After defeating the Orlando Magic, the Spurs next faced the Western Conference leading Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles.

With the Spurs regular season history of losing to the elite Western Conference teams, coming into this game against, it would have seemed the Spurs were in for a loss.

To recap the the game, I turned to three huge Spurs fans and fans of Project Spurs to help recap today's game against the Lakers via Twitter. So without further adieu, here is Conner, Carlos and Rita to breakdown the Spurs game Twitter style!

First Quarter recap by Conner aka spurtd21

At the end of the first quarter it was Lakers 24, Spurs 22.

Second Quarter recap by Carlos aka carlos_vnzla

At the half the Spurs were leading the Lakers, 48-40.

Third Quarter recap by Rita aka rita202109

After three quarters, the Spurs were leading the Lakers 67-59.

Fourth Quarter recap by Rita aka rita202109

Spurs win and seal a playoff birth for the 13th consecutive time! Final from Los Angeles, 100-81.

Notes:

• Bad news for the Spurs as George Hill injured his ankle in the second quarter after stepping on the foot of Lakers' Derek Fisher.  He did not play the rest of the game. X-Rays were negative but he did suffer a sprained ankle.
• Manu Ginobili scored 32 points in the victory against the Lakers.  He also picked up a technical foul when he and Ron Artest got tangled up on an in bound play.
• Tim Duncan scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Richard Jefferson scored 14 points.
• Spurs opened the second half of the game on an 11-4 run.
• Spurs shot 48.7% from the field, 38.9% from the three-point line, 79.2% from the free-throw line.
• Spurs committed 13 turnovers, outscored the Lakers 48-40 in the paint, and their largest lead was 19 points.
• Spurs bench outperformed the Lakers bench scoring 20 points while the Lakers bench scored four points.
• Spurs grabbed 41 rebounds while the Lakers grabbed 34.
• With the win, the Spurs record is now 47-29 and remain in the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoff standings.
• The Spurs have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Oklahoma City Thunder. All playoff bound teams.
• The Spurs will next face the Sacramento Kings Tuesday in Sacramento.

The NBA pays these players a substantial amount of money to play at their healthiest and highest level of performance. Now it is on their own will to play in the summer for their country. I am including ALL NBA players, international or U.S. I am not against supporting your country, but should they start to add stipulations to their contracts if these players go off in the summer and get hurt? These franchises put out millions of dollars on these players and if they get hurt, why should they get paid for that season if they don' play? I know it is a sticky question, and my family and I have had many conversations over this, but I just wanted to get your opinion. - Becca

I've actually thought about this for quite some time. When Manu was injured and sat out a considerable amount of games a few years back, then decided to play internationally the next summer, a lot of people in and around San Antonio had a big problem with it.

For international players, the ultimate goal has always been winning Olympic gold for your country. Even now with many international players playing in the league, I'd guess plenty would say they'd pick an Olympic Gold Medal over an NBA Championship.

With Manu, I felt empathetic because you have to realize that he has a great amount of pride in his home country of Argentina, but at some point NBA Teams have to think of their own interests and how international play could affect their success.

Yao Ming is likely one of the better centers in the NBA, when he's playing. How right is it that he's available to play for the Chinese National Team while he's sat out most of the last two seasons with the Rockets while earning nearly $17 million per season.

So I really do think it's time the NBA and owners have stipulations for their players who choose to play internationally. Would Yao Ming be playing summers if that cushy $17 million were pro-rated. Whether or not the Player's Association would ever even consider it is another issue.

Have a question for the mailbag? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or click "contact" above and one of our writers will be sure to discuss it in a future mailbag.

Hola amigos fanáticos de los Spurs y bienvenidos a nuestra página de Project Spurs donde siempre encontraran la información mas actualizada sobre su equipo favorito de baloncesto.
Hoy estaré repasando los juegos de los Spurs de la semana pasada.

Antes de comenzar me gustaría informarles sobre una buena noticia para los fanáticos de Manu Ginobili. De acuerdo a un artículo que nuestro escritor Jeff García anuncio ayer en nuestra página de Project Spurs, Manu Ginobili de los San Antonio Spurs fue nombrado ayer el jugador de la Conferencia Oeste de la semana basado en los juegos de la semana reciente comenzando del 22 de marzo al 28. Ginobili tuvo un promedio de 25.8 puntos, 5 asistencias, y 4.5 rebotes. El anoto 20 puntos o más en cada juego incluyendo 30 puntos en una ganancia que vivimos en contra de los Cavaliers de Cleveland el pasado viernes 26 de marzo.

Bueno y de esta noticia continuamos con el repaso de los juegos. Comenzamos con el triunfo que vivieron los Spurs el pasado lunes 22 de marzo en el Ford Center en Oklahoma City en contra de los Thunder.  Para esta victoria Manu Ginobili ayudo aportando 21 puntos, Tim Duncan con 14, y  aunque Mason no anoto una solo canasta durante el primer cuarto del juego término aportando 13 puntos ayudando a que los Spurs llevaran la delantera 59-56 durante medio tiempo. Para este juego Ginobili fue elemental ya que el contribuyo con los puntos ganadores desde la línea de tiro libre ayudando así a que los Spurs derrotaron a los Thunder 99 a 96.

Y desafortunadamente los Spurs no contaron con la misma suerte la noche del miércoles pasado 24 de marzo, donde se enfrentaron a su equipo rival los Lakers de Los Angeles en el AT&T center. Para este juego Ginobili fue el mayor contribuyente anotando un total de 24 puntos mientras George Hill 21. Aunque en este juego el puntuaje de los Spurs incrementaba en cada cuarto por la primera mitad del juego, no fue hasta el tercer cuarto que los Lakers de Los Angeles decidieron tomar control logrando así derrotar a los Spurs 92 a 83.

Y seguimos con la emocionante noche que vivió Ginobli junto a sus fanáticos durante el enfrentamiento de los Spurs contra los Cavaliers de Cleveland. Esa noche Manu se lucio anotando un total de 30 puntos ayudando así a su equipo vencer a los Cavaliers 102 a 97. Este triunfo de los Spurs ayudo a romper el patrón de 8 juegos consecutivos ganados que llevaban los Cavaliers de Cleveland. Para esta victoria ambos Duncan y Jefferson contribuyeron con 16 puntos, y Hill con 14.

No obstante los Spurs de San Antonio se lucieron una vez más en el siguiente juego enfrentándose y derrotando a los Celtics de Boston el domingo pasado 28 de marzo donde Manu Ginobili de nuevo llevo la delantera en puntos sobre su equipo. Esa noche Manu contribuyo con 24 puntos, Jefferson con 16, y George Hill con 15.

Desgraciadamente para los Spurs y sus fanáticos  no todo fue color de rosa ya que justo al siguiente día fueron derrotados por uno de los peores equipos de la NBA. Asombrosamente los New Jersey Nets vencieron a los Spurs la noche del lunes 29 de marzo en el IZOD Center.  No cabe duda que definitivamente nos falto Manu Ginobili esta noche ya que el esencial jugador falto al juego debido a un dolor a su espalda. Roger Mason también abandono el juego durante la primera mitad debido a una torcedura al nudillo de uno de sus meñiques. El mayor contribuyente a este juego fue George Hill con 19 puntos, de ahí le siguieron Richard Jefferson con 16, y Tim Duncan con 13.

Actualmente los Spurs sostienen el septimo lugar en la división de la conferencia oeste.

Bueno amigos y fieles seguidores de los San Antonio Spurs fue un placer compartir con ustedes el día de hoy. Les recuerdo que visiten con frecuencia nuestra pagina de Project Spurs para mantenerse actualizados e informados en el mejor sitio de blog. no comments

Tony Parker has the life us guys would love to have. He is a professional athelete, a three-time NBA Champion, an NBA Finals MVP, a two-time NBA All-Star, and perhaps what I like to call the "cherry on top," is married to Eva Longoria.

But being married and playing basketball has a price to pay. Seeing how he cannot wear a wedding band during games, and apparently due to a lack of memory about wearing it, his wife decided to MAKE him get a tattoo of a wedding band.

But you know what? If I was married to Eva Longoria and she asked me to get a tattoo, cut off a limb, drink battery acid, I'd probably do it.

Original Video- More videos at TinyPic

Arianné and Jeff are back for the latest Spanish edition of the Spurscast. In this episode, Arianne recaps the last games for the Spurs, and we discuss the Spurs loss against the Nets and Manu Ginobili.

Remember, Project Spurs was the first Spurs blog to have a Spurs podcast and the first to have a Spanish podcast for Spanish-speaking fans.

Jeff y yo estamos de regreso con el Spurscast en Español mas reciente.  En este episodio Arianné repasa los juegos de los Spurs y discutimos los Spurs contra los Nets de Nueva Jersey y Manu Ginobili.

Y recuerden que Project Spurs fue la primera página de Internet en tener un podcast de Los Spurs y la primera en tener un podcast en español para los fanáticos de habla hispana.

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With the Spurs facing the Houston Rockets tonight, here is an injury update on Manu Ginobili and Roger Mason via the San Antonio Express News.

Ginobili who suffered back spasms after the win in Boston over the Celtics and sat out against the Spurs loss to the Nets.

On the recent Project Spurs road trip with the Spurs, our first stop was in Boston at the TD Garden as the Spurs took on the Celtics.  During pre-game warmups, Project Spurs was able to see Tim Duncan warm-up prior to the game.

After four NBA titles, back-to-back NBA MVP trophies, three NBA Finals MVP trophies, numerous All-Star appearances, and countless other accolades, Duncan still practices the basics. To see this in person, one can really appreciate Duncan's commitment to the basics and the example he sets for younger players.

For those of you late to the party, it should be obvious by now that it is a difficult year for the San Antonio Spurs (44-29). The same team that beat the Boston Celtics (47-26) on Sunday evening couldn’t beat the struggling New Jersey Nets (10-64) a mere 24-hours later.

While back spasms forced Manu took a seat courtside next to injured teammate Tony Parker, the Spurs’ starting lineup of Keith Bogans, Antonio McDyess, Tim Duncan, George Hill and Richard Jefferson took to the hardwood.

The first minute of the game was just foreshadowing for what was to come as the Nets gained first possession of the ball. After a Spurs rebound, Hill went for a failed layup and put the ball back in the Nets’ hands. Almost immediately, former Dallas Maverick Devin Harris shot a three-pointer for the first points of the game… not exactly a good sign.

After Devin Harris’ free throw to tie the score at 14-14, Duncan missed what could’ve been a nice floater. With four minutes left in the quarter, San Antonio was barely trailing New Jersey with less than stellar shooting, making seven of sixteen shots. Garrett Temple, one of the newest members of the team, made his own mark with a huge three from the corner with a minute to go. Coming off a double-double on Sunday night against Boston, former Net Jefferson was actually a significant contributing factor to the Spurs’ offense with 10 points in the first, in which San Antonio finished with a six-point lead over New Jersey, 33-27.

Nearly a minute into the second quarter, Roger Mason Jr.’s basket put the Spurs on a seven-point run as well as an eight-point lead, their largest of the game so far. It wasn’t long before New Jersey returned to narrow the lead to four. San Antonio’s shooting began to suffer further, missing five consecutive shots; Duncan stepped up to the free throw line only to miss both shots. Jefferson brought the ball back in and got the ball to Hill, who shot an impressive three-pointer right when they needed it most with nearly six minutes left in the half.

A three-point play from Jefferson gave the Spurs an eleven-point lead, taking advantage of the Nets’ own shooting woes before Harris came back with a layup. In addition to seven turnovers in the second quarter alone, missed free throws from San Antonio continued to hurt the team as Bogans missed both shots with less than two minutes left. Harris’ three-point play brought the Nets back within three of the Spurs; Bonner’s three-point attempt and Blair’s offensive rebound-for-layup both failed at the end of the half - San Antonio 46, New Jersey 43.

We all know the third quarter is unusually rough for San Antonio and Monday night was no exception, which wasn’t helped by Mason’s sprained right knuckle - he did not return to the game. Picking up the slack, Duncan and Jefferson came back to help early on by adding three-of-four free throws to bring the Spurs a little room to breathe over the Nets, who were fighting to avoid the worst record in NBA history.

San Antonio fought to stay alive over New Jersey towards the end of the third, but Harris continued to lead the Nets in a charge to catch up. With just under three minutes left in the quarter, Hill made two nothing-but-net free throws before a big offensive play ending in a basket. Blair recovered a missed New Jersey shot and found Hill, who moved the ball down the court before passing to McDyess. He got the ball back to Blair, who passed back to Hill - a big jump gave the Spurs a six-point lead yet again.

Hill’s missed jumper was recovered by Blair, who went in for the basket to bring the Spurs back within six over New Jersey, but a Nets basket cut the San Antonio lead right at the buzzer to end the third quarter, San Antonio 66, New Jersey 62.

It was hard enough to watch live, so for those who missed out, here’s a two-word synopsis of the fourth quarter in general:

THEY CHOKED.

I won’t ask what words began flowing from the mouths of every Spurs fan in the Izod Center, but I can assure you they weren’t pretty, considering the final score of San Antonio 84, New Jersey 90. The San Antonio defeat ended New Jersey’s 14-game losing streak to the Spurs, their first win over the team since 2002.

The upside to the dismal duel in the Meadowlands was the nice turnout of fans donning the silver and black, including Project Spurs’ own head honchos, Jeff Garcia and Mike DeLeon. With so many fans in the seats to cheer the team on far from the 210 area code, it’s sad that the team didn’t quite show up to play for them.

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After a humiliating loss to the New Jersey Nets, comes this bit of good news for Spurs fans and especially for Manu Ginobili.

The San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili today was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played March 22-28.

Ginobili averaged 25.8 points, fourth among Western Conference league leaders, 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds to hoist the Spurs to a 3-1 record. He scored 20 or more points in each game, including 30 points in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and handed out at least five assists in three games. In addition to scoring 21 points, Ginobili posted five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in a win at Oklahoma City.

Congratulations to Ginobili. Well deserved!

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