One mistake compounds the next, and Richard Jefferson looks burdened, lost and alone. Scouts say “his confidence looks shot,” and that “he isn’t shooting the ball as much as guiding it.” Jefferson knows his lapses on defense are far more glaring when he can’t score.

“When I’m shooting the ball like this, it makes it hard for everyone to get their job done,” he said. “I’m not putting all the blame on me, but you have to look at yourself first.”

As much as anything, the Spurs have lost the identity that won them four championships in nine seasons, that toughness and tenacity which made them a nightmare to play. The Spurs don’t grind teams anymore. They’re one game away from the All-Star break and they’re no longer playing for seeding in the Western Conference; they’re trying to make the playoffs.

“I was in one situation for seven of eight years, and I’m the one who has to do most of the adjusting here,” Jefferson said. “Tony [Parker], Tim, Manu [Ginobili] are in their system. Keith Bogans comes here and he’s the defensive player that hits threes. [Antonio McDyess] picks and pops. I’m in a whole new system trying to find my way.”

“But it’s not an excuse. I thought I would have played better by this point.”

Jefferson is smart and mature, and had a young career that benefited incredibly from Jason Kidd feeding him the ball and winning him a $78 million contract from the Nets. League sources say the Spurs have raised his name in trades talks but found out quickly there’s no market for him and his contract.