• Express News’ Tim Griffin reports Matt Bonner was out of the San Antonio Spurs’ practice and Tiago 
Splitter is OK after his fall off a dunk late in last night’s game against the Denver Nuggets:
Spurs forward Matt Bonner missed his second practice in two days as he recovers from a bone bruise on his right knee.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said that there is no immediate rush to get Bonner back into practice as the Spurs prepare for Wednesday’s game against Toronto.
But Tiago Splitter was back at practice after sustaining a wicked fall, landing on his rear end after a dunk in the final seconds of the Spurs’ victory over Denver Sunday night.
• Here is what Spurs’ Manu Ginobili had to say about beating the Denver Nuggets:
• Here is some food for thought from NBA.com’s 24-Second thoughts:
Meanwhile, here’s a scary thought about the “boring Spurs” in the West: Only twice in the eight seasons since they moved into the AT&T have the Spurs (35-6) lost more games in the second half of the season than the first.
• For the first time since Tim Duncan’s rookie season, Duncan will not be a starter for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. Here is what he had to say about it:
• Speaking of the NBA All-Star Game, the Sports Jury picks Manu Ginobili over Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant for the 2011 All-Star Game:
Kobe Bryant will suit up to start his 13th-straight NBA All-Star game this coming February while Spurs stalwart Manu Ginobili rides the bench or quite possibly sits out altogether as Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, and Steve Nash are certain to garner votes from the coaches after fan-voting is finalized.
I’m here to tell you that something is slightly wrong with the above and while you may not agree with what I have to say I hope to enlighten the folks out there who want Kobe to start simply because, you know, he’s Kobe Bryant.
I firmly believe Manu Ginobili deserves to start in the 2011 NBA All-Star game over everyone mentioned above including one Kobe Bean Bryant.
• Hoops Manifesto did its weekly NBA Big Questions and here is who they picked for Coach of the Year and if the Spurs will make the 2011 NBA Finals:
Gregg Popovich, Spurs- The Spurs were supposed to be over the hill, yet Popovich has them cruising with the best record in the NBA. This despite Tim Duncan contributing the least (statistically) he has in his whole career. A fantastic job by Pop thus far. – Jeff Fox
Gregg Popovich, Spurs – San Antonio’s title teams were known for vicious defense, and a precise, exacting offense. They were a slow-paced team that not many people wanted to watch. So how did he transform this team into the run and gun Spurs that have the best record in the NBA? Gregg Popovich is that good. – Philip
And who did they pick to make the NBA Finals?
Boston over San Antonio – Celtics to get past the Heat in the conference finals and defeat the Spurs for banner #18. – brumbygg
• Hoops Manifesto also ranked the Spurs’ “Big 3” of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan as the sixth best trio in the NBA:
| 1 | (3) | Miami | LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh | 18.5 |
| 2 | (1) | Lakers | Pau Gasol-Lamar Odom-Kobe Bryant | 15.5 |
| 3 | (7) | New Orleans | Chris Paul-David West-Emeka Okafor | 15.3 |
| 4 | (8) | Boston | Paul Pierce-Ray Allen-Kevin Garnett | 14.0 |
| 5 | (2) | Utah | Deron Williams-Paul Millsap-Al Jefferson | 13.5 |
| 6 | (5) | San Antonio | Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker-Tim Duncan | 13.1 |
• With-Malice picks which teams will make it to tne 2011 NBA Finals and Spurs fans may not like what they had to say:
NBA Finals…
Don: Boston vs LA. The Lakers complete history and get the three-peat.
Rob: Celtics to get past the Heat in the conference finals and defeat the Spurs for banner #18.
