The Spurs held the Jazz to 37.1% shooting from the floor and they were up 83-60 heading into the 4th quarter. Manu Ginobili was on fire tonight as he was 9 of 10 shooting from the floor and 5 for 6 from three point range. Ginobili led the way for the Spurs in this game with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in only 24 minutes on the floor. DeJuan Blair also had an excellent game for the Spurs with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocked shots. Tony Parker (14 points, 2 rebounds and 8 assists) and Tim Duncan (12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot) also pitched in for the Spurs in this game. The Spurs are now 3-1 on the year.

The Spurs got ripped last night by the Rockets. The Spurs only shot 37.6% from the floor and they didn’t play any D either as the Rockets shot 50.6% from the floor, which helps explain the beating they took last night. The Spurs were down 53-35 at the half as they emptied the bench in the 3rd and 4th quarters. DeJuan Blair had a great game as he led the way for the Spurs with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 1 assist. Tony Parker (12 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists) and Tiago Splitter (10 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot) also pitched in for the Spurs last night. The Spurs are now 2-1 on the season.

The Spurs sent a message to the Clippers last night that they aren’t going away any time soon. The Spurs shot 56.3% from the floor and they outrebounded the Clippers 43-30, which helps explain the beatdown they applied last night. Manu Ginobili (24 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal), DeJuan Blair (20 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 26 minutes) and Richard Jefferson (19 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist) led the way for the Spurs in this game. Tony Parker (14 points, 3 rebounds and 9 assists), James Anderson (12 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist) and Tim Duncan (10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists) also pitched in for the Spurs in this game. The Spurs are now 2-0 on the year.

The San Antonio Spurs only shot 39.8% from the floor last night, but it didn’t matter much as they pushed the Grizzlies around a little bit. Manu Ginobili led the way for the Spurs last night with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot. Tony Parker also had a really solid game, finishing up with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Richard Jefferson (14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot) and Tim Duncan (10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot) also pitched in for the Spurs in this game. The Spurs are now 1-0 on the year.

The Spurs have waived 28-year old small forward Steve Novak. Novak played in 23 games (0 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 8.6 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Novak also shot 48.3% from three point range last season and he will be missed for that. Novak has now played in 225 games (4 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 9.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

UPDATE: (12/22/2011) - The Knicks have claimed Novak off waivers from the Spurs.

The Spurs have waived 37-year old center Antonio McDyess. McDyess played in 73 games (16 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 19.0 minutes, 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. In his two years with the Spurs, McDyess played in 150 games (66 starts) in which he averaged 20.0 minutes, 5.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. McDyess will likely retire after getting waived by the Spurs. McDyess played in 1,015 games (645 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.6 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. The Spurs should be o.k. at center with DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter this year.

The Spurs have signed 23-year old forward Gani Lawal. Lawal was a 2nd round pick of the Phoenix Suns in the 2010 NBA Draft. Lawal played in 1 game for the Suns working two scoreless minutes while committing 1 foul. Those are the only stats he has to this point in his career. He’s going to be a longshot to make the team.

UPDATE: (12/22/2011) - The Spurs have waived Gani Lawal.

The Spurs have signed 28-year old point guard T.J. Ford to a 1-year deal. Ford played in 41 games (3 starts) for the Pacers last year and he averaged 18.9 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He has now played in 415 games (306 starts) in his first seven years in the NBA and he is averaging 28.2 minutes, 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. This was a good move for the Spurs as Ford should be a solid backup for Tony Parker in 2011-12.

Center will be a timeshare for the Spurs once again in 2011-12. 22-year old DeJuan Blair is the player on the rise at center for the Spurs. He played in 81 games (65 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 21.4 minutes, 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.2 steals per game. Blair has now played in 163 games (88 starts) in his first two years with the Spurs and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. 26-year old Tiago Splitter will likely see a bump in P.T. in 2011-12 for the Spurs. Splitter played in 60 games (6 starts) as a rookie for the Spurs as a rookie last year and he averaged 12.3 minutes, 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. 37-year old Antonio McDyess still has a little gas left in his tank. He played in 73 games (16 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 19.0 minutes, 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. McDyess has now played in 1,015 games (645 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.6 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

The Spurs are monitoring 35-year old power forward Tim Duncan’s minutes in an effort to keep him productive and healthy. It worked last year and the Spurs hope it does again in 2011-12. Duncan played in 76 games (all starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 1,053 games (1,051 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 35.8 minutes, 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. He is still the best player on the Spurs. 31-year old Matt Bonner will give Duncan a breather when he needs one this year. Bonner played in 66 games (1 start) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 22.7 minutes, 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Bonner also shot an amazing 45.7% from three point range last year as brings instant offense off the bench. Bonner has now played in 496 games (85 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 18.7 minutes, 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.