Las Vegas -- The San Antonio Spurs came into this game against the Los Angeles Clippers undefeated going 3-0 in the 2010 NBA Summer League.  The Spurs have been led by Gary Neal who has been averaging 15.7 points. The Clippers came into the game 1-2 in the Summer league led by rookie Al-Farouq Aminu who has been averaging 12.3 points.

The first quarter started off with a quick timeout for the Spurs. After seeing how poorly the team got on offense, coach Budenholzer wanted to "discuss" things with Curtis Jerrells. Alonzo Gee got things started for the Spurs with back-to-back dunks for the Spurs. The Spurs continued to get to the rim for high-percentage shots but their outside shots were not falling early in the first quarter.

The Clippers were staying in the game led by Aminu who threw down a dunk for an "and-1" to take the lead from the Spurs. The Clippers started to knock shots down to keep their lead on the Spurs.

At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers were leading 18-12. The Spurs shot 26.3% from the field while the Clippers shot 53.8% from the floor.

The second quarter the Spurs came out attacking the basket to take the lead from the Clippers. Sean Dennision hit a lay-up and a three-point shot to maintain the Spurs slim lead on the Clippers.

The Spurs started to turn the ball over allowing the Clippers to stay in the game. Darryl Watkins then got to the rim for a dunk to keep the Spurs' lead. Gee continued his hot shooting hitting a three-pointer and scoring at the rim for the Spurs.

At the half the Spurs led 39 to 26. They were led by Gee with 15 points, shot 41% from the floor (16/39), grabbed 15 rebounds, and had 22 points in the paint.

The third quarter started just like the first half with the Spurs missing shots. Jerrells showed some hustle on the defensive-end diving for loose balls and keeping Clippers' Eric Bledsoe on his heels.

Gee continued to put his stamp on the game displaying his inside and outside game as the Spurs stretched the lead to 15 points. At the end of the third quarter, it was the Spurs 56, Clippers 41.

Spurs' Dwyane Mitchell started things off for the Spurs in the fourth getting the "and 1." Mitchell also showed he can create with a nice assist to Tyler Wilkerson for the dunk and on the defensive end with a steal.

The Spurs were getting it done on the defensive end. Watkins had an emphatic block on Aminu and the Spurs were displaying solid team defense. The Clippers did fight back a bit with Aminu leading the way but in the end it was not enough.

The Spurs remain undefeated in the Summer League beating the Clippers 77 to 62. They will next face the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow and hope to have a perfect record to end the 2010 Summer League.

Game Notes:

• Spurs were led by Gee with 20 points, 7/12 from the field, 2/3 from the three-point line, six rebounds and one steal.
  
• Spurs scored 42 points in the paint, had 16 fast break points and nine second chance points.
• Spurs committed 19 turnovers leading to 16 points for the Clippers.
• Spurs out-rebounded the Clippers 34-30.
• Spurs shot 42% from the field, 29.4% from the three-point line and 77.8% from the free-throw line.

The 2010 Las Vegas Summer League is winding down and the San Antonio Spurs have two more games before it's over and the doldrums of the NBA begins.

As I was sitting on press row, waiting for the Spurs versus Los Angeles Clippers game, I had a chance to chat with Darryl Watkins and ask him a few quick questions about the Summer League, defense, his goals and more.

Jeff: How has your experience been playing in the Vegas Summer League?

Darryl: It's real tough coming out against new competition that's going to be coming out this new season.

Tell me about the intensity out on the floor with everyone trying to secure a spot on a team.

It's real intense because everyone out here is trying to do the same thing you are trying to do. That's making an NBA roster spot.

The San Antonio Spurs are notorious for preaching defense. On the defensive end, what can you bring to this team?

Basically block shots, rebounds and making sure I'm there for help defense.

What drives you?

Basically to support my family and the love for the game. I want to keep getting better from the last game. I have a certain amount of goals and keep climbing to higher heights. Show that my game has developed a little bit more. I can score, rebound, and also be a team player.

Jacque Vaughn, a former player himself, and now coaching the summer league team. From someone who has played the game and now coaching you, how valuable it that for you?

That's great value. You have someone that used to be a player and when I was with the Spurs before, he was a teammate, and he knows the game.

Is it a little weird seeing him as a coach?

(laughs) It's real weird. From seeing him go from teammate to coach Vaughn!

Watkins has been averaging 7.3 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game for the Spurs in the summer league.

San Antonio Spurs' VP of Basketball Operations, Dell Demps, is closer to becoming the New Orleans Hornets General Manager according to neworleans.com:

San Antonio Spurs vice president of basketball operations Dell Demps has emerged as the frontrunner in the New Orleans Hornets' fast-moving search for a new general manager, according to sources close to the process.

The Spurs reach into the NBA contines to expand. Should Demps accept the position with the Hornets, he will join former Spur, Monty Williams (now head coach for the Hornets) in New Orleans.

San Antonio Spurs summer league player, James Gist, is out up to three weeks with a sprained left wrist:

The Spurs on Friday announced Gist got hurt Wednesday in Las Vegas during a summer league game against Atlanta.

A team statement says Gist is expected to be out of action for one to three weeks.

Gist was drafted by the Spurs in 2008, 57th overall. He has played overseas for the Italian League club Biella and recently signed a contract with Lokomotiv Kuban of the Russian Super League.

(source usatoday.com)

As the Tim Duncan era is nearing the end, staff-writers Robby Lim and Jason Rogers will be having a debate on which current San Antonio Spurs player will most likely be the one to carry the torch for the team post Duncan era. Yesterday, Robby Lim made the case for DeJuan Blair. Up next is Jason Rogers.

With Tim Duncan inching toward retirement, San Antonio Spurs fans are wondering who might take the torch next. Spurs fans can remember watching David Robinson take a backseat to his protege, Duncan, in an effort to win the first championship for what became one of the best professional sports franchises of the following decade. 

Who's next?  Who will be Duncan's.....Duncan?

Look no further than George Hill.

His rate of improvement in his first two seasons with the Spurs is well publicized, but let's review. He went from 5.7 points per game in 2008-2009 to 12.4 in 2009-2010 - more than a 100% increase.  His shooting percentage rose from 40% to 48% on an increase in minutes from only 16 to over 29. On top of all of this, he is a 40% three-point shooter and, though most effective as a shooting guard, he has shown that he is able to run the offense as a point guard as evidenced by his starting role during the Parker injury. With a shift of that magnitude from his first season to his second, who can predict a limit to his capabilities.

In the mold of those before him in Duncan and Robinson, he is unselfish and respected by his coaches and teammates.  During the 2010 playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Manu Ginobili said of Hill, "He's become very reliable. He's played the most minutes for us because he's been unbelievable."

Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich has quite famously called Hill his "favorite player" on more than one occasion and his defensive abilities has garnered Hill the responsibility of guarding the best player on the court on any given night.

With a roster that includes an aging Ginobili, a star guard in Tony Parker that may not be with the team when his contract is up next season, a promising, but inconsistent, DeJuan Blair and a few solid role players, it is hard to see how the torch could be passed to any other than Hill.  The only question is will be be ready to run with it?

Alright Spurs fans, time for you to chime in. Robby made the case for Blair and you just read Jason's case for Hill. Who else could possibly take the reigns after Duncan leaves or are one of these two players more than likely to be the one who carries the torch?

As the Tim Duncan era is nearing the end, staff-writers Robby Lim and Jason Rogers will be having a debate on which current San Antonio Spurs player will most likely be the one to carry the torch for the team post Duncan era. Up first is Robby Lim.

I know it's a little too early. Tim Duncan is not retiring tomorrow. But hey it's the offseason, the NBA Draft is over, Tiago Splitter finally signed with the Spurs, the major free-agents are signed and the 2010 NBA Summer League is winding down so why not have some fun and try to look into the future of the franchise.

Let's be realistic, the Duncan era is slowly coming to a close but he still has two to three good years in him. Maybe four? However, with the current roster makeup, who do you think will be the best player three years down the road? My best bet -- DeJuan Blair.

Surprised? Let me explain.

Blair had one of the most successful rookie seasons as a Spur. He ranks third in points per game among rookies (behind Duncan and Tony Parker) since the 1997-1998 season and he managed to do this despite averaging just 18.2 minutes per ball game.

Not only that, last year he was one the most efficient player in Spurs uniform. His PER was 17.8 third behind Duncan (24.8) and Manu Ginobili (22.5). As he averaged 7.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and .61 steals while shooting 55.6% from the field in 82 games. Now think long term and as he gets better, his numbers could possibly be even better.

It's also worth noting that despite falling into the 2nd round as the 37th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft amidst concerns of his ACL-less knees, Blair was able to play all 82 regular season games without suffering any serious injury.

More importantly, he was a solid rotation player who did a great job as Duncan's backup. Who can forget his 28 points and 21 rebound performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder when the Spurs chose to give Duncan the night off.

The most important part is Blair still has a lot to improve and all his deficiencies are correctable. Another year in the Spurs' training camp can do wonders for him. Most new players are better during the second season. After his impressive rookie campaign there is a great chance he can do the same.

I know skeptics will say that he is too undersized to be a dominant force someday but he already proved that he can compensate his lack of height. He scores on put backs and grabbed rebounds using his wide body and 7'2" freakish wingspan. He even covers the passing lanes pretty well getting some steals on defense.

Charles Barkley, another undersized power forward became an All-Star during his days and if Blair keeps on improving, he might project to be similar to Barkley down the road of his career. Of course by no means am I stating he will be on the level of a Hall of Famer like Barkley. More like "Barkley lite."

On and off the court, #45 also has set a great example being a good role model and setting up basketball training camps for kids. He was well liked by coaches and players and was an instant fan favorite because of his nice demeanor. He also has a wide grin that can certainly light up the day of Spurs fans. So what's not to like?

And with Parker being open to leaving San Antonio next season and Ginobili not getting any younger, Blair is a promising young player that could be the face of the Spurs' franchise in the future.I mean the guy is a hard worker and is very coachable.

He also has some lofty expectations about himself, having mentioned recently that he wants to win an NBA title and league MVP someday.

Young, talented, confident and has desire to win. How can you pass on a player like that to possibly carry the torch for the San Antonio Spurs?

Come back tomorrow for part 2 as Project Spurs' staff-writer, Jason Rogers, will present which current Spur he feels will most likely to carry the torch once Duncan retires.

This summer, the San Antonio Spurs will be playing in Mexico City against the Los Angeles Clippers:

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that preseason basketball will return to Mexico when the San Antonio Spurs face the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 12 in Mexico City.

The last time the Spurs played in Mexico City was in 1992 where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

(source NBA.com)

San Antonio Spurs' 2001 NBA Draft pick, Robertas Javtokas, has signed with Power Electronics Valencia according to superdeportes.es:

In 2002 Javtokas was involved in a major motorcycle accident but has since fully recovered. He averaged 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds last year with BC Khimky in the Euroleague.

With Javtokas joining Valencia, he also joins another Spurs draft pick, Nando De Colo, who also plays for Valencia.

If former Austin Toro, Alonzo Gee, is on a mission to secure a roster spot with the Spurs, he may not be very far from achieving just that.

Gee started turning heads as a Toros rookie and he did well enough not only to earn two callups, but he also won the D League Rookie of the Year award.

He was turning heads again on Thursday, scoring 24 points and picking off four steals to lead the Spurs over the Hawks 89-84 in the Spurs' second summer league game.

After an early feeling out period, the Spurs went on a big run and never looked back, until the second half.

Gee's countless drives to the rim and James Gist's emergence kept the Spurs ahead throughout the second quarter.

The Hawks started narrowing the lead in the second half with Jordan Crawford, Trey Gilder and Randolph Morris leading the run.

The Hawks also stepped up defensively and forced the Spurs to shoot desperation threes, but Spurs guard Curtis Jerrells stayed aggressive and put the Spurs team on his back in the final minutes to stay ahead and get the win.

Jerrells finished with 20 points, four assists and four steals. Gary Neal had 16 points and Gist had 10 points.

The Spurs play the Lakers, led by forward Derrick Caracter, today at 3 p.m. CST.