Spurs news and notes: Murphy Update, Parker to shoot more three pointers? Tony Parker needs your help.

• Troy Murphy Update: According to Mike Mazzeo of ESPN, on Wednesday, the New Jersey Nets announced Troy Murphy would not be rejoining the team for the remainder of their current west coast trip:

“Billy said we’re just going to stay along the same path,” Johnson said. “[Murphy] will not be rejoining our team.”

The Nets are trying to trade Murphy, who has fallen out of the rotation and has not played since Jan. 7. 

• Tony Parker needs your help: Parker has been nominated as 1 of 8 players to have a chance to participate in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge at All Star Weekend on February 19. Spurs fans, please visit the link and vote for Tony to have a shot at participating in the event.

• Yahoo’s Marc Spears wrote about how the Spurs are under the radar nationally, yet they don’t mind the lack of attention:

“We laugh about it and love it,” Popovich said. “The less attention, the more time and focus we have to concentrate on what we’d like to do. Having the success we’ve had with championships, we don’t need anyone to give us credit.”

• According to CBSSports.com, Tony Parker has been advised to start shooting more jump shots from behind the arc:

Last week San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich asked guard Tony Parker to work on his long-range shot more. While he’s only taken seven shots from downtown over his last five games, Parker is shooting at a high percentage over that span.

• Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune writes about how former Spurs player-now assistant coach Jacque Vaughn is enjoying coaching thus far:

“I love it, I really do,” he said. “Playing was a dream come true. It was a thrill and this challenge is also a thrill for me.

“The day-in and day-out preparation, I love doing. I still get excited for the games. I still love practice. So I’m glad to be around, for sure.”

• After losing to the Spurs on Monday, Golden State Warriors forward David Lee expressed his views on this years Spurs team; according to Lee, the Spurs aren’t a real contender, writes Tim Griffin:

“They’re a very frustrating team to play,” Lee told the Associated Press. “I don’t go out there feeling like they’re a better team than us. When you play the Lakers you look at their size and say it’s going to be a tough game.