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Mike Monroe: Mavs taking circuitous route to success

DALLAS — The Spurs this season will suit up four players from their 2003 NBA title team, and that’s one more than the Mavericks retained from the outfit that overachieved its way to the 2011 championship.

Even allowing that Stephen Jackson played for five teams before Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford brought him back in March, the Spurs’ commitment to continuity stands in contrast to what the Mavericks have done in 16-plus months since winning their first title.

The only Mavericks who remain from the 2011 title run: Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Roddy Beaubois.

This doesn’t mean the Mavericks are any less committed to winning another title, just maybe not this year.

“Winning the championship that year, it was kind of tough to bring the boys back,” Nowitzki said at Mavs media day Friday. “We had a bunch of guys who were free agents. We decided to keep our salary cap open for the first time in my career.

“Unfortunately, last year we had some big fish available, and we didn’t get them. So you can do one of two things: Blow the whole thing up and start over, or keep signing guys to short contracts to stay a player in the free-agent market the following year. That’s the route we took.”

It’s the smart course but doesn’t sit well with all those Mavs Fans For Life. As he greeted eight new players with guaranteed contracts, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle cited the high expectations they were about to discover.

“My feeling is people know what we’re about as an organization and what our city is about,” he said on media day. “You show up, and you’re playing for a title, regardless of what people may or may not think about your roster or how many new guys you have. We don’t care about that.”

As jarring as the dismantling of the Mavericks’ roster has been, it makes sense long-term. Clearly, Mark Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson knew their team had overachieved in 2011, catching fire at just the right moment. Didn’t Nowitzki and Jason Terry hit every clutch shot in the playoffs?

It’s tempting to say that J.J. Barea had a once-in-a-lifetime performance when he averaged 16 points in the last two games of the Finals. Then again, he was also dating Miss Universe at the time. Safe to say, he was at the very top of his game. But could the Mavericks depend on that type of performance with a multi-year contract?

Letting Tyson Chandler leave in free agency also made sense, especially with the expectation that Dwight Howard would be available in the summer of 2012.

The Mavericks looked at the rosters of the Heat, Bulls, Spurs, Lakers, Thunder and Celtics and realized they would again have to overachieve to keep up with those elites. Was that realistic long-term?

Freeing up enough salary-cap space for Howard and Deron Williams in the summer of 2012 was a gamble worth taking. It was a gamble that lost but for the right reasons. Now they have Chris Kaman, Elton Brand and Darren Collison and cap flexibility aplenty next summer.

With a team built on the fly, the Mavericks will likely compete for nothing more than first-round home-court advantage this season.

But it is understandable that they dare to dream. They overachieved once; why not again?

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA

Big night from Big Three stops Pacers

By Jeff McDonald

George Hill walked into the ATT Center again Saturday night and noticed something peculiar about the gym he used to call home.

The view from the visiting locker room looks similar to the view from the home digs.

“Same old team,” Hill said. “Nothing has changed.”

Speaking in the hours before his former team, the Spurs, reeled off a 112-103 victory over his new team, Indiana, Hill meant his comments as a compliment.

He was half right. And he was half wrong.

The Spurs have changed in undeniable ways since Hill, a player coach Gregg Popovich once dubbed his favorite, was traded to the Pacers in June. Rookie Kawhi Leonard has taken Hill’s place on the roster and Patrick Mills his stall in the locker room, and the Spurs have loaded up for the stretch run by adding Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw.

At their core, however, the Spurs are what they’ve been since long before Hill arrived.

For nine-plus seasons and three titles, the Spurs have been Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Saturday, they were again — even in throwback Dallas Chaparrals uniforms and knee-high socks that were an homage to the ABA.

Duncan recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Parker and Ginobili each added 18 points and five assists as the longest-tenured trio in the NBA pushed the Spurs (36-14) to a seventh straight win.

“Manu, Tim and Tony led the way,” Popovich said. “Those three were all good at the same time.”

How’s this for never changing? Since Ginobili arrived in 2002 to complete the Big Three, the Spurs have not lost a home game to Indiana.

Hill would be pleased to find Popovich hasn’t changed much either. Before the game, Popovich spent two minutes waxing sentimental about Hill’s three seasons with the Spurs and his place in this community.

“He’s just an incredible human being,” Popovich concluded.

Pause.

“But I traded his ass.”

Hill had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists, but his old team used a 15-1 run in a 39-point second quarter to build a 22-point lead.

For the Spurs, a familiar triumvirate cleared the path. It was the third consecutive game Duncan, Parker and Ginobili had reached double figures together. When that trio combines for at least 50 points, the Spurs are 6-0 this season.

When rallying Indiana climbed within eight multiple times in the final five minutes, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili scored to nudge the lead back to double-digits.

“They fought their way back,” Duncan said of the Pacers (30-21). “I thought we finished well. We made some stops there at the end.”

The Spurs won despite being outshot 53.2 percent to 50 percent. They made 27 of 33 free throws — with Duncan hitting 9 of 9 — and outrebounded the NBA’s second-best rebounding team 40-32, including 10 offensive boards.

The Spurs survived a pair of 18-point nights from Indiana’s Danny Granger and Paul George, as well as a 15-point, four-block line from Roy Hibbert, using a bench that outscored the Pacers’ reserves 51-29.

When Indiana coach Frank Vogel sought to explain Saturday’s outcome, however, he pointed to the usual suspects.

“Anytime you have Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, that foursome is capable of doing anything,” Vogel said.

Anything?

“They have a championship core,” Vogel said. “They have a legitimate shot of winning it all.”

It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. From the other side of the ATT Center, with a different point of view, Hill likely noticed as much.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @J_McDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 112, Pacers 103: March 31, 2012

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) attempts a fade away shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) makes a pass over Indiana Pacers’ Leandro Barbosa (28) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) goes up for a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ George Hill (03) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Former Spur and current Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (03) enters the game against Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) and Danny Green (04) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) drives around the basket looking to make a pass against the Indiana Pacers’ David West (21) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over the Indiana Pacers’ Leandro Barbosa (28) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) reaches high to defend a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Leandro Barbosa (28) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) goes the basket against the Indiana Pacers’ David West (21) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) gets fouled as he attempts a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) takes a moment to chat with former teammate, current Indiana Pacer George Hill (03) at the end of their game at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) gets a hug from former teammate, current Indiana Pacer George Hill (03) at the end of their game at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (right) chats with Tony Parker (09) during a timeout in a game against the Indiana Pacers at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Danny Green (04) takes a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) takes a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Darren Collison (02) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) attempts a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) discusses the game with teammate Boris Diaw (33) while seated on the bench with Tim Duncan (21) during their game against the Indiana Pacers at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

A Spurs Silverdancer performs before the start of the Spurs game against the Indiana Pacers at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) lays up the ball against the Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger (33) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

Love’s miserable night tops the lows on Monday’s S&Ds

Kevin Love has struggled in his NBA career.

But the Minnesota forward has endured few nights like Monday night, when he hit only 3 of his 16 shots in a putrid performance in the Timberwolves’ 97-87 loss at Toronto.

Love missed on 13 of his 16 shots as the Timberwolves lost their 14th in their last 15 games against the Raptors.

“It felt like there was a cap on the rim at some point,” Love told the Associated press after the game. “I remember (missing) a reverse layup and looking at it like `You’ve got to be kidding me.”’

His night was worsened by five foul shots in 10 attempts that caught the attention of Minnesota coach Rick Adelman.

“(Love) just didn’t look like he had the energy he needed tonight,” Adelman said. “He’s going to have games like that. He missed five free throws and that’s really uncharacteristic.”

Love’s night topped those who struggled across the league Monday night and others who had better nights.

STUDS:

Toronto F Andrea Bargnani: Went for 31 points and nine rebounds and was plus-9 in the Raptors’ victory over Minnesota.

Atlanta F Josh Smth: Notched 26 points, six rebounds, four rebounds, three steals and was plus-7 in the Hawks’ conquest at New Jersey.

New York F Amare Stoudemire: Tallied 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Knicks’ victory over Charlotte.

Chicago F Carlos Boozer: Muscled for 23 points and eight rebounds and was plus-8 in their victory over Detroit.

New Orleans F Carl Landry: Notched 21 points and was plus-29 in the Hornets’ victory at Denver.

Philadelphia F Andre Iguodala: Produced 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and was plus-10 in the 76ers’ victory over Indiana.

Charlotte F Boris Diaw: Filled the stat sheet with 19 ponts, 10 rebounds, seven assists in the Bobcats’ loss to New York.

New Jersey G Deron Williams: Notched 15 points and 14 assists in the Nets’ loss to Atlanta.

DUDS:

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Went 3 for 16 from the floor and was minus-20 in the Timbewolves’ loss to Toronto.

Indiana’s starting backcourt: Paul George and Darren Collison combined to clank through a 6-for-27 shooting effort with seven turnovers and were a minus-14 in the Pacers’ loss to Philadelphia.

Charlotte G D.J. Augustin: Struggled through a 4-for-13 shooting night with three turnovers in the Bobcats’ loss to New York.

Detroit G Jason Maxiell: Went 1-for-12 from the field and was minus-8 in the Pistons’ loss to Chicago.

Denver G Andre Miller: Clanked through an 0-for-5 shooting night and was minus-13 in the Nuggets’ loss to New Orleans.