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)

Marcus Cousin and Kevin Palmer have been waived by the San Antonio Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have waived center Marcus Cousin.

At the same time the Spurs have placed guard Kevin Palmer on waivers. Palmer was signed by San Antonio on October 20.

With the two cuts, the Spurs' roster is at 14. Recently coach Popovich stated he will likely go with a 13 man roster. If so, then the final two players on the "bubble" are Alonzo Gee and Bobby Simmons both competing for the backup small forward position.

Knowing Popovich and his history, he tends to prefer seasoned veterans which is great for Simmons and not so great for Gee. Should Gee be waived, expect him to return to the Austin Toros.

Well this is just a big pile of awesomeness!

As part of a collaboration between the NBA and Marvel Comics, check out this cover art of an enshrined San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili with Thor, Captain America and Iron Man.

Got to love Thor raising his hammer in respect to the Spurs' Big 3!