Pau Gasol has heard about the shorthanded Spurs needing to adopt a hold-the-fort mentality during the first few weeks or even months of the season.

While such an approach makes perfect sense given the absence of All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard and four-time NBA champion point guard Tony Parker, Gasol isn’t buying it.

“You don’t want to just say you are holding the fort or take it, take it, take it until they come back,” Gasol said Sunday. “What you want to be is be aggressive and play your best with the guys you have and focus on the things we can control like (maintaining) our defensive principles and making sure we play unselfishly and well offensively.

“If we do that, we have a pretty good chance to beat a lot of teams in this league.”

The Spurs won’t have to wait long to get a chance to prove Gasol right. They open the regular season Wednesday at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves, projected to be one of the most improved teams in the league after adding three-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler and other salty veterans to go along with their collection of talented youngsters.

“We have got to be aggressive,” Gasol said. “We have to be confident. We can’t be on our heels.”

If there is a silver lining to the Spurs’ injury situation, it’s that the team has had plenty of time to adjust to life without Leonard and Parker.

The Spurs have known since May when Parker tore his left quadriceps tendon in the playoffs against Houston that they would be without him deep into the season.

They didn’t find out Leonard would be sidelined to start the season until coach Gregg Popovich announced it late last week. But they played all five preseason games without him while he rehabbed his injured right thigh, so it’s not like they are adjusting on the fly to losing their linchpin player.

“It’s unfortunate because we need him,” guard Manu Ginobili said of Leonard. “But the good thing is so far we have played every practice, every scrimmage and every game without him. We have had time to adjust.”

That was evident by how the Spurs played in their preseason finale. With forward LaMarcus Aldridge notching a double-double with 26 points on 12-of-21 shooting and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes, the Spurs made 53.6 percent of their shots and scored 60 points in the paint en route to a 106-97 win.

“Last game was by far the best one (of the preseason),” Ginobili said. “We are in a good stage. We have some chemistry built up. It’s not like we are all new. Also, the new pieces we have are doing well.”

Most notably, big man Joffrey Lauvergne has been “incredible,” Ginobili said.

“He’s been very important to the second unit with his aggressiveness, with his energy, his physicality,” Ginobili said. “It’s been a great find. We needed a five man that gets to the paint and draws attention for Davis (Bertans) to take a shot or Danny (Green) or whoever is open. He has been a great contributor so far.”

But the Spurs are most excited about the play of Aldridge, who averaged 18 points while shooting 57.4 percent in the preseason.

Ginobili expects Aldridge’s stellar play to continue as he replaces Leonard as the focal point of the offense.

“The absence of Kawhi had given him even more possessions and more confidence, and he knows we are going to go through him almost every possession,” Ginobili said. “He is getting to the paint and being aggressive. It’s going to be a great season for him.”

Gasol agreed.

“LaMarcus is in great rhythm, playing with great confidence,” Gasol said. “With Kawhi out, it allows other guys to step in and get some looks in situations they wouldn’t get if Kawhi were healthy. Everyone has to capitalize on their opportunity and do the best that they can with the hand that they have been dealt.”

With five of their first seven games on the road, including an Oct. 30 clash with East power Boston and a Nov. 2 home outing against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the Spurs will be tested early. But even if they do stumble out of the gate, Ginobili said it’s important for them to maintain a sense of perspective while waiting for Leonard and Parker to return.

The Spurs hope Parker will be back in action in December. There is no timeline yet for Leonard’s return.

“We want to be at our best in March, April, May,” Ginobili said.

Added guard Patty Mills, “We would love to have everyone healthy. But this is the first game (Wednesday). It’s not the start of the playoffs.”

torsborn@express-news.net

Twitter: @tom_orsborn