Spurs guard James Anderson recently spoke to the Oklahoman about starting his career with the Spurs.

Unlike some rookies who come into their rookie seasons with many expectations and pressures on their shoulders, Anderson, formerly the Big 12 player of the year, was drafted and comes to a team with several all-stars.

For Anderson, the former star at Oklahoma State, there is not a better place to begin his professional journey.

"It's a big relief," Anderson said before Monday's exhibition against the Thunder. "It's such a great organization. You really don't have any pressure on your back. You can just play and learn the game."

Box Score | Highlights

The Oklahoma City Thunder were in regular season mode on Monday night as all five of their starters played over 25 minutes in the Spurs 102-111 loss, which brings the Spurs to 3-3 in preseason play.

While the Spurs led through most of the first half, the Thunder went on a 13-2 run in the last four minutes of the fourth quarter to close out the game.

Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook all played over 35 minutes while Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were limited under 27 minutes and Tim Duncan only played 12 minutes.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks said playing time was the biggest difference in the game.

“Pop didn’t play their guys. We knew going into the game we were going to play our guys extended minutes," Brooks said. "They didn’t have their guys in the fourth quarter and that made the difference.”

"I knew there was a chance that we would see the Spurs normal rotation guys extended minutes, but in preseason that’s just part of the game. We weren’t trying to out-do them," Brooks said, "We were just trying to get some work in."

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 29 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes.

Ginobili had the best game of his preseason with 17 points, four assists and three rebounds. Ginobili scored 15 of his points on three-pointers. Parker also scored 17 points to go along with six assists.

While George Hill's shooting struggles continued, he also had his best game of the preseason. Hill finished the game with 12 points, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot.

The Spurs conclude their preseason at home against Houston on Thursday before they open up the 2010-11 season against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, October 27.

Note: The Spurs will have to set their roster on October 25, which means at least two more cuts are likely to come soon.

According to basketnews.net, Partizan Belgrade is interested in forward James Gist who is currently on the San Antonio Spurs' training camp roster. Here is the cleaned up translation:

Partizan Belgrade is still looking to strengthen its [interior] and is interested in James Gist (2.03 m, 24), which was confirmed by Dragan Todorovic, the athletic director club. 

American power forward [is] currently [in] the NBA preseason with the San Antonio Spurs but should be released later in the week.

Interesting to note is how the report states Gist is to be released this week.

Last season he played with Lokomotiv Rostov in Russia and averaged 11.4 points and 4.2 rebounds.

In the preseason, he has averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds and has been competing with Alonzo Gee (3.7 points and 1.3 rebounds) and Bobby Simmons (3.2 points, 3.0 rebounds) for the backup small forward position.

San Antonio Spurs' forward Richard Jefferson and the Spurs struck an offseason deal which appeased both sides.

Jefferson opted out of his $15 million pay day which helped the Spurs get under the luxury tax. In doing so, it gave the team more room to maneuver as they were able to add and sign Tiago Splitter, James Anderson and Gary Neal while staying under the salary cap. A deal which helped the Spurs financially in the short-term.

In return, Jefferson got exactly what he needed. He was able to get long-term security by agreeing to a restructured deal with the Spurs which will pay him around $40 million for the next four years.

As the regular season approaches, Jefferson may not have the burden of being an underachieving, overpaid player for the Spurs. His new contract is more reasonable and acceptable.

However, by staying in San Antonio, Jefferson will have a tough task ahead to prove his critics wrong or as he said prove he did not forget how to play basketball.

In the offseason, Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich took the time with him over the summer. Though the work in the offseason this was not forced on him, Popovich basically told him to shape up or ship out and he decided to shape up.

What Jefferson did deserves some credit.

He could have walked away, and maybe get traded to another team for a possible better pay-day but he decided to stay and work on his game over the summer.

But has this summer work paid off?

So far his summer work has yet to translate on the court. Granted it is the preseason and he sat out of the preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers but in four preseason games he is averaging 7.5 points and 4 rebounds on 34.6% shooting from the field and 40% from behind the arc.

Jefferson appears to still be a work in progress and the Spurs are betting on a second year rebound from him. Should he be given the benefit of the doubt with the Spurs' system being so complicated that new players do not catch on until their second season? Perhaps.

Make no mistake about it, the road to another NBA title still relies heavily on the shoulders of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Nonetheless, if the team is to succeed this coming season, it's a sure bet that Jefferson will have to play his part. Like it or not, he's still a vital cog to the Spurs' championship hopes. Especially since he is the Spurs' only true small forward.

According to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld, the San Antonio Spurs have traded guard Curtis Jerrells to the New Orleans Hornets for a future second round pick.

The point guard will reunite with Dell Demps, who was general manager of the Toros for three seasons including Jerrells' stint with the team, in New Orleans. Jerrells will likely be the second-string point guard behind Chris Paul with Mustafa Shakur moving into a combo guard role.

Jerrells is on a flight to Memphis now and will join the Hornets tomorrow night when they take on the Grizzlies.

Jerrells has been averaging 6.4 points and 2.2 assists for the Spurs in preseason. Any chance the Toros thought they had in retaining him after cuts is now gone.

The trade brings the roster to 16 players.

The San Antonio Spurs will begin a preseason game home stand against the reigning Spanish League champions Caja Laboral. If that team name sounds familiar it's because it is Tiago Splitter's former team before joining the Spurs this offseason.

Laboral dropped their first preseason game 110-105 against the Memphis Grizzlies. They were led by Mirza Teletovic with 24 points and Fernando San Emeterio who added 15 points, going 5-6 from the field, including 3-3 from behind the arc.

This game will also feature Marcelinho Huertas who displayed an all-around game at the 2010 FIBA World Championship averaging 11.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists including his 32 point outburst against Argentina. Also, former Spurs' player Marcus Haislip, who now plays for Caja Laboral, will be making his return to San Antonio.

The Spurs are coming off a 106-80 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Pittsburgh. A game where four of San Antonio's starters (Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Richard Jefferson) didn't suit up.

DeJuan Blair tried to please his hometown fans as he scored 8 points, grabbed 11 boards and dished out 5 assist against the Cavaliers but the Spurs had an atrocious shooting night.

They only shot 37% from the field, including 3-11 from Blair. It will be interesting to see if coach Gregg Popovich will give Splitter (who is recovering from an injury) a chance to play against his former team. Although knowing Popovich, Splitter might only be a spectator on the sidelines for this game.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Spurs:

Offense -- Inside scoring will be key for the Spurs, against the Grizzlies, Caja Laboral gave up 62 inside points while scoring just 34 in the paint.

Defense -- The Spurs will have to guard Caja Laboral's outside shooters. The Spanish team connected 42.1% of their 3-point attempts against the Grizzlies.

Caja Laboral:

Offense -- The visiting team will have to stick on what they do best and that is hitting the outside shots. They are also a good fast-breaking team, they had a 28-13 advantage on fast break points against the Grizzlies.

Defense -- Caja Laboral surprised the Memphis Grizzlies with their full court trapping defense during the first half, as they held an 11 point lead in the second quarter and forced the Grizzlies to commit 24 turnovers. But they also have to limit the Spurs' inside points to have a chance in this game. 

INJURIES

Spurs -- Tiago Splitter - strained right plantaris muscle (out). Matt Bonner - sprained left thumb (probable)

Caja Laboral -- None

PREDICTION:

After missing the game against Cleveland, Duncan, Ginobili, Parker and Jefferson might see some action against Caja Laboral. Still, expect more minutes for the camp hopefuls as the team continues to determine which players to keep. The reigning Spanish League champs will play hard in this game like they did against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Last season the San Antonio Spurs brought in Garrett Temple out of the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers late in the season to fill in for the injured George Hill and immediately made an impact not only on the court but in the eyes of Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich who referred to him as his favorite.

Now entering his first full season with the Spurs he is hoping to build on his performance and develop other aspects of his game including being a vocal leader.

I caught up with Temple (averaging 3.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in the preseason) in Pittsburgh for a preseason matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers and spoke about his performance in the preseason, being a vocal leader, and much more.

Right before the Q&A we were talking about the Spurs' 106-80 loss to the Cavaliers.

Jeff: Tough loss against the Cavaliers but it seems on the defensive side of the court is what led to this loss.

Garrett: Our effort was really there but we made a couple of mental mistakes defensively that let the Cavs get easy baskets but the effort was there. Coach (Popovich) was putting in a couple of different situational things that we need to do defensively and I think we did a pretty good job carrying out the defensive principles.

In the first few preseason games, your shot hasn't been falling. However, against the Cavaliers you started to connect on some shots.

Yeah I haven't been shooting that much just in general in the last couple of games. I talked with the coaching staff and they told me to relax, let the game come to me and if I have an open shot to take it. That's what I tried to do tonight. I was able to get some guys a couple of shots as well get my own shots.

I was sitting on press row and noticed during the fourth quarter Popovich was going to you to direct the team. At one point I saw you directing Marcus Cousin on where to be on certain plays. Are you trying to be a more vocal leader?

The Spurs are looking for that. They want a guy that's vocal and takes control. Marcus is a guy that hasn't been in this system. I been here and I know what they are looking for. I was just trying to let him know what he needs to do to try to make the team and to be a contributor on the team. I try to be like that with everybody. Also I listen to people like Tony (Parker) and George (Hill).

With the regular season inching closer, how would you assess your game and the state of the Spurs?

First of all, the state of the Spurs is we are still a work in progress. We have a lot of new guys, young guys and with Tim (Duncan), Manu (Ginobili) and Tony (Parker) we are all willing to learn from them as well as Richard (Jefferson) Antonio (McDyess) and Matt Bonner. But us other guys have to find our role, find out how we are going to fit in and let defense be our staple again.

As for me, I just need to relax. Play more like I did tonight. Knock down shots and just guard, guard, guard!

Must be great to finally be heading back home to San Antonio after road games in Mexico City and in Pittsburgh. Speaking of which the next game is against Tiago Splitter's former team Caja Laboral. Has to be exciting not only for him but for the rest of the team.

Yeah Tiago has that injury but he is a great guy. His former team is coming in and he will see his friends but it's just great to come back home. We had a long road trip  and we are ready to play again in front of our home crowd at the AT&T Center.

Can't wait for October 27 against the Indiana Pacers can you?

(smiles) No I really can't!

On this Spurscast special, Project Spurs was in Pittsburgh to cover the San Antonio Spurs preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Joining me on the show was Glenn Moore from The Dugout Sports Show who was in also in Pittsburgh to cover the Cavaliers.

Though the Spurs did lose the game, 106-80, keep in mind they were without Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson.

Despite the loss, there were some bright spots to discuss such as the improved play of Garrett Temple, the hustle of James Gist and DeJuan Blair, who was having a homecoming, showing a bit more of an outside shot.

With the loss the Spurs drop to 2-2 in the preseason and will next face Tiago Splitter's former team, Caja Laboral, in San Antonio.

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