The San Antonio Spurs, not quite ready to be written off as too old and too slow to claim an NBA crown, routed the Los Angeles Clippers 115-90 Wednesday.

Manu Ginobili scored 24 points, leading six Spurs players who scored in double figures.

DeJuan Blair added 20 and Richard Jefferson chipped in 19. Tony Parker scored 14 points with nine assists, Tim Duncan scored 10 with eight rebounds and James Anderson added 12 off the bench as the Spurs shot 56.3 percent from the field.

The Spurs also made all 15 of their free throws, but coach Gregg Popovich said defense was the real key to the victory.

“Shots went in tonight,” Popovich said. “That’s what happens. Some nights they don’t drop. Tonight the best part of our game was defense.”

And that’s what was lacking for the Clippers, coach Vinny Del Negro said.

“Give San Antonio credit — they were cutting hard, they were moving the basketball, we were very stagnant,” he said. “We weren’t physical. We weren’t contesting shots…

“We played terrible, just from start to finish tonight,” Del Negro said. “We had a little glimpse in the second quarter, I thought we did some good things. But they jumped on us in the third and we were just chasing them the rest of the game.”

The Clippers have been touted as a potential new power in the Western Conference after the arrival of All-Star point guard Chris Paul to team with Blake Griffin, the explosive talent who earned Rookie of the Year honors last season.

Griffin led the Clippers with 28 points, while Paul scored 10 on 3-of-10 shooting.

The Spurs, long a Western Conference force, won 61 games last season but were surprised in the first round of the playoffs by a young, energetic Memphis team, sparking predictions that the team led by 35-year-old Duncan and featuring 34-year-old Ginobili and 29-year-old Parker had passed their prime.

In their first two games of this lockout-shortened season, however, the Spurs have now beaten both Memphis and the Clippers.

San Antonio led by as many as 12 points before Griffin capped a Clippers surge by soaring for a basket that knotted the score at 52-52 late in the second quarter.

A Ginobili three-pointer saw the Spurs take a 58-54 lead at halftime, and San Antonio took firm control in the third period, when they out-scored Los Angeles by 21 points to take a 96-71 lead.

The comfortable victory meant Popovich was able to give his stars some rest. Duncan played 25 minutes, Parker 26 and Ginobili 27.

“You wouldn’t trade it,” Popovich said of the luxury of resting his veterans for significant minutes. It could prove especially important in the hectic, lockout-shortened season. The Spurs were due back in action on Thursday night at Houston.

“It was a good night for us, and to get some rest was surely welcome,” Popovich said.

Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs

AT&T Center, San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

TV, radio: SportSouth, WMFS 92.9-FM/680-AM

Records: This is the season opener for both teams.

Lineups

Grizzlies: Mike Conley, 6-1, Tony Allen, 6-4, Rudy Gay, 6-8, Zach Randolph, 6-9, Marc Gasol, 7-1.

Spurs: Tony Parker, 6-2, Manu Ginobili, 6-6, Richard Jefferson, 6-7, Tim Duncan, 6-11, Tiago Splitter, 6-11.

THE SKINNY

The Grizzlies will begin their most anticipated season in Memphis on the road against the team they ejected from the playoffs last season. Memphis began its historic playoff run by eliminating top-seeded San Antonio in the first round. This rematch of that series will feature most of the same players, as neither team dramatically changed its roster. Last season, San Antonio finished tied with Chicago for the NBA’s best home record at 36-5. But the Western Conference is changing. Memphis and San Antonio split four regular-season meetings in 2010-11, though the Spurs have won 14 of the last 16 matchups at home including the playoffs.

– Ronald Tillery

Last season: 61-21, best record in the Western Conference. But they struggled against big lineups and so drawing Memphis in the first round was trouble. The Spurs were eliminated fast.

Head Coach: Gregg Popovich, entering his 16th year at the helm of the Spurs. But he remains as cranky as ever.

Key Departures: George Hill, who played well for them off the bench.

Key Additions: Kawhi Leonard, T.J. Ford

Best case scenario: The over-the-hill gang is back for one more run at it — this is a team that wants a ring and the best case scenario is they get it. One more shot at the glory.

For that to happen: They are going to have to get some athletes and get more size of front. The Spurs are going to be very good in the regular season — it is hard to contain Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. And Parker looked very good at the European Championships his past summer. But the Memphis Grizzlies exposed the Spurs — they do not have the size to contain a big lineup. Like Memphis. Or the Lakers.

Maybe Tiago Splitter has a breakout year and maybe DeJuan Blair takes a step forward, but they need more inside play from somewhere to counter the big teams. It can’t just be Tim Duncan (who is still very good but is not Superman).

More likely the Spurs will: Be the more offensive-minded team they were last year, they will be quite good, and they will last in the playoffs until they run into a big roster. May be first round, may be second, but eventually size will wear them down.

I am looking forward to seeing if Kawhi Leonard can give them the athleticism and youth they need in the roster. I’m curious to see how much Pop trusts a rookie on the floor.

The other question out there is how this older team deals with the condensed schedule. They used to rest Tim Duncan on one end of a back-to-back, can they do that this year? How will Popovich deal with the minutes?

Prediction: 44-22 and a nice playoff seed again, but they may will not get out of the first round again.

As we near the end of the year, remembering great moments for basketball fans of the San Antonio Spurs can bring a smile. Although these moments were still selected for their flash, they were also selected for the bigger picture they created. Here are 5 great moments for the Spurs from 2011.

Gary Neal 3-Pointer: As a rookie, your impact is not always as visible and as momentous; not so of this great play. Gary Neal’s Play of the Day had all the suspense of a buzzer shot and all the added joy of overtime potential, which the Spurs were able to turn their way into an OT victory. Winning game 5 of the first round of the playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 27, 2011 kept the Spurs alive in the series.

Block, Pass, Dunk: Tim Duncan gets the ball away and then Manu Ginobili scores at the other end of the court in this great moment, Duncan Blocks and Ginobili Jams. Highlights for the Spurs were plentiful this day including great teamwork, blocks, fast breaks and slams. This basketball game, played on April 6, 2011 at home in the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas opposing the Sacramento Kings, produced San Antonio’s 60th win during the season, securing them as the first seed in the Western Conference and entertaining the Spurs’ fans.

Parker to the Bucket: Tony Parker’s highlighted shot this game was just part of his overall 33 points, with Manu Ginobili adding 25 points and Tim Duncan adding 22 points. The Spurs gained the win against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Beating a Southwest Division rival, especially one of the Mavericks caliber and on the Mavericks home court at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas was a top moment for the San Antonio Spurs in 2011.

All-Star Head Coach: The January 24, 2011 win against the Golden State Warriors along with other San Antonio Spurs’ wins led to Gregg Popovich, Coach Pop, being named the coach for the Western Conference all-stars. A winning coach is an important ingredient in San Antonio’s success so this distinction was a great moment for the Spurs.

Draft Night 2011: Another important element of success for a team is building a future. The Spurs gained Kawhi Leonard from the San Diego State Aztecs and Cory Joseph from the University of Texas Longhorns, Leonard and Joseph Introduction, as draft picks for 2011. Hopefully this 2011 draft moment will bring great future moments too.

Jade Harris first became a fan of the San Antonio Spurs during the David Robinson and Tim Duncan era. Since then there have plenty of moments in which to cheer for the Spurs and their great style of basketball.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The LA Clippers already have multiple pieces in place for the upcoming season and many view them as a dark horse candidate in the Western Conference. With free agency looming and trade rumors flying left and right, it’s time to look at the Clipper’ free agents and what may happen with the team.

Restricted: PF DeAndre Jordan

Unrestricted: PF Craig Smith, SG Jamario Moon

As you can see, there is not a lot left to be done. Re-signing Jordan will obviously be the big move, but many teams around the league will be interested in the lengthy forward after a breakout season. Keeping Jordan in LA should not be too difficult with the NBA’s new labor deal in place, but you just never know with the madness of free agency. All it takes is for one team to offer a ludicrous deal.

Neither Craig Smith nor Jamario Moon will be top priorities for the team, although they could elect to stay with the Clippers in a bench role. Los Angeles will be one of the younger teams in the league when games begin in a month and a veteran presence off the bench could be big for the franchise.

For more, head on over to Clips Nation.

(Sports Network) – A brilliant regular season went up in smoke for San Antonio
when they it was ousted by eighth seeded Memphis in the Western Conference
semifinals.

After 14 consecutive trips to the postseason and four rings, the end may be
near for the Spurs’ “Big Three” of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili,
at least as a serious championship contender.

Ginobili’s play seems conducive to injuries while Parker and Duncan have
started on the downside of spectacular careers. George Hill continues to
improve, Gary Neal was a big surprise and Tiago Splitter looks like a
contributor down the line but San Antonio must continue to get younger and
more athletic.

The franchise has always been able to unearth gems late in the draft and will
hope to do so again at No. 29.

DeJuan Blair went through a sophomore slump last season and Antonio McDyess is
likely retiring so expect the Spurs to target the best big body available,

Players under contract: G: Manu Ginobili; G: Gary Neal; G: James Anderson;
G: George Hill; G: Tony Parker; F: Richard Jefferson; F/C: Antonio McDyess;
C: DeJuan Blair

Free agents: G: Chris Quinn; G/F: Danny Green; F: Tim Duncan (Early
termination); F: Steve Novak; F: DeSean Butler

Draft picks: 1st round (29th overall), 2nd round (59th overall).

The Sports Network

San Antonio — Former NBA All-Star forward Mike Mitchell, who played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, died Thursday after a struggle against cancer. He was 55.

Mitchell died in San Antonio after the former Auburn star fought the disease for two years, said his son, Mike Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during his career. He was an All-Star in Cleveland in 1981 but had his winningest years in San Antonio, playing alongside George Gervin and Artis Gilmore.

“We have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike Mitchell,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “He was a good man who cared deeply about his family and the community of San Antonio.”

The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983 but fell to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers both times. It was the farthest San Antonio would advance in the playoffs until David Robinson put the Spurs back in the conference finals a decade later.

SAN ANTONIO
– Former NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell, who played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, died Thursday after a struggle against cancer. He was 55.

Mitchell died in San Antonio after the former Auburn star fought the disease for two years, said his son, Mike Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during his career. He was an All-Star in Cleveland in 1981 but had his winningest years in San Antonio, playing alongside George Gervin and Artis Gilmore.

“We have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike Mitchell,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “He was a good man who cared deeply about his family and the community of San Antonio.”

The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983 but fell to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers both times. It was the farthest San Antonio would advance in the playoffs until David Robinson put the Spurs back in the conference finals a decade later.

A first-round draft pick in 1978, Mitchell spent 3 1/2 seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Spurs. He averaged 24.5 points during his one All-Star season, which took place while the Cavaliers were among the league’s worst teams.

Mitchell played more than a decade in Europe after his NBA career ended in 1988.

SAN ANTONIO – Former NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell, who played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, died Thursday after a struggle against cancer. He was 55.

Mitchell died in San Antonio after the former Auburn star fought the disease for two years, said his son, Mike Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during his career. He was an All-Star in Cleveland in 1981 but had his winningest years in San Antonio, playing alongside George Gervin and Artis Gilmore.

“We have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike Mitchell,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “He was a good man who cared deeply about his family and the community of San Antonio.”

The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983 but fell to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers both times. It was the farthest San Antonio would advance in the playoffs until David Robinson put the Spurs back in the conference finals a decade later.

A first-round draft pick in 1978, Mitchell spent 3 1/2 seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Spurs. He averaged 24.5 points during his one All-Star season, which took place while the Cavaliers were among the league’s worst teams.

Mitchell played more than a decade in Europe after his NBA career ended in 1988.

Updated Jun 9, 2011 7:12 PM ET

Former NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell, who played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, died Thursday after a struggle against cancer. He was 55.

Mitchell died in San Antonio after the former Auburn star fought the disease for two years, said his son, Mike Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during his career. He was an All-Star in Cleveland in 1981 but had his winningest years in San Antonio, playing alongside George Gervin and Artis Gilmore.

”We have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike Mitchell,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. ”He was a good man who cared deeply about his family and the community of San Antonio.”

The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983 but fell to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers both times. It was the farthest San Antonio would advance in the playoffs until David Robinson put the Spurs back in the conference finals a decade later.

A first-round draft pick in 1978, Mitchell spent 3 1/2 seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Spurs. He averaged 24.5 points during his one All-Star season, which took place while the Cavaliers were among the league’s worst teams.

Mitchell played more than a decade in Europe after his NBA career ended in 1988.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Former NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell, who played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, died Thursday after a struggle against cancer. He was 55.

Mitchell died in San Antonio after the former Auburn star fought the disease for two years, said his son, Mike Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during his career. He was an All-Star in Cleveland in 1981 but had his winningest years in San Antonio, playing alongside George Gervin and Artis Gilmore.

“We have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike Mitchell,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “He was a good man who cared deeply about his family and the community of San Antonio.”

The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983 but fell to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers both times. It was the farthest San Antonio would advance in the playoffs until David Robinson put the Spurs back in the conference finals a decade later.

A first-round draft pick in 1978, Mitchell spent 3 1/2 seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Spurs. He averaged 24.5 points during his one All-Star season, which took place while the Cavaliers were among the league’s worst teams.

Mitchell played more than a decade in Europe after his NBA career ended in 1988.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Former NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell, who played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs, died Thursday after a struggle against cancer. He was 55.

Mitchell died in San Antonio after the former Auburn star fought the disease for two years, said his son, Mike Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds during his career. He was an All-Star in Cleveland in 1981 but had his winningest years in San Antonio, playing alongside George Gervin and Artis Gilmore.

NEWMAN: Cavs’ hot scorer Mitchell claiming attention at last (1.21.80)

“We have a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike Mitchell,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “He was a good man who cared deeply about his family and the community of San Antonio.”

The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983 but fell to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers both times. It was the farthest San Antonio would advance in the playoffs until David Robinson put the Spurs back in the conference finals a decade later.

A first-round draft pick in 1978, Mitchell spent 3 1/2 seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Spurs. He averaged 24.5 points during his one All-Star season, which took place while the Cavaliers were among the league’s worst teams.

Mitchell played more than a decade in Europe after his NBA career ended in 1988.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SAN ANTONIO — Spurs guard Tony Parker on Tuesday backed off comments made to French journalists last month that San Antonio can no longer likely contend for another championship.

“You know newspapers need stories and to talk about stuff, and I’m in a great situation to know what it is,” Parker said. “I love the Spurs. I love being a Spur. I re-signed four years so if I didn’t believe we can win a championship I would not have signed.”

The former All-Star, however, didn’t exactly go out of his way to try to clarify the remarks made last month in Paris, a few weeks after the 61-win Spurs were upset in the first round by eighth-seeded Memphis.

An article on FIBA’s website quoted Parker as saying, “We will always have a good team but can no longer say we’re playing for a championship.” He added that it would be tough for the Spurs to regenerate themselves with Tim Duncan turning 36 next spring and Manu Ginobili turning 34 next month.

Parker is speaking French in the interview. A video of the interview, credited to the French sports daily L’Equipe, quotes Parker in English subtitles as saying, “It was sort of our last chance this season.”

Back in San Antonio on Tuesday, Parker brushed off the quotes, offering a vague explanation of French reporters getting carried away.

“I don’t have to justify anything,” Parker said. “Me, bottom line, I love being a Spur and that’s why I signed four more years. I have nothing to justify to you. The only thing I care about is (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich), Timmy and Manu, and my teammates.”

Parker has spent his entire NBA career with the Spurs, arriving in San Antonio at the age of 19 and winning the starting job that season. He turned 29 last month and begins a four-year, $50 million extension next season.

Parker was equally candid about San Antonio’s diminishing title hopes in training camp last October. He said then that he felt the upcoming season was the last chance for the Spurs to win a fifth championship in the Duncan era, again pointing toward the team’s aging core.

If this season was the Spurs’ last chance, they mostly spent it playing that way. They carried the league’s best record for practically the entire season and entered the playoffs with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. But the youthful Grizzlies beat the Spurs in six games, making San Antonio just the fourth No. 1 seed to fall in the first round.

Parker averaged 17.5 points and 6.6 assists last season. He said no one within the Spurs contacted him after the interview in France was published.

“They know me, they don’t need to contact me,” Parker said. “Pop doesn’t have time right now. He’s drinking wine and having fun.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Spurs guard Tony Parker on Tuesday backed off comments made to French journalists last month that San Antonio can no longer likely contend for another championship.

“You know newspapers need stories and to talk about stuff, and I’m in a great situation to know what it is,” Parker said. “I love the Spurs. I love being a Spur. I re-signed four years so if I didn’t believe we can win a championship I would not have signed.”

The former All-Star, however, didn’t exactly go out of his way to try to clarify the remarks made last month in Paris, a few weeks after the 61-win Spurs were upset in the first round by eighth-seeded Memphis.

An article on FIBA’s website quoted Parker as saying, “We will always have a good team but can no longer say we’re playing for a championship.” He added that it would be tough for the Spurs to regenerate themselves with Tim Duncan turning 36 next spring and Manu Ginobili turning 34 next month.

Parker is speaking French in the interview. A video of the interview, credited to the French sports daily L’Equipe, quotes Parker in English subtitles as saying, “It was sort of our last chance this season.”

Back in San Antonio on Tuesday, Parker brushed off the quotes, offering a vague explanation of French reporters getting carried away.

“I don’t have to justify anything,” Parker said. “Me, bottom line, I love being a Spur and that’s why I signed four more years. I have nothing to justify to you. The only thing I care about is (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich), Timmy and Manu, and my teammates.”

Parker has spent his entire NBA career with the Spurs, arriving in San Antonio at the age of 19 and winning the starting job that season. He turned 29 last month and begins a four-year, $50 million extension next season.

Parker was equally candid about San Antonio’s diminishing title hopes in training camp last October. He said then that he felt the upcoming season was the last chance for the Spurs to win a fifth championship in the Duncan era, again pointing toward the team’s aging core.

If this season was the Spurs’ last chance, they mostly spent it playing that way. They carried the league’s best record for practically the entire season and entered the playoffs with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. But the youthful Grizzlies beat the Spurs in six games, making San Antonio just the fourth No. 1 seed to fall in the first round.

Parker averaged 17.5 points and 6.6 assists last season. He said no one within the Spurs contacted him after the interview in France was published.

“They know me, they don’t need to contact me,” Parker said. “Pop doesn’t have time right now. He’s drinking wine and having fun.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.