Big night from Big Three stops Pacers

By Jeff McDonald

George Hill walked into the ATT Center again Saturday night and noticed something peculiar about the gym he used to call home.

The view from the visiting locker room looks similar to the view from the home digs.

“Same old team,” Hill said. “Nothing has changed.”

Speaking in the hours before his former team, the Spurs, reeled off a 112-103 victory over his new team, Indiana, Hill meant his comments as a compliment.

He was half right. And he was half wrong.

The Spurs have changed in undeniable ways since Hill, a player coach Gregg Popovich once dubbed his favorite, was traded to the Pacers in June. Rookie Kawhi Leonard has taken Hill’s place on the roster and Patrick Mills his stall in the locker room, and the Spurs have loaded up for the stretch run by adding Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw.

At their core, however, the Spurs are what they’ve been since long before Hill arrived.

For nine-plus seasons and three titles, the Spurs have been Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Saturday, they were again — even in throwback Dallas Chaparrals uniforms and knee-high socks that were an homage to the ABA.

Duncan recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Parker and Ginobili each added 18 points and five assists as the longest-tenured trio in the NBA pushed the Spurs (36-14) to a seventh straight win.

“Manu, Tim and Tony led the way,” Popovich said. “Those three were all good at the same time.”

How’s this for never changing? Since Ginobili arrived in 2002 to complete the Big Three, the Spurs have not lost a home game to Indiana.

Hill would be pleased to find Popovich hasn’t changed much either. Before the game, Popovich spent two minutes waxing sentimental about Hill’s three seasons with the Spurs and his place in this community.

“He’s just an incredible human being,” Popovich concluded.

Pause.

“But I traded his ass.”

Hill had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists, but his old team used a 15-1 run in a 39-point second quarter to build a 22-point lead.

For the Spurs, a familiar triumvirate cleared the path. It was the third consecutive game Duncan, Parker and Ginobili had reached double figures together. When that trio combines for at least 50 points, the Spurs are 6-0 this season.

When rallying Indiana climbed within eight multiple times in the final five minutes, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili scored to nudge the lead back to double-digits.

“They fought their way back,” Duncan said of the Pacers (30-21). “I thought we finished well. We made some stops there at the end.”

The Spurs won despite being outshot 53.2 percent to 50 percent. They made 27 of 33 free throws — with Duncan hitting 9 of 9 — and outrebounded the NBA’s second-best rebounding team 40-32, including 10 offensive boards.

The Spurs survived a pair of 18-point nights from Indiana’s Danny Granger and Paul George, as well as a 15-point, four-block line from Roy Hibbert, using a bench that outscored the Pacers’ reserves 51-29.

When Indiana coach Frank Vogel sought to explain Saturday’s outcome, however, he pointed to the usual suspects.

“Anytime you have Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, that foursome is capable of doing anything,” Vogel said.

Anything?

“They have a championship core,” Vogel said. “They have a legitimate shot of winning it all.”

It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. From the other side of the ATT Center, with a different point of view, Hill likely noticed as much.

jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @J_McDonald_SAEN

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Spurs 112, Pacers 103: March 31, 2012


Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) attempts a fade away shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) makes a pass over Indiana Pacers’ Leandro Barbosa (28) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) goes up for a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ George Hill (03) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Former Spur and current Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (03) enters the game against Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) and Danny Green (04) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) drives around the basket looking to make a pass against the Indiana Pacers’ David West (21) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over the Indiana Pacers’ Leandro Barbosa (28) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) reaches high to defend a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Leandro Barbosa (28) in the first half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) goes the basket against the Indiana Pacers’ David West (21) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) gets fouled as he attempts a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert (55) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) takes a moment to chat with former teammate, current Indiana Pacer George Hill (03) at the end of their game at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) gets a hug from former teammate, current Indiana Pacer George Hill (03) at the end of their game at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (right) chats with Tony Parker (09) during a timeout in a game against the Indiana Pacers at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Danny Green (04) takes a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) takes a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Darren Collison (02) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Stephen Jackson (03) attempts a shot against the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George (24) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) discusses the game with teammate Boris Diaw (33) while seated on the bench with Tim Duncan (21) during their game against the Indiana Pacers at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


A Spurs Silverdancer performs before the start of the Spurs game against the Indiana Pacers at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)


Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) lays up the ball against the Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger (33) in the second half at the ATT Center on Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012. Spurs defeated the Pacers, 112-103. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)

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