Recently, there have been trade rumors circling the Spurs, and often times, the player the Spurs rumored would have to part with is Manu Ginobili. It seems for the Spurs to get any value from a trade, they would have to part ways with Ginobili.

His contract expires at the end of this season, and plenty of teams could use the services of such a battle tested veteran. But as the trade deadline gets closer, the thought of trading Ginobili seems less and less enticing. Even if it is for the chance to gain All Star center Amare Stoudemire.

Try and think about a world without Manu. All the things we Spurs fans will miss. All the things that made him stand apart from the other players of the league, and the legacy that he will leave behind if he is traded.

Silver and Black runs through Manu's veins. He is sixth all time in steals for the Spurs with 790, and is ninth in assist with 1884. He has scored 7559 points for the Spurs, which is ninth all time. But, to the City of San Antonio, he is more than a numbers on a list. He transcends the basketball court and is a part of our community. Let me put it this way, Manu Ginobili is a piece of thread, woven into the cultural fabric of San Antonio. He face is plastered on billboards all along interstate 10 and 35. Even here in Austin, he has billboards that make me proud to be a Time Warner customer.

Even though he had been playing with the Silver and Black since the 2002-2003 season, and was a vital part of our 2003 championship, it wasn't until the 2004-2005 season when a shaggy haired Manu stole our hearts with his unconventional style of play. Never before had we seen a player shred through opposing defenses and finish with thunderous dunks at the rim so effortlessly. His unorthodox style of play was a breath of fresh air to us Spurs fans who were tired of being labeled as "boring." He injected excitement and energy into not only the Spurs organization, but the city of San Antonio.

The 2005 playoffs was Manu's coming out party. That summer, he turned basketball into a dance, a graceful ballet, leaving all of us breathless and yearning for more. In the Western Conference Finals, the 62-20 Phoenix Suns had no answer for Ginobili. He was seemingly able to get to the basket at will. In one of the greatest Spurs moments of all time, Manu crossed Shawn Marion, went around the back, and did a reverse spin left handed lay up all over Amare Stoudemire. Truly vintage Ginobili. Then in Game seven of the 2005 NBA Finals, in the final quarter with the Spurs trailing, he rolled off a screen, crossed Rasheed Wallace, and finished with a monstrous dunk, shifting the momentum back to the Spurs. Another great moment in Spurs history.

After the 2005 championship, "Manu-mania" hit San Antonio like a storm. Manu, not Finals MVP Duncan, was on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Championship edition. Everywhere you looked, people were in the number 20 jersey, and it seemed San Antonio had a new favorite Spur. Women loved his long hair and good looks, men loved his fearless style of play, and San Antonio, being predominantly Hispanic, loved his Latin background.

No player in the history of the Spurs as had such an emotional impact on us like Manu Ginobili, and there is no better example of this then game 7 of the 2006 NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals. After hitting a three pointer to give the Spurs the lead in the final seconds of the game, he fouled Dirk Nowitzki at the other end while he was shooting, leading to an and one. And that's just Manu. There are times when he does things so remarkable, so unbelievable, that we ask ourselves, how did he do that? Other times, he's so reckless and careless, we wonder how he's even a professional basketball player. It's always hot or cold with him. There's been so many ups and downs with him that Six Flags could open a roller coaster called the "Manu Maniac."

It seems every Spurs fan has their favorite "Manu Moment." For me, it has to be the January 21, 2005 game against none other then the Phoenix Suns. Going into that game, the Spurs were 33and 9 and the Suns were 31and 10. It was one of those games that felt like a midseason playoff game. I was watching the game with two of my closest friends, and before the tip off, one of my friends said, "Tonight Manu is going for 48!"

And he didn't disappoint.

Manu scored exactly 48 points on 16 of 22 from the field. He shot a staggering 72 percent from the floor. The Spurs won 128 to 123 in overtime at Phoenix. And I couldn't talk for the next week. I yelled more during that game then any other regular season game, ever.

That's what we'll miss most. Those classic Manu moments that left us gasping for air. Those moments when we scratch our heads and say what just happened? Or in January, when he dove out of bounds to save a ball in overtime against the Thunder. I remember thinking to myself, "What did I just see?"

It's those moments that made Manu stand apart from all other Spurs players. Its those moments that seperated him from the entire league. He made us proud to be a Spurs fan. He made us proud to wear the Silver and Black.

Think about a world without Manu. No longer will we look at our friends and say,"How did he do that?" or "Manu I can't believe you did that!" There will be no more through the legs passes or no look around the back passes. No more Bill Schoening,"That's a Manu tres!", or my personal favorite,"Manu, that is how you do the voodoo that you do so well!" No more of the little things we take for granted every time he takes the floor.

Can you imagine Manu Ginobili, in that hideous purple and orange? The sheer thought of him in a Phoenix Suns jersey should anger any die hard Spurs fan. I've lost count of how many times I've seen him shatter the dreams of Suns fans. It was Manu Ginobili who crushed any hopes of them winning a Championship with 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assist and four steals in the series clinching game six of the 2007 NBA Western Conference Semifinals. I'm pretty sure Suns fans aren't to fond of Ginobili.

So if the trade deadline passes, and Manu is no longer in the Silver and Black, we can't take it personal. We can't hold it against R.C. Buford, because the NBA is a business, and teams have to do what is necessary to win a championship. If he gets traded, he'll get a standing ovation every time he returns to the Alamo City. And when he retires, the Spurs will hang his number 20 jersey in the rafters, right next to the three NBA championships he helped bring to San Antonio.

With the Rodeo Road Trip just around the corner, the Spurs continue to struggle and can't seem to get over the hump. The Spurs are only 8-8 in January and went 2-4 in their recent home stand before going to their annual excursion on the road.

During the past several years, the Spurs used the road trip as the turning point of their season, fine tuning plays, adjusting defensive schemes and figuring out rotations.

It can be seen as a catalyst for a big stretch run to end the regular season. But looking at the Spurs' play right  now, there is plenty to fix.

This year, it's an eight game stretch that starts on Wednesday and ends on February 21. They'll head back home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on the 24th.

The upcoming trip is somewhat unusual and might prove to be harder for the Spurs as they will bring in a lot of new faces with them Bogans, Ratliff, Jefferson, Blair and McDyess are all first timers and they have to go on with the trip with an ailing Tony Parker.

This means that the Spurs have to lean more on the seasoned Rodeo Road Trip vets such as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. While Duncan arguably remains to be one of the best big men in the league, Manu is having some troubles in getting back to his old form. This season Ginobili is shooting a career-low 39% from the field.

However, George Hill has been holding the fort fairly well while Tony is out, DeJuan Blair provides much needed rebounding and Antonio McDyess is finding his groove lately giving hope for a successful trip.

At this point, the Spurs are playing well enough to win games. Many might disagree with this statement, but despite losing most of their games against stronger teams, the Spurs are not getting blown out on most of those games.

In other words an additional hustle, a defensive stop or another shot made could turn things around for the Spurs. This means, one of their main issues is consistency. Whether the road trip will fix that problem remains to be seen.

Here's a look at the Spurs' upcoming games in their annual Rodeo Road Trip.

February 3 @ Kings
In their first two games this season, the Spurs came out victorious and with a lot of rest to start the trip. The Spurs have a great chance to begin the trip on a winning note.

February 4 @ Blazers
It's the second night of back to backs. Don't be surprised to see Coach Pop rest some of his starters. If that holds true, chalk up a win for the Blazers unless Blair takes over and put up another 20-20 performance.

February 6 @ Clippers
The Clippers have their share of struggles and injuries this season and the Spurs should be determined enough to get this win before their showdown against the Lakers.

February 8 @ Lakers
Spurs won their first meeting. But Kobe was hurt and Pau Gasol didn't play in that game. The Lakers will be seeking revenge in this one.

February 11 @ Nuggets
The Nuggets has already beaten the Spurs twice this season and they won the last game minus Carmelo. Not looking good for the Spurs, although stealing one from the Nuggets on their home floor might not be too impossible.

February 12-16 All Star Break
Time for some needed rest while Duncan and Blair  represent the Spurs in the All Star Game and Rookie Challenge respectively.

February 17 @ Pacers
The first game between these two teams was so close.  It had to be decided by a point on a Duncan dunk. But the All Star Break should help rejuvenate the Spurs and make a run towards the end of the trip.

February 19 @ 76ers
The Spurs won the first time they met and I don't expect the Spurs to loose focus and fall to a team with a losing record this late in the season.

February 21 @ Pistons
The Pistons are probably playing their worst basketball in recent memory and the Spurs should end the Rodeo trip with a win.

Will the Spurs be successful in this year's Rodeo Road Trip?

If history holds true, they probably will. However, the Spurs' normally air-tight defense has shown some leaks.

Maybe they will rally during the trip as they always seem to do. But the past month has been troubling enough that, this year; they need to win as much games as they can just to prove that they are still one of the title contenders in the league.

Prediction: The Spurs will be playing against three playoff teams in the West and five teams with losing record. Safe bet 5-3. Wishful thinking 7-1.

What do you think? Leave us a comment and try to give us your own prediction or thoughts on the Spurs' upcoming road trip.

A few weeks ago, Project Spurs looked at the top five signature moves from former or current Spurs.  In that article, we looked at two signature shots from George Gervin and Tony Parker -- The "Finger Roll" and the "Tear Drop."

Both shots frustrated would-be shot blockers, as Gervin and Parker put the ball in the basket with ease.

Either shot is effective in the lane but if you were on the court which shot would you prefer?  Are you a "finger roll" or a "tear drop" kind of player?

George Gervin's "Finger Roll"

Before Parker's "tear drop" shot, there was Gervin's "finger roll." With the flick of his wrist, Gervin's shot would sail over the finger tips of defenders and go in the basket.  Gervin's finger roll was a high arching shot and it didn't matter if the defender was closely guarding him. Gervin could get the shot off no matter what.  It also helped he had the size to score over defenders with the finger roll.

Link

Tony Parker's "Tear Drop" Shot

Parker's shot in the paint is more of a "put shot."  As soon as Parker gets into the lane, he anticipates the defender coming at him and pushes the shot into the basket over the defender. Unlike Gervin, Parker needs some space to get the shot off.  But unlike Gervin, Parker has speed to break down the defender if the "tear drop" is not an option.

Link

Both are effective shots in the lane but which shot would you go to? If you broke down the defense and saw players like Jabbar in Gervin's time or Shaq in Parker's time coming at you, would you use the finger roll or teardrop? Let us know in the comments.

There's a fascinating metamorphosis that takes place when someone persists at something for an extended period of their life. They absorb a remarkable level of depth and insight in what they do. It's a peculiar thing that's difficult to quantify, but it's a decided shift that takes place in perspective, and directly translates to ability, when a set of skills ages past a decade. It's a luminosity that ignites in your mind, giving you a 360 degree view of something, an almost omniscient understanding on a particular topic.

When asked what has changed about Tim Duncan's game over the past twelve years of his NBA career, the casual observer would remark that little has changed. As oppose to challenging that observation outright, I'll instead say that “little” is a relative term.

If you ask him, I imagine Duncan could give a lengthy list of ways that his game has changed and improved over twelve seasons. I'm sure the things he would talk about would be nuanced, perceived as minute to those of us who haven't experienced them. It's the perspective and attention to detail that only comes with experience, the ability to take something apart and understand how every tiny piece fits together.

When you think about how Duncan's game has gotten better, or changed, the reason why nothing jumps out is because he's never had to make any sweeping changes to how he plays his position. Instead he's subtly been improving all the things he was always good at. The footwork has gotten even better, the follow through on a jump hook smoother, he's learned to position himself smarter defensively.

A retrospective of Tim Duncan's career invariably has to talk about his consistency. With enough thought and some honest recollection, however, I was able to come up with a few items that highlighted some level of change in his game. They are, of course, vanilla – subtle, but valuable and instrumental nonetheless.

The first item is likely the most noticeable – free-throw shooting. Duncan's free-throw shooting has gone through a weird up-and-down ride throughout his career, but ultimately we can say that it's improved. It started around 66% in his rookie season and had a few spikes in his first few years, including 80% in '01-'02, before taking a dive for a career low .599 in 2004. This year he's at a steady 75%.

While his accuracy at the line can still be suspect, the ability to knock down free-throws has been the all important compliment to his dominant inside game. It balanced him out in a way that no other offensive component could have. He's going to get the ball inside and he's going to get fouled, therefore being able to confidently step to the line and drain a pair is exactly the skill he had to acquire.

Another key component of Duncan's growth has been his improvement as a passer. He needed to be better passer, it was a requirement considering the amount of attention paid to him by defenses. He started off unselfish enough, but occasionally lacking in knowing when and where to let off the ball.

He's gone from being a simple passer out of the post to being a conduit of the offense from the block, able to pass effectively out of double teams and know exactly when and where to capitalize off of what the defense is doing. He's able to make things happen for the offense, simply by touching the ball and then redistributing it back out.

Maybe the biggest development of Duncan as a player has been the toughness he's developed and his capacity for leadership. I think it's a consensus that Tim Duncan is mentally tough and that he always has been. Yet for some time early in his career there was a perception that Duncan was soft. It's important to note that most of that was a misconception. People misinterpreted his quiet demeanor and lack of pomp for a deficiency in toughness.

It is fair to say, however, that some of it was warranted. It was clear that as he developed there was a demonstrativeness that came with experience for Duncan. As his skills developed and his confidence grew he started imposing his will on games, demanding the ball down the stretch and generally becoming able to punish entire teams physically on both ends of the floor. There seemed a willingness to absolutely destroy the opposition that was lacking his first few years.

It was most evident in the 2003 NBA Finals. He played the best series of his life, one of the best ever. Duncan's game six performance put him in the pantheon with Magic, Bird, Russell and Jordan – amongst the greatest ever. It was during that title clinching game when I turned to someone and said, “it's like winning isn't enough – it's like he wants to erase the New Jersey Nets from basketball history.”

That kind of determination and thirst for victory, I don't think was there, or at least not as pronounced in the early part of Duncan's career. Furthermore it's been his ability to become a more demonstrative leader that was perhaps the key to the two subsequent championship runs in 2005 and 2007. Another area of his game that was once questioned, it's clear Duncan is one of the finest captains a team could want.

Duncan has without a doubt been a model of consistency, but it's a mistake to think he hasn't grown and developed. He built a game that is cemented in fundamentals and not hinged on athleticism or strength. That's given him the ability to have a long, steady career, one that will likely carry on for some time. The same commitment and work ethic that brought him into the league with a fulling developed, All-Star level game is the same one that has kept him on top of the league and also what's made him able to refine the edges of his game.

For me Tim Duncan is the epitome of self improvement. He's a testament to determined growth and an example for anyone who has ever wanted to get good at anything. Even while at the top of his profession he has continued working to get better.

Without question, we have watched one of the finest basketball players to ever live. We shouldn't let ourselves overlook the mantra that helped guide him:

Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest

Until your Good is Better, and your Better is your Best”

- Tim Duncan

Both teams without one of their marquee names, the Tony Parker-less San Antonio Spurs

(27-19) showed little signs of life against the Carmelo Anthony-less Denver Nuggets (32-15) in a nationally-televised showdown Sunday afternoon at the AT&T Center.

After wins against Atlanta and Memphis, the Western Conference fifth-ranked Spurs were set to end their six-game home stand on a short winning streak, but that ended abruptly as the second-ranked Nuggets had their say on the court.

Antonio McDyess, Richard Jefferson, Tim Duncan, George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. started off for San Antonio with first possession. Jefferson made the basket for the Spurs, scoring seven points in the first quarter alone with the first three-point shot of the game. A rousing round of keep-away broke out between Hill and Denver’s Chauncey Billups near the end of the quarter before Duncan and Ginobili stepped in to bolster the Spurs’ offense.

Billups and Martin led the Nuggets in controlling the game for most of the quarter; Denver held the lead three times before San Antonio was able to come out on top, thanks to a three-pointer at the top of the arc from Matt Bonner with 1:50 on the clock. Ginobili made a fast break to score in the last thirty seconds of the quarter, but was fouled by Martin and sent to the line, completing 1-of-2 free throws. The Spurs ended the first quarter with a 2-point lead over the Nuggets, 23-21.

Turnover-plagued Denver gave San Antonio a chance to add to its lead as DeJuan Blair came off the bench, scoring two baskets in the first minute and a half of the second. Newly-recovered Michael Finley made his debut on the court in the first quarter, but made no scoring contribution and returned to the bench after several minutes’ playing time in the second quarter. Blair continued to be a force on the court, defending heavily against Nene before turning around to score for a five-point lead.

San Antonio went into some serious offensive work halfway through the quarter, recovering quickly from missed shots and passing the ball efficiently. After a Denver basket to gain the lead, the Spurs came back as Jefferson scored and Hill turned a fast break basket into a three-point play after being fouled. Duncan added another two points to the board with free throws, while Ginobili made a three-point jumper to give the Spurs an eight point edge - their biggest lead of the game before the half.

The Spurs showed signs of trouble as J.R. Smith went on a scoring spree, leading Denver into a 12-0 run that went unanswered by San Antonio. The Nuggets recovered from their poor showing earlier in the quarter to develop a four-point lead going into halftime, 45-41, over San Antonio. The Spurs shot for 37 percent in the first half, making 3-of-11 three-point field goals and nine second-chance points.
Duncan was able to give the Spurs a little help from free throws, but Denver continued to dominate with as much as a ten-point lead for the first two and half minutes of the third until Hill, McDyess and Jefferson made consecutive baskets. San Antonio managed to overcome the Nuggets’ intense power and eventually became locked in battle for the lead, which changed six times in a two-minute span halfway through the quarter. The Nuggets eventually won out, but the Spurs remained close behind as McDyess, Ginobili and Hill tried to answer each Denver basket yet fell short, 75-68 at the end of the quarter.

Inaccurate shooting caused the fourth quarter to become more difficult than necessary for the Spurs. McDyess, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half, narrowed Denver’s lead to two points with back-to-back baskets with under four minutes to go. San Antonio was unable to regain the lead as Billups and Martin consistently scored for Denver. Duncan made the Spurs’ final basket just before Martin scored six of the Nuggets’ final eight points in the last minute and a half of the game to finalize the win over San Antonio, 103-89.

A glance at the statistics proves Sunday was not the Spurs’ best as Hill led the team in scoring with 17 points, followed by Duncan and McDyess with 16 and 13 points respectively. Duncan had 10 rebounds, while Ginobili and Jefferson each had five. In addition to their 34-of-79 shooting, San Antonio struggled with three-point shots the entire game, finishing with just 3-of-17 completions. The team had 33 rebounds, nine of which were offensive.

With the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in town, the Spurs begin their annual eight-game road trip against the Sacramento Kings (16-30) on Wednesday night.

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The block. It's pretty much a simple act. Prevent the opposing player from scoring the basket. But even in its simplicity, it takes so much to get done. Timing, agility, anticipation and strength. Once done, it can demoralize a player. Not to mention it might make it on a highlight reel.

Manu Ginobili has made some spectacular plays for the Spurs since joining the team. On the offensive end he has had rim-rocking dunks, timely three-pointers, and buzzer-beating shots! He also gets it done on the defensive end.

Recently, he made a spectacular block on Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant. The block made those in the AT&T Center get up off their seats and those watching on TV to get up off their couch.

However, last season he had another amazing block on Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade. Just as spectacular as the block he made on Durant.

But which block was better? Here are both blocks and you decide.

Manu Blocks Dwayne Wade

Dwayne Wade is perhaps one of the most dynamic players in the NBA. Young, explosive, and can get to the rim almost at will.  But don't tell that to Manu!

Manu Blocks Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is a flat out scoring machine. Able to hit the jumper from anywhere on the court. With him listed at 6'9" and his insane wingspan, he can definitely finish with a strong dunk. On this night, Manu didn't seem to factor all that in and got a crushing block on Durant.

You have to appreciate Durant's good sportsmanship. Even he knew it was a great block.

Both blocks have similar characteristics. Manu comes from the outside and closes in on the player as they go up with the shot. He perfectly times both and catches them right at the rim.

However, only one can be the best Manu block. Leave your comments and go vote on the poll. Which block was better?

• NBA.COM - Spurs Midseason Report
• NBA D-League - Malik Hairston is playing very well for the Austin Toros being named NBA D-League Performer of the Week, should the Spurs bring him back to San Antonio?
• ESPN - Josh Whitling discussed about NBA players that are helpful in multiple categories and says that George Hill's value will increase while Tony is out.
• San Antonio Express News - Coach Pop offers a simple solution to the Spurs' struggles.
• 48 Minutes of Hell - Timothy Varner thinks that another possible lock out season might not be good for the Spurs.
• Hoopsworld - Luke Byrnes takes a look at NBA players that give their respective teams the best bang for the buck. Unsurprisingly, DeJuan Blair made it to the list.
• San Antonio Express News - Jeff McDonald tells us that Antonio McDyess is finding his comfort zone. I hope Dice continues to get better as the season goes on.
• Pounding the Rock - Tim C. on trade speculations involving Richard Jefferson.
• San Antonio Express News - Mike Monroe gave us an update about Tony Parker's recent injury and thankfully it's not a serious one.
• Ball Don't Lie - Adrian Wojnarowski & Marc J. Spears played the spoilers role as they revealed the All-Star reserves.
• Bleacher Report - Sean Stancill says that DeJuan Blair and Taj Gibson continues to shine for their respective teams. I certainly agree.
• San Antonio Express News - Jeff McDonald talked about George Hill's blossoming career with the Spurs.
• 48 Minutes of Hell - Timothy Varner looks at Tim Duncan as an artist. Good Read.
• Hoopsworld - The Spurs knew that Curtis Jerrells has talent, Alex Kennedy reports about how Jerrells is learning in Austin.
• Pounding the Rock - LasEspuelas looks at how Manu, Bogans, Jefferson, and Hill affects the Spurs' game pace and find out something unexpected.
• San Antonio Express News - Buck Harvey tells us that Popovich likes what he sees in Jefferson. Maybe we have to be a little more patient with RJ.

By Emily Allen, Staff Writer Project Spurs

The memory of a 92-86 loss in Memphis less than two weeks ago still fresh in their minds, the San Antonio Spurs (27-18) were ready to beat the Memphis Grizzlies (25-20) on home court at the AT&T Center on Friday evening. The Spurs lost Tony Parker to a sprained ankle during Wednesday’s game against Atlanta, so it was up to George Hill to fill the void left by scoring-machine Parker.

With Hill, Richard Jefferson, Keith Bogans, Antonio McDyess and Tim Duncan all starting, San Antonio started off the game down five to nothing as Memphis worked quickly in the first minute and a half of regulation. The Spurs recoiled quickly as Richard Jefferson put the first San Antonio points of the evening on the board with a 2 point jumper.

The first quarter quickly became the Jefferson and Hill Show, with McDyess and Duncan playing faithful sidekicks. Halfway through the quarter, Bogans made his only scoring contribution of the night: a perfect three-point shot from the corner, bringing the Spurs up 15-11 over Memphis. San Antonio was able to maintain its early lead by as much as nine points thanks to additional baskets by Ginobili and Mason late in the quarter.

The second quarter started off well for San Antonio as Matt Bonner made the first basket, a 3-point jumper (his only scoring contribution of the night as well) that put the Spurs up over the Grizzlies by ten points. Memphis came back to narrow San Antonio’s lead, but intense plays by DeJuan Blair and Hill (with a little help from Jefferson) during a literal down-the-court-and-back run in under 20 seconds stunned the Grizzlies and brought the Spurs back to an 8-point lead.

Memphis was far from content to let the Spurs maintain dominance and let them know in the last minutes of the first half as they answered San Antonio nearly point-for-point, limiting the Spurs to a two-point lead. Duncan worked vigorously, scoring six points in the final three and a half minutes of the second quarter, allowing the Spurs to enter the locker room with a 53-50 lead at the half.

With help from Jefferson, Duncan continued to keep the Spurs in the lead by dominating at the beginning of the third. Still determined to fight back hard, the Grizzlies came back to keep themselves in the game with small scoring bursts but could not find the power to overcome the Spurs on both sides of the ball. Ginobili stepped up to help give San Antonio big leads several times in the third quarter. San Antonio was able to score 24 total points in the quarter; 15 of those from Ginobili and Duncan.

The Grizzlies matched the Spurs entirely point for point in the fourth quarter, each team with 27 points apiece, but could not make up for minor struggles late in the game that gave San Antonio an advantage. Mason was a huge contributor in the final twelve minutes of the game, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers, putting the Spurs back into an 11-point lead with under seven minutes to go. Just five minutes later, McDyess reached his third straight double-digit scoring game with a basket to bring the Spurs up to a 100-90 lead.

A little additional energy in their play all night thanks to a win over the Hawks, the Spurs go on to win against the Grizzlies, 104-97. Shooting 48.3 percent, the Spurs had a fairly decent night making 8-of-19 3-pt field goals. 44 points were scored in the paint and they had 38 rebounds, 13 of which were offensive.

Duncan led the team in scoring with 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.  Congratulations to Duncan as in this game he reached 11, 000 rebounds for his career! Duncan was followed closely by Hill’s 18 points and Mason’s 17-point contribution. Blair had 10 rebounds, Duncan had 9 and McDyess ended the game with 8. For the first time since Dec. 5, Michael Finley was listed as active but spent the game on the bench.

Two consecutive wins in hand, the Spurs have a chance to continue a winning streak with a noon tipoff at the AT&T Center on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets. Coming off their own 17-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Friday night game, San Antonio can expect Denver to be seeking three R’s: a recovery, redemption, and revenge.

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What happens when two bloggers from opposing teams, rivals even, get together to discuss a rumored trade?

Greatness happens.

But this isn't your typically overused NBA commercial. I got together with Greg Esposito, the Sr. Content Director at Fanster and huge Suns fan. We wanted to try to imagine what the exchange would be like between R.C. Buford and Steve Kerr in negotiating a trade for Amare Stoudemire.

Michael De Leon (as R.C. Buford): So obviously the Spurs are going more and more away from being a defensive-oriented team. With that in mind, the Suns seem to come up first as possible trade partners. DeJuan Blair is great but he isn't a center. So, how about a truly athletic big man like Amare. He's obviously gifted on the offensive end and he won't waste much effort on the defensive end. So which player or players on the Spurs' end would we have to give up to get a player like Amare?

Greg Esposito (as Steve Kerr): You, the San Antonio Spurs, want Amare Stoudemire? You can have him when you pry him from our cold dead hands. Or in exchange for cap relief, draft picks and a young talent (and we use that term loosely). I'd love to play hardball but I think our situation is pretty obvious. Amare can walk and we aren't willing/don't have the cash to give him the max.

Wow me with an offer that fits those perameters because, honestly, talking about a trade with you is like Obi Wan Kanobi talking with Darth Vader about trading Luke Skywalker to the dark side for a few new light sabers and a storm trooper to be named later.

MD: Yes, but a few years ago that Storm Trooper to be named later could have been the draft rights to DeJuan Blair. There is the matter of the $17 million Amare makes a year. Since Richard Jefferson seems to be a bust of a signing and the Suns apparently love overpaying for underperforming talent (Shaq) why not send him over to Phoenix. He already shows no effort on the defensive end of the floor so he'd fit in perfectly in Planet Orange. So how about Jefferson and the rights to Viktor Sanikidze. We can get it into the sim league office today. Let me know what you think and then I'll give you a ring back...wait, this is Phoenix, land of no rings. What do your phone's do?

GE: Funny thing happens, every time the phone looks like it's going to ring in Phoenix some guy in a black and silver shirt with a 5 on the back throws it into the table and busts it up. Damnedest thing. So let's just stick to email.

Right now we don't need any additional overpaid busts. Jason Richardson is holding down that spot on the roster. By the way, do you have any interest in an Amare Stoudamire-Jason Richardson package? We'd love to give you both of them. How about Jeferson, Ginobli and Blair for Amare and J-Rich?

We trade busts, a fresh start could do wonders for both. Our medical staff can rejuvenate DeJuan Blair's knees and make him a nice replacement for Stoudemire. You get new "twin towers" and keep the championship window open. We can put Ginobli out in front of the arena and use him like one of those cars high school students mash at homecoming. Sounds like a win-win for everybody and I checked the numbers and it works.

MD: No deal. DeJuan Blair is untouchable right now. We really have no need for Richardson either since we already have Manu, Mason and George Hill. Back to Stoudemire. I'm hearing in the press you may want a draft pick, an expiring contract and another player. So how about you reunite Michael Finley with Steve Nash, we'll throw in a future draft pick and you can take your pick from either Jefferson or Manu?

GE: Sure, the press has said that. The problem is, if I send you Stoudemire, any draft pick I get in return will be a late first rounder. If I'm going to hand you a title, I want to do it in a way that I don't look like the next Chris Wallace. Especially since I know Mitch Kupchak and you sir are no Mitch Kupchak. That man could charm the pants off a horse, or at least a subpar NBA GM.

Here's my offer, I'll agree to a deal including Manu, Finley, Boner, getting my #25 jersey retired, shared custody of the Alamo and the 2007 championship banner. No draft pick needed if you agree that I can have 24 hours with Stoudemire and you agree to wave his physical (I need to practice my Three Stooges moves).

I'm even willing to throw in an autographed copy of Paul Shirley's updated book "Can I Keep My Jersey in Exchanged for My Common Sense?", an autographed copy of Barkley hitting the game winning jumper over David Robinson in game six of the 1993 playoffs, we'll remove any record of Mario Elie or Robert Horry ever playing here (you can have them both) and, the best part of it all, a copy of our 2010 cheerleader calendar.

Let me know...

MD: It all sounded great until the shared custody of the Alamo and the 2007 banner. I'm fine with retiring your jersey. After all, they retired Avery Johnsons. I've had Shirley's book on my Amazon wishlist for some time now and that calendar would go to some good use, but I have some other options in mind. How about Matt Bonner and Michael Finley, the Silver Dancers and Belinda Snell for Jared Dudley, the Suns Dancers, Cappie Pondexter and that Shirley book. Oh and we'll let your entire team have a two practices a year in the AT&T Center so they'll know what those banners that hang up in arenas are for.

GE: An enticing offer, but I'd have a tough time parting with the dancers. I'll tell you what, I've got Pat Reily on the other line and he's offering a time share in South Beach, some hair gel, Jermaine O'Neal, a first and a certified letter that officially removes the Shaq deal from the record books. I just think that combination will do more to make me popular with the fans here in Phoenix than what we're discussing.

I'll give you a call back if it falls through. If we can't do a deal for Amare, maybe we can send you Jarron Collins in exchange for that retired number.

MD: Keep Collins. Send us one Suns Dancer that we'll keep the AT&T Center cameras on and use in all of our promo material and your number is as good as retired. We'll put together a ceremony and everything. Of course if Roger Mason hitting the Xmas day shot comes on or Tim Duncan hitting the 3 video comes on the jumbotron, that's out of my control. We'll make you feel like a champion again, because that's not likely to happen in Phoenix. All I need is your signature, and I'll see if we can get this up to the league office before closing time today.

GE: Done deal. The fax is on it's way.

Thanks to Greg for reaching out to me and agreeing to do this. Sure, he's a Suns fan, but don't be too hard on him. He was born that way. Make sure to read his latest on Fanster and you can follow him on twitter as well.

I got a chance to speak with Chip Crain of 3 Shades of Blue to preview tonight's Spurs vs. Grizzlies game. You can also see his game preview here.

1. The Grizzlies used to be a team you looked at on the upcoming schedule and count as a win. As the Spurs found out recently, overlooking them is a mistake. Do you see the Grizzlies surprising the Spurs again?

I hate to predict individual games but I think the Grizzlies have as good a chance as they ever have had to get out of San Antonio with a victory. First the Grizzlies are playing the best basketball the team has ever played before. Zach Randolph is an All-Star, Marc Gasol had to receive some consideration at the Center position and Rudy Gay at small forward make the Grizzlies front line as formidable as any in the league. O J Mayo is becoming a well rounded player in the league capable of scoring 30 or more points and also getting double figure assists on any given night. A rare accomplishment for a SG. The Grizzlies one weakness is Point Guard and even at that position the Grizzlies are improving as Mike Conley is becoming a much better floor general and scorer.

Perhaps the reason I am most hopeful in tonight's game is the general poor condition of the Spurs however. Tony Parker is out for this game. Richard Jefferson has struggled all season with back issues. TIm Duncan, while still one of my favorite players in the league, has been showing some effects of his long career in the league and the center position seems unsettled right now as is the SG role. Until Michael Finley returns, Parker is healthy and someone is decided on as the full time starting center San Antonio is not the team they are capable of being. That bodes well for the Grizzlies.

The problem is that despite these issues San Antonio has a deep and talented bench. Memphis' bench consists of a player who has been out of the league for a year and a half and who missed training camp plus 3 rookies. Each of the rookies is capable of having a good game but none can be counted on to produce in every game. It's just the nature of rookies in the NBA and the dreaded rookie wall is looming as well.

Can the Grizzlies win? Absolutely but I can't say I expect the Spurs to fall twice in a row to the Grizzlies.

2. With 48 games under their belts this season, what is your mini review of the Grizzlies at midseason? Have they met or past expectations and why?

I think anyone who doesn't admit the Grizzlies have surpassed expectations is fooling themselves. First, the team is in 7th place in the Western Conference and 3rd place in the division. Who could have suspected such an outcome from a team that won 24 games last season in total and only added three rookies from what was perceived to be a weak draft and a player who was cast out of the last three cities he played in? However I was optimistic about this team heading into the season.

The most important thing to remember when reviewing the Grizzlies first half and comparing it to the pre-season predictions are a few noticeable absences from expectations which have helped bolster the team. First is the absence of Allen Iverson. While a huge fan favorite, Allen Iverson was a terrible fit in Memphis. His actions almost from the start were a distraction to a young team needing leadership . Iverson come into camp out of shape. When he got healthy he immediately demanded to start despite doing nothing to earn the position. He then left the team after three games played and continued to cause distractions while away from the team. The slow start can be directly attributable to his actions. However his actions had a peculiar effect on the team. Instead of destroying the psyche of the team it actually emboldened it. The players gathered behind the coach and themselves and decided to bond together as a group against all outside distractions. In many ways Iverson's actions forced the team to grow up and trust one another.

This brought in the second surprise. Zach Randolph became a leader. Faced with a team desperate for veteran leadership Zach stood up and became the player so many people thought he would never become. Randolph was not the focal point of the team those first nine games but became the focus with hard work and discipline, two traits previously unseen in his actions. Perhaps he finally matured or perhaps he was forced into the role but whatever the reason Randolph stopped taking so many bad shots, became a team player instead of an individual and put the team on his back by showing them how to be a professional and give effort every moment on the court regardless of the situation. No one could have suspected that Randolph, who has fought with teammates in Portland, opponents in LA and the public everywhere he has played would suddenly mature into a team leader who has been nothing but a model citizen in Memphis.

The final absence from expectations has been the team's health. The Grizzlies starting five is their strength and so far they have been fortunate to avoid any long term injuries. That has not been the case in the past. Mike Conley missed time in both of his first two seasons with varied injuries. O J Mayo, Marc Gasol and Rudy Gay have been healthy in their careers but have logged a ton of minutes. Zach Randolph has been injury prone his entire career. Can the team's core players remain healthy all season? What will happen if Randolph, Gasol or Gay miss significant time? A fully healthy team was not expected and that has helped the team tremendously in their development as a unit.

So the team has outperformed expectations because of the absence of Allen Iverson's attitude, Zach Randolph's immaturity and any long term injuries. It is difficult to say which has been more important to the development of the team. It is not unreasonable to say that all of these absences have had a huge impact on the success of the team.

3. Zach Randolph was key in the last win against the Spurs. Halfway through his first season in Memphis, how would you rate his performance and do you think he's found a home in Memphis?

Rating Zach's performance is easy. He has been everything the front office hoped for and more. The only player in the Western Conference currently averaging 20 pts and 10 rebounds a game, Randolph has elevated himself into a premier player in the NBA rivaling Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol as the premier power forwards in the league. He has taken the young players under his wing by setting examples on the court and providing leadership and tutoring off it. It isn't difficult to say that he has been the most valuable player on his team in the league this year. The Grizzlies would never be contending in the West if not for Randolph's leadership. It is difficult to say that Randolph's new found maturity will last. After all it has only been 44 games. However I do believe Randolph is a different player now. I had the good fortune of meeting Randolph at the airport when he arrived in Memphis and right away I saw a player in excellent shape and with a different attitude than I expected. Randolph told me then that he wanted to be a different player. He wanted to put behind him his sordid past and reputation and start fresh. He obviously succeeded so far. Will this continue to be the case? We can only hope so. Memphis is a far different city than New York or LA but it's not that different from Portland where his career began. Obviously Memphis hopes that the new Randolph will continue to lead the team in the future. He is contractually bound to Memphis until the summer of 2011 so he will have time to really put down roots in Memphis.

The other problem is Memphis is a small town. Their owner is conscious of the bottom line and with younger players like Mayo, Gay and Gasol needing to be locked up long term over the next 18 months will there be enough money available to keep Randolph, who will be approaching 30 when his contract is do to expire, in Memphis? 4. Last game, Memphis' defenders found a way to limit Richard Jefferson to just 3 points/ With Tony Parker pout and Jefferson likely to get more touches, what will Memphis do to try to make him a non-factor again. Jefferson wasn't shut down as much as he didn't work to get the ball. He didn't seem able to or wanting to be involved. It may be his back or it could have been just a general off night. One thing is certain. It wasn't Rudy Gay's suffocating defense. Rudy will force Jefferson to play a lot on defense. How that effects his offense will have to be seen. I don't expect Jefferson to be held to three points again but he may struggle to stop Rudy and still make an impact on the offensive end.

Jefferson has been a major enigma to me this season. I thought his acquisition would put the Spurs in contention with the Lakers for the conference crown. I thought his game would fit in perfectly with the Spurs. However he has struggled to find his role on the team and the continued petty injuries has slowed that development down. The Spurs need Jefferson to be a viable offensive force to return to the top of the conference especially considering Manu's age and Parkers foot problems. Can he do this? I don't know. He hasn't been the same player since Jason Kidd stopped passing him the ball. Perhaps he is one of those players that looked better than he was because his point guard was so great. I didn't think so but his production seems to imply that.

5. What is your key matchup of the game? Who wins that and what is your prediction for the game?

Well naturally Duncan-Randolph is the premier matchup of the game, Jefferson-Gay should create highlight film dunks, Mayo and Manu some beautiful plays but to me the KEY matchup will be George Hill and Mike Conley. Hardly front page news but Conley needs to dominate Hill for the Grizzlies to have a chance. If Hill comes in and outplays Conley then the Spurs veterans plus the hometown crowd will make it extremely difficult for the Grizzlies to steal a win.

Hill is another late round gem plucked by the Spurs. He has good size for a PG as I stated in my pre-game report. He's not too tall to struggle with smaller, faster PG's and not too small to be a defensive liability against bigger PG's looking to post him up. He has a nice shot and looks very composed with the ball. I think he will be a handful for Conley to contain. However, the Grizzlies front line will require Hill to double down often and that should give Conley some nice looks on the perimeter and some lanes to penetrate. Conley is the best 3 pt shooter in the league for January and is among the best shooters in the league overall. His shooting has made it difficult for teams to ignore him and that helps the front line operate. If Conley can use his speed to harass Hill into mistakes and is hitting his outside shot then Memphis will have a distinct advantage at this very important position.

That's asking a lot but that is why they play the game.