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Spurs 87, Jazz 81: Game 4

FOR SPORTS – Spurs’ Manu Ginobili reacts after making a three pointer during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Tony Parker talk with former Spur Sean Elliott during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 87-81, and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (from left), Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Cory Joseph, and Matt Bonner joke while on the bench Jazz’s during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker talks with the Jazz’s Devin Harris during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard surround the Jazz’s Paul Millsap during the first half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner share a laugh during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 87-81, and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Matt Bonner shoots over the Jazz’s Derrick Favors during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tiago Splitter shoots around Jazz’s Enes Kanter during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker drives to the basket around the Jazz’s Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili gets through the Jazz’s Gordon Hayward during the first half of game four in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Gary Neal drives around Jazz’s Jamaal Tinsley during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker drives to the basket around Jazz’s Derrick Favors during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobli, Kawahi Leonard and Gary Neal stop the Jazz’s Devin Harris during the first half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. Neal was called for a foul on Harris on the play. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker (from left), Cory Joseph, and Tim Duncan joke while on the bench during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan hugs teammate DeJuan Blair during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (from left), Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Cory Joseph, and Matt Bonner joke while on the bench during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili shoots around the Jazz’s Gordon Hayward as Jazz’s Paul Millsap looks on during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tiago Splitter ties up Utah Jazz Paul Millsap for a jumpball during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. In back is DeMarre Carroll. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan hugs teammate Spurs’ Matt Bonner during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Tony Parker greet Stephen Jackson during a break in the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 87-81, and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Stephen Jackson and Tim Duncan clamp down on the Jazz’s Derrick Favors during the second half of game four in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan hugs Jazz’s Gordon Hayward after Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker drives to the basket as the Jazz’s Al Jefferson looks on during the second half of game four in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard grabs a rebound from the Jazz’s Derrick Favors during the second half of game four in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich reacts after a play during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan talks with the team during a break in the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 87-81, and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili talk to each other during a break in the first half of game four in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Tony Parker celebrate after a score during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker land in the crowd after her was fouled by the Jazz’s Devin Harris during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan pass the ball as the Jazz’s Derrick Favors tries to defend during the first half of game four in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks with Tiago Splitter during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 87-81, and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (from left) and Manu Ginobili are met by teammate Tim Duncan as they walk off the court during a second half timeout of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are all smiles while on the bench during second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan reacts after a play during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan goes for a rebound against the Jazz’s Paul Millsap during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili looks for room around the Jazz’s Gordon Hayward during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Tiago Splitter grabs a rebound from Utah Jazz Jamaal Tinsley during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili drives as Tiago Splitter screens the Jazz’s Alec Burks during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Gary Neal drives around the Jazz’s Jamaal Tinsley during first half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

Members of the Spurs talk during a a timeout in the second half action of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz Monday May 7, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Spurs won 87-81. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (EDWARD A. ORNELAS / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and Matt Bonner cover the Jazz’s Paul Millsap during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs won 87-81 and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

The Spurs’ Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili talk near mid court during the second half of Game 4 in the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Monday, May 7, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 87-81, and swept the series, 4-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)

By Jeff McDonald

SALT LAKE CITY — EnergySolutions Arena was howling. The Utah Jazz, down on the canvas just moments before, were surging. In one brilliant last gasp, they sensed a chance to extend the game, the series, their season.

Then, Manu Ginobili was gift-wrapped a chance to put an end to all of that.

As Ginobili glided alone toward the basket late in the Spurs’ 87-81 Game 4 victory Monday, no defender within 50 feet of him, Stephen Jackson hoped his teammate recalled the lesson of Game 1.

“The older you get, the more you understand,” Jackson said. “Two points is two points.”

Meaning: No dunks, Manu. Just lay it up. Nice and easy-like.

Ginobili went the safe route for the clinching basket, even as the Spurs occasionally lived dangerously on the way to the second round.

With the victory, the Spurs salted away their first postseason sweep since the 2007 NBA Finals and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for just the second time since 2008.

Now, the Spurs head home to await — perhaps for a week or more — the winner of the Memphis-Los Angeles Clippers series.

“We didn’t accomplish anything,” point guard Tony Parker said. “We just got past the first round. We can be happy, but tomorrow’s a new day.”

Ginobili had 17 points to spearhead a 57-10 edge for the Spurs’ bench and help overcome the first mediocre nights of the playoffs from Parker (11 points, 4 of 14) and Tim Duncan (11 points, three blocks).

Ginobili hit his first three 3-pointers of the series during a 15-0 second-half run that helped the Spurs build a 21-point lead with 6:17 to go.

At that point, Utah center Al Jefferson seemed a prophet. Maybe somebody could beat the Spurs, but it wouldn’t be the Jazz.

Then, with the Spurs’ key players on the bench — presumably to be mothballed until the second round — Utah sprang to life.

Jefferson finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Paul Millsap had 10 and 19. Derrick Favors, shifted into the starting lineup as Utah coach Ty Corbin opted to go jumbo, had 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

“They junked it up,” Duncan said. “They got real physical and real active, and found a way to make plays and get back into the game.”

With 27.9 seconds to go, the Jazz were within four points and had possession.

Then, Jackson slapped the ball free from Millsap and Parker lofted a football pass to Ginobili at the other end of the floor.

Ginobili was all alone, much as he had been in Game 1 when he botched a wide-open dunk attempt that opened him to team-wide ridicule for more than a week.

This time, he went for the soft, safe layup.

“I didn’t want to risk anything, really,” Ginobili said.

That gave the Spurs an 85-79 lead with 18.9 seconds to go. The series, for all intents and purposes, was over.

In a sense, Ginobili’s easy-does-it lay-in was a metaphor for the Spurs’ close-out victory, which wound up being by far the narrowest of a lopsided series.

“We just try to get the job done,” said Jackson, whose team won the first three games by a combined 58 points. “Not trying to be pretty.”

The Spurs put the clamps on Game 4 by holding the Jazz scoreless for a span of 8:18 in the second half, building a cushion big enough to withstand their last big hurrah.

They won despite shooting 37.8 percent — their worst showing of the series — in part by holding Utah to 36.4 percent, including an 0-for-13 effort from 3-point range.

The Spurs also got solid bench contributions from center Tiago Splitter (10 points, three steals) and guard Gary Neal (11 points, 4-of-6 shooting).

Late in the game, when it finally came time to put an end to the madness, Ginobili and the Spurs demonstrated a new take on old math.

Two points is two points. And four wins is a sweep.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

SPURS WIN BEST-OF-7 SERIES 4-0

Game 1:

Game 2:

Game 3

Game 4:

SWEEPING SPURS

The Spurs have swept seven series in their NBA postseason history:

1990: Defeated Denver 3-0 in first round (lost to Portland 4-3 in Western semifinals)

1995: Defeated Denver 3-0 in first round (lost to Houston 4-2 in Western finals)

1999: Defeated L.A. Lakers 4-0 in Western semifinals, defeated Portland 4-0 in Western finals (beat New York 4-1 in NBA Finals)

2004: Defeated Memphis 4-0 in first round (lost to L.A. Lakers 4-2 in Western semifinals)

2007: Defeated Cleveland 4-0 in NBA Finals

2012: Defeated Utah 4-0 in first round

Spurs notebook: Jazz’s Jefferson can’t see any team beating S.A.

SALT LAKE CITY — For three games in the Western Conference playoffs, Utah center Al Jefferson has seen his team beaten every which way, and by a combined 58 points.

Finally, he has seen enough.

Before Sunday’s practice, Jefferson essentially declared the Spurs to be NBA champions-in-waiting.

“I just think we’re playing against a team that is at its peak,” Jefferson said. “I don’t see nobody beating them.”

Jefferson’s comments were striking, considering Utah’s series with the Spurs is still in progress.

Game 4 is tonight in Utah.

Apprised of Jefferson’s prediction after their own practice session at EnergySolutions Arena, the Spurs seemed flattered, but deemed it premature.

“The best team out there won’t be decided for a while yet,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do if we want to be that team, and we’re trying.”

It is a one-game-at-a-time approach echoed by Popovich’s captain, Tim Duncan, even with the Spurs on the verge of sweeping a playoff series for the first time since the 2007 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Even with the Spurs going 41-7 since Jan. 30.

“We’re still growing a little bit,” Duncan said. “It’s early in the playoffs. We have some ways to go before we can define what kind of team we’re going to be.”

Jefferson thinks he knows the Spurs’ ceiling. Whether he’s correct will be determined over the next six weeks or so.

“Right now, they just playing well, man,” Jefferson said. “I ain’t never seen nothing like this.”

Checkmate for Parker: Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin made his first strategic move of the series in Game 3 when he assigned 6-foot-8 small forward Gordon Hayward to guard Tony Parker for long stretches.

The move might have backfired.

Not only did it fail to faze Parker — who finished with 27 points to raise his average in the series to 24.3 — it seemed to take Hayward out of his own game. Hayward ended with four points and made just 1 of 10 shots.

Parker, meanwhile, pumped in 16 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

“He’s kind of seen it all,” Duncan said. “I thought (Hayward) did a pretty good job early on, affecting him with his size a little bit, but Tony figured it out.”

Other ways to help: Manu Ginobili’s shooting struggles continued with a 2-for-6 night in Game 3. Yet he still found a way to contribute to the Spurs’ 102-90 victory with a season-high 10 assists.

“Whether it’s a rebound or scoring or assists, making a steal, he figures out what needs to be done in a game,” Popovich said. “Those 10 assists really helped us.”

Ginobili is still looking for his first made 3-pointer in eight tries in the series, and the 17 points he’s totaled have been surpassed by seven teammates.

As long as the Spurs’ offense is humming — and it’s averaging 107.3 points in the playoffs so far — Ginobili is content to be a setup man.

“The team is playing good offense,” he said. “Tony is taking us where we want to be. There’s no need to force the issue to try to make shots.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Parker showcases his growth vs. his double

Column by Buck Harvey

Tony Parker isn’t there yet. He still needs to go to Utah, and maybe to Oklahoma City and Miami, and continue to see the game as clearly as he has.

But he’s close, and Sunday outlined how far he’s come.

There was a time, after all, when Parker and Devin Harris were supposed to be at about the same place.

Now they are back at a familiar one, the playoffs. The last time, in 2006, Harris’ Mavericks eliminated the Spurs in seven games.

Harris smiles at the memories, and he should. “I’ve always played well against the Spurs,” he said.

He did in Game 2 of that series. Thrust into the starting lineup, he outscored Parker and averaged over 20 points when Dallas won three consecutive games.

Parker had his moments, too. He scored more than 24 points three times despite a sore thigh.

Still, he also had only 22 assists over the entire seven games, and this is why it’s always been tricky to measure Parker. His success seems to make his flaws more glaring.

Even when he was a teenage starter, even when he earned All-Star berths, the holes in his game were clear. He was shaky just a year ago, too, in the first-round loss to Memphis.

But he keeps taking steps, and he admitted to one Sunday. Last summer, he said, Gregg Popovich told him he had played harder for the French national team than he had against the Grizzlies.

Parker reacted as he has for a career, finding another way to get better. Harris is unsure if that is true, wondering if the team around Parker is what changed.

But one scout said this Sunday: He can’t remember anyone getting better, year after year, until reaching such a high level when nearly 30 years old.

The game has slowed for Parker now, even as he speeds past defenders. He sees the floor and what should come next, and he did that Sunday afternoon.

He took an inadvertent blow from Harris, then got back up to score 28 points. Parker was relentless, taking advantage of the space his shooters provided, and it was reflective of his season.

When the crowd chanted “MVP, MVP,” it was justified. Parker should finish in the top five, if not top three.

Harris once had the same promise. He was about Parker’s size and his double in quickness. The Spurs saw all of this early; he once scored 20 points in a fourth quarter against them.

Better yet, he could defend Parker. In Game 2 of that 2006 series, Parker had more turnovers (4) than assists (1) and was outscored by Harris.

Little wonder, when the Mavericks eventually traded Harris out of the Western Conference, Parker was relieved. “I’m really happy for that trade,” he said.

The real compliment was the trade itself. There were other pieces involved but, essentially, Harris had gone for Jason Kidd.

Most in the basketball world thought Mark Cuban was crazier than usual for agreeing to the deal. Wasn’t Kidd aging and Harris just beginning?

What has happened since says something else. Kidd helped win a title, and Harris’ career has flatlined. He starred initially with freedom in New Jersey, making an All-Star team once, but he hasn’t come close to what Parker is.

Maybe, as he says about Parker, the makeup of his team has changed him. But another scout questions whether the commitment has been there.

Parker agrees to none of this. He said Sunday that Harris is “the key to their team. He makes them go … I know he’s going to bounce back.”

But that’s the Parker who is almost there. He knows a series can change and that there will be adjustments. And that there’s always another step to take.

bharvey@express-news.net
Twitter: @Buck_SA