Blair lead Spurs to victory

This article is cross-posted at Spurs Basketball

DeJuan Blair tied a career-high 28 points helping the Spurs to get back in the win column. (Photo via Spurs Nation)

DeJuan Blair scored a career high 28 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had three assists, two steals and two blocks in 35 turnover-free minutes, as the San Antonio Spurs (24-10) bounced back from a loss in Portland, defeating the Denver Nuggets (18-17) 114-99 on Thursday night to wrap their nine-game road swing.

Sparked by a 19-1 run midway through the first quarter, the Spurs jumped out to a big lead and then held on at the end.

They’ve won 12 of their last 13 games heading into the All-Star break and lead the Southwest Division by three games over the defending champion Dallas Mavericks.

All Spurs starters scored in double figures.

Tony Parker had 16 points and 12 assists, Tim Duncan added 18 points and nine rebounds, Richard scored 17 points, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and Danny Green had 16 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Several Spurs named among Greatest Defensive Players in NBA History; TD best among Power Forwards

 Over the years, defense has been San Antonio’s trademark. So it’s not surprising that several players who wore the silver and black were named among the greatest defensive players in NBA history.

When it is all said and done, Tim Duncan will probably be the Best Power Forward of All time, as he is so consistent on both ends of the floor.

Included in the list are former San Antonio Spurs’ Maurice Cheeks (5th among point guards), Alvin Robertson, who the is only player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double with steals as one of the four categories was ranked 6th among shooting guards.

Duncan ranked 8th among 50 Greatest of All Time

With the NBA lockout still unresolved, the guys at Bleacher Report made an updated list of the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time.

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan was ranked 8th in the list, a notch ahead of another great big man Hakeem Olajuwon (9th) and a step behind Shaquille O’Neal (7th).

Here’s the take on Duncan:

Tim Duncan has remarkably been one of the most consistent players in NBA history. By sticking to smart fundamental moves (hence, his nickname “The Big Fundamental”), Duncan became the first player to make the All-NBA and All-Defensive Team in each of his first 13 seasons in the league.

With his superb post footwork and signature bank shot, Duncan has continually been one of the best scorers in the NBA. While teaming with David Robinson, the 13-time All-Star led the Spurs to the first of four titles in just his second season. That historic run was capped by the first of three Finals MVP awards.

Why Duncan is one of the Greatest of All time?

Even if it is subject for constant debate, there is no doubt in my mind that Tim Duncan is the Greatest Power Forward of All-time.

Tim Duncan is not only the Greatest Power Forward of All-time, he also deserves to be mentioned as of one the Game's best regardless of position.

Some writers and blogging brothers might contest this fact, but it’s plain and simple; You can’t argue with results.

Unlike most of his peers being compared to him, Duncan has already won four NBA championships in his illustrious career, including three in the past decade.

Karl Malone had John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek, Byron Russell and a bunch a competent role players but couldn’t get it done.

The Timberwolves tried to surround Kevin Garnett with players like Terry Porter, Stephon Marbury, Terell Brandon, Joe Smith and later paired KG with Wally Szczerbiak, Sam Cassell, Troy Hudson and Latrell Sprewell but still failed.

Garnett won his first and only NBA title in 2008, when he was shipped out to Boston to form an instant “Big Three” with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Many would be quick to point out that Duncan was lucky to join a veteran laden team, the San Antonio Spurs and be guided by one of the most respected big man in the NBA — David Robinson during his rookie season.

Spurs defensive duos which is the best?

Defense wins championships and for the San Antonio Spurs, that holds true. The Spurs won four NBA titles, including three over the last decade by giving premium on defense.

The Spurs have relied on their stingy team defense to win championships with Tim Duncan as the anchor, but the ‘Big fundamental’ needed some big time help.

Video: A look back at Duncan’s Greatest Performances

Tim Duncan had a lot of great individual performances over his NBA career  – from a 53-point career game against the Dallas Mavericks to a triple-double performance against the Golden State Warriors last season, Duncan has certainly done it all.

Today, Spurs World looks back at some of Duncan’s greatest individual game performances in his illustrious NBA career.

Duncan’s excellence may have been understated because the San Antonio Spurs is a small-market team.

Some of his most memorable performances came in the 2003 NBA Finals, during the team’s second championship run when Duncan displayed his all-around game brilliance averaging 24.2 points, 17 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 5.3 blocks and one steal in six games against the New Jersey Nets.

Throughout the series, Duncan exemplified his greatness. But there were two games where he shone the brightest.

Spurs.com: David Robinson by the numbers

Yesterday, I wrote an article about the Admiral highlighting one of the best seasons he played in the NBA and re-live his 71-point performance against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Today, Spurs.com takes a look back at Robinson’s career and some of his notable accomplishments in silver and black, by the numbers.

1 – David Robinson is the only male basketball player in U.S. history to appear in three different Olympic Games … he was the leading scorer on the 1996 Team which captured gold in Atlanta … was a member of the Dream Team that won gold in Barcelona in 1992 and was on the 1988 Team that won the bronze medal in Seoul.

2 - Robinson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only two players in NBA history to win an NBA Rebounding Title (1991), the NBA Blocked Shots Title (1992) and the NBA Scoring Title (1994).

4 – Named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times (1991, 1992, 1995 and 1996) and the All-Defensive Second Team four times (1990, 1993, 1994 and 1998).

David Robinson: The Admirable Admiral

David Robinson had a Hall of Fame career, and his arrival in San Antonio made a lasting impact. He joined the San Antonio Spurs in the 1989-90 season after fulfilling his commitment with the Navy and instantly led the Spurs into respectability.

David Robinson

During his first year, Robinson helped the Spurs to achieve one of the biggest one-season turnaround in NBA history.

After a 21-61 record the previous season, the Spurs finished with a 56–26 record, good for first place in the Midwest Division.

Robinson had one of the most successful rookie seasons for a center in NBA history, finishing the season as the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year award while averaging 24.3 points and 12.0 rebounds.

With that the Spurs began the 1990s with great optimism and became a perennial playoff team.

However, there’s a tendency among some basketball observers to discount some of his most notable accomplishments.

Fair or not, Robinson’s career is judged by many as mainly what he achieved after Tim Duncan’s arrival. The fact that the Spurs made only one Western Conference Final appearance before Duncan came to the franchise makes some forget how truly dominant Robinson was.

Gervin: A scorer from all angles

To younger San Antonio Spurs fans who probably don’t know or see George Gervin play and to the not so young at heart who witnessed Gervin’s greatness, this article from NBA.com’s Shaun Powell is a must read.

It is a fitting coincidence that George Gervin made much of his career, and his current home, in a place where Old West outlaws drew first and asked questions later.

Because nobody could shoot quite like — or as quick as — “The Iceman.”

“Actually,” he corrects, politely yet firmly, “I was more than just a shooter. I was a scorer and a shooter. Ain’t been too many like me.”

Gervin was also something else: A game-changer, someone whose impact on the NBA lasted far beyond his final hoop. He didn’t invent the shot, but he did refine it and taught everyone who followed him the many different ways to put the ball in the bucket.

Neal makes it to NBA’s All-Rookie First Team

The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal was named to the NBA’s 2010-11 All-Rookie First Team. Joining Neal on the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team is L.A. Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins, Washington guard John Wall and New York guard Landry Fields.

Gary Neal becomes the second undrafted rookie to make the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team in league history.

Neal becomes the second undrafted rookie to make the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team in league history, joining Jorge Garbajosa who earned the honor in 2006-07 with the Toronto Raptors.

Overall, only 10 undrafted rookies have been named to either a first or second All-Rookie team in history. Neal is the fifth Spur, and the first since Tony Parker in 2001-02, to be named to the All-Rookie First Team. This marks the ninth time in team history that San Antonio has placed a player on any All-Rookie team.

Neal appeared in 80 games, averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.1 minutes. He shot .451 (285-of-632) from the field, .419 (129-of-308) from three-point territory and .808 (84-of-104) from the free throw line.