Tag: DENVER

Hill still a defensive marvel at 39

Grant Hill is the second-oldest player in the NBA. But despite his advancing age, he’s still impressing opponents with his basketball skills.

Hill asked Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry Friday night if he could come off the bench and he responsed with some key defense down the stretch to help the Suns notch a key victory over Houston to bolster their playoff hopes.

Several Spurs said they they are enthralled by Hill’s resiliency. Hill is a day younger than Kurt Thomas of Portland, the league’s oldest player.

“You’ve got some guys who are playing and older. But they are playing at a different rate,” Spurs forward Boris Diaw said. “Grant Hill is always full speed and running up and down leading a lot of fast breaks. It’s amazing the way he’s playing.”

Spurs forward Stephen Jackson said he would like to emulate Hill in how he approaches his craft.

“That’s a credit to him to show how he prepares, how he takes care of his body,” Jackson said. “It’s somebody I definitely look up to. I’m happy for him because he’s a role model to a lot of guys.”

Hill has given indications he would like to return again next season with hopes of becoming the first 40-or-above NBA player since Dikembe Mutombo played when he was 42 with Houston in 2009.

Jackson, who turned 34 on April 5, said he hopes to have an extended career by Hill before he retires.

“I’ve been blessed, thank God, not  to have any serious injuries. No surgeries,” Jackson said. “Hopefully,  I can play that long. As long as the game is loving me, I’m going to love it back.”

Oldest players in NBA

Kurt Thomas, Portland                       Oct. 4, 1972

Grant Hill, Phoenix                              Oct. 5, 1972

Juwan Howard, Miami                        Feb. 7, 1973

Jason Kidd, Dallas                                March 23, 1973

Steve Nash, Phoenix                           Feb. 7, 1974

Marcus Camby, Houston                    March 22, 1974

Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City             Aug. 9, 1974    

Ben Wallace, Detroit                             Sept. 10, 1974 

Jerry Stackhouse, Atlanta                   Nov. 5, 1974

Anthony Carter, Toronto                     June 16, 1975

Anthony Parker, Cleveland                  June 19, 1975 

Mike James, Chicago                             June 23, 1975

Erick Dampier, Atlanta                          July 14, 1975 

Ray Allen, Boston                                    July 20, 1975 

Tony Battie, Philadelphia                       Feb. 11, 1976

Francisco Elson, Philadelphia                Feb. 28, 1976

Brad Miller, Minnesota                          Apr. 12, 1976 

Tim Duncan, San Antonio                       Apr. 25, 1976

Kevin Garnett, Boston                            May 19, 1976

Andre Miller, Denver                              May 19, 1976

Earl Boykins, Houston                             June 2, 1976 

Antawn Jamison, Cleveland                   June 12, 1976 

Eduard Najera, Charlotte                       July 11, 1976 

Raja Bell, Utah                                          Sept. 19, 1976

Chauncey Billups, L.A. Clippers             Sept. 25, 1976   

Vince Carter, Dallas                                 Jan. 26, 1977

Brian Cardinal, Dallas                              May 2, 1977

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio                    July 28, 1977

Nazr Mohammed, Oklahoma City          Sept. 5, 1977

Jason Terry, Dallas                                   Sept. 15, 1977

Paul Pierce, Boston                                   Oct. 13, 1977 

Kenyon Martin, L.A. Clippers                 Dec. 30, 1977

No ‘Big Three:’ Hardly any chance to win

The Spurs rested Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in the same game again Monday night at Utah. The result was a 91-84 loss to the Jazz, snapping the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak.

The trio have all been held out of the same game seven times in the nine-plus seasons they have played together.

Here’s a list of the games all of them have missed together.

April 16, 2007 — 101-91 loss at Memphis. Starting lineup was James White, Jackie Butler, Jacque Vaughn, Bruce Bowen, Francisco Elson. Leading scorer – White, Michael Finley, 17. Leading rebounder – Butler, Matt Bonner 10. Leading assists – Beno Udrih 9.

April 18, 2007 — 100-77 loss to Denver. Starting lineup was James White, Jackie Butler, Jacque Vaughn, Francisco Elson, Bruce Bowen. Leading scorer – Beno Udrih 13. Leading rebounder – Butler 9. Leading assists – Udrih, Brent Barry 3.  

Feb. 3, 2009 – 104-96 loss at Denver. Starting lineup was George Hill, Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen. Leading scorer – Mason 26. Leading rebounder – Bonner 8. Leading assists – Mason 6.

March 28, 2011 — 100-92 loss to Portland. Starting lineup was George Hill, Richard Jefferson, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, James Anderson. Leading scorer – Hill 27. Leading rebounder – Splitter 9. Leading assists – Hill 6. 

April 12, 2011 — 102-93 loss at Los Angeles Lakers. Starting lineup was Tiago Splitter, George Hill, Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson. Leading scorer – Neal 16. Leading rebounder – Blair 11. Leading assists  – Chris Quinn 9.

Feb. 21, 2012 — 137-97 loss at Portland. Starting lineup was Kawhi Leonard, Cory Joseph, Danny Green, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson. Leading scorer – Leonard 24. Leading rebounder – Leonard 10. Leading assists – Joseph, Jefferson, Gary Neal 3.   

April 9, 2012 — 91-84 loss at Utah. Starting lineup was Danny Green, Stephen Jackson, Patty Mills, DeJuan Blair, Boris Diaw. Leading scorer – Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter 14. Leading rebounder – Blair 8. Leading assists – Neal 5.

No bad actor: Griffin refutes Cousins’ claims with monster game

Blake Griffin was ready Saturday night with a retort for DeMarcus Cousins’ claims about his acting ability.

The Clippers’ power forward answered on the court, notching 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead his team to a 109-94 victory over Sacramento that pulled them within a half-game of the Pacific Division lead.

Earlier in the week, Cousins accused Griffin of being “an actor” who should be at home in Hollywood. Cousins was fined $25,000 by the league after claiming that referees treat Griffin differently than other players in the league.

Griffin provided an assortment of highlight-reel dunks over Cousins in a monster game in the Clippers’ eighth victory in their last nine games.

“I mean this in the nicest possible way, you have to consider the source,”Griffin told the Associated Press. “If this is somebody that really has been in this league a long time and really knows the ins and outs of the game, and he … has a great reputation for carrying himself the right way, that’s something that I would look at and go, `I really rubbed this guy the wrong way.’ But something like that, you just keep going.”

Cousins, who added 15 points and grabbed 20 rebounds for the Kings, didn’t repeat his claims after the game.

“I’m trying to stay low and just sticking to playing basketball,” Cousins told the AP. “I’m in enough trouble as it is.… It’s not a (personal) rivalry. We’re just playing ball. They’re a playoff team and we’re not, so it’s not much of a rivalry.” 

Big nights by Griffin and teammate Chris Paul (19 points, 15 assists, seven steals, five rebounds) placed them on top of Saturday’s Studs and Duds for the NBA’s top performers.

STUDS

Los Angeles Clippers F Blake Griffin: Erupted for 27 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and was plus-23 in the Clippers’ victory over Sacramento.  

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Filled the stat sheet for 19 points, 15 assists, seven steals, five rebounds and was plus-11 in the Clippers’ victory over Sacramento.

New Orleans F Jason Smith: Notched 26 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and was plus-4 in the Hornets’ triumph over Minnesota.

New Orleans C Chris Kaman: Went for 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, four blocks,  four assists and was plus-15 in the Hornets’ victory over Minnesota.

Orlando C Dwight Howard: Overcame a struggling 4-for-14 shooting effort to post 20 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and two blocks and was plus-15 in the Magic’s victory at Philadelphia. It was his ninth 20-20 game this season and 46th of his career, including the playoffs. 

Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol: Went for 30 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in the Lakers’ loss at Phoenix. 

DUDS

Philadelphia G Jrue Holliday: Went 2 of 9 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-13 in the Sixers’ loss to Orlando.

Denver F Jordan Hamilton: The rookie from Texas clanked all seven of his shots, had a turnover and was minus-8 in the Nuggets’ loss at Golden State.

Indiana G George Hill: The former Spur misfired on all six of his shots and was minus-7 in the Pacers’ loss at Boston.

Boston F Brandon Bass: Missed all six shots from the field, had a turnover and was minus-1 in the Celtics’ victory over Indiana.

Orlando G Jameer Nelson: Clanked through a 2-for-12 shooting effort with three turnovers in the Magic’s victory over Philadelphia.