The Spurs have lost 28-year old backup point guard T.J. Ford for the next 4-6 weeks due to a torn left hamstring. Ford has played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 15.5 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. 27-year old Gary Neal will likely pick up most of Ford’s minutes until he’s ready to return to action. Neal has played in 5 games (4 starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 21.4 minutes, 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

The Spurs have lost 34-year old shooting guard Manu Ginobili due to a broken left hand. He is listed as out indefinitely, but it will likely be around 4-6 weeks. Ginobili has played in 5 games (all starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 23.2 minutes, 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Spurs are really going to miss Ginobili due to his energy at both ends of the court and his knack for hitting big shots in the clutch. 22-year old James Anderson will replace Ginobili in the starting lineup until he’s ready to return to action. Anderson has played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 21.4 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. The Spurs really need Anderson to step up while Ginobili is out of action.

35-year old power forward Tim Duncan is starting to slow down a bit. The Spurs wanted to limit Duncan’s minutes last year to keep him healthy and fresh. It worked as he played in 76 games (all starts) in which he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He’s a shell of his former self but that’s because he has entered the twilight of his NBA career. Duncan has now played in 1,053 games (1,051 starts) in his 14 years with the Spurs and he is averaging 35.8 minutes, 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. Duncan is already the all-time leader in Spurs’ history in games played (1,051) and rebounds (12,013). He is also #4 in assists (3,296), #7 in steals (784), #2 in blocked shots (2,381) and #2 in points scored (21,663) in Spurs’ history. Duncan is one of the best power forwards in NBA history and he’s still a good, but not great player.

The Spurs have lost 34-year old starting power forward Tim Duncan for at least the next two weeks due to a sprained left ankle. Duncan has played in 69 games (all starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 28.3 minutes, 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. The Spurs limited Duncan’s minutes this year to keep him healty and productive and it worked until this week. The Spurs expect that 21-year old DeJuan Blair, 26-year old Tiago Splitter and 36-year old Antonio McDyess will step up with Duncan out of action. Blair has played in 69 games (63 starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 21.7 minutes, 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.2 steals per game. He can handle getting more minutes going forward. Rookie center Tiago Splitter has played in 49 games (1 start) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 11.6 minutes, 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Splitter has been brought along slowly by the Spurs in his rookie year but he has a ton of potential so he should do fine with extended P.T. Antonio McDyess has played in 63 games (6 starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 18.3 minutes, 5.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has a lot left in the gas tank and he will likely respond well to getting a few extra minutes per night going forward.

The San Antonio Spurs will be without 28-year old point guard Tony Parker for the next 2-4 weeks due to a calf injury. Parker has played in 59 games (all starts) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 32.4 minutes, 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Luckily for the Spurs, they are well stocked on the roster at point guard. 24-year old George Hill will replace Parker in the starting lineup. Hill has played in 53 games (1 start) for the Spurs so far this year and he is averaging 28.1 minutes, 11.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. 26-year old rookie Gary Neal will back Hill up at the point. He has payed in 57 games (0 starts) so far this year for the Spurs and he is averaging 19.9 minutes, 9.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Hill is shooting 40.9% from three point range and Neal is shooting 41.9% from three point range so look for the Spurs to extend the opposing defenses until Tony Parker is ready to return to action.

UPDATE: (3/5/2011) - Tony Parker must be a fast healer because he played last night against the Heat. Parker played 23 minutes in which he had 15 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal in the Spurs’ 125-95 demolition of the Miami Heat.