San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 67 – NBA Blog

Antonio McDyess plans to play next season

Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports (via blog):

Antonio McDyess, the 36-year-old Spurs forward who as recently as last month had been leaning toward retirement at the end of the season, said Thursday he plans to return for a 15th season.

“My mind is pretty much made up,” McDyess said. “I feel like I’ll be able to lace ‘em up and go again.”

When McDyess joined the Spurs as a free agent in July 2009, his plan was to play two more seasons and call it quits. As an incentive, the Spurs built into McDyess’ contract a third season in 2011-12, of which only $2.64 million is guaranteed — sort of an early retirement present.

The way coach Gregg Popovich has used McDyess this season — sparingly and situationally — has convinced McDyess that he could survive another season. McDyess is playing a career-low 18:06 per game this season, and has missed five games for rest purposes. He is averaging career lows in scoring (5.1 points) and rebounding (5.2 per game), but his shooting percentage (50.2) is up nearly three points from last season.

Spurs sign Steve Novak to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed forward Steve Novak from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract. Novak is the eighth call-up of the 2010-11 D-League season.

Novak, a 6-10 forward, has appeared in two games with the Bighorns, averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes, while shooting .684 (13-19) from the field and .643 (9-14) from three-point range. Prior to joining the Bighorns, Novak appeared in seven games with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 1.6 points in 2.6 minutes.

Originally a second round draft pick (32nd overall) of the Houston Rockets in 2006, Novak played two seasons in Houston before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. In his first season with the Clippers in 2008-09, Novak averaged career-highs of 6.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 16.4 minutes while shooting .444 (176-396) from the field, .416 (119-286) from three-point range and .913 (21-23) from the free throw line. In his five-year NBA career, Novak has appeared in 202 games, averaging 4.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 9.9 minutes, while shooting .435 (289-664) from the field, .406 (191-471) from three-point range and .868 (33-38) from the free throw line.

Novak played four seasons at Marquette University posting career averages of 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 27.0 minutes, while shooting .456 (485-1064) from the field, .461 (354-768) from three-point range and .931 (243-261) from the free throw line. As a freshman, Novak saw action in 33 games and was a member of the Golden Eagles 2003 Final Four team along with Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade. As a senior, Novak was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team after averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game. He ranked third in the nation in three-point field goals made per game (3.9) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.467). Novak holds the Marquette record for three-point field goals made (354) and three-point field goal percentage (.461).

Novak will wear No. 23 for the Silver and Black and will be available for tonight’s game at Detroit.

Spurs assign James Anderson to D-League

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have assigned rookie James Anderson to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. This is Anderson’s second assignment to the Toros this season while rehabbing from a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot which he was diagnosed with on November 11.

Anderson, a 6-6, 215-pound guard, was originally assigned to Austin on January 26. He appeared in two games for the Toros, averaging 14.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.0 minutes. He shot .556 (10-18) from the field, .444 (4-9) from three-point territory and .714 (5-7) from the free throw line. Anderson was recalled by the Spurs on January 29 and saw limited action in three games.

Before the injury, Anderson appeared in six games for the Spurs, averaging 7.0 points and 1.5 assists in 17.7 minutes.

For the season he has appeared in nine games, averaging 5.2 points and 1.1 assists in 13.0 minutes. He is shooting .432 (16-37) from the field and .500 (11-22) from three-point land.

Tony Parker disappointed at not making All-Star team

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Acknowledging he was disappointed at not being added to the team, Parker was gracious, and remained hopeful he might land a spot when NBA commissioner David Stern replaces injured Yao Ming, voted the starting center.

Stern is not required to replace Yao with a center, and the West team includes a strong group of big men.

“Of course, I’m disappointed,” Parker said, “Everybody who made it deserved it, but of course I’m disappointed.

“There’s still one left. We’ll see what happens with that. But I’m just going to ? focus on helping this team win as many games as we can.”

Parker said he was grateful for the support he had gotten from teammates who say he deserved to have been selected.

Spurs half-court offense is fun

Zach Lowe of the Sports Illustrated blog reports:

No team is more fun to watch in the halfcourt, with all the side-to-side movement, backdoor cuts and swinging of the ball. Watch for this one, a personal favorite: Tony Parker and DeJuan Blair will run a pick-and-roll at the top of the three-point arc while Richard Jefferson relaxes on the left wing above the three-point line and Manu Ginobili sprints his way to the left corner, near Jefferson. If Parker penetrates, Jefferson’s guy may sag down toward the foul line to help.

As that happens, Jefferson will drift slightly to the left. Even worse for that poor defender: Tim Duncan will creep up toward the foul line area, position himself between Jefferson and Jefferson’s defender and set a back-screen. When RJ’s defender turns to scurry back out to Jefferson, he’ll run right into Duncan’s chest.

Parker will then kick the ball out to Jefferson, who can either shoot an open triple or — if Ginobili’s man rotates out to him — shoot a pass to Ginobili in the left corner. Gorgeous hoops.

Divorce of Tony Parker, Eva Longoria is finalized

Tim Griffin of Spurs Nation reports:

Spurs guard Tony Parker’s divorce with actress Eva Longoria has been finalized.

The web site TMZ.com and my colleague Jeanne Jakle are reporting that Longoria’s lawyer filed paperwork Friday in Texas to dismiss the divorce petition she filed in L.A. County Superior Court.

Instead, it appears that both sides have agreed that Texas is the best place for the divorce because that’s where Parker and Longoria signed their prenuptual agreement.

TMZ.com reports that there was ultimately no conflict in the divorce between the two sides.

Notes from Spurs win over Rockets

Notes from San Antonio Spurs 108-95 win over Houston Rockets on Friday, January 29, 2011

The Spurs won their 40th game of the season with a 108-95 victory over the Rockets, improving to 40-7 on the season. The 40 wins through the first 47 games of this season is the best record in team history at this point of the season. They become only the eighth team in NBA history to post a record of 40-7 or better through the first 47 games of a season. The best record in NBA history through 47 games is 43-4, which has been achieved once by Philadelphia in the 1966-67 season. San Antonio’s previous best record through 47 games was 37-10, which has been accomplished twice (2005-06, 2004-05).

San Antonio improved to 25-2 at home through the first 27 games played in the AT&T Center. This marks the best home start in team history, matching the 2004-05 Spurs who also won 25 through the first 27 home games. Tonight’s win marks the 18th consecutive win at home, which is the longest home winning streak since the Spurs won 20 in a row from November 11, 1989-February 6, 1990.

The Spurs had balanced scoring tonight, with all five starters reaching double figures, led by Manu Ginobili’s 22. Richard Jefferson scored 18, Tony Parker 17, DeJuan Blair 14 and Tim Duncan 12. This marks the seventh time all five San Antonio starters have reached double figures in the same game.

Ginobili finished the night with 22 points, shooting .636 (7-11) from the field, .667 (4-for-6) from behind the arc and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. This marks the 23rd game he has scored 20 or more points. Last season, he scored at least 20 points 24 times.

Jefferson recorded 18 points on 7-for-8 (.875) shooting from the floor, 2-for-3 (.667) from three-point land and 2-for-2 (1.000) from the free throw line. This marks the 33rd game he has reached double figures in points. Of his 18 points, half came in the third quarter.

POSTGAME QUOTES

SPURS HEAD COACH GREGG POPOVICH: (On Richard Jefferson) “He was aggressive all night, he played well. He caught with the idea of trying to be a scorer whether it was shooting the ball or driving it. He did a good job the entire time he was on the court. He also did a good job on the defensive end.”

SPURS GUARD MANU GINOBILI: (On the importance of getting a home win before the Rodeo Road Trip) “Very important. We’re going to have nine on the road, the usual rodeo trip. It’s important to finish the last home game with a win. Houston for us is always a tough match-up. They play hard, they know us very well, and it’s a team that I like. They’ve been struggling with injuries, but they are a tough team. We played a great second half.”

ROCKETS HEAD COACH RICK ADELMAN: “They’ve had a great year so far. They move the ball very well. They’re very unselfish. They’ve got a lot of guys that can contribute for them. They have all the ingredients of a team that’s going to be very difficult to beat. I’m very impressed with what they’ve done because I don’t think anyone expected this at the start of the year. They’ve been very consistent game-in and game-out.”

ROCKETS FORWARD SHANE BATTIER: (On Tim Duncan) “He’s just solid and he’s always in the right spot. He just knows how to play the game. You can put anyone around him and he makes them better. He’s just a pillar, he is one of the few pillars in this league.”

Spurs recall James Anderson from D-League

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have recalled rookie James Anderson from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. He will be active for San Antonio’s game tonight against the Houston Rockets at the AT&T Center.

Anderson, a 6-6, 215-pound guard, was assigned to the Toros on January 26 for a rehab assignment. He has been out since November 11 when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. In Austin, Anderson played in two games, averaging 14.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game. He shot .556 (10-18) from the field, .444 (4-9) from three-point territory and .714 (5-7) from the free throw line. Before the injury, he appeared in six games for the Spurs, averaging 7.0 points and 1.5 assists in 17.7 minutes per game. He is shooting .424 (14-33) from the field and .500 (10-20) from three-point land.

Spurs sign Larry Owens to second 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed forward Larry Owens to a second 10-day contract. Owens signed his first 10-day contract with the Spurs on January 16 becoming the second call-up of the 2010-11 NBA Development League season.

Owens, a 6-7, 210-pound forward, has appeared in five games for the Spurs, averaging 1.8 points in 5.2 minutes per game. He is shooting .600 (3-5) from the field and .333 (1-3) from three-point territory.

Owens spent the past two seasons with the Tulsa 66ers. This year he started in all 23 games for Tulsa, averaging 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 31.1 minutes while shooting .462 (108-234) from the field, .373 (25-67) from three-point range and .743 (52-70) from the foul line. He scored in double figures 18 times, including a season-high 22 points vs. Iowa on November 26. Owens recorded a double-double in the season opener with 16 points and a season-high 13 rebounds at Bakersfield on November 19.

Spurs assign James Anderson to D-League

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have assigned rookie James Anderson to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

Anderson, a 6-6, 215-pound guard, has been out since November 11 when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. Before the injury, he appeared in six games for the Spurs, averaging 7.0 points and 1.5 assists in 17.7 minutes per game. He is shooting .424 (14-33) from the field and .500 (10-20) from three-point land.

Anderson is the first player the Spurs have assigned to the Toros this season. The Toros host the Reno Bighorns today at 11:00 a.m. at the Cedar Park Center.