Coach | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Could Spurs be a destination for bought-out Diaw?

The pieces could be coming together quickly for another roster addition for the Spurs.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Boris Diaw.

Charlotte vice president of basketball operations Rod Higgins told the Observer the buyout should be completed sometime today. It would open one of 15 roster spots for the team and save some of Diaw’s $9 million salary.

Diaw will be able to sign with another team on Friday after he’s placed on waivers today.

The Spurs obviously are interested for a couple of reasons. Diaw would provide some quality front-court depth as he could fill in at several positions. Also, he is one of Tony Parker’s closest friends after their experiences together on the French national team. Parker is expected will lobby his team hard to add Diaw to the team.

Other teams that could be interested include Dallas and Boston.

Interestingly, Diaw didn’t earn a strong endorsement from current Charlotte coach Paul Silas. Diaw had played only twice in the last eight games for the reeling Bobcats.

Silas told the Observer of his frustration with Diaw on March 7 before a home loss to the Utah Jazz.

“I like a player who is really committed to not only the team but to himself and then doing the best he can as a player,’’ Silas told the Observer. “Some of the things that would go on, like not shooting the ball, passing all of the time’’ were unacceptable.

“I needed hoops and he could put the ball in the hoop. When that wouldn’t happen it was very disturbing. I think if he had played all out, the way he should have, it would have been a much, much better club.”

Whether a new team will help transform Diaw’s attitude remains debatable.

But the Spurs apparently are giving serious thought to giving him a shot in their run for a fifth championship.

Duncan shows plenty spring left in step

By Jeff McDonald

Eighty-six seconds into Wednesday’s game against Minnesota, 35-year-old Tim Duncan slipped a screen near the top of the key, took a perfect pass from Tony Parker and, in a hiccup, dunked on the Timberwolves’ Wesley Johnson.

“Amazing,” Manu Ginobili marveled later. “He didn’t need 20 minutes to warm up.”

For almost as long as Duncan has been on the team, his lack of verticality has been a running joke in the Spurs’ locker room.

As March wears on, however, Duncan has been doing his best to dunk holes in that old “Virgin Islanders Can’t Dunk” meme.

There was his four-dunk game against Denver, which included a poster-ization of Chris “Birdman” Andersen.

There was a three-slam night against Washington, which included a coast-to-coast drive-and-dunk that, fittingly, pushed Duncan past Clyde Drexler on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

There was the loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, when Duncan matched KIA-hopping Blake Griffin dunk for dunk.

“It’s great to see him that fresh and that good,” Ginobili said. “It makes you feel optimistic.”

In one of the more unexplainable phenomena of the lockout-compressed season, Duncan actually appears to be getting fresher as time moves along.

“Tim’s been really fresh all year long,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “I’m enthused about his health.

“He’s got quickness and more agility than he’s had in a while.”

A few weeks ago, Popovich described the 14-year veteran as “spry” — a word typically reserved for 80-year-old retirees who still make their weekly shuffleboard games.

In Duncan’s case, it fits.

Though playing minutes almost identical to last season, the power forward’s scoring average is up more than a point from last season to 14.3 points per game.

His rebounding average — 8.9 per game — is identical.

Since February began, Duncan is averaging 16.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and nearly two blocks.

“From watching him last year to now, he definitely looks like the old Tim Duncan,” said Stephen Jackson, who last played with Duncan when he was winning consecutive MVPs.

“To get where we want to be, we’re going to need him to play like that.”

Tonight, the Spurs host the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, marking not only the beginning of their first back-to-back-to-back set of the season, but also the first of five games in six nights.

Duncan is almost certainly due a day of rest soon, as are the 34-year-old Ginobili and 29-year-old Parker, who left Wednesday’s game before halftime with a tight hamstring.

As the Spurs learned with Duncan last season, it only takes one ill-timed twist of the ankle to ruin a season’s worth of fitness.

In the playoffs last year, a hobbled Duncan was left to tangle with Memphis’ twin beasts, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, on one leg.

For now, Duncan says he feels fresh, and there’s no reason to disbelieve him.

“I feel good,” said Duncan, who has skipped only two of the Spurs’ 44 games. “I’ve felt good all season long.”

One sign Duncan is feeling, ahem, “spry:” He’s dunking the ball both with authority and regularity.

Duncan has logged 12 dunks in March alone, after recording 17 in an entire 82-game slate. He has totaled 23 this season, with still a ways to go to catch Griffin (127) or Dwight Howard (124), but only one behind backup center Tiago Splitter for the Spurs’ team lead.

Duncan attributes his surge in slams to the Spurs’ guards, who he says are doing a nice job of finding him on the pick-and-roll.

In a sense, his nightly jam session could be a side effect of Parker’s career year handing out assists.

“He’s making all the right decisions,” Duncan said, “and we have great shooters on the perimeter, which opens up the middle for me.

“They have to respect our shooters, they have to respect Tony — and I’m the other guy.”

To be the last team standing, however, the Spurs need Duncan to be more than just some guy. They need him to be the guy he’s been for most of the past two months — fresh, nimble and, yes, spry.

Game by game, dunk by dunk, Duncan is giving the Spurs added reason for hope.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Rose, Deng answer call for Bulls at AT&T

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Bulls 96, Spurs 89: Feb. 29, 2012

FOR SPORTS – Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose shoots over San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker during first half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

FOR SPORTS – Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose shoots around San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan during first half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

FOR SPORTS – Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah looks for room around San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan during first half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker gets around Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose, during the first half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker gets pressure from Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose during the first half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Danny Green keeps the ball away from Chicago Bulls C.J. Watson during the first half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose grimaces after collision in the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Danny Green, left, and Tim Duncan pressure Chicago Bulls Carlos Boozer during the first half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Richard Jefferson looks on as Chicago Bulls Luol Deng celebrates a three-pointer with 39.6 seconds left in the game at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The Bulls won 96-89. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan walks back to the bench after missing the second three-pointer in a row late in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls, at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The Bulls won 96-89. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair during the first half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose cuts through the defense of San Antonio Spurs Danny Green, left, and Tim Duncan during the second half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The Bulls won 96-89. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

FOR SPORTS – Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan grab for a loose ball as San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker looks on during second half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. The Bulls won 96-89. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

FOR SPORTS – San Antonio Spurs’ Gary Neal shoots between Chicago Bulls’ Taj Gibson (left) and Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah during second half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. The Bulls won 96-89. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan reacts to a foul call during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The Bulls won 96-89. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker gets the ball stolen by Chicago Bulls Ronnie Brewer during the second half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The Bulls won 96-89. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

FOR SPORTS – Chicago Bulls’ Luol Deng celebrates after making a 3-pointer late in the game with the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. The Bulls won 96-89. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

FOR SPORTS – San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan dunks ahead of Chicago Bulls’ Carlos Boozer during second half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. The Bulls won 96-89. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich yells during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. The Bulls won 96-89. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs from left, Gary Neal, Tony Parker and Matt Bonner protest a foul during the first half against the Chicago Bulls, at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

FOR SPORTS – San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker looks for room around Chicago Bulls’ Omer Asik during second half action Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 at the ATT Center. The Bulls won 96-89. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

SPURS — San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker gets caught up in the defense of Chicago Bulls Carlos Boozer, left, and Joakim Noah during the first half at the ATT Center, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

By Jeff McDonald

When it comes to setting a defensive game plan against the Chicago Bulls, it takes neither a rocket scientist nor a championship-winning basketball coach to identify their starting point.

It begins with the guy with No. 1 on his back, the ball in his hands and the MVP trophy on his mantle:Derrick Rose.

“We know who the most important guy to try to stop is,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before tipoff Wednesday. “We also know we’re not going to stop him.”

Popovich’s prediction proved prophetic in Chicago’s hard-earned 96-89 victory at the ATT Center, especially late with the game on the line.

Rose found his way to 29 points, including back-to-back baskets in the final 1:46, as the Bulls welcomed the Spurs back from the rodeo trip and All-Star break with only their second home loss of the season.

“Down the stretch, Chicago showed why they’ve won all those games,” Popovich said. “They made shots and were real solid defensively.”

The Spurs’ first home game since Feb. 4 felt a little like, if not a heavyweight fight, than at least a middleweight one. Chicago (29-8) is the team considered to be the biggest threat to Miami’s Eastern Conference crown. The Spurs (24-11) are second in the West behind Oklahoma City.

For much of the night, it was a defensive struggle unlikely to drive ratings on the national broadcast.

The Spurs held the Bulls to 42 percent shooting. The Bulls held the Spurs to 43 percent.

Before the game, Popovich called Chicago, which came in allowing 88.1 points per game, “most likely the best defensive team in the league.” Nothing that happened Wednesday changed his mind.

It was the Spurs’ second-lowest scoring night at the ATT Center this season, better only than the 86 points they scored in their only other home loss in 2012, Jan. 20 against Sacramento.

When defense wasn’t enough to finish the Bulls’ victory, Rose took them the rest of the way.

Three times in the late moments, the Spurs climbed within three points, only to have Rose beat them back, directly or indirectly.

Rose’s impossible one-handed banker put Chicago ahead 87-82 with 1:46 left. His pull-up jumper made it 89-84 with 1:10 to go.

On the Bulls’ next possession, after Gary Neal had sliced the Spurs’ deficit to 89-86, Rose passed out of a double-team at the top of the key. The ball swung to the 3-point arc, where Luol Deng swished his second long ball of the quarter to give the Bulls a 92-86 edge with 39.6 seconds to play.

“We made a couple of errors on a couple of guys, and they knocked down some threes,” Popovich said. “That’s the ballgame.”

The Spurs trailed by as many as 11 in the third quarter before turning an about-face behind Tim Duncan.

After starting the game 0 for 4, Duncan hit six consecutive shots in the frame, scoring 12 of his 18 points during a 15-3 run that put the Spurs into the lead.

“The effort was there,” said Popovich, whose team fell to 13-2 at home. “I’m pleased with that.”

Neal, who was a game-time decision due to a sore hamstring, kept the Spurs in the game down the stretch. He made a variety of tough shots on his way to a season-high 21 points off the bench.

“There were a couple of contested floaters that went in for me,” Neal said. “If those don’t go in, maybe I’m 5 for 15 instead of 9 for 15 and I’m not doing this interview.”

While Rose was carving them up, the Spurs’ own All-Star point guard struggled to return to regular-season form after the break.

Tony Parker finished with 11 points on 5-of-16 shooting, though he did log nine assists.

“I thought the whole team was rusty,” Parker said. “I was rusty, too. I didn’t do anything for four days, five days. Everybody was kind of rusty. We missed some easy shots.”

When the chips were down, Rose was not. Even as the Spurs knew what was coming.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

– Photos by Jerry Lara and Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News