Spurs take streak to the Mile High City

Match up a tale of two teams

The San Antonio Spurs have finally found their footing and their swagger with the return of the last seasons Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard who had 12 points and nine rebounds in his second game back, an 89-69 blowout victory over the Utah Jazz. The Nuggets, on the other hand, are now reeling from a blowout of their own. a 122-79 debacle at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

“We didn’t compete. We looked like we were scared,” Nuggets Coach Brian Shaw said. “I’m trying to be guarded in what I’m saying because I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, but I just don’t understand how as a team we can’t come out and compete when you’re playing the best team in the league.”

Tony Parker, who sat out against the Nuggets last go around, will be on the floor tonight facing Ty Lawson.

“We have a great opportunity,” guard Tony Parker said. “We have two big games on the road and then we have a lot of games at home. It would be nice to take all those games because we have some catching up to do.”

Plenty of great seats and affordable tickets are still available to you Spurs fans on the road. Be sure to get out and support your Silver n Black!

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Popovich named NBA’s best coach in landslide

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By Dan McCarney

Coming off his second NBA Coach of the Year award, Gregg Popovich has added another honor to his résumé — landslide selection as the league’s best coach in an anonymous survey of general managers.

Popovich took 80 percent of the vote, according to NBA.com. It marked the fourth time in the past six years he’s finished atop the poll, which is conducted annually.

Popovich also finished first in the categories of best people manager/motivator and making the best in-game adjustments.

He took second in best offensive and defensive schemes, tying Minnesota coach Rick Adelman in the former category.

Popovich’s lead deputy, Mike Budenholzer, was named the league’s second-best assistant coach, finishing narrowly behind Brian Shaw of Indiana. Colleague Brett Brown also received a vote.

Multiple Spurs players were recognized across a broad array of categories:

– Kawhi Leonard — tied for second, player most likely to have a breakout season.

– Tim Duncan — tied for second, highest basketball IQ; tied for third, best leader; also received votes, best power forward; also received votes, toughest player.

– Manu Ginobili — third, best at moving without the ball; sixth, highest basketball IQ; also received votes, best shooting guard; also received votes, best international player; also received votes, toughest player.

– Tony Parker — fourth, best point guard; also received votes, best international player; also received votes, fastest with the ball.

– Tiago Splitter — also received votes, international player most likely to have a breakout season.

– Matt Bonner — also received votes, makes the most of limited natural ability.

– Danny Green — also received votes, makes the most of limited natural ability.

The Spurs tied with Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers as the fourth-most entertaining team to watch.

Despite being a nearly unanimous pick to win the Southwest Division — general managers cannot select their own team or players — the Spurs did not receive any votes to win the Western Conference.

The Miami Heat were picked by 21 of 30 GMs to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. GMs have successfully predicted five of the last 10 champions, including San Antonio in 2004-05 and 2006-07.

dmccarney@express-news.net
Twitter: @danmccarneySAEN

Vaughn among candidates for Orlando job

The fabled Gregg Popovich coaching tree could be growing another branch with the news that to be interviewed for the head vacancy in Orlando. Vaughn has spent the past two years on San Antonio’s bench after playing for the Spurs from 2006 to 2009. The other targets are Golden State assistant Michael Malone, Indiana assistant Brian Shaw and Lakers assistant Quin Snyder. They’ll be vying to replace Stan Van Gundy, who was fired after going 259-135 in five seasons with the Magic.