Gregg Popovich | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Spurs at the midway point

For every Spurs player not named Tony Parker, the All-Star break provided a welcome respite from the grueling grind of this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it lockout season. Before the games resume Wednesday against Chicago (8 p.m., KENS, ESPN), Express-News staff writer Jeff McDonald presses pause to gauge the state of the Spurs at the midway mark:

What went right

Playing like an All-Star and borderline MVP candidate, Parker is enjoying his best season with a team-leading 19.4 points and career-best 8.1 assists per game.

The Spurs’ bench, led by youngsters such as Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal, Danny Green and rookie Kawhi Leonard, has been a revelation. The Spurs wrapped up the first half by going 8-1 on the rodeo road trip, the second-best mark in the history of the annual trek.

Coach Gregg Popovich has been able to keep 35-year-old power forward Tim Duncan fresh by limiting his minutes to career-low levels.

What went wrong

The Spurs were kind of an injury train wreck for much of the first half, which makes their 24-10 record all the more impressive.

Manu Ginobili (hand, oblique) has played just nine games.

Backup point guard T.J. Ford (hamstring) has missed the past 24.

Splitter and Leonard (strained calves) also could open the second half on the injured list.

The Spurs have weathered the injury bug well so far, but it’s difficult to imagine them doing much damage in the playoffs if not at full strength.

What happens next

As payback for finishing the first half on a nine-game road trip, the Spurs get to open the second half with seven straight games at home, where they are 13-1.

Wednesday’s game against Derrick Rose and the Bulls will be the Spurs’ first at the ATT Center since Feb. 4. The remaining schedule does come with some trouble spots, including a stretch of five games in six nights at the end of March and a road-only back-to-back-to-back on the West Coast in April.

What happens next, Part II

Thanks to the lockout, the trade deadline has been pushed back to March 15. It still shouldn’t matter much to the Spurs.

Though team officials acknowledge the roster could use a fifth big man, the Spurs don’t appear to have the assets to land one via trade. A more likely scenario has the front office scouring the waiver wire after the deadline, when untraded veteran players typically achieve contract buyouts.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Spurs hit rocky patch despite Manu’s return

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Nuggets 99, Spurs 94: March 4, 2012

Matt Bonner guards Denver’s Al Harrington in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Manu Ginobili tries to maintain control of the ball in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Tim Duncan gets the dunk guarded by Denver’s Kenneth Faried in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Richard Jefferson is fouled by Denver’s Timofey Mozgov in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Tiago Splitter manages to maintain control and pass to Duncan after a fall guarded by Denver’s Timofey Mozgov in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Mnu Ginobili shoots guarded by Dnever’s Chris Andersen in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

Tim Duncan gets the dunk guarded by Denver’s Chris Andersen in the first half Spurs vs Nuggets, Sunday, March 4, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY) (special to the Express-News)

By Jeff McDonald

Manu Ginobili paced himself through a brief pregame workout Sunday night, testing his left oblique strain one last time before a nationally televised game against Denver.

Satisfied, he finally wandered to the bench area to dribble around with his twin 2-year-old sons, Dante and Nicola.

Until that point, it was the most action Ginobili had seen inside the ATT Center in 2012.

Ginobili made his second return from injury in a 99-94 loss to the Nuggets. He hopes to make this comeback his last.

“Here we go again,” Ginobili said before his first game in the Spurs’ gym since New Year’s Eve. “I haven’t played in this arena since December. I missed it. It’s been too long.”

Ginobili, who had his brief comeback from a broken hand aborted by a strained oblique, hadn’t played anywhere since Feb. 18.

The return of the Spurs’ catalyst, playing in only his 10th game this season, wasn’t enough to lift them to victory.

Ty Lawson had 22 points and danced with a triple-double as the Nuggets rode a big first quarter to a wire-to-wire win.

After falling behind by 16 points in the first half and never leading, the Spurs had a chance to tie in the final 10 seconds, but Gary Neal’s 3-pointer hit the back of the iron.

Three games into a seven-game homestand, the Spurs (25-12) have already notched more defeats (two) than they did during the whole nine-game rodeo trip that preceded the All-Star break.

“We competed well and played together on the road,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team is 1-2 since the break. “We’ve got to try to duplicate that at home.”

Ginobili’s return did put the Spurs at full strength for the first time since the opening tip of a Jan. 2 game in Minnesota, but only technically.

Just as Ginobili came back, Tim Duncan came down with a stomach illness. Duncan played, but had to dig deep for 14 points and nine rebounds, including four dunks.

His slam off a pass from Tony Parker with 29.3 seconds left brought the Spurs within 95-94, but Lawson buried a 19-footer on the other end to push Denver’s edge back to three.

Parker had 25 points and seven assists to lead the Spurs, who have already lost more games at home post-All Star break than before it.

The Nuggets (21-17) won despite playing without regular starters Danilo Gallinari and Nene and key reserve Kosta Koufos. Denver was further depleted in the second half, when center Timofey Mozgov collided with DeJuan Blair and had to leave the game.

The Nuggets won behind Lawson, who added 11 assists and nine rebounds. He was one of five players who scored in double figures for Denver.

Denver is 3-0 since the All-Star break, a run of success coach George Karl traces to a 114-99 loss to the Spurs leading into it.

“We played the right way with a passion and intensity, and it’s carried over,” Karl said.

For the Spurs, the most positive development Sunday involved Ginobili. He thought he could have played in Friday’s win over Charlotte but woke up that morning a little tight in the rib cage region.

“We all got a little worried,” Ginobili said. “I said, ‘No big deal. We’ve waited so long, let’s wait two more days.’?”

The Argentine star was not his sharpest Sunday but did show flashes.

Twenty-eight seconds after checking in in the first quarter, he drilled an open 3-pointer. He added another late in the third to pull the Spurs within two.

All told, Ginobili logged nearly 24 minutes and notched eight points, five assists and four rebounds. He lacked his natural explosion to the basket, twice being blocked at the rim in the first half.

All in all, however, it was a productive night for the 34-year-old. He got on the floor, and got away without hurting anything.

“I think I’m better than when I came back previously,” Ginobili said. “We’ll see.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: JMcDonald_SAEN

Spurs rout Bobcats; Ginobili still sits

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Spurs 102, Bobcats 72: March 2, 2012

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) drives to the basket against Charlotte Bobcats’ Byron Mullens (22) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) shoots over Charlotte Bobcats’ Corey Maggette (50) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) attempts to block Charlotte Bobcats’ Gerald Henderson (15) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) attempts to score against Charlotte Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera (21) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Danny Green (04) defends against Charlotte Bobcats’ Corey Maggette (50) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over against Charlotte Bobcats’ DeSagana Diop (07) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) shoots over Charlotte Bobcats’ D.J. Augustin (14) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) takes aim for a three-pointer against the Charlotte Bobcats in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) attempts to block a shot against Charlotte Bobcats’ Corey Maggette (50) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) gets hits by teammate Gary Neal (14) while defending Charlotte Bobcats’ Byron Mullens (22) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (center) smiles while chatting with Tim Duncan (21) during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) goes up for a shot against Charlotte Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera (21) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Charlotte Bobcats’ Boris Diaw (32) gets an open dunk against the Spurs in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) lines up a three-pointer against Charlotte Bobcats’ Derrick Brown (04) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich points out a call to a game official during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs Silver Dancers perform during a timeout in the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) looks to pass against Charlotte Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera (21) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tony Parker (second from right) kids around with teammate Kawhi Leonard (second from left) during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots against Charlotte Bobcats’ Boris Diaw (32) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) dunks against the Charlotte Bobcats in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) contends for a rebound against Charlotte Bobcats’ Derrick Brown (04) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)

By Jeff McDonald

The decision went back and forth for about 48 hours. The Spurs’ coaching staff debated the issue, consulted with the team’s medical staff, flip-flopped on an answer and then flip-flopped again.

In the end, coach Gregg Popovich opted to hold Manu Ginobili out of Friday’s game against Charlotte, even though Ginobili was probably healthy enough to play, even though Ginobili wanted to play.

“We changed our decision every day, 10 times,” Popovich said before the Spurs’ 102-72 victory over the moribund Bobcats. “We don’t know what’s right. We’re just trying to do what’s right.”

Left unsaid, at least publicly: The Spurs were good enough, even without Ginobili, to handle the worst team in the NBA.

With Ginobili in street clothes one more night, recuperating from a strained oblique, Tony Parker scored 15 points and Tim Duncan and Richard Jefferson added 14 apiece to lift the Spurs to their most lopsided victory of the season.

It was the Spurs’ first win at the ATT Center since Feb. 4, a hiatus asterisked by a nine-game rodeo road trip that bled into the All-Star break.

The Spurs (25-11) enjoyed a much easier time Friday than in Wednesday’s return to the building, when they lost 96-89 to Chicago, in part because they played sharper and in part because Charlotte (4-30) isn’t Chicago.

“It was one of those where you just wanted to respect your opponent and get back to work the next day,” Jefferson said.

Heading into the game, more than one Spurs player dropped a pet Popovich phrase: “appropriate fear.”

“Just because their record isn’t the same as our record doesn’t mean they can’t go out and kick our butt if we don’t compete,” Popovich said.

So the Spurs competed, and they got their work done early.

After taking a 51-41 lead at half, the Spurs rarely led by fewer than that many the rest of the way. Ahead by 15 heading to the fourth quarter, Popovich turned the game over to the reserves, who outscored Charlotte 28-13 in the final frame.

Matt Bonner led the Spurs’ bench brigade with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while rookie Kawhi Leonard had 10 in his return from a calf injury.

“We did a good job sharing the ball, and it led to open shots,” Bonner said.

If it is possible to have a turning point in a 30-point game, it came with 3:32 left in the third quarter.

A brief Spurs scoring drought had allowed the Bobcats’ to creep within nine, and Charlotte’s Corey Maggette was diving to the rim, trying to make it a seven-point game.

Jefferson met him there for a blocked shot, igniting a fast break that led to a Gary Neal 3-pointer and a 67-55 edge for the Spurs.

“It was nothing,” Jefferson said. “Just lucky timing.”

The block was part of an all-around solid night for Jefferson, who added four 3-pointers and seven rebounds.

“I thought he had a darn good defensive game,” Popovich said.

In the end, the Spurs exhausted all the drama in pre-game, with the “will he or won’t he?” surrounding Ginobili’s status.

The star guard has missed 27 of the Spurs’ 36 games this season, first with a broken hand then with the strained oblique.

Ginobili’s next return is imminent, if not official, subject to the rigors of one more practice this morning. Barring a setback, it appears likely he will play in Sunday’s nationally televised game against Denver.

Having survived the most injury-plagued stretch of their season, getting Leonard and Tiago Splitter and T.J. Ford back from injuries that pre-dated the All-Star break, the Spurs are looking forward to at last being at full strength.

“One more guy to go,” Parker said. “I can’t wait.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN