Reasoning on the Riverwalk: The Top 10 Things the Spurs Need Down the Stretch

With a big lead on Dallas for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, can the Spurs afford to let up?  Um, no.  Dallas won't.

And even with their so-called struggles, the Lakers loom.  In reality, they're defending five championship trophies won consecutively in the last three seasons—three Western Conference and two NBA Finals.

Ride with me down the San Antonio River of my thoughts about what the Spurs need to do to win it all. 

Roll the riverboat.

10. DeJuan Blair's 15-Foot Jumper Needs More Growth and Development

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Rookie Team attempts to block the shot of DeJuan Blair #45 of the San Antonio Spurs and the Sophomore Team in the first half of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth J

Maybe Blair needs to grow into a seven-footer, but barring a miracle from Mother Nature, he'll have to learn how to use his shot to draw taller players away from the basket. 

Setting up for a jumper and driving past a seven-footer for a dunk, this move should be incorporated more into his game.

9. Tim Duncan Needs to Get Adequate Rest and Stay Sharp at the Same Time

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PHOENIX - MAY 03: Grant Hill #33 and Louis Amundson #17 of the Phoenix Suns guard against Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at US Airways Center on May 3, 2010 in Phoenix

Duncan is having his least productive season, but he's still the Spurs anchor.  He's also averaging his least amount of minutes—resting up for the Lakers in the playoffs.

Does he still have the dominate Game 7 down the stretch skills he once had?  That remains to be seen.

There is a lot of speculation he doesn't, but I have a sneaking suspicion he does. 

8. Gary Neal Needs to Shoot at Least 40 Percent from Three-Point Land

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: Gary Neal #14 of the San Antonio Spurs and the Rookie Team reacts after the Rookie Team's 148-140 victory against the Sophomore Team during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam at Staples Center on February 18, 2011

Gary Neal is starting to get publicity.  He has an interesting history from his college days at LaSalle to playing professional ball in the top Spanish league.

But can he and the rest of the Spurs continue to shoot at this incredible pace?  I can't see it.  If they can, then they will do what Green Bay did in Super Bowl XLV.

The Packers showed that a championship could be won without a strong running game.  The Spurs are out to show a championship can be won without a strong post game.  Neal will be a key.

7. Tiago Splitter Needs to Grow Into a Force

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 22: Tiago Splitter #22 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball over Emeka Okafor #50 of the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena on January 22, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Spurs 96-72. NOTE

As a local radio talk show host put it: "If Splitter could play, he'd be playing."  He's averaging miniscule minutes per game and accumulating more splinters than rebounds.

If Spurs fans envisioned a twin towers scenario—a la Duncan and David Robinson—then they've been bamboozled.

After missing a lot of training camp due to injury, Splitter averages 11 minutes, 2.7 rebounds and 4.2 points per game.

6. Tony Parker Needs to Rest His Knee

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 17: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs sits on the bench with a knee injury near the end of a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on February 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Spurs 109-99. N

After Derrick Rose dropped a career-high 42 points on the Spurs in the last game on the Rodeo Road Trip, semi-panic swept the Alamo City.

Rose showed Tony Parker is visibly no longer the quickest guard in the NBA.  The thought is, the Bulls hopefully won't make the Finals.

Sure, it was the last game on the road trip and the game before All-Star Weekend, but the Spurs tried hard to win.

5. Manu Ginobili Needs to Stay Healthy

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 17: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball over Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on February 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Spurs 109-99. NOTE TO USER: User express

In the 2010 NBA playoffs, Ginobili was nursing a broken nose against the Phoenix Suns when the Spurs got swept.  His nose is healed and his ankle is too.

There are a few concerns, though, about his stamina at this point in the season—largely fueled by Ginobili himself.

He's becoming the Spurs closer and the NBA isn't ready yet.  If he can keep it up, good things will happen. 

4. The Spurs Need to Find a Defensive Stopper—and Fast

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DALLAS - APRIL 25: Guard Bruce Bowen #12 of the San Antonio Spurs during play against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 25, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. N

Rick Pitino once said about his Boston Celtics team: "Larry Bird isn't walking through that door."  Pitino was right.

I wouldn't blame Pop if said he: "Bruce Bowen ain't walking through that door." 

Pop has said that the Spurs have the best record, but not the best team.  This may be his reasoning behind that declaration. 

As D. Rose showed against the Spurs, they have no answer against the new point guards.

At this point, they have no reliable answer for the new wave, or old wave, of scorers.

3. The Spurs Need the NBA's No. 1 Seed

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 17: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs yells at a referee during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on February 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Spurs 109-99. NOTE TO USER: Use

During their runs to the championship, the Spurs were the No. 1 overall seeds in 1999 and 2003. 

In 2004-05, the Lakers missed the playoffs, and the Suns were the No. 1 seed in the West.

Dallas was the No. 1 overall seed in the 2006-07 season playoffs.

In 1999, the Spurs had the imposing "Twin Towers"—superstar center David Robinson and young star power forward Tim Duncan.

The Spurs carried a 37-13 record—the best in the NBA during the 50-game shortened season.  The blueprint was laid in gold.

2. Spurs Fans Need to Catch Fire Like 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007

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SAN ANTONIO - JUNE 23: Actress Eva Longoria celebrates with an unknown fan as the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Detroit Pistons in Game seven of the 2005 NBA Finals at SBC Center on June 23, 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Pistons 81-74

Are Spurs fans jaded by the four championships since 1999? You betcha.  An average of a championship once every three years surpasses the Yankees since 1913 and the Lakers since 1948.

Spurs fans have yet to catch the championship fever like the days of old.  The team is in the No. 1 position in the NBA.

1. The Spurs Silver Dancers Need Outfits Like the Ones Pictured Here

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 17: Members of the Chicago Bulls dance team 'The Luvabulls,' perform during a game between the Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs at the United Center on February 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Spurs 109-99. NOTE

Why, you ask, do the Spurs Silver Dancers need outfits like this? No reason. 

Girls will be girls and the 'Purs—as some NBA fans call the boys from San Antonio—have some of the best on the court.

Here's a hint for the upcoming NBA Dance Team competitions: can't allow an NBA Dance Squad from Illinois to out-cowgirl you.  

Go 'Purs, go.