San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 75 – NBA Blog

Game 2: Jefferson hounds Mavs, Spurs win

The AP reports:

Knowing he was among the guys Spurs coach Gregg Popovich thought “played like dogs” in the opener, Richard Jefferson bounced back by scoring 17 of his 19 points in the first half to help San Antonio beat the Dallas Mavericks 102-88 in Game 2 on Wednesday night. The win ties their first-round series at a game apiece, with the next two games in the Alamo City…

Tim Duncan was San Antonio’s second-half star, scoring 17 of his 25 points then, often just in time to douse Dallas rallies. He also had 17 rebounds…

Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki went from hardly missing in Game 1 to hardly making. The Spurs didn’t even smother him; merely knowing they were creeping his way threw Nowitzki out of whack. He missed six of his first seven shots, and even missed a free throw after having made 88 in a row.

“If they give me those same looks on Friday, I’ll take them,” said Nowitzki, who finished with 24 points, down from 36 in the opener…

Manu Ginobili had 23 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:48 left that he punctuated with a celebratory punch as fans began rushing toward the exits.

Tony Parker, still coming off the bench, had 16 points and eight assists.

Tony Parker OK with coming off bench

Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Spurs point guard Tony Parker admits he hasn’t quite been feeling like himself lately. He’s been feeling a little off, a little out of sorts, a little Argentine.

“I’m Manu Jr.,” Parker said.

Coming off the bench, it seems, can create quite an identity crisis. For the past seven games including Sunday’s Game 1 defeat at Dallas, Parker — like Manu Ginobili once did — has found himself in unaccustomed territory as a reserve.

In the Spurs’ 100-94 playoff-opening loss, Parker backed up George Hill and produced a Manu Jr.-like bench line: 18 points and four assists.

It is an arrangement Parker has told coach Gregg Popovich he’s OK with, even though he started all but seven of his first 662 career games.

Spurs try Hack-a-Damp

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Unable to stop Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 36 points on 12-for-14 shooting, the Spurs intentionally fouled Mavericks’ center Erick Dampier on three straight possessions. Popovich has been a frequent employer of the tactic in previous playoff series, most notably against center Shaquille O’Neal, when he played for the Lakers and Suns.

Dampier made four-of-six free throws, finishing off by making both on the third intentional foul.

The Mavericks weren’t surprised by the ploy.

Game 1: Nowitzki leads Mavs past Spurs 100-94

The AP reports:

Dirk Nowitzki opened the playoffs in a high gear, making 12 of 14 shots and scoring 36 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 100-94 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.

Caron Butler scored 22 points and Brendan Haywood added 10 in their playoff debut for Dallas. Both were part of a major trade in February that turned a good Mavericks team into a much better one…

Duncan had 27 points and eight rebounds, Ginobili scored 26 and Parker had 18 points and four assists. George Hill started at point guard, but was scoreless with two turnovers in 18 minutes…

Jason Kidd had 13 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, and Erick Dampier had five points, 12 rebounds and lots of bruises from bumping against Duncan.

MAVERICKS NOTES

– Dirk Nowitzki matched his 1st half regular season high of 19 points (at IND, 11/27) with 19 in 20 minutes on 7-9 FGs, 5-5 FTs. He added 6 rebounds and 1 block.
– Nowitzki finished the game with 12th 35-point game of his playoff career with a game-high 36 points (12-14 FGs, 12-12 FTs) and 7 rebounds in 40 minutes.
– Jason Kidd recorded his 35 playoff points-assists double-double with 13 points (5-12 FGs, 3-6 3FGs), 8 rebounds, 11 assists and 4 steals in 41 minutes.
– Erick Dampier scored all 6 of his points at the free throw line tonight. His 12 FTAs were a career-high (previously 10). He added a game-high 12 rebounds and 1 block in 30 minutes.
– For the 9th time in his playoff career, Caron Butler scored 20 points. He contributed 22 points (8-19 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 5-6 FTs), 6 rebounds and 3 steals in 40 minutes.
– The Mavericks forced 10 steals tonight led by Kidd’s 4. During the regular season, Dallas was 19-2 when coming away with 10+ steals.
– Dallas improves to 1-0 in the postseason when shooting a lower percentage than the opposition. San Antonio outshot Dallas 50.0% (39-78 FGs) to 47.3% (35-74 FGs). In the regular season, the Mavs were 13-23 when shooting worse than their opponent.
– Tonight’s attendance was 20,372 fans (19,200 capacity). The Mavs have sold out 358 consecutive regular season games at AAC. Dallas currently owns the longest running sellout streak in the NBA. Dallas has sold out all 41 games in each of the past eight seasons. The Mavericks have now sold out 45 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2002.

George Hill steps on cameraman, tweaks ankle

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

George Hill tweaks ankle after stepping on cameraman

Spurs guard George Hill tweaked his previously injured right ankle stepping on a camera man in the first quarter of tonight’s game at Dallas and will not return.

Hill, who missed four games this month with a strained ankle tendon, landed on the cameraman on the baseline after completing a layup with 7:14 to play in the quarter.

InsideHoops.com Says:

I’m actually surprised this doesn’t happen more often. Some of the camera and photographer areas near the basket are extremely crowded. There’s very little room for NBA players around the baseline near the basket support. Which is strange, because players are a tad more important than the guys who record or take photos of them.

Duncan, Ginobili sit out finale

The AP reports:

The San Antonio Spurs turned in a starting lineup for the season finale that included Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Then coach Gregg Popovich changed his mind.

Duncan and Ginobili didn’t even suit up for a game against the Dallas Mavericks that had direct playoff implications — a Dallas win would give the Mavs the No. 2 seed and the Spurs the No. 7 seed, meaning they would meet in the first round of the playoffs.

Texas D-League team has name: The Legends

The sporting world can now add an entire roster of Texas Legends to the history books: The newest NBA D-League franchise has a team name!

The Texas Legends begin play this November at their home in the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. Team owners, Donnie Nelson and Evan Wyly, revealed their team name during a “Birthday Party” press conference just prior to the Harlem Globetrotters game on Saturday evening.

“Texas Legends is a tribute to the men and women who helped make our great state what it is today!” Nelson commented. “From early pioneers of freedom to modern day heroes, we celebrate those who’ve sacrificed greatly and achieved the honorable.”

The team is “Legendary” even prior to drafting players. Nelson and Wyly made history by hiring Nancy Lieberman as the Texas Legends’ head coach. Lieberman is the first female head coach in NBA and NBA D-League history. In addition to Lieberman, 1986 Slam Dunk Champion, “Spud” Webb is the team’s President of Basketball Operations, and NBA coaching legend Del Harris is the team’s General Manager.

“Our team name, Texas Legends, is a great fit because the NBA Development League is where future NBA legends are born!” Wyly added.

Thousands of name submissions came from the Metroplex, all corners of the United States, and even as far away as Europe, China, and Australia. Fans sent in name choices which were then narrowed down to 40, and then a final three candidates.

“We’ve got a Legendary staff, and we will have a Legendary franchise,” Webb commented. “Anytime a new franchise announces its team name it is a historic day, but to have such a unique name makes it even more exciting. We’ve gotten off to a great start the past few months, and now with a team name it’s going to be a slam dunk.”

The Texas Legends is the 17th team in the NBA D-League franchise.

“The Texas Legends will be a franchise that is a tremendous opportunity for any player.” Harris concluded. “This is the purpose of the NBA Development League – developing players both on and off the court – and preparing them for an NBA opportunity. As a Texas Legend, you get the opportunity to become an NBA legend.”

Spurs sign Manu Ginobili to contract extension

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that guard Manu Ginobili has signed a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy terms of the contract were not announced.

According to CBS Sports, “Ginobili, 32, will make $11.8 million in 2010-11, $12.9 million in ’11-12 and $14.1 million in the final year of the deal, bringing the total to more than $38,8 million, sources said.”

The 6-6 Ginobili was selected by San Antonio with the 57th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. In his eight seasons, Ginobili has helped navigate the Spurs to three NBA Championships. He and Bill Bradley are the only two players to win a NBA Championship, an Olympic gold medal and a Euroleague Championship.

“It is quite obvious how important Manu has been to our program,” said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “It is a great feeling to know that one of the best players in the world will continue to be a Spur.”

The 32-year-old Ginobili was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. That season he was also selected to the All-NBA Third Team, becoming the first South American – and first sixth man – to earn All-NBA honors. Among active NBA players in playoff action Ginobili ranks eighth in three-pointers made (170), fifth in steals (148) and is tied for ninth in free throws made (478). An All-Star in 2005, he has also been named the NBA’s Player of the Week three times.

In 550 regular season games Ginobili has averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.51 steals in 27.8 minutes. He is the Spurs franchise leader in three-pointers made (801) and attempted (2,125) and is seventh all-time in points (8,232), eighth in assists (2,058) and fifth in steals (834). Ginobili has appeared in 107 playoff games and averaged 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.38 steals in 32.9 minutes. On San Antonio’s all-time playoff leaders, he ranks first in three-pointers made (170) and attempted (447) and is fourth in points (1,710), third in rebounds (510), fourth in assists (378) and second in steals (148).

A member of the Argentinean National Team since 1998, Ginobili led Argentina to the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics after averaging 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.38 steals in 29.9 minutes in eight games. During the 2000-01 season he was named the MVP of both the Italian League and the Euroleague Finals as Virtus Bologna captured the title in both the Italian and Euroleague Championships.

Spurs, Ginobili set to announce extension

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

The deal that will keep guard Manu Ginobili with the Spurs for three more seasons has been completed, and the team plans to announce the contract extension on Friday.

Negotiations on final details were hammered out late Thursday afternoon and Ginobili was expected to sign the new contract, the details of which were approved by the NBA office on Thursday.

The extension will pay Ginobili $38.9 million through the 2012-13 season.

NBA fines Phil Jackson

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Jackson was fined for comments made after the Lakers’ 100-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, April 4, at STAPLES Center.

Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News reports:

Jackson was displeased with the manner in which calls went against Ron Artest, who was locked in a physical battle with Manu Ginobili.

“They wouldn’t let Ron play the way he played prior to (a second-quarter technical foul),” Jackson said Sunday. “(Ginobili) could hook Ron (who) didn’t get what was going on and ended up getting too many fouls on him.

“The way we ended up the half, I think turned the referees against us and when you do that, that’s an unfortunate thing. Ron didn’t back off and didn’t read that official well enough to know (when) to back off. … Ginobili forced the issue and got the calls.”

The NBA playoffs are approaching fast.