Chuck Hayes | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Spurs’ prodigious depth denies Kings

By Jeff McDonald

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – An hour before tipoff at Power Balance Pavilion on Wednesday, Spurs center Tiago Splitter went through a series of exercises with team strength coach Matt Herring.

The object was to test Splitter’s balky back, which had kept him out of four consecutive games. After a workout that was heavy on sweat but not on tears, Splitter pronounced himself good to go.

“Everything’s in place,” Splitter said. “I feel good now.”

The same might be said of the team that signs his paychecks.

Playing with a full deck for the first time in 11 days, the Spurs used their prodigious depth to outlast Sacramento, 117-112, extending the NBA’s longest active winning streak to six.

Having endured their most grueling stretch of the lockout-sardined season, adding five wins to the ledger in six nights, the Spurs now have a chance to catch their breath.

Wednesday, the Spurs’ youngest set of legs helped get them over the top.

Kawhi Leonard, a 20-year-old rookie small forward apparently too young to tire, had 19 points and nine rebounds, and supplied enough energy to power the whole of northern California.

“I just try to do what I can to contribute and bring energy,” Leonard said.

It was also another big night for the Spurs’ venerable Big Three, with Manu Ginobili scoring 20 points, Tim Duncan adding 18 points and eight rebounds and Tony Parker providing a 10-point, 10-assist double-double.

Heading into the five-game gauntlet, the Spurs (35-14) couldn’t have envisioned a sweep. Overall, the Spurs have won nine of their last 10, and 13 of their last 15 on the road.

“This is as deep as I’ve ever had a team here,” said Duncan, in his 15^th season, “and we’re using everybody possible.

Wednesday, the Spurs got key first-half contributions from players who, either by age or inactivity, were less affected by the compressed schedule.

Leonard was a sparkplug, offering active minutes on both ends. Splitter had seven points and six rebounds in the first half. Even backup point guard Patrick Mills, playing his second game since joining the team, got to the act with seven points in six minutes.

In the first quarter, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich deployed 11 players. Nine of them scored.

“I don’t think we’d be hanging in like are now last year, with this kind of schedule,” Popovich said. “We didn’t have this kind of depth.”

Behind 28 points from Isaiah Thomas and 25 from DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings (17-33) hung around, though never led. Each time Sacramento would sneak within striking distance, however, the Spurs had an answer.

After a Thomas 3-pointer brought Sacramento within one again midway through the fourth, Gary Neal found Parker for a layup. That sparked a 15-6 run that put the Spurs ahead by 10 with 2:18 to go.

“Down the stretch in the fourth quarter, our experience probably showed,” Popovich said.

For Popovich, the quest over the season’s jam-packed final month is to somehow balance the need to whip his team into playoff shape with the need to keep older players fresh.

“There’s no formula for it,” Popovich said. “You just do the best you can.”

But first for the Spurs, some downtime. And perhaps a nap.

They play just once in the next four nights, Saturday at home against Indiana. Even so, Popovich anticipates several short-handed nights between now and the postseason.

“You just roll with whoever is available,” Popovich said. “There’s no other choice.”

Wednesday night in Sacramento, for the first time in a while, that meant everyone.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 117, Kings 112: March 28, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, left, and Kawhi Leonard center, question official Mike Callahan about a foul call during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, center, tries to pull down a rebound against San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, left, and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans scramble for the ball during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, goes to the basket against Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili, of Argentina, left, leans in for the layup past Sacramento Kings’ Donte Greene, center, and Chuck Hayes during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Sacramento Kings guard Marcus Thornton, left, is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, left, goes to the basket against Sacramento Kings forward Jason Thompson during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, right, leans around Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins to make a pass during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (AP)

Game rewind: How the Kings confounded the Spurs

Without Manu Ginobili and T.J. Ford, the Spurs have a surprisingly narrow margin of error — even against an opponent that they seemingly shouldn’t have much trouble with.

That was the case Friday night at the ATT Center, where the Spurs were stunned by Pacific Division bottom feeeder Sacramento in a disappointing 88-86 loss.

The Spurs don’t lose many games like Friday’s shocker at home. It was the first time the Spurs were defeated by a likely lottery-bound team at the ATT Center since losing to Milwaukee on Dec. 30, 2008.

As Tony Parker said, it was a strange night.

The Spurs had a seemingly safe 84-78 lead and momentum with less than 4 minutes to play.

But from that point, they couldn’t make a field goal and Sacramento escaped with what unlikely standout John Salmons called their “biggest victory of the season.”

Here’s how they were able to steal the game from the Spurs.

Game analysis: The Spurs fell behind early to an athletic Sacramento team and played from behind for the first thre-plus quarters of the game. And after they reclaimed the lead late in the game, San Antonio didn’t have the firepower needed to put the game away.

Where the game was won: After leading by nine points late in the fourth quarter, the Kings appeared ready to give the game away after Parker’s jumper gave San Antonio an 84-78 lead with 3:51 left. But two clutch jumpers by Salmons and a go-ahead 22-foot jumper by Tyreke Evans with 47.2 seconds left gave Sacramento the lead. Their defense did the rest as Tiago Splitter and Danny Green missed short jumpers on the Spurs’ final two possessions.

A little earlier … The Spurs employed a 12-2 run over the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth quarter to take a 74-73 lead on Splitter’s acrobatic reverse layup with 9:52 left for their first lead of the game.

Player of the game I: Evans battled his way out of a recent slump as he scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished off seven assists in a strong all-around effort.

Player of the game II: After being dinged earlier in the second half, DeMarcus Cousins returned to wreak havoc for the Kings in a strong 17-point, 13-rebound effort that also included four steals. But his biggest play might have been the way he altered Green’s attempt to tie the game on San Antonio’s final possession.

Player of the game III: Parker provided team-high totals of 24 points and six assists, including the basket that gave the Spurs their largest lead of the game at 84-78. But after that, he disappeared down the stretch with no field-goal attempts and one turnover during the rest of the game.

Most unsung: After missing four of his earlier five shots, Sacramento’s Francisco Garcia told Kings coach Keith Smart to stick with Salmons in the final minutes. Salmons, who came into the game shooting a frigid 35.1 percent, rewarded that confidence by hitting two clutch jumpers that set the stage for the Kings’ upset.

Did you notice: The Spurs had trouble containing Sacramento speedy big men Cousins and Jason Thompson from the opening moments of the game. It got worse as the Spurs’ offense sputtered in the opening minutes with five missed shots and a turnover before Parker’s sank San Antonio’s first basket with 9:10 left in the first quarter. “Honestly, I think they came out slow,” Cousins said. “We jumped on them quick and they played catch-up most of the game.”

Did you notice II: With Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair resting, the Spurs didn’t hesitate to run their offense through Splitter for large stretches of the game. The result was a 10-point, seven-rebound effort from Splitter as he produced a season-high plus-14 plus-minus score.

Stat of the game: The Spurs shot 37.8 percent from the field. It was their second-lowest field-goal percentage of the season, eclipsed only by a 37.6 percent shooting effort at Houston on Dec. 29.

Stat of the game II: Despite coming into the game ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-point percentage, the Spurs clanked to a 5-for-25 effort (20 percent) that continues a recent slump. In their last four games, San Antonio has hit 22 of 86 from 3-point territory for 25.6 percent. And in Friday’s game, the Spurs missed 14 straight 3-pointers at one stretch before Richard Jefferson connected with 10:37 left in the game.

Stat of the game III: The Spurs saw their nine-game home winning streak to start the season snapped. It was their longest home winning streak to start the season since 2007-08, when they won their first 13 home games.

Weird stat of the game: After hitting their first 15 foul shots, the Spurs finished the game at 90.5 percent. Sacramento hit 57.9 percent as the Kings sank 11 of 19 foul shots. That difference between the two percentages (32.6 percent) has only been topped five previous times in games where the Spurs lost since 1985-86. The largest difference and most recent occurrence came last season in Boston when the Spurs hit 94.1 percent from the foul line and the Celtics hit 53.3 percent in a game the Spurs lost, 105-103.

Weird stat of the game II: Jimmer Fredette’s only basket of the game, a 3-pointer with 9:46 left, gave Sacramento a 40-25 lead. It is the largest deficit for the Spurs in any game at the ATT Center so far this season.

Quote of the game: “They just never went away during the whole game, and we couldn’t hit a shot,” Parker on the Kings’ ability to stay ahead for most of the game.

How the schedule stacks up: The Spurs play the back end of a back-to-back Saturday night in Houston with an approaching road game Monday at New Orleans. Those games will start the Spurs’ most brutal road stretch of the season with 14 of their next 18 games away from the ATT Center. Sacramento plays in Memphis Saturday night and will visit Portland on Monday.

Injuries: Ginobili missed his 11th game after undergoing surgery for a fractured fifth left metacarpal. Ford missed his sixth game with a torn left hamstring. Sacramento played without forward-center Chuck Hayes (dislocated left shoulder). And Cousins was briefly treated in the locker room during the third quarter after he described “seeing stars” after jostling with Blair and Kawhi Leonard for a loose ball.

Blair gets second shot at starting gig

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

The last time the Spurs faced the Memphis Grizzlies, DeJuan Blair had the best seat in the house. Watching from the bench for much of April’s playoff meeting, which the Spurs lost in six games, Blair didn’t exactly enjoy the view.

An erstwhile starter, Blair totaled 50 minutes in the series. He did not play at all in Game 5 or 6.

Those DNPs stuck with the 6-foot-7 center throughout the prolonged NBA offseason.

“I thought about that the whole lockout,” Blair said. “As soon as I stepped into training camp, last year was over. It’s a new year, and a new me.”

When the Grizzlies visit the ATT Center for Monday’s season opener, they are assured of seeing a lot more of Blair than they did in April.

For the second year in a row, Blair is poised to be the Spurs’ opening-day starter at center.

The NBA’s second-shortest starting center behind 6-6 Houston-turned-Sacramento big man Chuck Hayes, Blair became an unlikely tag-team partner with Tim Duncan last season, starting the first 63 games.

The Spurs were an NBA-best 51-12 with Blair in the lineup, but coach Gregg Popovich replaced him with the more experienced Antonio McDyess heading toward the playoffs.

With few other options heading into the new season, Popovich appears ready to give Blair his old job back, for better or worse.

“He’s continued to push himself, continued to learn,” Duncan said of the third-year pro. “Along with the natural skill he has, he’s continued to understand the game and what we want from him.”

When Duncan says the Spurs are “going to have to put guys out there and let them sink or swim,” Blair isn’t the only player in that category. But he might be at the top of the list.

Last season, Blair built upon an All-Rookie campaign by averaging 8.3 points and seven rebounds, the highlight perhaps being a 17-point, 15-rebound line in a Dec. 28 victory over the L.A. Lakers. But he still found himself at times overwhelmed by longer front lines and out of place on defense.

He also struggled with his weight, topping 300 pounds late in the season.

In an exit interview after the season, Popovich gave the former Pittsburgh All-American an ultimatum: Improve your approach to the job, or else.

“He talked about being more mature, having more professionalism and just being a pro on and off the court,” Blair said.

Only 22 and fiercely independent, Blair says he still struggles to reconcile the Spurs Way with his own path.

“I’m trying to follow that in my way and become the DeJuan Blair who I establish, not the one Pop establishes,” Blair said.

Popovich views Blair as a player whose best days are still ahead of him, provided he puts in the work.

“DeJuan is still learning about what he can do offensively and what he’s got to do defensively,” Popovich said. “He’s still in a development stage.”

Blair helped his cause by showing up at training camp in some semblance of playing shape. Left to his own devices during the lockout — and his own Whataburger-fueled eating habits — there was a real fear Blair might return jumbo-sized.

Had that happened, there might not have been a doghouse in San Antonio big enough to fit him. Instead, Blair arrived at right around his target weight of 265 pounds.

“I was excited to see him walk through that door,” Duncan said.

In a perfect world, Popovich would prefer not to start an undersized center with a tendency to check out on defense, but for now Blair appears to be the best option on a flawed roster.

Blair, for his part, aims to rise to the challenge. He did not grow an inch over the lockout. But he is eager to prove that he has grown up.

“I’m getting there,” Blair said. “I’m still young, and I’m still going to make mistakes. All I can do is learn from them.”