"Tell them … tell the team to bear down"

San Antonio has allowed free agents who would have commanded big-money contracts to leave. Tim Duncan earns $22 million, Richard Jefferson $14 million, Tony Parker $12 million, and Manu Ginobili $10 million. The Spurs build around that core with system players such as Michael Finley, Matt Bonner, and Roger Mason.

“This is my first time coming into a situation with a group of guys that’s always been established,’’ said Jefferson, who scored just 6 points in 35 minutes. “They won 54 games last season without me, without a lot of the new additions, with a lot of injury problems, so our goal is to improve on what they accomplished.

“That’s what they always predicated themselves on here – the ability to win championships. Some teams talk about that and some teams are about that. It’s taken very seriously here.

“You hear other teams say they want to get to the title, LeBron or Miami, but this team has done it, and you know whatever they do, they are serious about it.’’

• Gilbert Arenas info page (NBA.com)
• Gil’s Web site
• Gilbert Arenas’ Twitter page
• Gilbertology: The study of Gilbert Arenas
• Gilbert Arenas’ confidence issue
• Wizards hope Arenas can shake off the rust (Washington Examiner)
• Arenas, Butler talk and resolve differences (Washington Post)
• Agent Zero on Abe Pollin’s death (Washington Post)
• Agent Ego? (Washington Post)
• The Scene at Shootaroud (re: Gilbert Arenas, NewsOK.com)
• Gilbert chases wackiness and Twitter (Washington Post)
• Gilbert Arenas is on Twitter, sort of (SB Nation)
• Return of Agent Zero? (Washington Post)
• Injuries to teammates wears on Arenas (Washington Post)
• Sloppy Arenas provides scare (Washington Times)
• Gilbert Arenas’ thoughts on why Wizards have lost four straight games BulletsForever.com)
• Arenas struggles in crunch time against Miami (ESPN.com)
• Arenas No. 34 among NBA’s top 50 players (SLAMOnline)
• Arenas is letting play speak for itself (USA Today)
• Arenas puts on a frightfully good show (Washington Post)
• Gilbert Arenas is back in the arena (Washington Post)
• Arenas, Wizards start off strong (Washington Post)
• Gilbert Arenas’s latest incarnation (Washington Post)
• Gilbert Arenas, Greg Oden among players with something to prove (Sports Illustrated)
• Arenas, Wizards hope for health this season (USA Today)
• Arenas plans to shut up and play (Washington Post)

• Mike Bibby info page (NBA.com)
• Mike Bibby’s official Web site
• written about former UA guard Mike Bibby
• Bibby’s status still uncertain (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Hawks’ Bibby sprains left ankle (listed day-to-day) (USA Today)
• No caffeine needed by Memphis’ energetic Pastner (SI.com)
• Young Hawks spreading wings and flying high (FoxSports.com)
• Bibby one of five Hawks on All-Star ballot (BleacherReport.com)
• Boos for Bibby (and other notes) (ESPN.com)
• Should Jamal Crawford start over Mike Bibby? (BleacherReport.com)
• Bibby looks back fondly (Sacramento Bee)
• Depth revealed (sort of) (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Hawks shake off injury woes on eve of opener (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Bibby retools for new role with Hawks (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Hawks could make NBA’s Eastern Conference a 4-team race (Orlando Sentinel)

• Channing Frye info page (NBA.com)
• Frye’s Blog: About the 3-ball (ChanningFrye.com)
• Channing Frye reborn in Suns offense (OregonLive.com)
• Frye deserves Okur type money (Bright Side of the Sun blog)
• Frye enjoying time with Suns (KTAR.com)
• Channing Frye-d (ValleyoftheSuns.com)
• Channing Fry Web site
• Suns 2009-10 predictions (Valley of the Suns)
• Suns claim veteran center Collins (Arizona Republic)
• Suns new math: Addition by subraction (Arizona Republic)

• Andre Iguodala info page (NBA.com)
• Allen Iverson’s return to the 76ers
• Andre Iguodala and the 76ers’ loss to San Antonio
• Iguodala shaky for the 76ers (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The Scene at Shootaroud (re: Gilbert Arenas, NewsOK.com)
• Iguodala makes mark as one of the league’s best two-way players (NBA.com)
• Iguodala No. 26 among the NBA’s top 50 players (SLAMOnline)
• Sixers’ Iguodala poised to lift team on his shoulders (Philadelphia News)
• Sixers Notes: Team still tweaking new offense (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Iguadala coming along (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The NBA’s 30 best go-to players: No. 19 Iguodala (Dime magazine)

• Richard Jefferson info page (NBA.com)
• Richard Jefferson: No. 46 in Sporting News poll
• Another writer critical of Richard Jefferson’s defense (48 Minutes of Hell)
• Jefferson remains thankful to Bucks (San Antonio Express)
• GAME NOTES: Milwaukee at San Antonio (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Spurs sharp again after Jefferson addition (USA Today)
• Jefferson an unexpected defensive presence (Oregonian)
• Spurs feeling chipper with infusion of new players (NBA.com)
• Spurs reload rather than rebuild (The National)
• Adding powerful talent, top NBA teams flex muscles (New York Times)
• Spurs sharp once again after Jefferson addition (USA Today)

• Jason Terry info page (NBA.com)
• A.I. could learn from Jason Terry
• Super-sub Terry carving new niche with defense (NBA.com)
• Strength in numbers for Terry, Marion (ESPN.com)
• Terry one of five Mavs on All-Star ballot (Dallas Morning News)
• Defense makes the difference for Dallas Mavericks this season (Dallas Morning News)
• Dallas Mavericks preview: What you need to know (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• NBA teams hope new faces yield different results (The Detroit News)
• Five questions at start of NBA season (Austin American-Statesman)

• Luke Walton info page (NBA.com)
• Luke Walton interviewed about his injury (MyLakers.com Blog)
• Lakers’ Walton has back procedure (L.A. Times)
• Extra work pays off for Lakers’ Shannon Brown and Luke Walton (L.A. Times)
• Luke Walton comments on his dad’s retirement as a TV announcer (L.A. Times)
• Lakers’ Bench-Mob a non-factor (L.A. Daily News)
• Walton says Lakers’ bench reliable (Press-Enterprise)
• Luke Walton blog (NBA.com)
• Luke Walton comes back from back injury a little slower (Los Angeles Times)
• Sports Arena’s home to Walton (San Diego Union-Tribune)