The Spurs have demoted 29-year old small forward to the bench. In his last five games, Jefferson is averaging 25.4 minutes, 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He has now played in 55 games (50 starts) for the Spurs this season and he is averaging 31.0 minutes, 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Jefferson has played like a guy who suddenly looks a lot older than 29 years old and that is not a good thing for the Spurs. They will need him to step up if they want to make it to the second round of the playoffs this season.

Rookie power forward DeJuan Blair has been really solid for the Spurs this season. He has played in 54 games (20 starts) for the Spurs this season and he is averaging 18.1 minutes, 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Blair is shooting 55.2% from the floor but only 56.7% from the free throw line. Blair could work his way into the starting lineup to stay either later this season or in the near future.

Injuries and age looked like they were really taking a toll on the San Antonio Spurs’ popular guard Manu Ginobli.  The 32-year-old Argentinian is known for his herky-jerky play and putting his body on the line.  That style of play has probably shortened Ginobli’s career, but he wouldn’t be the great player he was if he didn’t play that way.  Lately, he has been looking like the Ginobli of year’s past, as his numbers this month have vastly improved compared to the first couple months of the season.  On the season he is averaging 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals.  This month he is averaging 19.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.7 steals.  He had one of the best games of his season last night against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Ginobli had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 amazing block.  The block came in the final three minutes of the game when Durant took the ball coast to coast and attempted a two-handed dunk.  That is when the 6′6″ Ginobli came out of nowhere and made an amazing block on the lanky 6′9″ Durant.  He also guarded Durant for most of the game, and ended his very impressive scoring streak of 29 straight games with 25 or more points.  If the Spurs can get Ginobli to continue this type of play, they can get themselves back near the top of the Western Conference standings.

The Spurs have traded 36-year old center Theo Ratliff to the Bobcats. Ratliff played in 21 games (3 starts) for the Spurs this season and he averaged 8.7 minutes, 1.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. It doesn’t appear like the Spurs got anything for Ratliff but they save his salary.

36-year old SG/SF Michael Finley is finally showing his age. He has played in 23 games (5 starts) for the Spurs this season and he is averaging 15.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. This appears to be Finley’s swan song for the Spurs as he doesn’t appear to have much left in the gas tank.

Small forward Richard Jefferson has looked nothing like the player he was earlier in his career. He has played in 49 games (48 starts) for the Spurs this season and he is averaging 31.2 minutes, 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The Spurs really need Jefferson to shoot more because that is why he was brought to San Antonio. He is still getting starting minutes so the Spurs expect him to play better and they need him to do that from here on out.

PF/C Antonio McDyess has played pretty well despite playing less minutes than he is used to. That is because of the depth the Spurs have at the power positions. McDyess has played in 44 games (20 starts) for the Spurs this season and he is averaging 20.8 minutes, 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He is also shooting 51.7% from the floor but most of those shots are coming from inside the paint. Look for McDyess to really pick up his play in the playoffs for the Spurs as he will be fresh due to his lack of minutes this season.