Gregg Popovich | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Spurs have important homework assignment

Unlike many of his NBA counterparts, Spurs point guard Tony Parker admits to looking at the standings almost every day.

What he’s seen so far in this topsy-turvy, lockout-truncated season has shocked him.

Lose in overtime in Dallas, drop from third in the Western Conference to ninth. Win the next night in Memphis, jump from ninth to sixth and one game out of fourth.

What the turbulence has taught him is, this season more than most, the standings watching that has become part of his daily routine is an exercise in futility.

“It doesn’t matter, the standings,” Parker said. “You just want to make the playoffs. Once you make it, you know anything can happen.”

For the Spurs, the road to the playoffs runs through their home arena.

In the midst of a stretch of 16 of 21 games on the road that ranks as one of the most travel-weary in team history, the Spurs return to the ATT Center tonight to kick off a three-game homestand against Houston.

With the annual rodeo road trip looming next week, which includes nine straight games out of town, it will mark the Spurs’ last chance for home cooking until after the All-Star break.

With the Spurs struggling to gain traction on the road — they are 3-8 away from home, even after Monday’s resounding win in Memphis — every game at the ATT Center takes on added premium.

“Every year before the rodeo trip, those last home games, it’s important we finish well,” said Parker, whose team will also face New Orleans and Oklahoma City before turning the ATT Center over to the bulls and broncs.

“These three games are huge, because then we go on the road forever.”

The Spurs aren’t yet overly concerned with their good-but-not-great record of 13-9, a game behind Dallas in the Southwest Division.

For the Spurs and other teams, this season — with its every-night-is-game-night feel — has become about survival.

Finish in the top eight of the conference, make the postseason field, and let the playoffs sort it out.

“It is a bit of a circus,” said Spurs captain Tim Duncan, the only player on the team around for the league’s last lockout in 1999. “A lot of guys are worn down and beat up. In the West, you’ve just got to try to get in the playoffs as best you can.”

To Duncan’s point: In the last lockout-shortened season, the New York Knicks became the only team in league history to make a run from the eighth seed to the NBA Finals.

The top-seeded Spurs beat them in five games to claim their first NBA championship. Still, coach Gregg Popovich believes that title had more to do with a 23-year-old Duncan and a David Robinson still in the same zip code as his prime, and not necessarily seeding.

“You just try to be the best team you can be, and be healthy going into the playoffs,” said Popovich, whose team is a league-best 10-1 at home. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case last year, but I’m not sure we can control the health part.”

Indeed, if any season demonstrated to the Spurs the overrated value of seeding, it was 2010-11. They won a conference-best 61 games, lost All-Star guard Manu Ginobili to a sprained right elbow in the season finale in Phoenix and got bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the No. 8 Grizzlies.

As Duncan put it, “Seeding is irrelevant, but health means a lot.”

Still, day in and day out, Parker will cue up the NBA standings and take a peek.

It is a habit he just can’t seem to break, even if he knows, at this point, it’s pointless.

“This year, it really doesn’t matter where you finish, so long as you just make the playoffs,” Parker said. “I really believe that.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Ginobili’s return is a cruise

By Jeff McDonald

NEWARK, N.J. — Gregg Popovich worried about Manu Ginobili, because this is what Popovich does.

Specifically on Saturday, the Spurs coach was worried that Ginobili, back on the floor after a 22-game absence with a broken left hand, might spontaneously combust.

“It will be fun to see him, but there’s no telling what might go on,” Popovich said before what became an easy-does-it 103-89 victory over New Jersey. “He hasn’t played in so long. He might burst the first time he touches the ball.”

Ginobili didn’t explode. But late in the second quarter at the Prudential Center, he showed why Popovich might prefer to encase his star guard in bubble wrap until May.

Closing out hard on the Nets’ Anthony Morrow on a corner 3-pointer at the halftime horn, Ginobili went hurtling into the first row of seats.

Morrow missed, but Ginobili was so upset with himself for misreading the play, he whacked himself in the head with his surgically repaired hand.

Gary Neal scored 18 points to lead a list of six players in double figures for the Spurs, who built a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter and cruised to their seventh consecutive victory and third in a row to open the rodeo trip.

The best news the Spurs (19-9) received Saturday, however: The fifth metacarpal in Ginobili’s left hand is again strong enough to survive being attached to him.

“I felt good,” Ginobili reported after logging 17 minutes off the bench in his first action since Jan. 2. “I wasn’t going to do too many things, first because I can’t. I’m not ready. I need to slowly start getting back into basketball shape.”

Ginobili made his return at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter. Moments later, he logged his first points in 39 days when he scooped up a loose ball and scrambled the length of the floor for a layup.

The 34-year-old guard finished with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting and four assists, most of them working the pick-and-roll with DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter. He missed both his 3-point tries.

“The legs for the threes aren’t going to be there yet, but he got a good start,” Popovich said. “Scored a little bit, got a few assists, got a good rhythm. I thought he drove it pretty well, passed it pretty well. It was good to see.”

To Ginobili’s teammates, who went 15-7 without him, just getting the Argentine playmaker on the floor Saturday was cause enough for optimism.

“Just seeing him in uniform was great,” said point guard Tony Parker, who had 10 of his 12 points in the first half.

Even in the funky red, white and blue Dallas Chaparrals uniforms the Spurs donned Saturday as part of a salute to the ABA.

In truth, Ginobili was worried Saturday, too. Not for his own safety, but for what his return might do to his team’s winning streak.

New Jersey looked like a trap game to him, and he didn’t want to be the reason the Spurs fell for it. He needn’t have been concerned.

A balanced scoring attack combined with another sturdy defensive night helped the Spurs put New Jersey (8-21) away early, despite 27 points and eight assists from Deron Williams.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double, while Blair (11), Danny Green (10) and Splitter (10) also scored in double-digits.

In the end, the night was about a reserve guard whose numbers were statistically inconsequential to Saturday’s win, but whose mere presence gave the Spurs reason for hope.

Ginobili returned to the Spurs a bit more bionic than before. He has six screws in his shooting hand now, an addition someone joked might cause him problems at airport metal detectors.

“So far, so good,” Ginobili said.

One game into Ginobili’s comeback, the Spurs will take it.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

1 of 14 | Share

Spurs 103, Nets 89: Feb. 11, 2012

New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, reaches for a loose ball in front of New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ MarShon Brooks (9) shoots a layup against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) makes a layup against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ MarShon Brooks (9) shoots between San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, and Kawhi Leonard (2) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) loses control of the ball under pressure from San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and DeJuan Blair (45) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with official Marat Kobut in the first half against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) fights for a rebound with San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, and Kawhi Leonard (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) shoots as San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, defends during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, shoots against New Jersey Nets’ Shawne Williams (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) pulls down a rebound against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, loses the ball as New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Shelden Williams (33) fights for the ball with San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, collides with New Jersey Nets’ Jordan Farmar (2) as he drives to the basket in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

Game rewind: Why TP finally heard the cheers

Tony Parker has never really been embraced by Spurs Nation like he probably should have been.

Sure, you see No. 9 jerseys around town, but Parker has never received the adulation of teammates Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan over the years. Ginobili’s fan-friendly style of play and Duncan’s laser-like game focus (and four championship rings) have led them to be the faces of the Spurs’ dynasty among many fans.

Some of it might have started with Parker’s introduction. Parker came to the Spurs as a raw 19-year-old who earned a starting job by the fifth game of his rookie season. He was only replacing Avery Johnson, one of the franchise’s most historically popular players.

Parker was a part of three championship teams and earned the MVP of the 2007 Finals. He married and then divorced a television star. He brought a flash of international sizzle to a franchise that never really received much national publicity.

But some fans never really gravitated to that. And when he made some comments about the team’s future last summer — that he later backed away from — it caught the umbrage of Spurs Nation.

Ginobili’s recent injury and the gradual erosion of Duncan’s game have provided Parker with a chance to blossom in the starring role over the last several weeks. He’s played more minutes and been the team’s offensive focal point in a role that became more difficult with backup T.J. Ford’s injury.

In a compressed season caused by the lockout, Parker has never played better on a consistent basis. He’s averaging 18 points and a career-high 7.6 assists. His minutes played are more than three per game more than any of his teammates.

His game Saturday night was his most impressive as the season. Taking advantage of Gregg Popovich’s confidence to shoot more, Parker torched Oklahoma City for 42 points on 29 shots. And for good measure, he contributed nine assists with no turnovers.

His pass to Duncan with 4:56 left in the third quarter broke the franchise’s assist record. It prompted a quick 20-second time out from the Spurs that gave Parker a chance to bask in the adulation of San Antonio fans as the ATT Center’s spotlights shone on him before he returned back to the court.

At the end of his career, Parker deserves to have his jersey lifted to the rafters of the facility. And before then, more cheers like Saturday night and maybe even a berth in the All-Star game later this month in Orlando are richly earned.

Here’s a look at how Parker’s big game helped spark the Spurs to one of their more impressive victories of the season.

Game analysis: Parker’s vintage game as a scorer and penetrator and the Spurs’ blistering perimeter game gave them the chance to convincingly beat the NBA team with the league’s best won-loss record and the best road record.

Where the game was won: After Oklahoma City jumped to a quick 11-4 lead, the Spurs hit them with a 17-4 run that boosted them back in the lead for good. Parker started it with a floater and a jumper and Kawhi Leonard contributed eight straight San Antonio points, including a pair of 3-pointers that enabled them to take control.

Closing it out: Daequan Cook’s 3-pointer capped a 14-3 Oklahoma City run that pulled them within 93-84 with 8:27 left in the game. Parker responded with a pair of baskets and Duncan added a layup on a 6-0 response and the Spurs’ margin never dipped below double digits during the rest of the game.

Player of the game I: Parker was at his best with 42 points and nine assists. After struggling against Oklahoma City in his first meeting with the Thunder on Jan. 8, Parker was anxious to have a big game and even more determined to tell the Thunder what they were about to experience.

Player of the game II: After some early struggles on Kevin Durant, Leonard did a much better job against the NBA’s scoring leader as the game progressed. Durant got 22 points, but only 11 came after the first quarter. And Leonard put some offensive pressure on the Thunder by going for 15 points, six rebounds and five assists during one of his best all-around games of the season.

Player of the game III: Duncan overcame a struggling shooting game where he hit only 5 of 16 from the field for 13 points. But he was tough inside, outplaying Kendrick Perkins, who was shut out in 21 minutes. Duncan also produced 15 rebounds — the most by a Spurs player this season.

Most unsung: Matt Bonner came off the bench to continue to Spurs’ perimeter blitz. He came up with nine points on three 3-pointers as one of the Spurs’ most effective shooters.

Did you notice I: It’s hard to remember a Spur having a more disastrous back-to-back defensive possesions as Danny Green endured early in the fourth quarter. His goaltending on a James Harden shot that wasn’t close to the basket led to an easy basket. And on the ensuing Oklahoma City possession, Green committed a bad foul when he nicked Harden in 3-point territory on a shot that wasn’t close to the rim. Those plays enabled Oklahoma City to climb back in the game. I’m sure Green will be hearing about them during the Spurs’ next film session.

Did you notice II: After hitting his first two free throws of the game, Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka clanked his final five of the game. Those struggles underscored Oklahoma City’s uncharacteristic difficulties from the line. The Thunder hit 60.7 percent from the line — their lowest game percentage since hitting 50 percent against Utah on Dec. 31, 2009.

Stat of the game: Parker torched Oklahoma City for 42 points. It was tied for the second-highest scoring total in the history of the ATT Center.

Stat of the game II: The Spurs went 12 for 23 from 3-point territory — the fifth time they have hit at least 50 percent this season. Their record in those games is 4-1.

Stat of the game III: Oklahoma City was limited to 96 points, marking the fourth straight game the Spurs have limited opponents to less than 100 points. The Spurs have limited six of their seven last opponents to less than 100 points with Dallas’ 101-100 overtime victory on Jan. 29 being the only game that broke that streak.

Stat of the game IV: Oklahoma City came into the game as the third most productive offense in the NBA, averaging 100.1 points per game. They were limited to 96 points, marking the sixth time this season they have been limited to 96 points or less.

Stat of the game V: Tiago Splitter endured a 1-for-5 shooting effort, marking one of his two worst shooting games of the season. The only one lower was a 1-for-6 game against Golden State on Jan. 4.

Weird stat of the game: The Spurs were pounded in the paint as Oklahoma City had a 46-30 scoring edge. The minus-16 differential was the third highest by a Spurs’ opponent this season. But in those three games, the Spurs are 2-1. They won against Dallas on Jan. 5 (minus-20) and lost Jan. 27 against Minnesota (minus-24).

Not a good sign: Gary Neal has been struggling in a recent slump after scoring 15 points Wednesday night against Houston. Since then, Neal has hit 4 of 17 (23.5 percent) from the field and 2 of 9 (22.2 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc. For the season, Neal is hitting 39.5 of his field goal attempts and 35.3 of his 3-pointers. In his rookie season last year, Neal hit 45.1 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from 3-point range.

Best plus/minus scores: Duncan was plus-24, Parker was plus-20 and Richard Jefferson and Leonard were plus-15

Worst plus/minus scores: Neal was minus-13, Splitter was minus-9 and Cory Joseph and James Anderson were minus-4.

Quote of the game: ”It was a big game for us and I got a little excited. After 11 years, you find stuff to get excited about as tonight was a good game to be in attack mode,” Parker on his on-court animation against Russell Westbrook and the Thunder during the game.

How the schedule stacks up: The Spurs will start their nine-game Rodeo Road Trip with games Monday at Memphis, Wednesday at Philadelphia and Saturday at New Jersey. Oklahoma City has four games left on a five-game road trip with games Wednesday at Portland, Thursday at Golden State, Saturday at Sacramento and Feb. 10 at Utah.

Injuries: Ginobili missed his 20th game (Spurs record 13-7) after undergoing surgery for a fractured fifth left metacarpal. Ford missed his 15th game (Spurs record 10-5) with a torn left hamstring. Oklahoma City played without starting guard Thabo Sefolosha (right foot soreness). Backup point guard Eric Maynor is expected to miss most of the season with a torn right ACL.