Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

There’s good news coming out of San Antonio, even though their

season-high three-game winning streak was snapped on Wednesday night

by Denver, because one of their wounded warriors is progressing nicely.

Manu Ginobili, out all season recovering from ankle surgery, is

making definite strides. He accompanied the team on the last road trip

for the first time this season and began to do some light court

activity involving other players. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also

announced that Ginobili’s rehab is ahead of schedule. The timetable

going into the season was mid-December, or about 20-25 games before

the Argentine could play.

“We’ve got to get him going 5-on-5 in the next week or two,” Popovich said.

Ginobili has…

Court Awareness: Wednesday review
Blazers fans finally got an up-close look at Greg Oden. And he didn’t disappoint. Andrew Ungvari reviews Wednesday’s games.NBA/~4/459933423″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Kobe, Lakers get better of Shaq, Suns in desert
NBA/~4/460422271″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Arenas: Last could be ‘for the better’ for Wizards
Gilbert Arenas is already thinking about the possibility of a last-place finish for his Washington Wizards - and finding the silver lining. With Arenas still working his way back from a third knee operation in 1 1/2 years, the Wizards are off to a 1-8 start heading into their game Friday against the Houston Rockets.NBA/~4/460079494″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

D’Antoni making a big difference for Knicks
Mike D’Antoni’s move to Manhattan has the Knicks playing faster and the Suns slower. Both might be better off, Randy Hill says.NBA/~4/459805643″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Time for the Spurs to call in the cavalry?
One thing is certain. The Spurs have been actively working the phone lines looking for a trade partner.

Kobe, Lakers dominate Shaq, Suns
Those Shaq-Kobe matchups never get old, do they? But Thursday’s game in Phoenix wasn’t close as the Lakers won with ease.NBA/~4/460432537″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Billups scores 22 to lead Nuggets over Spurs
Chauncey Billups scored 22 points, Carmelo Anthony added 21 and the surging Denver Nuggets cruised to a 91-81 victory Wednesday night over the injury-riddled San Antonio Spurs.

Billups scores 22 to lead Nuggets over Spurs (AP)

Chauncey Billups made big shots and the Denver Nuggets got plenty of key stops. Billups scored 22 points, Carmelo Anthony added 21 and the surging Nuggets cruised to a 91-81 victory Wednesday night over the injury-riddled San Antonio Spurs. Kenyon Martin added 18 points and Nene had 16 to round out a balanced attack by the Nuggets (8-4), who have won four straight and seven of eight overall since…

Suicide lines: Dr. Gortat, McGrady’s knee, a CP3 milestone … (Yahoo! Sports)
Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your Crispix .

Has East turned the tables on West?
Last year the West feasted on the East. So far this season it’s been the opposite. Randy Hill examines this conference power shift.NBA/~4/458593894″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Without Yao, Rockets fall meekly to Terry, Mavs
NBA/~4/459140544″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Wade’s 40-11-5 night wasted as Raptors win
NBA/~4/459197933″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Popovich says Ginobili and Parker are on the mend ahead of schedule
The mood around the facility was less heavy than it was just a week ago. Since then, the Spurs have racked up three straight, albeit close, victories. Popovich has reason to feel better and he thinks his team does too.

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The outlook didn’t look too bright heading into the weekend as the

short-staffed Spurs were without Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. That

hasn’t changed, but the team suddenly has a little pep in its step

thanks to a modest winning streak.

The Spurs bounced back from a 2-5 start with two-point victories

over Houston and Sacramento and climbed back to .500 by beating the

Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night. The Spurs allowed just 16

points in the final period in the win over the Kings.

“We did a real good defensive job in the fourth quarter, and for

us that’s necessary,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’re not exactly a

juggernaut on offense.

Williams’ huge 3 helps Hawks snap 4-game skid
NBA/~4/459094449″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Tuesday review
Wizards fans want Gilbert Arenas back, but John Lorge isn’t sure he can save them. Get the full review of last night.NBA/~4/458635681″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

8 is enough: Iverson, Pistons stop Cavs’ streak
NBA/~4/459094448″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Cavs make it 8 straight; LeBron reaches 11,000
NBA/~4/457937191″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

It’s been a rough stretch for Mark Cuban
The Mavs stink. MLB is blackballing him. And the SEC is on his case. Kevin Hench is almost sorry for billionaire Mark Cuban. Almost.NBA/~4/456564579″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Newest Spur happy to be in Silver and Black
Obviously the Spurs liked what they saw. With starter Tony Parker recovering from an ankle injury, they decided to bring back Ahearn, who is eager to play for an organization that has won four NBA titles.

Court Awareness: Reviewing Sunday’s games
Shaq got the boot for a flagrant foul, but the Suns were just fine without him. Erick Blasco reviews all of Sunday’s action.NBA/~4/456344337″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

MVP watch: Kahn’s Top 10 so far
Is Paul Pierce the best player in the world? No. But he just might be the MVP. Mike Kahn lists his Top 10 early candidates.NBA/~4/456267550″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Though there’s no official word that Manu Ginobili will be back on the court before mid-December, but based on his progress from offseason ankle surgery, some are beginning to speculate that he could beat the original doctor-prescribed timeline.

The Spurs could sure use their leading scorer from last season, especially with Tony Parker sidelined for a month with a bum ankle and the team off to a slow start.

“I want to be smart,” Ginobili said. “I don’t want to rush it and make it worse.”

Ginobili made his first road trip on the season Wednesday when San Antonio lost at Milwaukee. His rehab has gone smoothly. Ginobili can cut and plant off the ankle, with on-court drills with teammates being the next step.

“I’m getting better every day,” he said.

Former teammate: “You know what? Bruce Bowen is a dirty player.”
During the second quarter of Friday night’s Spurs-Rockets game, television analysts Matt Bullard told viewers in Houston that former Spur Brent Barry thinks Bruce Bowen is a dirty player.

Lopez looking like a keeper so far
Brook Lopez’s first start caught Peter Vecsey’s eye. And the GMs who passed up on the Stanford star probably noticed too.NBA/~4/455032780″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Spurs beat Kings for 2nd straight win (AP)

Even without Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the San Antonio Spurs are still using the same formula to win games. Michael Finley scored 21 points and Tim Duncan had 20, including two key baskets in the final minute, in the Spurs‘ 90-88 victory over Sacramento on Sunday night. Defense and reliable clutch shooting from Duncan have been a staple for the Spurs over the past 11 years when they have won…

Dirk goes wild as Mavs end 5-game skid in OT
NBA/~4/455478533″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Spurs sign D-League guard Ahearn, waive Farmer (AP)
The San Antonio Spurs signed guard Blake Ahearn on Sunday, adding a new face in the backcourt with Tony Parker still recovering from a sprained ankle. The Spurs signed the 6-foot-2 Ahearn from the Dakota Wizards of the NBA D-League. He played in 12 games for Miami last season, averaging 5.8 points and 1.6 assists.

Grizzlies ragged now but they have a future
O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies are frustrating to watch at times, but more experience will solve many problems, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/454023694″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Shaq thrown out for flagrant foul
Shaquille O’Neal was ejected from Sunday night’s game between the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons for a flagrant foul. The call came with 5:19 left in the second quarter when Rodney Stuckey went up for a layup and O’Neal sent the Pistons‘ player chest-first onto the court. The flagrant foul two, which is an automatic ejection, was upheld after a review by the officials. O’Neal stayed on the court to argue vehemently before finally leaving.NBA/~4/455533689″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Baron finding life not so Golden with Clips (Yahoo! Sports)
Free-wheeling Baron Davis came to L.A. to build a contender. The process could be slower than he envisioned.

Blake Ahearn will be called up by Spurs?
Ahearn worked out for the Spurs in mid August and will reportedly be called up by the NBA club.

Former teammate: “You know what? Bruce Bowen is a dirty player.”
During the second quarter of Friday night’s Spurs-Rockets game, television analysts Matt Bullard told viewers in Houston that former Spur Brent Barry thinks Bruce Bowen is a dirty player.

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Though there’s no official word that Manu Ginobili will be back on the court before mid-December, but based on his progress from offseason ankle surgery, some are beginning to speculate that he could beat the original doctor-prescribed timeline.

The Spurs could sure use their leading scorer from last season, especially with Tony Parker sidelined for a month with a bum ankle and the team off to a slow start.

“I want to be smart,” Ginobili said. “I don’t want to rush it and make it worse.”

Ginobili made his first road trip on the season Wednesday when San Antonio lost at Milwaukee. His rehab has gone smoothly. Ginobili can cut and plant off the ankle, with on-court drills with teammates being the next step.

“I’m getting better every day,” he said.

Power Poll: Point guard play makes big difference (SportingNews.com)
Mo Williams has upgraded the Cavaliers‘ offense and moved the team into the top 5 of this week’s poll.

Report: Knicks, Marbury discuss breakup details
Exiled Stephon Marbury was summoned Thursday morning to a 45-minute meeting with Knicks president Donnie Walsh at the team’s Westchester headquarters, and the sides held preliminary discussions about a buyout, two sources told The New York Post.NBA/~4/453014220″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Though there’s no official word that Manu Ginobili will be back on the court before mid-December, but based on his progress from offseason ankle surgery, some are beginning to speculate that he could beat the original doctor-prescribed timeline.

The Spurs could sure use their leading scorer from last season, especially with Tony Parker sidelined for a month with a bum ankle and the team off to a slow start.

“I want to be smart,” Ginobili said. “I don’t want to rush it and make it worse.”

Ginobili made his first road trip on the season Wednesday when San Antonio lost at Milwaukee. His rehab has gone smoothly. Ginobili can cut and plant off the ankle, with on-court drills with teammates being the next step.

“I’m getting better every day,” he said.

Court Awareness: Thursday review
After watching another LeBron vs. Carmelo showdown, Matthew Petersen says it’s time to quit comparing the two.NBA/~4/453222369″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

For McGrady, hope and health go hand in hand (Yahoo! Sports)
The Rockets have surrounded Tracy McGrady with a talented supporting cast. Danger, however, remains just an injury away.

Former WOAI programmer suffered a heart attack

Andrew Ashwood, a radio programming legend and one of the towering figures in Clear Channel Communications’ success, died late Thursday, three days after suffering a massive heart attack at his home in Sherman …

Overconfidence could be costly for Celtics
The Celtics keep coming out flat, then turning it on. In the long run, that’s no way to win another championship, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/453175232″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Spurs make roster move
Spurs assign one of their players to their development team, the Austin Toros.

Duncan scores 22 points, Spurs beat Rockets (AP)

With injuries zapping any offense San Antionio is accustomed to generating, the Spurs have fallen back on what they do best. Play defense. Tim Duncan scored 22 points, but his defense helped the Spurs avoid another loss in their injury-plagued early season. Duncan blocked Aaron Brooks’ layup with a second left in the Spurs‘ 77-75 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Hill and Mason find rhythm in Spurs’ backcourt (AP)
San Antonio’s new starting backcourt of George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. sounds more like a pair of architects or investment bankers. Actually, that’s half true. Mason is an avid reader of Architectural Digest magazine, and studied the subject while at the University of Virginia. He even used to sneak into homes in Washington, D.C.

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Spurs needed New York. With two-thirds of its “Big Three” in street clothes, San Antonio notched a 12-point win Tuesday over the Knicks at home.

The Spurs opened up the fourth period with an 11-0 run despite quarterback Tony Parker missing his first game since spraining an ankle. Two Spurs debuted in the starting lineup—George Hill and small forward Ime Udoka—replacing Parker and Bruce Bowen, respectively.

Tim Duncan came up just short in his bid for five straight double-doubles with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Michael Finley added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Spurs held the Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks to just 80 points, their lowest total of the season.

Spurs G Ginobili moving forward in rehab (PA SportsTicker)
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili is making progress in his rehab after undergoing offseason ankle surgery, leaving open the possibility of an earlier return than originally anticipated.

Thoughts while waiting for a plane

This morning’s flight to Milwaukee is delayed, for some reason. The rumor is they ran out of those little bags of peanuts.

Bucks surprise Duncan, Spurs

Richard Jefferson scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, Andrew Bogut grabbed 17 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks held on after a big run to beat Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs 82-78 on Wednesday …

Spurs can’t hold on to beat Bucks
Spurs are now a lowly 2-5 without two injured stars.

Gordon, Bulls shoot down slumping Mavericks
NBA/~4/452513046″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA fines Theus $25K for ‘ridiculous’ comment
The NBA has fined Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus $25,000 for comments he made about the officiating following a loss to Detroit. The league also penalized the Kings $25,000 Thursday for Theus’ actions. Theus said it was “ridiculous” that the Pistons took 36 fouls shots to just 17 for the Kings in Detroit’s 100-92 victory in Sacramento on Tuesday.NBA/~4/452181681″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Wednesday review
We should be talking about Shaq’s historic night, but a silly fight stole the show, says Andrew Ungvari in his Wednesday review.NBA/~4/451773616″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Spurs may try to add McDyess
Since Antonio McDyess was waived Monday by the Denver Nuggets, the door has been opened for the Spurs to try to land the suddenly most-coveted free agent.

Spurs’ wily veterans defeat Knicks

The new-look Knicks got to test themselves against the old-looking Spurs. The results were exactly what Mike D’Antoni might have expected for his team against such a wily opponent.

A Time For Change
Spurs‘ new starting five helps secure solid victory over the Knicks.

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Spurs needed New York. With two-thirds of its “Big Three” in street clothes, San Antonio notched a 12-point win Tuesday over the Knicks at home.

The Spurs opened up the fourth period with an 11-0 run despite quarterback Tony Parker missing his first game since spraining an ankle. Two Spurs debuted in the starting lineup—George Hill and small forward Ime Udoka—replacing Parker and Bruce Bowen, respectively.

Tim Duncan came up just short in his bid for five straight double-doubles with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Michael Finley added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench.

The Spurs held the Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks to just 80 points, their lowest total of the season.

Duncan scores 23 to lead San Antonio over New York (AP)

Even without Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, the San Antonio Spurs were too much for the New York Knicks. Tim Duncan had 23 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists to lead San Antonio to a 92-80 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night in the Spurs‘ first game without Parker. He will miss about a month due to a moderate left ankle sprain.

Bowen misses first start in 550 games (AP)
Bruce Bowen didn’t start Tuesday night in San Antonio’s game against the New York Knicks. It was the first time in 550 games that he played for the Spurs in which he was on the active roster and didn’t start. Bowen checked into the game with 2:22 left in the first quarter. He was replaced in the starting lineup at small forward by Ime Udoka.

‘Losing doesn’t feel good,’ Duncan says

Tim Duncan, the only member of the Spurs‘ “Big Three” able to stand on two healthy ankles, addressed the media after practice Monday morning.

Spurs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A bad start turned worse when Tony Parker turned his ankle Friday. The Spurs were already off to their worst start in 35 years without Manu Ginobili before losing the former finals MVP for a month.

San Antonio is in danger of digging itself a significant hole before Ginobili and Parker come back next month. Tim Duncan has started the season strong, but it hasn’t been enough to keep the Spurs out of the Southwest Division cellar.

The 1-4 start could have easily been 0-5 if not for Parker’s 55-point heroics in a double-overtime win at Minnesota. The team’s record after five games matches 1996-97, an injury-plagued season that ended with San Antonio winning the lottery and drafting Duncan.

The Spurs will rely on veteran Jacque Vaughn and rookie George Hill…

Spurs are vulnerable and the Knicks know it
“It’s not the true San Antonio team but we have to take care of our business,” Chris Duhon said.

Knicks look ‘four’ success on road, starting against SA tonight

Times have been so bleak for the Knicks the past four seasons, the club has achieved a four-game winning streak just once.