Morning Rehash: Lazy Saturday Edition

--Apologies for the late Morning Rehash. I've been working with SBNation support to resolve account issues since last night. --

Opening Hash

Sacramento Kings fans recieved a strong boost to their hopes of retaining their team this past Thursday when Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced that two investors have committed to the purchase of the franchise from the Maloof borthers. Mayor Johnson was granted an opportunity from NBA Commissioner David Stern to provide a competitive bid, including plans for new city-subsidized downtown arena, against the already approved bid made by the Chris Hansen-led Seattle group.

24-hour fitness founder Mark Mastrov is the leading bid for the Kings franchise and billionaire Ron Burkle will lead the development of a new downtown arena. Both men supposedly will contribute on both the team bid and the arena plan. Mayor Johnson stepped his efforts through the early months of February to line up local investors to purchase the drama-stricken franchise away from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Johnson stated that a group of minor investors are ready to collectively purchase the share of the team that is currently under the control of a federal bankruptcy court. Along with the arena plans, and how it would revitalize the Sacramento Downtown Plaza, Mayor Johnson also announced a 5 year - $50 million promise in local sponsorships.

Mayor Johnson stated that he has "been assured by the commissioner of the NBA that [the new bid] will be given full consideration." As I mentioned before, I have my doubts on Stern's neutrality on the relocation issue. David Stern and the NBA has been enamored in resolving the lingering Seattle "issue" ever since the SuperSonics packed up and headed down to Oklahoma City. The timing of the Maloof's feverish attempts to abandon Sacramento and the recently approved $200 million from the city of Seattle towards a new stadium killed two birds with one stone for the commissioner. In my opinion, Stern's approach and language has appeared to be more supportive of the Seattle group and more of "Yeah, OK" feel with Sacramento.

>As both sides of the fence continue to argue market size, attendance numbers, arena deals, and city funding, Mayor Johnson will continue his lobbying efforts by visiting with NBA representatives and the NBA team owners group. "As a city we have done everything the NBA has ever asked of us," said Mayor Johnson. On April 18th, the league will have a huge vote on it's hands and the former NBA All-star is doing everything he can to sway the league in favor of the city he loves.

Shoot Around Notes

• Tim Duncan looked very spry but his jumpers were still too short.
• Tim Duncan also looked incredibly focused. He's usually a little jovial during his workouts.
• Up close, Aron Baynes is much more agile than he appears on TV.
• Bobby Jackson and DeMarcus Cousins spent a considerable time goofing off during their workout.
• Bobby Jackson is... hefty these days.
• Prior to Jackson's arrival on the court, Cousins was shooting from random spots on the floor. I'm not a fan of his mechanics but his shots were dead straight each time.
• Ginobili stretched his left leg a few times, looking somewhat frustrated.
• Sacramento had a very nonchalant workout but then again I'm not aware of how hard their morning practices are.

Standard Pre-Game Pop Quote

He's a fine example of a professional. Somebody who does his job, enjoys his job, stays ready. Great teammate. He embodies those characteristics. That's really important for team and that's why people respect him so much.

- Pop on what makes Patty Mills a great teammate.

Quick Game Hash

For more coverage of last night's game, please read Matthew Tynan's recap.

Forget Manu Ginobili's career high in assists. Forget that the Spurs dropped 3,391,000 points last night.

The only thing that people will remember from last night's game is Parker collapsing down on top of Isaiah Thomas' foot. If the recovery from a grade 2 ankle sprains plays out the way it is supposed to, Parker will return after a month and with only a week or two remaining in the regular season, hopefully enough for him to return to his high level of play.

Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili have missed a combined 21 games due to injury (not including being benched for rest) and that number will continue to rise.

My Game Boss

	TIM DUNCAN
	PTS	FGM	FGA	REB	AST	STL	BLK	MIN
	13	5	8	10	3	3	3	25

Duncan looked solid for the first time since his return from the knee injury. Tim looked balanced in the paint and his legs were under him as he went up for jumpers and rebounds. One could argue that "it was the Kings" but Cousins is a physical specimen that was getting (legally) rough with the big fundamental on several occasions. With Tony going down for who knows how long, Duncan's return to form couldn't have been better timed.

My Game Runt

	JOHN SALMONS
	PTS	FGM	FGA	REB	AST	STL	TO	MIN
	3	1	7	1	1	2	1	21

Salmons struggled on the perimeter defensively but what earned him the Runt award was being a complete void on offense.

By the Numbers

• 41 - Total assists by the San Antonio Spurs.
• 80.4 - Percentage of the 51 field goals the Spurs assisted on.
• 5 - Kings offensive rebounds, the second lowest number the Spurs have allowed this season.
• 6 - Games the Spurs have scored over 120 points this season. Only 1 of those required overtime.
• 15 - Spurs advantage on the boards. Tied for the third highest margin this season.
• 61 - Bench points for the Spurs
• 1 - Number of Spurs players who did not score in last night's game. Nando De Colo.
• 2 - Number of Spurs who shot worse than 50% last night (Matt Bonner was 4-9 FG).

Odds & Ends

@johnmoe: "Grandpa, how did North Korea finally join the community of nations?" "Well, there was this weirdo former NBA player. Good rebounder..."

@drew_48moh: CoJo with longer hair on his head to go along with some facial hair. Just another Austin hipster at this point.

@RichardCOliver: Watching @DukeOfBexar work at press row: Earnest, serious, pensive. Oh wait, my bad. He's asleep.

Going into the Next Game, the Spurs Need to...

Stay healthy. For the love of God, stay healthy. San Antonio has nine days before the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town and three home games between now and then (Detroit, Chicago, and Portland) but the Spurs legitimate MVP candidate will miss out on the match-up against the current second-seed in the West and possibly the last match-up on April 4th. Spurs have been playing most of the season with an incomplete roster but the Spurs need as much as they can going down the home stretch of the 2012-13 season. Coach Popovich will downplay the importance of the top seed but I'd rather have four games in the AT&T Center if the two teams meet for a Western Conference Finals rematch.

Not that it mattered last season..

For more rambling, Spurs talk, and tips on homemade gazpacho, follow Aaron Preine on twitter at @DukeOfBexar. You're likely not to regret it.