not help in your points category every game, he's consistently putting up good rebound and block numbers.

Tweeting the game

"the @spurs are on FIRE right now.. destroyed the thunder, beat the lakers, mavericks, nuggets, BEST RECORD IN THE NBA omg.." - @mkhan_mvp.

"Timmy had a great shooting night. Double-double for @tp9network. #Spurs hold Thunder to lows of 36 @ half & 74 for the game. I love my team." - @Mustang44Sally.

The Four Factors

 

The San Antonio Spurs (28-4) look to continue their tough stretch of games as they face the Northwest division leaders the Oklahoma City Thunder (23-11) tonight in San Antonio.

The Spurs are coming off two fantastic wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks as they continue to maintain their hot start to the NBA season. Playing against the Thunder will be yet another measuring stick to see how the Spurs fare against a very young squad like the Thunder, a team they beat earlier this season, 117-104.

To discuss tonight's matchup, I turn to fellow NBA blogger here at Bloguin Rob Kelley from Thunder Ballers, the best Thunder site on the Internet. Seriously you need to check it out!

In this Q&A, Rob talks about the expectations on Oklahoma City, what the Thunder should do to get the win over the Spurs, his key matchups and more. To read the Q&A I did with Rob, click HERE to visit Thunder Ballers.

Jeff: I have to admit, I came into the season expecting the Thunder to be right there with the Spurs and Lakers. I know they have a solid record (23-11) and lead their division but it just seems the Thunder haven't really gotten over that hump to be a power in the Western Conference. Is it simply that this team is still too young?

Rob: I think to some extent, the expectations are a little too high, including my own. People have to remember that yes, this is a very young team, and that they were just the 8th seed in the Western Conference last season. While they gave the Lakers quite a scare in the first round, this team still has room for improvement. The fact that they currently hold the 4th seed and have battled a few injuries is definitely a step in the right direction.

James Harden is making quite the case for Sixth Man of the Year. Aside from his glorious beard, what has been his most significant growth this year as a player?

Ha! That beard is coming in quite nicely! I think that Harden is learning his role this season. Coming out of Arizona State as the third overall pick, many people expected him to be an immediate starter. I feel that he will be a starter one day, but for now, he is developing into a Sixth Man of the Year candidate and is a key piece of the puzzle for this team going forward.

What matchup will you tell Spurs and Thunder fans to watch and what's your prediction?

I'm looking forward to watching (Russell) Westbrook and Parker. Any time you get to watch two elite point guards play, it is something worth watching. I love to watch great ball distribution. The fact that the Spurs have an extra day off certainly will help them, but I feel that the Thunder are ready for their signature win of the 2010-2011 season. It comes against San Antonio tonight!

Our fellow NBA Bloguin blogger Don at With Malice did his monthly NBA power rankings and took  a different and refreshing spin with the rankings.

This time he compared the teams to actors and compared the San Antonio Spurs to actor Tom Hanks:

2. San Antonio Spurs - If San Antonio were an actor, they'd be... Tom Hanks.  Year in, year out, one of the best. Getting on in years, and at times can be difficult to watch, but pretty much always gets the job done.

Let's just hope Don means to compare the Spurs to the war hero character Tom Hanks played in Saving Private Ryan:

And not the cross-dressing character Tom Hanks played in the TV sitcom Bosom Buddies:

Check out the rest of the NBA power rankings by visiting With Malice.

Esta semana les tengo el repaso de los últimos cinco juegos de los Spurs y algunos chismesitos involucrando la mini confrontación que hubo entre George Hill y Kobe Bryant de los Lakers durante uno de estos juegos.

Como ven parece ser que los San Antonio Spurs deciden continuar con su supremacía en la NBA a pesar de haber sufrido una derrota contra los Magic de Orlando el pasado jueves 23 de diciembre. El equipo de los Spurs aun sigue ocupando el primer lugar como mejor equipo de la NBA con 28 victorias y tan solo 4 derrotas.

Comenzamos el repaso con el juego donde se enfrentaron los Spurs nuevamente con los Nuggets de Denver el pasado miércoles 22 de diciembre. El juego fue en casa de los Spurs y aunque los Nuggets nos llevaron la delantera por 9 puntos, los Spurs no dieron su brazo a torcer, recuperandose pronto durante el ultimo cuarto del partido y derrotando así a los Nuggets 109 a 103.  Para este juego Gary Neal fue sacado de la banca para demostrar su potencial dentro de la cancha anotando 22 puntos, incluyendo 10 justo en el ultimo cuarto. Quien lo igualo en anotaciones fue Manu Ginobili, ya que el también contribuyo con 22 puntos.

Continuamos con el enfrentamiento que vivieron los Spurs contra los Magic de Orlando el pasado jueves 23 de diciembre.  Lamentablemente este juego fue el que rompió la racha victoriosa de 10 juegos ganados consecutivos que llevaban ya las Espuelas. El juego en ningún momento fue favorable para los Spurs ya que siempre se mantuvo en la delantera el equipo de Orlando. Tony Parker y Gary Neal fueron los mayores contribuyentes en anotaciones para este juego, aportando con 16 puntos cada uno. La puntuación final para este juego fue de 123-101, esto a favor de Orlando Magic.

Nuestra siguiente confrontación fue contra los Washington Wizards, el pasado domingo 26 de diciembre. El juego fue en casa de los Spurs y resulto ser bastante favorable para las Espuelas ya que siempre se mantuvieron al margen con la delantera venciendo así a los Wizards 94-80.  Para este juego Manu Ginobili anoto un total de 21 puntos logrando 5 de 7 intentos desde la linea de 3 puntos. Tony Parker también aporto con  20 puntos y logro un rompe récord de temporada de 14 asistencias esa noche. 

Y ahora seguimos con el juego de la semana. El juego de los Spurs contra los Lakers de Los Angeles que se llevo acabo el pasado martes 28 de diciembre en casa de los Spurs.  El juego anadio una victoria mas a la admirable lista de triunfos que siguen manteniendo a los Spurs en primer lugar como mejor equipo de la NBA.  Tony Parker se lucio en este juego contribuyendo con 23 puntos logrando 10 de 18 tiros mientras Dejuan Blair le siguió en contribución con 17 puntos consiguiendo así vencer a los Lakers 97-82.  Lo que dejo mucho de que hablar fue el encuentro que tuvo George Hill de los San Antonio Spurs con Kobe Bryant de los Lakers durante este juego ya que se hicieron de palabras en la cancha durante el segundo cuarto del partido. Afortunadamente el encuentro no llego a mayores pero si enorgulleció a los fanáticos del los Spurs el hecho de que HIll se hubiera defendido de inmediato. 

Y justo anoche jugaron los Spurs contra los Mavericks de Dallas. El juego fue bastante emocionante ya que aunque los Mavericks jugaron con una muy buena defensa, jamas lograron empatarse con los Spurs, siendo que los Spurs siempre mantuvieron la delantera.  Gary Neal nos sigue dejando anonadados con sus excepcionales tiros ya que contribuyo a la puntuación final con 21 puntos y Tim Duncan con 17 y 11 rebotes. La puntuación final fue de 99-93, esto a favor de los Spurs.
 
Bueno amigos de Project Spurs, yo con esto me despido!  Les deseo nuevamente un feliz año nuevo! De corazón les deseo que se cumplan toditos sus deseos y que logren todas sus metas propuestas para el 2011!

Box Score | Advanced Stats | Game Flow

The San Antonio Spurs continue on their perch atop the NBA and Western Conference after a win against the Dirk Nowitzki-less Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

As was the case against the Lakers, the Spurs got scoring help from outside the big three, with Gary Neal providing the biggest punch with 21 points off the bench.

Although the Spurs expected a test against another Western Conference contender, they'll have to wait until January 14 to see the Mavericks again.

With the win, the Spurs are now 28-4 on the season and are three and one-half games above the Mavericks in the West. 

In Retrospect

Mavs Blogger Rob Mahoney of the Two Man Game spoke to me pre-game during our gameday Q&A. Here was his answer to whether the Mavs would win or lose last night's game.

"The Spurs' offense, and the Mavs' lack of offense. Without Dirk, the Mavs are pretty hopeless offensively. Dallas is structured in a way that maximizes Dirk's talents but also makes the team incredibly reliant on his scoring, spacing, and offensive presence. Take him out of the mix, and the effectiveness of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Caron Butler, et al are all slashed. A fully operational Mavs team would have their work cut out for them with the Spurs, but they don't have much of a chance without Nowitzki."

Quoteable

“He’s still a premier player and an All-Star. I can guarantee you that.” - Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle on Duncan's 17 point, 11 rebound night.

In Black and White

Dirk-less Mavericks give it their best shot, but fall short vs. Spurs (Dallas Morning News).

Spurs’ Neal nails Dirk-less Mavs (San Antonio Express-News).

The Difference: San Antonio Spurs 99, Dallas Mavericks 93 (The Two Man Game). 

Fantasy Focus

If you need a bottom of the roster three-point threat, Gary Neal is one to watch. He may have a very, very low ownership rating, but if you're in a deep league, Neal has been doing what he did tonight throughout the season. When he plays, he scores, and when he scores, he does it efficiently. Neal is currently shooting 42 percent from the field and 38 percent beyond the arch, which should secure him a spot on your watch list.

Tweeting the game

So proud of my husband! Leading the @spurs w/ 21 pts and 5 reb in a huge game against the Mavericks. STILL the best team in the @NBA ! - @LeahANeal.

Look, I'm just throwin' this out there, but the '95-96 Bulls were 25-3 on New Year's Eve. #Spurs? 28-4. Again, just throwin' it out there. - @jeskeets.

The Four Factors

Be sure to look for Robby Lim's "Stats of the Game" here on Project Spurs in a few hours.

• Want to win a pair of free tickets to a San Antonio Spurs home game next month? Of course you do! All you have to do it follow @projectspurstiq on Twitter to enter. Easy huh?

• Spurs' Richard Jefferson had a less-than-stellar first year with the team but this year he has dramatically improved helping the Spurs to the league's best record:

"He did a great job (last) summer retooling his game,'' said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "He's become more efficient. He's not the sloppy player he was last year. He pays more attention to defense. He rebounds better. He gets rid of the ball quicker, makes decisions quicker. All those things happen with a summer's work. I got to give him credit. A lot of guys at that age and with that kind of money, they say, 'I don't need you ... I don't need to do that.' And he did it.''

Jefferson, 30, said it was a matter of learning the Spurs' complex system.

"Most people don't look at things with a high basketball IQ,'' he said of the criticism he got last season following having averaged 19.5 or more points in four of the previous five seasons. "You look at it as any job you do, you're typically better your second year. Anything that you do. ... It was popular to say that, 'I'm struggling' versus to look at the reasons why.'' (source nba.fanhouse.com)

• This season the Spurs have been more of a running team as opposed to seasons past where they employed a more grind-it-out system. So what did Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich have to say about this?

“I’m still not buying it,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “That’s the truth. That’s the truth. I don’t know what else to tell you. I ain’t buying it.

“It’s not who we are. We don’t do that. I don’t know how we’re scoring. I’ve got no clue.”

“It’s definitely unusual,” Popovich said. “So I think it’s best if I don’t try to figure it out, because that would probably just screw it up.” (source espn.com)

• Express News' Tim Griffin discusses Tim Duncan and if he is now becoming a role-player for the squad.

• Spurs' radio voice Bill Schoening talks about toughness and the Spurs in their recent victory against the Los Angeles Lakers:

That brings me to Tuesday night's win over the Lakers, which was all about "toughness". DeJuan Blair was the most effective big man on the floor, yet he was giving up at least six inches in most of his matchups. Third year guard George Hill admitted after the game that he has long admired Kobe Bryant as a player, but he wasn't about to back down when he and Bryant got their arms tangled while boxing out.

• Xavier Silas, the son of former Spurs' great James Silas, talks about the advice he receives from his father:

“A basketball season is such a roller coaster, and because my dad played 11 years in the league, he has seen it all,” Silas said. “It was nice having him around while growing up because he taught me so much about the game. He still helps me now. He’ll give me pointers and I can turn to him when I have problems.” (source ncaa.com)

Silas is considered one of the top players in the nation. How great would it be if he ended up becoming a Spur like his father!

• Former Spurs' player Garrett Temple was traded from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to the Erie Bayhawks:

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers acquired some much-needed inside help on Thursday when they traded 6-6 guard Garrett Temple to Erie for 6-7 power forward Jeff Adrien.

“We’re gutted to have to give up Garrett Temple, but we needed to make a significant improvement in our frontline and we feel that, with this move, we have a chance of doing that.”

The trade indeed comes with a price. Temple, in his second season with the Vipers, is averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in nine games. He scored a career-best 27 points against the Texas Legends on Monday. (source themonitor.com)

• Nicky Van Exel, son of former Spurs' player Nick Van Exel, has confessed to murder in Texas:

WFAA.com out of Dallas is reporting that the son of former NBA All-Star Nick Van Exel has confessed to murdering his neighbor in Texas on Wednesday night. (source cbssports.com)

With the 2011 NBA All-Star game coming next month in Los Angeles, the NBA released the second returns of fan voting. Here is how San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are doing so far:

Duncan in fifth place:

Kevin Durant (Thunder) 735,521
Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets) 602,516
Pau Gasol (Lakers) 597,201
Dirk Nowitzki (Mavs) 447,737
Tim Duncan (Spurs) 436,651

Ginobili is in third place and Parker is in eighth place:

Kobe Bryant (Lakers) 1,153,694
Chris Paul (Hornets) 585,690
Manu Ginobili (Spurs) 403,632
Steve Nash (Suns) 321,659
Deron Williams (Utah) 313,011
Jason Kidd (Mavs) 234,779
Russell Westbrook (Thunder) 233,593
Tony Parker (Spurs) 219,378

Still time to vote the Big 3 into the All-Star game by clicking HERE.

The Spurs just don’t have it. They just don’t have, it.

Whatever “it” has been this year—by most accounts, defensive help in the frontcourt and on the wing—the lack of it has prevented a fair amount of people, fans or otherwise (this guy included) from jumping on the Spurs’ championship bandwagon. Call it conventional wisdom, call it set in one’s ways, call it what you will, it is what it is—and what it is, is knowing what works; what has worked.

A healthy amount of skepticism is never a bad thing. But skepticism can quickly become cynicism, leaving a curmudgeon in its wake. There comes a time where the skeptic has to become skeptical of their skepticism: “Am I looking to prove a point, or have I yet to be proven wrong?”

While it’s still too early to know that answer for certain, games like the one witnessed Tuesday give a skeptic hope.

After an inauspicious start for the home team—a 10-3 deficit, Bryant converting on 4 of 5 shots for a quick 8 points—the Spurs needed a rudder. They were tight, playing a little too quick and without much composure—enter Tony Parker.

Parker clearly sensed his team was in need of some leadership. The crowd’s Laker contingent was having a little too much fun and the vibe just wasn’t right. The Spurs needed a bucket, stat, and Parker delivered by calmly draining an elbow jumper in early offense as if he was the only player on the court. It’s little, seemingly insignificant points that make a game 10-5 instead of 10-3 that make all the difference. It’s moments that tell teammates “We’re good.” or “They’ve had their fun, our turn.” that instill belief and confidence in a team, develop a swagger. It usually comes from a team’s leader(s), Parker obliged on this occasion.

The Spurs would settle and close the first quarter on a 16-2 run. But the Spurs were playing the champs, an elite team with undeniable talent and experience, and righting the ship is temporary—the journey isn’t over until you’ve reached shore.

Almost exactly as the game started, the Lakers went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, only their bench unit had been responsible this time. The Spurs struggled to hit their customary shots and had trouble getting to the basket with the Lakers’ length—the Spurs found themselves down 42-40 at the half. But what was seen on the highlights and what will be remembered by Spurs fans most, is George Hill’s unwillingness to back down or acquiesce to one of the NBA’s best, Kobe Bryant.

If you didn’t know, now you know: be careful what you ask for—or how you step to [George Hill].

And after Hill stood his ground, Blair decided to gain, shake and move a little of his own. In the third quarter, the 21-year-old Pitt product opened the frame with a teardrop and then brought the thunder, recording 7 points, 8 rebounds (3 offensive), two steals and leaving his team up eleven in the plus/minus after just 7:56 of play.

Blair’s early-season struggles have been well documented, and it’s caused some to question where he would be most effective, or even whom he’d be effective against. But his talent and ability to produce have never been in question, nor has the confidence he naturally exudes. He, like Hill, is built of the right timber—it’s a matter of when, not if. Given the fortune of good health, Big and Smallz (as they affectionately refer to one another) will eventually put it all together, both the mental and physical aspects of the game. But for now, fans will see their best basketball when they’re given an assignment, a task, a team like the Lakers—an opponent that comes to the court as a known quantity, someone whose offense and defense have been heavily scouted by the coaching staff—that’s when the duo is at their best.

And in the fourth quarter, Hill and Blair displayed some of their best.

For Blair, it was more of the same, putting up another four points and grabbing six more rebounds. The pearly whites were on full display. But Hill? In his second game back after returning from a toe injury, the man emptied the tank. Simply put, he was everywhere on the defensive end, creating havoc with both his on-ball and help defense—Hill decided to show Kobe he not only stood strong, he had the game to back it up.

And after Manu Ginobili was late to Kobe in transition and Gary Neal got caught up on a down screen, the Lakers closed to within nine after consecutive Bryant 3s. Unease beset the building, as it seemed Kobe was on the brink of a scoring binge. What happened next was so matter of fact and unspectacular that it was, indeed, spectacular: Hill advanced the ball up court on the dribble, dropped the ball off to Neal just outside the three-point line and then ran a wheel play—going from the left wing to under the basket to the right wing—Hill caught the ball off an elbow curl and calmly knocked down the jumper. Spurs up eleven—they would get a stop the next possession, and eventually put the game out of reach via Neal and, finally, Ginobili 3s.

So far as regular season wins go, beating the defending champion is always a nice feather in the cap, and it may have even bolstered the belief of these current Spurs. There’s absolutely nothing negative to glean from a 15-point win over the defending champs, especially when they have a full compliment of players, two of your three best players can’t put the ball in the hole and when you’re able to give a player as valuable as McDyess the night off in the process.

But it’s one game, and those Lakers—the Lakers team seen Tuesday (the one that had been blown out by Milwaukee and Miami the two games prior)—were not the Lakers team you can expect to see come May. And to be fair, neither were the Spurs—though they seemed to display a foreshadowing of who they will be and what the coaching staff this summer hoped to mold them into being.

Length, Speed and Swagger: Spurs’ Recipe for Success–Part 2