Behind the face: Leonard’s comeback

Column by Buck Harvey

LOS ANGELES — They didn’t like Kawhi Leonard Saturday. They were in awe of him.

A few members of the Spurs’ brass stood in a Staples Center hallway trying to find the proper superlative. And, fitting of Leonard, the best compliment was a non-verbal one.

A Spurs official put his hand in front of his face, then lowered it slowly, to show the universal sign for expressionless cool.

That was Leonard, the rookie, on the road, with the Spurs being crushed in the first half.

“He might have been,” the official said, “the steadiest on the floor.”

He might have been the best Spur, too, and that brings up something that should have been understood long ago by people who insist on comparing him to Bruce Bowen. Leonard isn’t Bowen.

Leonard has twice the talent. He can rebound, muscle, dribble and pass. Bowen struggled with all four.

And while Bowen needed time to find a place in the league at age 30, Leonard is there at 20.

Add to that what Bowen did so well, such as shoot the corner three and play defense, and the package is rare. It was all on display Saturday, when Leonard alternated between chasing Chris Paul and bumping with Blake Griffin.

“He’s the one guy nobody ever talks about,” Manu Ginobili said afterward. And maybe he’s also the reason many don’t understand where this 17-in-a-row success has come from. The Spurs have found a young, long, efficient athlete who fills a position that has been lacking since, well, Bowen left.

His composure might be his most impressive trait. Leonard grew up in the area, so he had family and friends here, and yet he reacted to the early rout by not reacting.

“I don’t think he ever gets excited,” Tim Duncan said Saturday. “He’s absolutely even keel the entire time. I think he’s even more mellow than me, if that’s possible.”

Duncan consciously works to keep a poker face. Leonard is a natural.

And it’s not that Leonard has an absence of expression; it’s what is there in place of one. Leonard has permanent sorrow, the look of a sad clown, and it rarely changes.

He was the same after the game Saturday, when the media surrounded him and asked how he thought he did against Griffin.

“I think I did pretty well,” he said, while his faced suggested he had failed miserably.

He never talks to refs, which is smart for a rookie, and he doesn’t say much to his teammates, either. But, according to Stephen Jackson, Leonard has a favorite expression.

“Grind hard.”

The Spurs needed exactly that Saturday. Leonard sat down late in the first quarter after the Clippers jumped out to a 23-9 lead. By the time he came back, the Spurs were losing by 21.

Gregg Popovich later repeated what he often says, that these early leads always scare coaches, because the games are “so doggone long.” But how doggone long would Popovich have stuck with his starters had the Clippers kept their lead?

With another game tonight, Popovich might have been one quarter away from conceding.

So what happened at the end of the first half mattered, and Leonard started it. He hit a runner. Then, after Tony Parker missed, Leonard kept the rebound alive. The basketball fell into Duncan’s arms, and he got the score.

Grind hard, all right.

By the end of the half, the sense was that the Spurs were in control. ?Leonard took that further to start the third quarter, with a three and later a steal that set up a Parker layup.

How the Spurs pulled even: A three-point play inside by Leonard.

“Kawhi sure does not look like a rookie,” Popovich said at a news conference.

And outside the room, standing in the hallway, a Spurs official put his hand in front of his face, then lowered it slowly.

bharvey@express-news.net
Twitter: @Buck_SA

SPURS VS. CLIPPERS
(Spurs lead best-of-seven series 2-0)

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3:

Game 4: Sunday, @Clippers, 9:30 p.m., TNT

* Game 5: Tuesday, @Spurs, TBA, TNT

* Game 6: Friday, @Clippers, TBA, ESPN

* Game 7: May 27, @Spurs, TBA, TNT

* If necessary

Game rewind: Jackson follows well-traveled road for his S.A. return

Before the game, newest Spurs acquisition Stephen Jackson said he’s been enjoying catching up with his favorite San Antonio restaurants and landmarks.

Jackson said that the city hasn’t changed much since he left in 2003, only a few weeks after the Spurs claimed their second NBA championship with the mercurial forward helping to shoot them to the title.

“I know my around,” Jackson said. “I’ve been to Papadeaux’s a couple of times. I’ve been to the Quarry and went to the movies.  There’s not too much that’s different. The highways have changed a little bit, but everything is still the same.”

Once he got into the lineup, his basketball production followed that pattern, too. 

Jackson started hot by hitting his first two shots that helped stake San Antonio’s early run to an impressive 116-100 victory over Minnesota.

It was almost like he had never left. Jackson hit 3 of 4 3-pointers en route to 16 points. It was the same kind of feathery touch he showed in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Spurs’ title-clinching victory in 2003 in his last home game as a Spur.

“We won and that’s what I’m all about,” Jackson said about his Wednesday night effort. “I’m glad to be here on a team that wins. It feels good to finally get back on the court and get this first home game out of the way.”

In the nine years since he left, Jackson has turned into a more mature  veteran who will turn 34 next month. And it appears he’s quickly adapted to the role that Gregg Popovich envisioned for him when he was acquired for Richard Jefferson, a conditional 2012 first-round draft pick and the rights to T.J. Ford last week.

“I did not have too many jitters because I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Jackson said. “To be able to get out there and win this game is great.”

After three days off, the Spurs showed little rustiness as they started with an impressive victory that kicks off their most arduous stretch of the season to date.

Here’s how they did it.

The game, simply stated: After being pounded inside by the Timberwolves in two previous games, the Spurs were more determined inside and dominated the game in the paint as they cruised to a comfortable victory that was marred by Tony Parker’s hamstring injury.  

Where the game was won: Playing without widebody Nikola Pekovic inside, the Spurs exploited his absence quickly. They grabbed five rebounds before Minnesota got one and jumped to a quick 4-0 lead on a Tim Duncan dunk and a fastbreak alley-0op basket from Duncan to Danny Green to take control.

Putting it away: The Spurs erupted on a 14-3 surge to finish the first quarter that coincided with Jackson’s entry into the game. Jackson punctuated the run with a fastbreak dunk on a feed from Manu Ginobili and a 3-pointer on another pass from Ginobili that finished the quarter.   

The finisher: After Love’s layup had pulled Minnesota within 78–65 with 3:11 left in the third quarter, the Spurs hit the Timberwolves with a 15-6 surge capped by Tiago Splitter’s dunk on a pass from Ginobili that boosted them to a 91-69 lead with 54.3 seconds left that was their biggest lead in the game to that point.  

Player of the game I: Duncan had another vintage effort with game-high totals of 21 points, 15 rebounds and four assists. More remarkably, he posted his numbers in only 24:19 and didn’t play after he went out with 2:15 left in the third quarter.

Player of the game II: Jackson delivered strong shooting with three of the Spurs’ seven 3-pointers. He finished with 16 points, three rebounds and two steals in 21:58.  

 Player of the game III: Kawhi Leonard hooked up with Love on several occasions defensively and played well. He also provided 16 points and nine rebounds in the kind of performance that might earn him a permanent starting position — sooner rather than later.

Most unsung: With Tony Parker going down with a hamstring injury with 8:03 left in the second quarter, Gary Neal and Ginobili were thrust into the point guard role. Neal overcame a slow start to finish with 16 points, four steals and three assists. Ginobili provided nine points, eight assists and four rebounds.

Attendance: Bruce Bowen’s jersey retirement night was bound to be one of the most anticipated nights of the regular season. So it wasn’t a surprise that the Spurs attracted another sellout crowd of 18,581 at the ATT Center. It was the Spurs’ 16th capacity crowd in 22 home games this season, including 13 of their last 15 games and ninth in a row. Their last non-capacity game came Feb. 2 against New Orleans. They are averaging 18,305, a capacity rate of 98.5 percent for the season.

Did you notice I: Bruce Bowen and his sons were sitting in the courtside seats. But early in the first quarter, the Bowen boys got a little overexcited and spilled one of their drinks. It made their dad take care  of some family business before his jersey was hoisted to the rafters of the ATT Center.

Did you notice II: Popovich appeared to have some well-placed verbal salvos for DeJuan Blair, who had two late turnovers including an almost comical pass that appeared intended for the fans in the fifth row sitting behind the Spurs’ basket. Whatever Popovich said appeared to get the point across, as well as prompt some snickers from Duncan and Splitter along the San Antonio bench.

Stat of the game I: After being outrebounded by an average of 10 in two previous losses to Minnesota, the Spurs tallied a 56-41 rebounding advantage Wednesday night . Their total Wednesday night was a season high.

Stat of the game II: The Spurs claimed their fourth victory in their last five games.

Stat of the game III: Minnesota’s Kevin Love notched  17 points and 12 rebounds to record his league-leading 40th double-double.

Stat of the game IV: The Spurs grabbed six offensive rebounds before Minnesota  grabbed its first offensive carom and had a 17-9 edge on offensive rebounds in the game.  

Stat of the game V: After struggling recently from the foul line, the Spurs hit 76 percent from the line. Coming into Wednesday’s game, the Spurs had shot 62.5 percent from the line or less in four of five games and 66.7 percent or less in six of their last nine games.

Stat of the game VI: Jackson hit five of his first six shots before hitting on only one of his last three over  the final 20 minutes of the game.

Stat of the game VII: Minnesota has not won in San Antonio in 15 games, a streak dating back to Jan. 14, 2004.

Weird stat of the night: Duncan produced 21 points and 15 rebounds in 24:19. It marked only the second time in his career he has produced at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in less than 25 minutes. The only other time in his career came on Feb. 26, 2004, when he notched 22 points and 17 rebounds in 25 minutes against Dallas.

Weird stat of the night II: Before leaving with his hamstring injury, Parker played only 10:29. It marked only the sixth time in his career he played in 11 minutes in a game. It  was his  lowest playing time since notching 11 minutes against Portland on Nov. 6, 2009.

Weird stat of the night III: James Anderson scored seven points in 16:49. It was his biggest scoring effort since he scored 11 points in 34:45 in the blowout loss at Portland on Feb. 21.  

Weird stat of the night IV: The Spurs well on their way to breaking their season mark for points (122) and assists (31) midway through the fourth quarter. But they were shut out over the final 3:26 and didn’t have an assist over the final 4:53, finishing with 116 points and 29 assists.  

Not a good sign: Other than the obvious injury to Parker, Neal struggled shooting in the first half before rebounding after the break. After missing five of his first six shots, Neal rebounded to hit six of his last nine attempts.

Best plus/minus scores: Splitter was plus-14, Duncan was plus-13 and Leonard was plus-12.

Worst plus/minus scores:  Eric Dawson was minus-4 and Anderson was minus-2. They were the only Spurs with negative scores.

Quote of the game: “Gary did a great job (at the point ) for a 2-guard. He’s not a 1, but he kind of likes it for some strange reason. So we’re happy he can do what he does at that position,” Popovich on Neal’s extended playing time at point guard with Parker injured.

How the schedule stacks up: After taking Thursday off, the Spurs will have their first back-to-back-to-back games of the season with games Friday against Dallas, Saturday at New Orleans and Sunday against Philadelphia. Minnesota travels to Oklahoma City for a Friday night game, returns home Sunday for Denver before back-to-back road games Tuesday at Memphis and March 28 at Charlotte.

Injuries: Matt Bonner missed his first game of the season with back spasms. Parker left the lineup with 8:05 left in the second quarter with what Popovich described as a mild hamstring strain. Minnesota played without Pekovic, who was back in Minneapolis receiving treatment on his sore ankles. Michael Beasley was limited to 11 minutes and none in the second half when a sprained big toe flared up. Starting point guard Ricky Rubio is out for the season with a torn ACL. And Minnesota coach Rick Adelman sat Darko Milicic for the sixth time in seven days because he thinks he’s out of shape.

Spurs honor Bowen with convincing win

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Spurs 116, Timberwolves 100: March 21, 2012


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) cringes after a play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love (42) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) dunks against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Wesley Johnson (04) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) drives to the goal against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Wesley Johnson (04) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) walks to the locker room followed by team trainer Will Sevening (right) after reports stated Parker had tightness in his left hamstring in the second quarter of the Spurs game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Former Spurs Bruce Bowen smiles at fans during a Spurs game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Bowen was honored during a jersey retirement ceremony. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) lines up a three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Danny Green (04) dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Former Spurs Bruce Bowen laughs while attending a Spurs game against the Minnesota Timberwolves’ at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Bowen was honored during a jersey retirement ceremony. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) loses control of the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love (42) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) gets a shot blocked by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Tolliver (44) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ James Anderson (25) goes up for a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Tolliver (44) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love (42) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02), Gary Neal (14), Stephen Jackson (03) and Danny Green (04) take the court in the second half of play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) gestures after making a three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) lines up a free throw against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) attempts a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jose Barea (11) and Anthony Tolliver (44) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Silverdancers sport tops with former Spurs Bruce Bowen name and number during the Spurs game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Bowen was honored during a jersey retirement ceremony after the game. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) goes up for a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves’ Derrick Williams (07) at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Former Spurs Bruce Bowen (left) gets a kiss from his youngest son, Ozmel, while attending a Spurs game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Bowen is being honored during a jersey retirement ceremony. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

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By Jeff McDonald

The man of the hour sat in the front row, bowtie and all. A banner emblazoned with his jersey number hung in the rafters overhead, obscured by a black curtain.

The stage was set for quite a party Wednesday night at the ATT Center.

All the Spurs had to do, before they could retire Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 for all eternity, was beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I’m not going to lie, it makes the mood better,” said Stephen Jackson, newly returned to the Spurs roster. “If we had lost, some people would have left.”

Instead, the latest collection of Spurs started Bruce Bowen Night off right, albeit not precisely in the manner befitting the celebration of a defensive standout, routing Minnesota 116-100.

The Spurs had six players in double figures — none of them named Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili — and led wire-to-wire in sending the Timberwolves to their 15th consecutive loss in San Antonio.

Tim Duncan had 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Spurs, and did not play after the third quarter.

? The only hiccup: Parker, the Spurs’ All-Star point guard, left before halftime with a tight left hamstring and did not return.

His status for Friday’s game against Dallas, the start of the Spurs’ first back-to-back-to-back of the season, is in doubt — but only officially.

“If I was a betting man, I’d say he’ll be back,” said Gary Neal, who would start for Parker otherwise.

The Spurs (30-14) didn’t exactly miss their leading scorer Wednesday.

Neal, Kawhi Leonard and Jackson each chipped in 16 points. Danny Green scored 14, and Tiago Splitter had 11.

For Jackson, it was quite a homecoming to the ATT Center. Playing at home for the first time since last week’s trade that brought him back to the Spurs, Jackson hit his first four shots, finishing 6 of 9, and 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

“We won, and that’s what I’m all about,” Jackson said after his first home game at the ATT Center since the 2003 NBA Finals. “I’m glad to be on a team that wins.”

The Spurs outrebounded the Timberwolves 56-41, including a 17-9 edge on the offensive glass, after being annihilated on the boards in two losses in Minnesota.

It did not help Minnesota’s cause to be without 6-foot-11 center Nikola Pekovic, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.

“He’s the guy we can throw it to and know we can get easy buckets and keep the other team off the glass,” Minnesota’s Kevin Love said.

Speaking of Love, the Spurs did a half-decent job defending the All-Star forward, who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds after averaging 21 and 15.5 against them in two previous meetings.

Often, the Spurs used alternating small forwards, Jackson and Leonard, to deny Love the ball in the post.

“He’s murdered us twice already,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I thought the guys were really focused on that.”

Once the Spurs had dispensed with the business at hand, it was time to honor Bowen, who retired in 2009 an eight-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team and three-time league champion.

Unlike the last jersey retirement the Timberwolves were on hand for — Chris Mullin’s on Monday at Golden State — there were no boos from the crowd. Only the familiar chants of “Bruuuuuuce!”

Bowen became the seventh Spurs player to have his jersey retired, joining David Robinson, George Gervin, James Silas, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson and Johnny Moore.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had anything bestowed on me quite as special as this,” said Bowen, who teared up during the ceremony.

By beating the Timberwolves, the current Spurs did their part to make the night a little more special. But only a little.

“It’s one of those nights that’s beyond the game,” Ginobili said. “What Bruce accomplished, and what he meant to this city, is beyond one game against the Timberwolves.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN