Opening Statement: We're working in training camp to get some new people into the flow, mainly Speedy Claxton and Emanuel Ginobili. We've got a returning starting five that's got some pretty good corporate knowledge. They were in the system last year together for the first year and we feel they've retained a lot and it gives us a good starting point this year, where we can be a lot further ahead than we were last season in teaching the system. Guys are doing well and we're looking forward to the season.

Q: Can you talk about David Robinson's role this season and a possible lineup with Tim Duncan at center and Malik Rose at power forward?

Popovich: Well, I think you've already seen that. David's role won't change. It'll be the same as it has been the last several years. Malik Rose will be in there quite a bit with Tim Duncan as he has been in the past. In that respect, it won't change at all. It will be just as you've seen in previous years.

Q: What are some things you're looking for from Tony Parker this year?

Popovich: He spent the summer doing two things for the most part, lifting to get stronger, and shooting so he can be more consistent on his shot and more disciplined in his release, gained some confidence in that area. So he's done well in both areas and we think he's definitely improved in that regard and those were the goals that we set for him for the summer and we'll find out if he met them, shooting-wise, as the season progresses. But we feel real good about the work he put in. Those two things and probably increased leadership, taking control of the team, are what he'll concentrate on.

We expect Tony to just pick up where he left off, becoming more of a leader for the team and taking charge of what's going on out on the court. He's worked hard on his shooting and worked hard in the weight room to get stronger. As far as who he's playing with, it doesn't really matter. Tony's a team player. He understands the game very well. No matter who's on the court, he'll blend with them very well.

Q: How popular is Parker in San Antonio?

Popovich: He's very popular in San Antonio. People respect him very much. He's an intelligent young man. He's worked in the community and really become a fan favorite, and I'm very aware of how popular he is in France, especially after the clinic he had this summer. I've been informed quite often about his popularity in France.

Q: What does the presence of Speedy Claxton do for Parker's development?

Popovich: I think that Speedy's going to be great for Tony, because he's really going to push him. Tony didn't have much competition in practice last year. He's got that on a daily basis this year and I think that's just going to make him a better player. For the team, it's going to keep us on a certain pace during a game. We're not going to fall off at all, I don't think, no matter who's in the game. We're going to be able to run everything that we would like to run and it's very good for our team.

Q: Can you talk about Emanuel Ginobili?

Popovich: I'm very impressed with the way he's progressed since we drafted him two years ago. His progress has been steady and significant in all areas really. He's somebody that obviously possesses athleticism, along with basketball knowledge and basketball ability. He's not just fast and quick or a jumper. He does have those things, but he's able to make that coincide with a real knowledge of what's going on out on the court in a team sense, to find teammates, to make players better on his basketball team so his all-around game is very good in that regard. Probably the thing he'll have to work on the most is strength. The international game is just a different game. It's not just a couple of rules here and there but the way it's played is very different from the NBA and it will take him a little bit of time to get used to that at his position, but I don't think it will take him a long time because he's a very intelligent young man and he's a competitor who I think will catch on very quickly. Unfortunately, he had the ankle injury in the World Championship and has only really begun to play here in the preseason, so it might be a little bit longer than one would think. The injury has held him back a bit.

Q: What will his role be like in terms of minutes?

Popovich: I really don't know how many minutes. It's more up to the player than it is up to me because I want to win and our team wants to win and if Manu is playing at a level that he can help us win, I should have him on the court. I think a lot of it will depend on how he plays and how quickly he picks things up. If it's four minutes or 32 minutes, I don't care, as long as they're productive minutes and he can help us, that's how long he'll be on the floor.

Q: How do you beat the Lakers?

Popovich: I would take the battery out of Shaq's car so he can't show up and with Kobe we'd probably do something similar, I just haven't thought of it yet. They're a heck of a basketball team and I think with them, the most important thing is you have to believe you can get it done and we do believe. Secondly, you have to be consistent down the stretch of games. You have to be able to execute down the stretch. They're definitely not unbeatable. It's a fine line oftentimes between winning and losing games like we did in the playoffs last year. A turnover here and there, a made shot here and there, totally changes a game. It's not like they're beating people by 20 in all of these games in the playoffs. But they do a great job of finishing games and finishing quarters and your team has to be mature enough and execute well enough to play that game and to not make mistakes in those situations. If you can do that, then you have an opportunity to beat the Lakers.

Q: Do you design your team in the offseason to beat the Lakers?

Popovich: I think you definitely start with the Lakers because you know in the end, that's who you have to go through. They've done a great job and they deserve to have that target that's on their back, but I think it would be a mistake to be too myopic and only think of the Lakers because there are three of four other teams in the league that are very good basketball teams and can be there just as well so it's not something you can exclusively do but the Lakers are the team you begin with.