The San Antonio Spurs will be without 28-year old point guard Tony Parker for the next 2-4 weeks due to a calf injury. Parker has played in 59 games (all starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 32.4 minutes, 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Luckily for the Spurs, they are well stocked on the roster at point guard. 24-year old George Hill will replace Parker in the starting lineup. Hill has played in 53 games (1 start) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 28.1 minutes, 11.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. 26-year old rookie Gary Neal will back Hill up at the point. He has payed in 57 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Spurs and he is averaging 19.9 minutes, 9.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Hill is shooting 40.9% from three point range and Neal is shooting 41.9% from three point range so look for the Spurs to extend the opposing defenses until Tony Parker is ready to return to action.

UPDATE: (3/5/2011) - Tony Parker must be a fast healer because he played last night against the Heat. Parker played 23 minutes in which he had 15 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal in the Spurs’ 125-95 demolition of the Miami Heat.

The Spurs outscored the Grizzlies 36-25 in the 4th quarter last night and they held them to 37.5% from the floor which helps explain the nice home win. Manu Ginobili was on fire last night for the Spurs as he finished up with 35 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. Matt Bonner (14 points in 25 minutes) and George Hill (14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal) pitched in with solid games off the bench last night. Tim Duncan filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 5 blocked shots last night. The Spurs are now 49-10 on the year.

The Spurs held off the pesky Nets last night in Texas. Manu Ginobili led the way for the Spurs last night with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot. George Hill also had a solid game with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes on the floor. Tim Duncan (17 points), DeJuan Blair (17 points) and Tony Parker (13 points) also had good games for the Spurs last night. The Spurs are now 48-10 on the year.

The Spurs were outrebounded 54-37 by the Thunder but they somehow still held them off last night. Tony Parker led the way for the Spurs last night with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Gary Neal (19 points and 3 assists) and Tim Duncan (17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots) also had solid games for the Spurs last night. Richard Jefferson (12 points), Matt Bonner (12 points) and Manu Ginobili (11 points) also pitched in for the Spurs last night. The Spurs are now 47-10 on the year.

The Spurs rolled into the All-Star break with a 46-10 record which was the best in the NBA. They are six games ahead of the Mavericks in the Southwest Division and the Mavericks have the second best record in the Western Conference. The Spurs will look to continue to limit the minutes that Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have to play in the second half as it worked well in the first half. Plus by lessening the workload during the regular season, it will keep the veterans fresh for the playoffs.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: 26-year old undrafted guard Gary Neal out of Towson State not only made the Spurs’ roster, but he has excelled off the bench. Neal has played in 56 games (0 starts) for the Sprus so far this year and he is averaging 19.7 minutes, 8.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He is shooting an outstanding 41% from three point range so far this year. Neal was just the latest find for the Spurs and they hope he will finish the season strongly.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The only disappointment I could come up with in the first half is the injury to first round pick James Anderson. The 21-year old SG/SF James Anderson has played in only 9 games (0 starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 13.0 minutes, 5.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Spurs expect to get Anderson back soon and he will give them a boost off the bench.

The Spurs were outrebounded 41-29 last night and they didn’t play much D either as the Bulls shot 53.8% from the floor and that did them in. Tony Parker led the way for the Spurs in this game with 26 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. Manu Ginobili only shot 6 of 18 from the floor in this game but he still finished up with 16 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists and 1 steal. Gary Neal (16 points and 2 rebounds in 22 minutes), Tim Duncan (14 points) and Richard Jefferson (12 points) also pitched in for the Spurs last night. The Spurs are now 46-10 on the season.

The Spurs outrebounded the Nets 50-39 last night and they held them to 34.8% from the floor which was the reason for the really easy win. Manu Ginobili led the way for the Spurs last night with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot. Tim Duncan (15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocked shots) and Tony Parker (13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists) also had solid games for the Spurs last night. DeJuan Blair (10 points, 11 rebounds), George Hill (13 points) and Gary Neal (11 points) also pitched in for the Spurs last night. The Spurs are now 46-9 on the year.

The Spurs shot 58.4% from the floor last night and they had a good cushion most of the night which allowed the Spurs to rest Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for a big part of the game. Tony Parker (18 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists and 3 steals in 19 minutes) and George Hill (18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 32 minutes) led the way for the Spurs in this game. Gary Neal was also very solid off the bench last night with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in 30 minutes off the bench. Richard Jefferson (14 points), DeJuan Blair (13 points) and Matt Bonner (12 points) also pitched in for the Spurs in this game. The Spurs are now 45-9 on the year.

The Spurs only shot 33.3% from the floor last night and it’s the reason they lost this game. That’s because they outrebounded the Sixers 57-46 and they held them to 35.4% shooting from the floor last night. Tim Duncan led the way for the Spurs last night with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots. Antonio McDyess was excellent off the bench for the Spurs last night with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in only 20 minutes on the floor. Gary Neal pitched in with 11 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in 24 minutes on the floor. The Spurs are now 44-9 on the year.

21-year old power forward/center DeJuan Blair is red hot for the Spurs right now. In his last five games, Blair is averaging 30.0 minutes, 15.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.6 steals per game. He four double/doubles in his last five games and he is shooting 57.8% from the floor in those games. Blair has now played in 52 games (all starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 21.9 minutes, 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Blair is one of the best young big men in the NBA and I think the Spurs will play him more than usual when the playoffs start.