Center will be a timeshare for the Spurs once again in 2011-12. 22-year old DeJuan Blair is the player on the rise at center for the Spurs. He played in 81 games (65 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 21.4 minutes, 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.2 steals per game. Blair has now played in 163 games (88 starts) in his first two years with the Spurs and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. 26-year old Tiago Splitter will likely see a bump in P.T. in 2011-12 for the Spurs. Splitter played in 60 games (6 starts) as a rookie for the Spurs as a rookie last year and he averaged 12.3 minutes, 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. 37-year old Antonio McDyess still has a little gas left in his tank. He played in 73 games (16 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 19.0 minutes, 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. McDyess has now played in 1,015 games (645 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 27.6 minutes, 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

The Spurs are monitoring 35-year old power forward Tim Duncan’s minutes in an effort to keep him productive and healthy. It worked last year and the Spurs hope it does again in 2011-12. Duncan played in 76 games (all starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 28.4 minutes, 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 1,053 games (1,051 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 35.8 minutes, 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. He is still the best player on the Spurs. 31-year old Matt Bonner will give Duncan a breather when he needs one this year. Bonner played in 66 games (1 start) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 22.7 minutes, 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Bonner also shot an amazing 45.7% from three point range last year as brings instant offense off the bench. Bonner has now played in 496 games (85 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 18.7 minutes, 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

31-year old small forward Richard Jefferson is going to have to step up this year if he wants to continue playing 30+ minutes per night in 2011-12 for the Spurs.  He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 30.4 minutes, 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Jefferson has now played in 733 games (650 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 34.7 minutes, 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.  The Spurs traded George Hill to the Pacers on Draft Night to the Pacers for 19-year old small forward Kawhi Leonard.  Leonard was a 1st round pick out of San Diego State by the Pacers and he averaged a double-double last year in college.  He has a huge upside and he will try to steal some minutes from Richard Jefferson.   22-year old James Anderson had his rookie season cut short due to injury last year.  He played in 26 games (2 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 11.0 minutes, 3.6 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  He also has a nice upside.   23-year old Da’Sean Butler is #4 in line at small forward for the Spurs, and he will have a hard time making the team.

UPDATE: (12/13/2011) - The Spurs have waived Da’Sean Butler.

The San Antonio Spurs are going to get a lot of points out of their shooting guards in 2011-12. 34-year old Manu Ginobili is still a force for the Spurs. He played in 80 games (79 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 30.3 minutes, 17.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Ginobili has now played in 633 games (340 starts) in his career with the Spurs and he is averaging 28.1 minutes, 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Spurs will likely keep Ginobili about 30 minutes a night in an effort to keep him healthy all year because of his all-out style of play. 27-year old Gary Neal will back up Ginobili. Neal came out of nowhere last season to turn in a very solid season for the Spurs as a rookie. Neal played in 80 games (1 start) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 21.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Neal is also a great long range shooter as he hit 41.9% from three point range last year.

29-year old starting point guard Tony Parker might take a few more shots in 2011-12 and why not? After all, he did his 51.9% from the floor last season for the Spurs. Parker played in 78 games (all starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 32.4 minutes, 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Parker has now played in 746 games (733 starts) in his career with the Spurs and he is averaging 33.0 minutes, 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. 20-year old rookie Cory Joseph out of Texas will be Parker’s backup in 2011-12. The Spurs will likely bring him along slowly.