Spurs news and notes: Lakers reeling, NBA best record, and more

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• With the Los Angeles Lakers dropping two home games recently, Derek Fisher sounded off on chasing the number one seed and playing the Spurs:

“We’re definitely not helping ourselves in that regard,” Fisher said. “But like we’ve been doing, which allowed us to have the success we’ve been having the last couple of months, is we mainly focused on ourselves. We haven’t spent a lot of time about other people’s performances and what their record is and whatnot. Regardless of how we finish these last five or six games, and if we have homecourt or not, the reality of it is, we have to play the type of basketball we’re capable of playing to beat the best teams. Obviously, homecourt by losing to Denver on Sunday and losing to Utah on Sunday. You can have homecourt against San Antonio, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Boston. Obviously, if we can’t beat teams on our homecourt, it’s irrelevant. We just have to play better.” (latimes.com)

• NBA.com asks if the Spurs can hang on?

Ordinarily, expending every last ounce of energy chasing down the best overall record in the league would not be of paramount importance in San Antonio. But having led the field since early November, surely the Spurs do not want to be run down from behind now by the Lakers or Bulls. They won’t openly admit it, but the recent six-game slide — longest in the Tim Duncan Era — put a chink of vulnerability and doubt into the Spurs’ armor.

• Express News’ Tim Griffin talks about the Spurs falling in most NBA Power Rankings.

• Austin Toros head coach Brad Jones wants all his players to make it in the NBA or overseas:

“I hope all these guys end up in the NBA or oversees making 50 grand a month, so hopefully none of them are back because they’re all making a gazillion dollars,” Jones said. “Having said that, I really like this group we have right now and obviously if it fit in their career path, then we would love to have them come back.” (TorosNation.com)

• RedsArmy.com focuses on the Spurs.

• Daily Emerald gives an update on former Spur Malik Hairston:

After spending parts of his first two professional seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) and Austin Toros (NBA Development League), Hairston signed with Italian club Montepaschi Siena before the start of the current Euroleague season. In 14 games with Montepaschi Siena, Hairson is averaging 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

• Two former Spurs were signed by the Washington Wizards:

The Wizards released injured swingman Cartier Martin on Wednesday to create a roster spot for Larry Owens of the NBA Development League’s Tulsa 66ers. The team also picked up Othyus Jeffers for the remainder of the season. (washingtonpost.com)

• The LA Times is reporting former Spurs TV and current Lakers TV guy Joel Myers will not be offered a new contract.

• Playmakeronline.com talks about the Spurs.

• Pounding the Rock recaps last night’s Spurs win over the Hawks