The San Antonio Spurs' search for a solid shooter continues with the addition of Kirk Penney to the training camp roster.  At 6'5" and 220 pounds, the 29 year old brings some size to the wing position.  A journeyman, Penney has played in six leagues since graduating from Wisconsin in 2003, including two stints in the NBA - a season with the Miami Heat and another with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Born in New Zealand, Penney, like Tiago Splitter, is fresh off of the FIBA World Championships where he played for his home country.  In six games at the World Championships, Penney managed an impressive 24.7 points per game shooting over 45% from the field including 37% from the three-point line.  In terms of efficiency with the basketball, he did commit an average of three turnovers per game and only two assists per contest.

Penney's most recent entry on his resume had him playing shooting guard for the New Zealand Breakers in the National Basketball League.  In 2009, he was selected MVP after leading the league in scoring.  He has seen a lot of success in New Zealand and all eyes are on him in that country as he tries to succeed in the NBA.  Penney has been named All-NBL First Team in each of his three seasons there.

Penney is fighting for one of basically three remaining roster spots.  The competition is stiff - the Spurs will more than likely cut five of the eight players competing for these final spots.  He is a solid offensive player, but that alone will not get him onto the final roster.  The Spurs are looking for someone who can defend as well, which could be a challenge for this guard who has not played against NBA competition since 2005.  For his part, Penney is confident:

“You’ve got a lot of talented players here and to be able to measure myself against these guys is exactly where I want to be. I know on this team (among the non-guaranteed players) there isn’t a player like me, who moves well of the ball.

“I know I’m very much at the level. It’s just bringing it every day and showing that.”

Penney is likely to see his first action this week as the Spurs open their preseason schedule against the Houston Rockets on Thursday. No doubt his fans in New Zealand will be watching.

However, if I can make one suggestion should Penney make the squad -- is there any chance he can teach the Spurs the New Zealand Haka war dance? How great would it be to see him lead Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, coach Popovich and the rest of the team in performing the dance before tip-off?

Check out Penney. He is number six.

Jeff and I are joined by San Antonio's News 4 WOAI's Humberto Cervera as we review the first week of the San Antonio Spurs training camp.

We assessed the injuries to Richard Jefferson and Tiago Splitter, talked about Tony Parker putting a stop to all of the trade rumors, which players have impressed us after the first week, our take on the Wilson Chandler rumors and much more.

The Spurscast. The first and original Spurs podcast.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download

After a lackluster first year with the San Antonio Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich made it his mission this summer to get Spurs forward Richard Jefferson back to basics.

David Aldridge, in his latest column on NBA.com, said Popovich gave Jefferson the choice to work with the coaching staff this summer or he could enjoy his summer off and Popovich would work on finding Jefferson somewhere else to call home.

So Jefferson chose summer school, working out for two hours at a time with the Spurs' coaches all over the country. It was all basics: pivoting with the ball, jump-stopping, drills designed to improve his efficiency of movement on the court. On the defensive end, Jefferson got reinforcements on the Spurs' defensive concepts, which go into much greater detail than simply pushing everything baseline and keeping guards from dribble penetrations in the paint. He reported to camp last week with 7 percent body fat and a cut-up physique.

"I asked him if he wanted to reach his potential, or just let the next few years slough away and just put money in the bank," Popovich said. "He said 'I want to reach my potential.' "

At training camp last week, Jefferson said the work has helped and he's more comfortable now that he knows what to expect.

"I didn't forget how to play basketball, I don't think my talents dropped in a year. It was just getting used to system," Jefferson said.

"The work that I put in wasn't above last summer. I didn't do anything more, it was more coming in and trying to focus on the areas where I need to improve that help the team...so I spent a lot of time working on that and yes, that has helped quite a bit. I'm just feeling more comfortable out there already."

Jefferson also said that his work in the summer wasn't about doing anything better, but just being more consistent and accurate. Hopefully Spurs fans will see it when the Spurs play their first preseason game against the Rockets on Thursday.

In an interview with lsureveille.com, San Antonio Spurs' guard Garrett Temple spoke about how defense is key to his game but is hoping to expand on the offensive end of the court:

"Defense is what I did well in college and what got me here, and I'm going to continue to play defense," he said. "But I'm going to build my offensive game a little more so I can be a force on both ends."

"I was very fortunate to end up with a team like the Spurs that has so many great veteran players," Temple said. "It seemed like the right choice."|

Hearing Temple stress defense must put a smile on Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich.

On his injury to his ankle during the 2010 NBA Summer League:

"It was about a six-week rehab process," Temple said. "But I stayed in San Antonio most of the time, and we did what we needed to do to get it back right."

Temple is hoping to build upon his performance late in the 2010 Spurs' season where he opened eyes with his stellar play coming in for the injured George Hill.

This isn't the first time Temple spoke about improving his game. During the 2010 NBA Summer League I spoke to Temple about what he wants to work on in his second season with the Spurs:

"To be more comfortable at the point guard position. Learn to play the point guard more. Maybe learn the two a little more," said Temple, "Become a combo guy. Be a guy that can guard the point and the two slot and just go out there and be a guy they (Spurs) can really count on to do the little things."

San Antonio Spurs' forward Richard Jefferson injured his ankle today in practice but the injury is not serious:

Small forward Richard Jefferson tweaked an ankle during Monday's practice session, an injury coach Gregg Popovich says is not serious but might keep him out of Thursday's preseason opener at Houston. (source Express News)

Hopefully Jefferson fully recovers with the team lacking a back-up small forward. Jefferson joins Tiago Splitter who have been injured during training camp.

The San Antonio Spurs did their homework over the summer.

They brought in Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter, drafted Oklahoma State star James Anderson, signed sweet-shooting Gary Neal from Italy and then invited a few more quality players to training camp with four more possible positions to fill.

There is more work to be done but the Spurs' front office made a nice start in the offseason towards assembling a team that could compete for the NBA title at present, and at the same time build for the future. The Spurs now have their "Big 3" surrounded by a supporting cast with a nice mix of experience, youth and athleticism.

The team has gotten younger while staying competitive. Gone are the days when coach Popovich can say "we're older than dirt." Splitter, DeJuan Blair, George Hill, Anderson and Neal are already a nice young core to start with but the question is how will they mesh and catch-up with the Spurs complex system?

Hill is already playing like a seasoned veteran. His game has tremendously improved after two years in San Antonio. Blair has proved to be a rebounding machine and an energy guy off the bench.

Splitter, Anderson and Neal? They already made names for themselves overseas or in college but how will their game translate into the NBA remains to be the seen.

However, the Spurs are not the only team which is facing these kinds of questions while entering  training camp. All the other 29 NBA teams have their own issues and concerns. For now, the Spurs must be anxious and thrilled about what their new players could bring to the table.

For instance, is Splitter the real side kick that Tim Duncan has been waiting for? He was the best big man in Europe before he came over to San Antonio so it's safe to say he'd be fine. During the first day of training camp, Splitter already impressed and has shown that he can fit right in.

Anderson is already being hailed as another draft day steal and if he brings his prolific scoring in San Antonio how could we argue?

And what if Neal becomes an able replacement for Roger Mason Jr.? That would certainly make the Spurs a serious contender for the title this coming season.

But there's another thing, with the Spurs lineup getting younger will it be best for them to tweak their style of play particularly on offense? Should they try to run more? Here's a look on how they played in the previous seasons.

SEASON	WIN	LOSS	Offensive Efficiency	Defensive Efficiency	Season Pace Factor
2009-2010	50	32	107.2 (9th)	102.0 (9th)	94.0 (20th)
2008-2009	54	28	106.2 (12th)	102.0 (6th)	90.4 (27th)
2007-2008	56	26	92.0 (13th)	87.1 (4th)	103.6 (28th)
*2006-2007	58	24	92.7 (5th)	84.4 (2nd)	106.0 (27th)
2005-2006	63	19	91.4 (10th)	84.2 (1st)	104.4 (24th)
*2004-2005	59	23	91.2 (8th)	82.3 (1st)	105.8 (24th)
2003-2004	57	25	86.0 (14th)	78.5 (1st)	106.4 (19th)
*2002-2003	60	22	88.1 (11th)	83.3 (2nd)	107.8 (19th)

Based on these stats, it showed the Spurs have been always one of the slower paced teams in the NBA preferring half court sets and deliberate plays. It simply indicates the Spurs win when they dominate on defense while pace was hardly a factor.

But last season they already made some changes on their personnel and it dramatically altered their character.

They were ranked 20th on pace factor last year, which is their highest since their 2003 championship, used four more possessions per game and were seven spots higher than the 2008-2009 season. That meant change has already started last season and that trend might continue.

The change in offensive pace might be inevitable as most of the players are more adept at slashing to hoop and driving to the basket. Gone are the days when their role players were merely jump shooters. Hill, Richard Jefferson, Anderson, and Neal can all create their own shots.

Most of their big men are also quick enough to run on transition. Splitter runs the floor pretty hard, Duncan is not flat-footed either and ditto for Blair. This is not to say the Spurs should adapt the fast paced game like the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns. But a variation of half court sets, motion offense and transition offense might be in order for them to be more effective and efficient on the offensive side of the floor.

Doing so could make them harder to predict on offense as they can change the tempo of the game to their liking while trying to keep the opposing teams' defense off-balanced.

Nonetheless, in order for them to dictate the tempo of the game it has to start on defense. Every NBA title they've won since 2003, the Spurs where either 1st or 2nd in defensive efficiency.

They have to get back to being a dominant defensive squad to be able to impose their will on offense. A great defensive play could always lead to easy transition baskets if you have the proper personnel. Now the Spurs have the right players to do the job. It's up to them if they are willing to push up the tempo or not; but first they will have get better on defense.

What are your thoughts? Do the Spurs need to run more on offense?

(photos Express News)

Clippers: Clips Nation | SBNation Recap

Kings: Sactown Royalty | Cowbell Kingdom | SBNation Recap

Lakers: Silver Screen and Roll | Forum Blue & Gold | NBAtipoff | SBNation Recap

Suns: Bright Side Of The Sun | SB Nation Arizona | ValleyoftheSuns | SBNation Recap

Warriors: Golden State of Mind | SBNation Recap

Recaps: All Previews

(Late preview) Knicks Preview: Straight Bangin'

Kirk Penney had a fantastic performance at the 2010 World Championship playing for New Zealand. Now he is trying to prove to the San Antonio Spurs he can duplicate his performance and display more in training camp.

Here is what he had to say about his experience with the Spurs in training camp:

"It's really hard to know where you stand," said Penney who has been released by the NZ Breakers for one last tilt at his NBA dream. "I'm really looking forward to the games, and just want to be able to hang around long enough to play in them and show what I can do."

"There are a lot of variables involved, so all I'm trying to do is show what kind of player I am and just see where the cards fall after that," he said.

"That's all I can do." (source stuff.co.nz.com)

Penney averaged 24.7 points while shooting 45.8% from the field and 36.7% from the three-point line at the World Championship. He also finished second in scoring at the World Championship and averaged more points than Team USA's Kevin Durant. Not to mention he scored 37 points against Lithuania.

San Antonio Spurs' guard Tony Parker was interviewed by KTKR in San Antonio and spoke on his free agency, the Spurs chances this season, if he is staying in San Antonio, why the Spurs can win:

On how his free agency will play out:

“For me, it’s going to be very simple. I just want to focus on this season and we have a great opportunity with this team and I just want to stay focused on that. I can’t control you or anybody else in the media, can’t control what they’re going to say, and [if it's] going to go crazy inventing something that my wife said and she didn’t say. I can’t control all that. I’m just going to focus on my team.”

On whether he wants to stay:

“Of course, of course. I’ve said that plenty of times, but nobody’s listened to me. They don’t care, they just want to create stories. It sells better.” 

On whether he’d like to test the free agent market or would rather have a deal done now:

“We’ll see. We’ll see. We’ll see. We’ll see. For now, I just want to focus on the team and training camp starting tomorrow. I can’t control that. If the Spurs want to do something, I’ll be willing to listen, obviously. But we’ll see. It’s a long way. I’m going to use Manu [Ginobili] as an example. He went through it last year, and so we’ll see what happens.”

On why this is the last year the Spurs can win:

“I know people think I’m saying that because of my contract here, but I really feel like because of Timmy I’m saying that, not because of my contract. I’m saying that because of Timmy because then it’s going to be tough. It’s a long season and Timmy’s like 34, going to be 35. That’s why I felt like this is our last chance to win a championship. When Timmy’s gone, then it’s going to be really tough.”

Visit sportsradiointerviews.com for the complete interview.

Arianné is back for the latest Spanish edition of the Spurscast. In this episode, Arianne recaps the latest new on the San Antonio Spurs 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 todos de las noticias 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.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download

no comments