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NBA.com currently has a poll asking fans if Rockets guard Kyle Lowry or San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker deserve a spot on the Western Conference all-star roster.

Parker answered that question on Wednesday as his 24 points and four assists topped Lowry's efforts. On Saturday, Parker had bigger fish to fry.

It's widely expected that Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook will be selected by coaches to backup Chris Paul when the All-Star reserves are announced next Thursday.

Finishing with 42 points, nine assists and becoming the Spurs' all-time assists leader, all while being defended by Westbrook could be enough to turn some heads, just as the Spurs did by handing the league-leading Thunder just their fifth loss of the season.

In retrospect

In Paul Garcia's game preview yesterday, he said the Spurs would need big contributions in order to stop the Thunder.

Briefing Session

The San Antonio Spurs (15-9) are back on their winning ways as they've put together a three-game winning streak by defeating Memphis on the road, and fighting hard against the Rockets and Hornets back home (12-1). The Spurs will play their last home game for almost an entire month as the team hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight before embarking on their nine-game traditional Rodeo Road trip.

In their last meeting in Oklahoma City, the Spurs were defeated 108-96 as the Thunder were led by All-Star starter Kevin Durant’s 21 points. The main dagger in the Spurs’ side that night though, was a player who is reminiscent of the Spurs’ injured Manu Ginobili – left handed James Harden, who scored 20 points off the bench in the last meeting.

Case No. 25: Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 18-4. Road: 9-3. Last 10 games: 8-2

Commendable areas for the Thunder

• Smart shooters: Though the Thunder only take 76.3 shots per game which is ranked second to last in the league, they make those shots at a very efficient rate of 47% shooting from the field which ranks 3rd in the NBA. The Thunder average 100.1 points per game, which is ranked as the third highest scoring offense.

• Get to the line: The Thunder are a physical team that drives to the basket as they are ranked 2nd in the NBA with 27.6 free throw attempts. The other efficient part of the Thunder is that they’re ranked 1st in the NBA with 22 free throw makes per game. Credit Durant, Westbrook, and Harden for being the main weapons that drive to the paint and get to the free throw line.

• Rebounding: The Thunder are ranked 4th in the NBA in defensive rebounds with 32.9 per game, their overall rebounding is ranked 10th in the league with 43 boards per game.

• Defense: Anytime you’re ranked number one in a league with 30 teams, you probably play pretty good defense. The Thunder do just that by holding their opponents to 94.6 points per game, 42% shooting, and they’re ranked 2nd in the NBA with 7.4 blocks per game. Durant, Ibaka, and Perkins don’t make it easy for opposing teams to get into the paint.

Deficient areas for the Thunder

• Assists: The Thunder are ranked second to last in assists with 18.1 assists per game, Westbrook is averaging 5.7 assists per game, while no other Thunder player averages more than four assists per game.

• Turnovers: the Thunder turn the ball over 16.5 times per game, ranked 1st in the NBA. Durant (3.8), (Westbrook 4.1) carry the Thunder’s offense, which means their decisions with the ball are what set the tone for the offense.

The San Antonio Spurs (15-9) will finish off their three-game home stand before heading off on their annual Rodeo Road Trip by hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder (18-4) tonight at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs and Thunder met earlier this season which resulted the Spurs losing to the Thunder, 108-96. Oklahoma was led by Kevin Durant with 21 points while the Spurs were led by Gary Neal with 18 points.

But as the Spurs get ready to be tested by the best in the West, let's take a look at five things to watch for in tonight's game.

• So the Spurs might have issues scoring tonight. Prior to the Thunder's Monday matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, OKC had not allowed a single opponent to shoot 50% or better.
• The Thunder bring it on the road. OKC owns the best road record at 9-3.
• If your taking it to the rim Spurs, be careful for Serge Ibaka is no where near you! The Thunder are 10-0 when Ibaka blocks three or more shots.
• Box out Spurs! Make sure you block out the Thunder! OKC is 9-1 when they out-rebound their opponent.
• Make sure the shots are falling Spurs! OKC is 8-1 when holding opponents to less than 40% shooting.

Let’s not forget that even in this shortened season the NBA is still going to play an All-Star game. While I’m sure a few of the All-Stars would rather take the break than head down to Orlando to play in the game, at least they get to rock some pretty cool jerseys.

I may be a little biased because I’ve always been a fan of the Orlando Magic jerseys, and that seems to be the inspiration for the All-Star uniforms, but I like them a lot. I usually am a pretty big fan of All-Star apparel, I like the futuristic look. Except there was this one time.

Anyone remember the All-Star uniforms in 1996? I sure do. That was the year San Antonio hosted the big game, and every thing about the jerseys just screamed “Yee-Haw!” That one was a little embarrassing.

Anyways, who is going to get to wear these flashy jerseys in Orlando? It looks like there may not be any San Antonio Spurs.

The starters for the All-Star game have been announced:

The San Antonio Spurs struck out on landing free agent forward Kenyon Martin and now it seems any hopes of acquiring New Orleans Hornets' Chris Kaman are dashed as well.

The Spurs were reportedly interested in adding Kaman to the roster to bolster their frontline but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Hornets are ending Kaman trade talks.Unless the Spurs have any other big men in their sites to address their need up front, it seems the team will be rolling with Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner for the rest of the season.

Thankfully Splitter's game has improved and can be a force in the paint but like many Spurs fans know, after TD and Splitter, the Spurs lack the needed size to contend with other teams such as the much bigger Los Angeles Lakers or Memphis Grizzlies. Not to take away anything from Blair and Bonner but Blair is undersized and Bonner is too one-dimensional.

So now what Spurs fans? Are there any other bigs the Spurs should target?

Before the San Antonio Spurs game against the Houston Rockets this past week, Spurs forward Tim Duncan was averaging a career-low 12.9 points per game.

The popular opinion on the 35-year-old Duncan is that he is likely in the last or second-to-last year of his career, that he's lost a step and he is a shell of his former self. But after scoring 25 points, and 16 in a momentum-changing third quarter in the Spurs' recent win over the Houston Rockets, that notion may not be a mutual one amongst NBA players.

"No, look at today. It looks like he has about three or four more years left," Rockets guard Courtney Lee said. "They (isolated) him, they went to him down low and he's able to do what he does great."

While one can point to stats to highlight a player's decline, Duncan is just two seasons removed from averaging 17.9 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

The biggest factor in Duncan's change in game-by-game production has been the addition of several scorers and the transition from a halfcourt, grind-it-out offense with Duncan serving as the first priority to a balanced offense with several players available to take the scoring load. Add to that a drastic reduction in minutes, sitting out back-to-back games, and while there is no doubt that there is some slippage, these other key factors play into it.

It seems the San Antonio Spurs will have to look elsewhere for help in the paint.

San Antonio was reportedly one of a handful of destinations for free agent forward Kenyon Martin but according to the Los Angeles Times, K-Mart has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers once he is allowed to come back to the NBA from the Chinese Basketball Association's Xinjiang Tigers.

The Clippers and free-agent forward Kenyon Martin have agreed on a mini-midlevel deal that will be finalized as soon as Martin passes a physical, according to an NBA individual familiar with the negotiations.

With K-Mart off the shelf, could the Spurs step up their efforts into acquiring New Orleans Hornets' Chris Kaman for help up front? San Antonio is one of the reported teams interested in acquiring Kaman who has been sitting out games until the Hornets find a suitable trade.

However, the Rockets and Pacers seem to the the leading teams for a possible Kaman deal.

Currently, the Spurs have Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner but as you can see, after TD and Splitter, San Antonio is undersized and can use some help. But considering how well Splitter and TD have been playing of late, perhaps San Antonio will be OK during this short season.

What do you have to say Spurs fans? Now that K-Mart is LA bound, should the Spurs vigorously go after Kaman or do you feel they are OK with TD and Splitter?

While the San Antonio Spurs and several other teams await free agent Kenyon Martin's decision on where he will suit up this season, there is another free agent reportedly on the Spurs' radar -- J.R. Smith.

Smith, like Martin, played in China during the NBA lockout and is now trying to plead his case to make it back to the NBA despite the CBA's (Chinese Basketball Association) rule that no locked out NBA players could return to the NBA until the CBA's season is over.

However, once Smith is released from playing in China, could the Spurs be the next destination for Smith?

According to Yahoo! Sports, San Antonio has significant interest in acquiring the free agent swingman.

Smith is an unrestricted free agent, and Chandler and Brooks are restricted free agents, likely to re-sign with Denver and Phoenix, respectively. Smith has significant interest around the NBA, including the Lakers, Knicks, Spurs and several more potential contenders.

If true, then this is an interesting move by San Antonio. Currently, the Spurs have swingmen James Anderson, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green (who has been playing well for the Spurs) on the roster which means adding Smith would take away minutes from these players. Not to mention Smith isn't a "team-first" kind of player, is a gunner, and isn't a typical Spurs-type player on and off the court.

However, this isn't the first time the Spurs went after Smith.

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There are probably certain times during an NBA player's career when they know they have made it.

He can be named to the All-Star squad, asked to make a cameo on a movie, be featured in a commercial or see his face on a box of Wheaties and much more to verify he is a legit star in the NBA.

But then there's being mentioned in a cartoon when an animated rabbit professes her love for a particular player such as the case of San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili.

Sure, Manu may be spotlighted in San Antonio's HEB grocery commercials, been to the All-Star game, won three NBA titles, and adored by all of Argentina but nothing can compare to Looney Tunes character Lola Bunny professing her deep love for Ginobili at the four minute point of video below.

I sure hope Manu's wife doesn't feel threatened.

The San Antonio Spurs (15-9) picked up another win at home last night defeating the New Orleans Hornets (4-19) 93-81. San Antonio was led by Tim Duncan's 19 points and 9 rebounds while New Orleans was led by Carl Landry with 17 points.

With the win, the Spurs continue to dominate teams at the AT&T Center (12-1) and will next face the Oklahoma City Thunder tomorrow night in San Antonio before the annual Rodeo Road Trip.

But taking a look at the shot clock, it is plain to see the Spurs did most of their damage in the paint. San Antonio outscored New Orleans in the paint 42-38 thanks in large part to Duncan and Tiago Splitter who finished with 16 points with all of his points coming in the paint.

They say pictures speak a thousand words, so check out the shot-chart (via ESPN) to see how the Spurs were able to swat the Hornets.