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Tony Parker status for Game 3 vs Clippers: good to go

Spurs need an effective Tony Parker

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News with a key health update on the Spurs:

Tony Parker will play Game 3 vs Clippers

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says perennially hobbled point guard Tony Parker will play in Game 3 tonight against the L.A. Clippers. Given Parker left Game 2 in the fourth quarter with soreness in his right Achilles tendon — to go with a rolled ankle and thigh contusion suffered in Game 1 — it is fair to wonder how effective he might be.

The matchup between a limping Parker and Clippers All-Star Chris Paul has not been a fair fight so far. Paul has outscored Parker 53-11 in two games, a gulf the Spurs have been forced to make up in other areas.

Though the Spurs have used several different defenders against Paul, including newly minted Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, Parker has drawn the assignment to start the game.

Kawhi Leonard wins 2014-2015 NBA Defensive Player of Year

Kawhi Leonard wins 2014-2015 NBA Defensive Player of Year

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, who became only the sixth forward to lead the NBA in steals per game since the league started tracking the statistic 42 years ago, is the recipient of the 2014-15 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. He becomes the first Spurs player to win the award since David Robinson in 1991-92.

Leonard garnered 37 first-place votes and 333 total points from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. He edged the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, who tallied 45 first-place votes and 317 points. The Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan finished third with 261 points (32 first-place votes).

Also in the voting, Anthony Davis (Pelicans) came in 4th, Rudy Gobert (Jazz) 5th, Andrew Bogut (Warriors) 6th, and Tony Allen (Grizzlies) 7th.

Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received.

The 6-7 Leonard averaged career highs of 2.31 steals and 5.9 defensive rebounds to help anchor a Spurs defense that held opponents under 100 points per game (97.0) for the 20th consecutive season. According to NBA.com/Stats, San Antonio ranked third in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 99.6 points per 100 possessions. The Spurs gave up only 97.1 points per 100 possessions when Leonard was on the court, a defensive rating that would have led the league over the entire season. When Leonard was off the court, though, San Antonio permitted 102.2 points per 100 possessions, a league-average defensive rating.

Clippers take Game 1 vs Spurs

Clippers take Game 1 vs Spurs

The Clippers beat the Spurs 107-92 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin did big things for the home squad in the win. Here’s the Orange County Register reporting:

Paul delivered on the all-around excellence fans of his are accustomed to, scoring 32 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists, and Griffin delivered four of the game’s most emphatic points on the way to 26, 12 and 6.

“They had it going,” Doc Rivers said. “And we noticed it and kind of rode it.”

With the game yet to be decided in the third quarter, Griffin hammered home two separate merciless slam dunks on the head of San Antonio reserve Aron Baynes, sending the Staples Center crowd into a state of euphoria.

And while the defending NBA champions fought back from a 20-point lead to get within single digits in the fourth quarter, Griffin and Paul were there again to answer, leading a 7-0 run that doused any sparks of a comeback.

With four days off since their regular season finale, the Clippers had a trio of practices to go over the Spurs and their multiple offensive sets and defensive schemes.

Jarell Eddie named D-League Performer of Week through March 22

Jarell Eddie named D-League Performer of Week

Austin Spurs forward Jarell Eddie was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, March 16 – Sunday, March 22. The award is the first of Eddie’s career and he joins Kyle Anderson and Bryce Cotton as Spurs to have earned the honor this season.

Eddie (6-7, 220, Virginia Tech) led Austin to a 2-0 week as his Spurs clinched a playoff spot on Friday with the 126-113 win over the Texas Legends and secured the team’s status as the Southwest Division Champion following the 115-95 victory over the Bakersfield Jam on Saturday.

For the week, Eddie averaged 26.0 points on 65 percent shooting to go with 6.5 rebounds. He connected on 63 percent (12-of-19) of shots his from behind the arc last week, securing a season-high 34 points off the bench against the Jam.

Eddie, who earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the Atlanta Hawks earlier this month, has appeared in 39 games for the Spurs this season, 16 as a starter, and is averaging 12.6 points and 3.5 rebounds on the season.

Other top performers considered included Bakersfield’s Joe Jackson, Oklahoma City’s Frank Gaines, Sioux Falls’ Shawn Jones, Reno’s David Stockton and Texas’ Jarrid Famous.

Gregg Popovich does not want a stretched-out NBA schedule

Gregg Popovich does not want a stretched-out NBA schedule

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich thinks of an NBA schedule that goes deeper into the summer:

One would imaging that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would lead the drum beat for any NBA schedule change that would lessen the amount of back-to-back games, and especially the dreaded four-in-five nights.

If it comes at the expense of a longer season, however, he’s not a fan.

“I think the season is long enough,” Popovich said. “I will not come to work in July. If there’s a game in July, count me out.”

Even a championship game?

“Count me out. Count me out. Life is too short.”

Popovich was joking — we think — but his point remains: The NBA season already stretches over nine full months, from the start of training camp in October until finishing up with the Finals in June.

Kyle Anderson named D-League Player of Month for February, 2015

Kyle Anderson named D-League Player of Month for February, 2015

Kyle Anderson, a small forward playing with the Austin Spurs on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs, was today named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February. The award is the first monthly honor for Anderson, who was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week on Feb. 9.

Anderson (6-9, 230, UCLA) led the Spurs to an 8-1 month in February, when he scored 20-or-more points five times and recorded four double-doubles. He led the team in scoring three times and was the leading rebounder five times. He dished out team-high assists five times in February. For the month, Anderson averaged 22.8 points to go with 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Anderson has played in 16 games on assignment in Austin, averaging 22.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Other players receiving consideration for the monthly award were Bakersfield’s Mac Koshwal, Canton’s Brandon Paul, Fort Wayne’s Andre Emmett, Iowa’s Kalin Lucas and Sioux Falls’ Scotty Hopson.

Tony Parker, Spurs struggling lately

Tony Parker, Spurs struggling lately

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting on the Spurs, who are 34-23 this season and have lost four games in a row:

The past three games have not been kind to Spurs point guard Tony Parker. Since a 21-point, 13-assist outing in Thursday’s loss at the Los Angeles Clippers, Parker has gone 3 of 21 from the field, totaling nine points with 10 turnovers.

Wednesday in Portland, he missed seven of eight shots and finished with four points in the Spurs’ 111-95 loss to the Trail Blazers…

“It’s tough right now. It’s tough. Since I’ve been with the Spurs, I’ve never experienced that in a 3-game, 4-game stretch. We’re not making shots. It starts with me. I’m not making shots. Our 3-point shooters are not making shots, and everything is tough. We just have to stay positive.

“I was excited after the Clippers game, because you know we lost, but it was a great game, and we were in the whole game and I felt good. Now it’s just struggle time. Sometimes, we’ve been so successful, we just have to stay positive and hope it will turn. But right now, it’s definitely hard right now.”

Guard Bryce Cotton named D-League Performer of Week

Guard Bryce Cotton named D-League Performer of Week

Austin Spurs guard Bryce Cotton was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 16 – Sunday, Feb. 22. The honor is the first of Cotton’s career and he is the second Spurs player to earn the award this season.

Cotton (6-0, 163, Providence) led Austin to a 3-0 record last week, averaging 30.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Cotton recorded an NBA D-League career-high 43 points to go with eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals in a 147-142 road win over Reno on Feb. 19, the night after he scored 32 points against the Bighorns. For the week, Cotton shot 54 percent (28-of-52) from the floor and 56 percent (10-of-18) from three-point territory. The three-victory week helps Austin extend a nine-game win streak that began on Jan. 27.

Selected as a 2015 NBA D-League All-Star, Cotton has appeared in 34 games for the Spurs this season, averaging 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 40.4 minutes.

Other top performers considered included Bakersfield’s Mac Koshwal, Delaware’s D.J. Seeley, Idaho’s Jack Cooley, Iowa’s Kalin Lucas, Oklahoma City’s Marquis Teague, Reno’s Sim Bhullar, Rio Grande Valley’s Clint Capela and Santa Cruz’s Elliot Williams.

San Antonio Spurs sign Reggie Williams

San Antonio Spurs sign Reggie Williams

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Reggie Williams.

Williams has appeared in three games for the Spurs since being signed to the first of two 10-day contracts on Jan. 28.

Williams, 6-6/210, appeared in 13 games this season for the Blue of the NBA D-League, averaging 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.08 steals in 31.9 minutes. He has also spent time in the D-League with the Blue in 2013-14 and the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2009-10. In 69 career D-League games, he has averaged 22.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 37.7 minutes.

In the NBA, the Virginia native has suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder (2013-14), Charlotte Hornets (2011-13) and the Golden State Warriors (2009-11). In 183 total games, he has averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.5 minutes.

Williams has also played internationally for San Miguel Beerman of the Philippines (2014), Caja Laboral of Spain (2011) and JDA Dijon of France (2008-09). He played collegiately at the Virginia Military Institute (2004-08).

Spurs visit the Clippers tonight

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting on the Spurs, who head to Los Angeles to visit the Clippers tonight:

The Spurs view their annual rodeo trip as an opportunity to bond and gear themselves up for the stretch run. They need that now more than ever as they enter the second half of the season still stuck in seventh place in the bloodbath that is the Western Conference despite winning 13 of their last 17 before the All-Star break.

If they’re going to climb up the standings, winning games against the six teams above them is critical. Especially when said teams are missing a key player, as the Clippers are without injured All-Star Blake Griffin. His absence didn’t prevent the Clippers from spanking Dallas and Houston by a combined 32 points in their most recent outings. But it leaves them perilously thin with Glen Davis as their primary backup big.