When William B. Travis sent out a plea for reinforcements as he and his men in the Alamo faced the formidable army of Santa Anna, 32 volunteers from Gonzalez arrived to fight. It was a strong showing of honor and courage, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough.

Gregg Popovich is looking for a similar showing of support these days in San Antonio, but not even a rag-tag contingent has arrived to help his Spurs and their flagging defense. Of course, trying to win in the NBA lacks the life-and-death gravity of the fight for Texas independence, but the 1-4 Spurs are in the midst of an early crisis of their own. While many throughout the NBA take a quiet pleasure from San Antonio’s stumble from the gate, Popovich is trying to convince his remaining troops that the only way to survive the losses of backcourters Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker (ankles, both) is to play the kind of defense that was the team’s hallmark during its four title runs.

A team that just five seasons ago set league marks by allowing just 84.3 ppg and 40.9 percent field goal success is now allowing rivals to convert 47.9 percent of their tries and score 22 points a game on layups or dunks. Yes, Ginobili and Parker are vital to the team’s championship hopes, but you don’t have to be an all-star to play good defense. Looking at the Spurs’ roster, which is littered with names like Matt Bonner, George Hill, Anthony Tolliver and Ime Udoka, selling the concept of defense shouldn’t be a problem, because those guys don’t exactly have a history of doing much else.

Even if Popovich can get everyone in black-and-silver to commit at the hard work end of the floor, he’s not foolish enough — no matter how crazy that beard and Sam Elliott hair make him appear — to think the Spurs can muster a deep playoff run with Tim Duncan and a bunch of help defenders. Ginobili and Parker have to return, and they have to come back strong and productive every night. For now, the Spurs have to fight every night for traction in a conference that is as unforgiving as a desert landscape. If San Antonio tries to outscore opponents, it will be toast this season. In that scenario, the Spurs could forget about a title. They might not even make the playoffs.

So, Popovich preaches the basics. Meanwhile, in some corners of the league, folks are cheering the misfortune. No, they’re not happy Parker and Ginobili are injured. What delights them is a smackdown, however short-lived, for an organization viewed as arrogant by some. Not Popovich or even GM R.C. Buford, but some of their acolytes who have moved on and preached the Spurs Way as the sole path to basketball success. Guess that’s what happens when you’re successful. Jealousy crops up.

Popovich doesn’t care about that. He’s more worried about his point guard situation, which now looks like this: 12-year vet Jacque Vaughn and George Hill, a rookie who’s playing lately with a soft splint on his left thumb, not the best ballhandling aid. If Hill starts Tuesday night against the Knicks, he will be the first rookie in the Spurs’ first five since the ’04-05 season. Think continuity has been important in San Antonio? He’ll try to run things while Parker sits courtside in his fine European clothes for the next four weeks, give or take.

While Parker convalesces, Ginobili has been going through some spirited workouts of late, sprinting, shooting and even — according to reports from south Texas — dunking. He was targeted for a mid-December return, but that could move up quickly, particularly if he reports no troubles in the next couple weeks. Talk about bonanzas. Adding Ginobili to a team that has Roger Mason as its second offensive option would be huge. Nothing against Mason, who was signed to be a three-point weapon and bench scorer, but Ginobili has the potential to be the perfect perimeter complement to Tim Duncan, who has stepped up his scoring.

The Spurs might lose a bunch more games while their backcourt continues to rehab. They might surrender plenty of easy buckets inside while Popovich continues to sell the concept of defense uber alles. But don’t think for a second that San Antonio is headed for a horrible Lottery fate, unless Parker and Ginobili can’t come back. Those two and Duncan are too experienced and battle-tested to whither. And as the season grinds on, they will be ready to win in February and March, when playoff seedings are determined. For now, fans are advised to withstand the ugliness and hold on. Even if the Spurs hold rivals to 35 percent shooting, giving 30 minutes a night to Hill at the point can’t be a good thing. Once the guards return from the infirmary, San Antonio will be tough again. In a Western Conference that appears to be wide open behind L.A., there will be plenty of opportunity for movement. So, laugh while you can, Spurs haters, because things are going to turn around. When they do, San Antonio will be just fine.

And more than ready to defend the Alamo.

GAME OF THE WEEK
New Orleans at Houston, Saturday, November 15, 8:30 p.m EST, NBATV

The Spurs and Mavericks are struggling, so the Hornets and Rockets have the opportunity to break away in the Southwest. Of course, playing each other doesn’t make that easy, but this matchup displays two of the West’s more intriguing clubs. The Rockets are still trying to adjust to their new configuration, while the Bugs are doing exactly what we expected: playing entertaining ball with Chris Paul out in front. This is a great chance to see who’s the early favorite in the division while also charting Ron Artest’s progress with his new teammates.

IN THE PAINT

If you’re looking for a major reason why the Mavericks are struggling early, check out the defensive end. Dallas is allowing 98.2 ppg.

Anyone who was afraid the Suns would become a walk-it-up team should rest assured. Phoenix is scoring 103.3 points a night. And Shaquille O’Neal, thought to be the biggest impediment to the team’s ability to run, is averaging just 24.9 minutes a night. That’s a good strategy to keep what’s left of the Big Cactus fresh for later in the year and to prevent the offense from stagnating.

Memphis may be incredibly young, but it has some budding stars. You know about Rudy Gay, and O.J. Mayo is piling up the numbers while playing 40 a night. But center Marc Gasol has been strong inside and could be averaging a double-double by season’s end.

Anybody else think Atlanta’s going 82-0? Seriously, though, the Hawks are playing great D and getting strong work off the bench from Ronald Murray.

The Clippers are getting killed on the backboards and can’t stop anybody from scoring. They turn the ball over way too much and can’t/won’t stop dribble penetration. And, in typical Clippers luck, they are sinking to the bottom of the NBA at a time when the coming draft looks to be the weakest it has been in several years.

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