The San Antonio Spurs have not won an NBA title since 2007 and as early as October, a lot of people are already counting them out and are predicting a possible Los Angeles Lakers- Miami Heat NBA Finals showdown.

This is not new for a team which has been overlooked or even under-appreciated in the past. In fact their "under-the-radar" approach gave them four titles in less than a decade, a fact that not many NBA teams can claim.

How many times did we read or hear that the Spurs are done and yet they kept coming back? Yes they haven't been a serious threat for the past three years, and people will be quick to point out their aging core as the main reason and dismiss them as title contenders.

Look, the Spurs are better than a year ago. The question is will that be enough to win another title?

For the Spurs, the road to another championship starts with the 'Big 3' and as long as they can stay healthy the Spurs will have a chance. But it doesn't end there, this upcoming season there are more reasons to believe that they can get it done.

This team continue to find ways to stay relevant even as their core ages.

The emergence of George Hill was a welcome surprise last season and he is looking to fill a major role off the Spurs' bench. DeJuan Blair had a solid rookie season and is primed for a great sophomore year, Richard Jefferson worked hard over the summer for a chance to chase an NBA title and the addition of Tiago Splitter and the return of a healthy Tony Parker on his contract year means the Spurs can compete.

The biggest question that surrounds the Spurs right now is their depth at the small forward position. They have Jefferson and little else.

However, rookie James Anderson appears to be getting comfortable with the team and may have earned a shot at being in the regular playing rotation at small forward. Also, the Spurs could be leaning towards to keep a 14-man roster at the start of the season, plus Ginobili can slide at the three-spot when needed. That means the Spurs might be deeper at the small forward position than originally expected.

Ultimately, the Spurs' recent moves have kept their championship window open for at least another year and at the same time set a foundation for the future.

With some doubting them yet again, I'm not giving up on the Spurs. Not with a team which has infused some youth to their veteran core and fortified their frontcourt, and certainly not with a team that has a healthy Parker, Ginobili and Duncan in tow.

What are your thoughts? Can the Spurs win another NBA title?

Can you hear it? The sounds of fans cheering in the AT&T Center, the squeaking of sneakers across the basketball court and mariachi music playing throughout the arena right before tipoff.

That's right the San Antonio Spurs are about to kick off the 2010-2011 NBA season.

There is so much to look forward to from the Spurs this season. The arrival of Tiago Splitter, the development of DeJuan Blair, a rested Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and much more.

But for as much as we will be following the Spurs throughout the season, there are the other teams which make up the Southwest Division.

So without further adieu here are the challengers to the division crown and how they stack up heading into the new season.

New Orleans Hornets:

During the offseason, Chris Paul made it very clear he would like to see the Hornets improve to challenge for the NBA crown and intimated he would like to move on should the organization not assemble a solid team. Now he has backed off that sentiment.

Their key additions were Dell Demps to take the reigns as General Manager, Monty Williams as the new head coach, Trevor Ariza, D.J. Mbenga, Marco Belinelli and rookie Quincy Pondexter. All will help get the Hornets back on track as Western Conference powers.

It goes without saying the Hornets need to have a healthy Paul, who suffered injuries last season, to remain in the thick of thing in the Western Conference. Also, with Williams being a product of the San Antonio Spurs' system, expect the Hornets to focus on defense and placing Emeka Okafor at the foundation of their defense. Ariza will also be a nice player to run with Paul on the fast break.

David West may have dropped off statistically last season but remains a low-post threat. Marcus Thorton will continue to flourish as he might be inserted into the starting lineup.

Dallas Mavericks:

After a disappointing loss in the first round of the 2010 NBA playoffs against the Spurs, the Mavericks went back to the drawing board in the offseason.

Perhaps the biggest story for Dallas in the offseason was the resigning of Dirk Nowitzki who flirted with the idea of testing free agency.

Now the question is whether the Mavericks are title contenders despite their talented roster?

They added Dominique Jones and Tyson Chandler in the offseason to play along side Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion and up-and-coming guard Rodrigue Beaubois. But are any of these players enough to be the second option on the Mavericks?

The addition of Chandler will bolster their interior which also includes Brendan Haywood. This will present a problem for opposing teams' offense. They will also have to monitor Chandler seeing how he played with Team USA during the summer.

Regardless, this team is talented enough to capture the division crown but the real test will be their performance in the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies:

Young, talented and improving. This Grizzlies team is on the verge of being the next "Oklahoma City Thunder" squad if they maintain their direction.

The biggest offseason move was to resign Rudy Gay though some feel Gay wasn't a max-contract player.

Nevertheless, they added veteran Tony Allen, Greivis Vasquez, Acie Law, and Xavier Henry to an already young and talented squad made of OJ Mayo, Gay, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Zach Randolph. The foundation is there and this team might be ready for the next step.

What to watch for is simple -- will Hasheem Thabeet finally live up to the hype as a top lottery pick and will Gay lead this team deep in the playoffs after getting that huge contract?

Houston Rockets

He's back!

Yao Ming returns to the Rockets this season and sitting out all of last season with a foot injury and the subsequent surgery to correct it. Though his minutes will be limited.

While most of the attention is focused on the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks to battle for the division crown, this is a dangerous team for the two other Texas teams.

The team is deep and talented. Luis Scola (who had a phenomenal performance in the 2010 World Championship), Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier, Brad Miller, Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger, Kyle Lowry and Courtney Lee.

However, like a broken record, this team's playoff chances depends on the health of Ming. The West has size (see the Los Angeles Lakers, Mavericks and Spurs) and Ming will have to shoulder the load in the paint.

Also, Brooks and Martin are an explosive offensive backcourt but they will have to improve on defense.

Last year the San Antonio Spurs season ended in the Western Conference semi-finals with a four game sweep brought on by the Phoenix Suns. Since then, Spurs fans have been eager to get the 2010-2011 season underway.

So whether you are heading out to the AT&T Center, your favorite sports bar or going to gather up the family and friends to catch a game on TV from the comfort of your own home, here are a few key games to watch from each month.

NOVEMBER

In November the Spurs play three key games to watch:

• 14th at Oklahoma City
• 22nd vs. Orlando
• 26th vs. Dallas

On November 14th the Spurs hit the road against the young, up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder led by MVP candidate hopeful Kevin Durant.

In 2009-2010, the Spurs went a impressive 3-1 against the Thunder with their three wins coming by a combined total of 12 points and the one loss only being by three points.

While the Miami Heat made the most noise this offseason, the Orlando Magic are still a powerhouse team in the east and when these two teams meet up, it’s always a great game to watch. This will be an early test for the Spurs to see how they fair against one of the best teams in the league.

The game against the Dallas Mavericks just adds yet another chapter to this great in-state rivalry. You don’t want to miss the first time these two teams meet up, especially since the Mavericks have nothing but revenge on their minds after being sent home in the first round by the Spurs last year.

DECEMBER

In December the Spurs play four key games to watch:

• 12th vs. Portland
• 23rd at Orlando
• 28th vs. L.A. Lakers
• 30th at Dallas

The Portland Trailblazers are also a young, up-and-coming team much like the Thunder however, in the 2009-2010 season, the Spurs were winless against the Trailblazers. The Spurs went 0-3 against Portland losing twice on the Trailblazers' home court and once in the Alamo City. The Spurs are looking to rebound from the beatings the Blazers handed out last year so this is a must watch game.

Also in this month is round two of the Spurs-Magic heavyweight bout, except this time the game takes place in Florida.

The Spurs will get their first crack at the back-to-back defending champions Los Angeles Lakers team on the 28th in San Antonio. These two teams split the four games they played last season with each team winning on the opposing teams floor.

The game against the Mavericks goes without saying as a must watch game. Round two of this battle for Texas takes place two days before the end of the year.

JANUARY

In January the Spurs play four key games to watch:

• 1st vs. Oklahoma City
• 5th at Boston
• 14th vs. Dallas
• 29th vs. Houston

The Spurs kick off the new year with a home game against the Thunder. This is going to be a tough task seeing as how most teams will be in full swing by this point in the season and the Thunder will be extremely dangerous during this time. This will give us more of a idea of the kind of season the Spurs are in for when these two teams meet to start off 2011.

A few days later the Spurs will go on the road to face the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. The Celtics have added the O’Neal boys (Shaquille and Jermaine) to their roster to overcome the loss of Kendrick Perkins. Despite what everyone may say about Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and company, the Celtics are the team to beat in the east and they proved that last season when they made it back to the finals for the second time in three years.

Round three of the Spurs-Mavericks is set for the 14th of this month and it will be the last time Dallas plays in San Antonio during the regular season.

The game against the Houston Rockets on the 29th is the second time these teams meet in the season, however, Houston typically does not get going until mid to late season, so this is what makes this game a must see.

FEBRUARY

In February the Spurs play three key games to watch along with the annual rodeo road trip*:

• 1st at Portland
• 3rd at L.A. Lakers
• 23rd vs. Oklahoma City

Every year the Spurs go on the “Rodeo Road Trip” during the month of February and have done so since 1999. This year kicks off with two tough games back to back against Portland and the Lakers. Luckily these are the only two Western Conference playoff teams from the 2009-2010 season that the Spurs will play in this years road trip.

The remaining games on the road trip are against the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, New Jersey Nets and Chicago Bulls. The Spurs will then come home and play against the Thunder on the 23rd. After the long road trip the Spurs will be in need of some home cooking and Durant will not make it a easy homecoming.

Last year the Spurs came home from the Rodeo Road Trip to play the Thunder and were able to get a win 95-87 and stopped Durant’s scoring of 30 or more points per game streak. This should be another classic match up that will take place just days after the NBA All-Star break.

*Rodeo road trip is from February 1st through the 17th and includes nine games.

MARCH

In March the Spurs play eight key games to watch:

• 4th vs. Miami
• 6th vs. L.A. Lakers
• 12th at Houston
• 14th at Miami
• 18th at Dallas
• 25th at Portland
• 28th vs. Portland
• 31st vs. Boston

The Spurs will have to wait until late in the season before they get their match up against the newly rebuilt Heat. The Heat made the biggest noise this off season with the signings of LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Every team has circled their calendar when they play Miami and with good reason. The Heat are considered to be the favorites to come out of the East and possibly even win the NBA trophy. The Spurs get to play them twice in this month, once in San Antonio and again near the middle of the month in Miami.

The Spurs also play Portland twice in this month along with playing the two teams from last years finals, Lakers and Boston Celtics.

The conclusion of the Spurs-Mavericks rivalry is also featured during this month and the Spurs will travel to Houston on the 12th to play against the other part of the “Texas Triangle.”

APRIL

In April the Spurs play two key games to watch:

• 1st at Houston
• 12th at Lakers

The Spurs will travel to Houston to play the fourth and final game against the Rockets during the regular season. The Rockets may be battling to get a playoff spot and the Spurs would love nothing more than to set them back on their playoff plans.

On their second to last game of the season the Spurs will travel to Los Angeles to play the Lakers for the final time of the regular season. With the West coming down to the last game of the regular season to determine seeding, this may end up being a huge game if the Spurs are jockeying for position in the west.

These are the games that stand out to me before the season starts, as you well know, teams get “hot” during different times of the season which would in turn create more games to watch.

Team Name: San Antonio Spurs
Last Year’s Record: 50-32
Key Losses:Roger Mason Jr., Keith Bogans, Ian Mahinmi, Malik Hairston
Key Additions:Tiago Splitter, James Anderson, Gary Neal

1. What significant moves were made during the off-season?
The Spurs went into the offseason looking to fill the void on their two biggest weaknesses. The Spurs have gone through the Mohammeds, Elsons and Obertos trying to find a legitimate, reliable center to play next to Tim Duncan. After drafting Tiago Splitter in 2007, the Spurs finally got their man this summer as Splitter decided to opt out of his contract with Caja Laboral to come stateside. While Spurs fans still wait to see him play in the silver & black, his debut is highly anticipated. With Splitter, the Spurs get a player who has mastered the pick-and-roll and doesn't mind doing the dirty work to let someone else score. His back to the basket game is improving by the year and he'll have Tim Duncan, one of the greatest players in the NBA, to mentor him. Splitter is also very active and aware while out on the court and will jump into passing lanes occasionally.

The 2010 playoffs were a clear sign that the Spurs needed some help beyond the arc, and they may have filled that void with the additions of James Anderson and Gary Neal. The Spurs struck gold once again by picking Anderson 20th in the 2010 NBA Draft. The former Big 12 Player of the Year and first team All-American was considered one of the best shooters in the draft and was highly ranked among shooting guards, but a hamstring injury he suffered scared several teams away from drafting him. While Anderson isn't yet in game shape, he's showed signs during preseason that he may be able to steal some minutes away at backup small forward and play better defense than expected.

Neal was a pleasant surprise out of summer league. He came into summer league after playing three years in Europe, and stole the spotlight from other players by averaging 16 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the field. In one game against the Grizzlies, the Spurs went on a 13-0 first quarter run. All 13 points were scored by Neal, who went on to finish with 25 points and 60 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Spurs were impressed enough with Neal to hold off all other suitors and sign him to a multi-year contract, and it looks to be paying off. Of all the Spurs' new players in training camp and preseason, Neal has looked most comfortable and he'll make Tim Duncan a happy man if he can rely on Gary Neal to drain his outside shots.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?
The Spurs still have the big three and all are healthy after a full offseason free of international play. Parker and Ginobili are in great shape and both are extremely focused on getting back to the finals. The Spurs are a much deeper team with a second unit consisting of George Hill, James Anderson, Antonio McDyess and Tiago Splitter. The "old" label is no longer relevant as they come into the season with three rookies, two second-year players and Hill, a third-year player who is playing beyond his years. And you can't talk about the Spurs' strengths without mentioning Gregg Popovich, who is still considered one of the best NBA coaches and one of the best at making adjustments, according to GMs across the NBA.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
The proverbial window is their weakness and with every injury, that window gets frustratingly closer to closing. While Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are the team's greatest strengths, their propensity to injury is also their biggest weakness. Injury to any of the big three could change the entire season.

4. What are the goals for this team?
After hearing from just about every player on this team, the only goal is a championship. Anything less would be a failure. Getting Tim Duncan his fifth ring means more to these players than any individual accomplishments, and although they know the Lakers are still the team to beat and just about everyone already has the shipping label for the O'Brien trophy going to South Beach, this team is younger, more determined and focused.

Predicted record: 54-28

Keep reading Project Spurs today and the rest of this week as we continue our season preview series of articles.

Congratulations to San Antonio Spurs forward Richard Jefferson as he has been inducted into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame:

Dressed in a red Arizona golf shirt, San Antonio Spurs forward Richard Jefferson was presented as one of the newest members of the UA Sports Hall of Fame.

Jefferson was one of six individuals, plus a swimming relay team, to be inducted into the hall. (source azstarnet.com)

According to esporte.ig.com, San Antonio Spurs might be interested in guard Milos Teodosic of Olympiacos:

O San Antonio Spurs, equipe do brasileiro Tiago Splitter, estaria interessado nos serviços do sérvio Milos Teodosic, destaque de seu país no último Mundial da Turquia.

Teodosic, de 23 anos, joga atualmente no Olympiacos, da Grécia. Recentemente, o vice-presidente do Spurs, Dennis Lindsey, esteve em Atenas para acompanhar uma partida do astro. Apesar do interesse, Teodosic já disse em algumas oportunidades que gostaria de seguir sua carreira na Europa, onde é idolatrado.

As the reports states, Spurs' Dennis Lindsey was in Athens; however, the 23 year-old Teodosic stated he would prefer to stay overseas. Teodosic was the former MVP of the Euroleague for 2009-2010 averaged 11.3 points and 5.6 assists in Turkey at the World Championship.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Tiago Splitter has yet to make his NBA debut due to a calf injury and recently Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has stated he doesn't plan to have Splitter for the season opener against the Indiana Pacers.

However, according to 45graus.com, Splitter could be in action come Wednesday night:

The Brazilian has conducted intense training to get [into] physical shape and should debut [for] the Spurs in the first game of the regular [season] against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili weighed in and had this to say about Splitter:

"It's a difficult moment, because the preseason is for someone new to fit on your [team] and know their teammates. But it goes back to playing when you are better. What he needs is to be patient and relax, because things will come to him. [He's] a great kid, a hard worker and knows how to play," Ginobili said.

As much as it would be fantastic to see Splitter suit up Wednesday, it be much better to not rush him back onto the court and risk further injury to his calf. The NBA season is a marathon and not a sprint and it be much better to have him healthy and producing for the team rather than sitting on the bench because of injury come towards the end of the season and especially for the playoffs.

Arianné is back for the latest Spanish edition of the Spurscast. In this episode, Arianne recaps the recent San Antonio preseason games for the Spanish speaking Spurs fans.

Remember, Project Spurs was the first Spurs blog to have a San Antonio Spurs podcast and the first to have a Spanish podcast for Spanish-speaking Spurs fans.

Arianne regresa con el Spurscast en Español mas reciente con los juegos de pretemporada de los Spurs.

Y recuerden que Project Spurs fue la primera página de Internet en tener un podcast de Los San Antonio Spurs y la primera en tener un podcast en español para los fanáticos de habla hispana.

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Recently, San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair stated in his mind he is always the best. Well nothing could be further from the truth.

This offseason he worked hard to improve his conditioning and his game and it paid off. After his stellar performance in the preseason he is now part of the Spurs starting five once the regular season kicks off next week.

While I was in Pittsburgh for the preseason game between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers, Blair spoke on his offseason training, being in the starting lineup, the Spurs preseason game in Mexico City and much more.

(Video by Glenn Moore, The Dug Out Sports Show)

San Antonio Spurs rookie Tiago Splitter has been dealing with a strained calf injury which has prevented him from playing a single preseason game. Looks like he will continue to be out for the season opener against the Indiana Pacers.

"I'm not planning on Tiago for the opening night," Popovich said, "If he's going to be ready, he'll have to change my mind."

As I have stated before, Splitter has had a long offseason playing in the Spanish Finals, the 2010 World Championships and has dealt with a list of injuries leading up to him joining the Spurs.

Perhaps it's best he rest up now, delay his NBA debut and miss the opening days of the season than him sitting out games towards the end of the season when playoff positioning is at stake for the Spurs.

(source Express News)