Shooters can’t find range

By Mike Monroe
mikemonroe@express-news.net

Nothing about the Spurs’ six-game losing streak is as puzzling as the sudden struggles from beyond the 3-point line.

Friday’s 5-for-19 3-point shooting (26.3 percent) was the third straight game in which the Spurs shot below 30 percent from long range.

Outscored by 12 from beyond the arc by the Rockets, the Spurs suffered a 119-114 overtime loss.

Matt Bonner still leads the NBA in 3-point accuracy despite a 2-for-13 slump over the past three games, but he missed all five of his long-range attempts Friday.

Manu Ginobili, who has taken more 3-pointers than any teammate, missed four of his six against the Rockets.

It was the continuation of a trend that has coach Gregg Popovich at a loss for an explanation.

“We had a lot of great shots that guys aren’t knocking down,” he said, “guys who have been good 3-point shooters all year long, and they’re just not falling down.”

Had it been a one-game aberration, the errant shooting would not be such a worry. That it has become a trend puts a furrow on Popovich’s forehead.

“During these games, our 3-point percentage has gone in the toilet,” he said. “Our 3-point percentage has gone down, and it’s really been the difference.

“We’ve hung in every game, but you’ve got to shoot it well. There’s really no drill for that. You just have to hope that worm turns and we can shoot better.

“So we’ve got to concentrate on penetrating more, trying to move the ball a little better, and get more open, uncontested shots, and see if the percentage goes up at all.”

SHUFFLING LINEUPS: After the Spurs allowed the Rockets 64 first-half points on 52 percent shooting, Popovich opened the second half with the starting lineup he had used through the first 53 games of the season, replacing Antonio McDyess with DeJuan Blair.

Whether the change was the reason, the Spurs tightened their defense appreciably in the second half, holding Houston to 35 percent shooting in the third and fourth quarters and limiting the Rockets to just four shots in overtime.

CONFUSION REIGNS: The Spurs’ failure to take a foul to stop the clock after Houston rebounded Tony Parker’s missed 3-point attempt with 27 seconds left baffled Popovich and some of his players.

Trailing 117-114, the Spurs didn’t move to take a foul until Tim Duncan grabbed Kevin Martin with 7.5 seconds remaining in the overtime period.

Popovich waved his arms frantically and screamed for his players to foul, but Parker said crowd noise prevented him from hearing Popovich, whom he could not see from his position on the court.

“For me, we were down three with three seconds (difference between the shot clock and game clock), and I thought it was better not to foul because if we make a stop we have a chance to tie the game,” Parker said. “That’s what went through my head, and I didn’t hear Pop calling for the foul.”

GREEN TO AUSTIN: The Spurs on Saturday assigned swingman Danny Green to their Austin Toros team in the NBA D-League. Signed for the remainder of the season March 16, Green had appeared in three games. He scored seven points with three rebounds and two assists.

Hill recognized for sportsmanship

By Mike Monroe
mikemonroe@express-news.net

HOUSTON — When Spurs guard George Hill was a young player in Indianapolis, he had a reputation as a bit of a hothead.

“As a kid, I had a bad attitude when things didn’t go my way,” he said. “I’ve learned how to manage that and control my attitude so I can be a positive role model for other young players.”

Hill’s ability to control his emotions on the court gained recognition from a panel of former players when he was named one of six finalists for the NBA Sportsmanship Award.

The panel — Rolando Blackman, Mark Jackson, John Crotty and Eddie Johnson — selected Hill to represent the Southwest Division.

The other finalsts are Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Charlotte’s D. J. Augustin, Chicago’s Luol Deng, Golden State’s Stephen Curry and New Jersey’s Deron Williams.

The annual award reflects the ideals of sportsmanship — ethical behavior, fair play and integrity — in amateur and professional basketball, a key focus of the NBA Cares program efforts. The winner will receive the Joe Dumars Trophy, named to recognize the former Pistons All-NBA guard who now serves as that team’s general manager.

Hill said he still gets angry on the court, but tries to channel his emotions in a positive direction.

“Everybody gets angry,” Hill said. “It’s the competitive nature that NBA players have. But at the same time I know how to control it and take it out on something else you’re doing, either defensively or attacking the basket.”

Hill has two technical fouls in his three NBA seasons. One was for a head-to-head confrontation with Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. The other came in a preseason game last fall when he responded to a call by sprinting away from the play. With the league referees intent on establishing the “respect for the game” emphasis this season, he was whistled for a technical that later was rescinded.

“I’ve had two techs so far, but one got taken back,” he said. “I got one in preseason when I ran down the court, but I didn’t know I would get one for doing that. I didn’t understand that rule yet.”

Hill’s teammates were happy to see his exemplary on-court demeanor recognized.

“I’ve never really seen George get really upset, cursing or out of control,” said Manu Ginobili. “Not really. He’s very correct and in control.”

TIAGO’S TENSION: After spending extra time after recent practices trying to cure a flaw in his free-throw stroke, Spurs center Tiago Splitter got a chance to test the new technique when he entered Friday’s game to open the second quarter. The rookie from Brazil went to the foul line three times in just one minute and nine seconds early in the quarter, but missed four shots in a row — he was awarded a second attempt after a Rockets foul lane violation on one shot — before finally making two straight.

Duncan may return by April

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

DENVER — Though the Spurs have yet to release an official timetable for Tim Duncan’s return from an ankle sprain, coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday the two-time MVP could be back on the floor by the beginning of April.

Asked before the Spurs’ game against Denver if two weeks sounded like a plausible prognosis for Duncan, Popovich sounded optimistic his captain might be back sooner.

“I’m hoping it won’t be that long, a good four or five games for sure,” Popovich said. “Beyond that, I really won’t know until we get back.”

Duncan, who injured his left ankle Monday against Golden State, did not accompany the Spurs on their three-game road trip, instead remaining behind in San Antonio in a walking boot. An MRI conducted Tuesday confirmed the sprain and revealed no structural damage in Duncan’s ankle.

“Once he gets back on the court in a couple of days, we’ll be able to tell more,” Popovich said. “But four or five games for sure.”

By that estimate, Duncan could be back for the Spurs’ ?? final seven regular-season games, beginning April 1 at Houston.

Asked again Wednesday if team doctors had given any indication Duncan might miss the start of the playoffs, Popovich said, “No, no, no.”

SPLITTER STARTS: With Duncan shelved, rookie center Tiago Splitter earned his second career start, earning the nod over DeJuan Blair, who started the first 63 games of the season before moving to the bench earlier this month.

The deciding factor was height. Splitter is 6-foot-11, while Blair is 6-7.

“We’re a pretty small team,” Popovich said. “We’ve got to have some size on the court.”

Blair came off the bench Wednesday after missing the Golden State game with a sprained left wrist.

THE RING LEADER: Spurs guard Danny Green doesn’t have so much as a job guaranteed past the end of the season, but he does have something nobody else in the Spurs locker room does: an NCAA championship ring.

Green started for the North Carolina team that won the 2009 title, along with fellow future NBA players Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough. He keeps his ring in a lock box at home and knows better than to crow about his accomplishments on a team that features four players with NBA championship hardware.

“I can’t brag around these guys,” Green said. “They’ve got some big-time guys here.”

This year’s version of March Madness, meanwhile, has drawn battle lines in the Spurs’ locker room. Green’s Tar Heels will face Steve Novak’s former school, Marquette, in a Sweet 16 game Friday, while Richard Jefferson’s Arizona team will face assistant coach Chip Engelland’s Duke Blue Devils tonight.

“I feel like March Madness, even if you haven’t won a ring, is a fun time for guys,” Green said. “Guys like to fill out brackets and watch our teams play. We have our little battles and arguments and inside friendly bets. It’s a good time to watch basketball.”

The only other Spurs with alma maters still alive in the tournament are Matt Bonner (Florida) and assistant coach Jacque Vaughn (Kansas).