Category: In the News

Pop’s many digits on his telephone call tricked Hill about the trade

It was a tough decision for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to trade his self-proclaimed “favorite player,” George Hill.

Popovich has frequently mentioned over the years that he loved Hill’s outlook on the game and life and his unselfish nature. The fact that Hill grew up in Indiana also gave him a link with Popovich, who shared his home state.

But when Popovich called Hill Thursday night to tell him he had been traded to Indiana, it came as a surprise to Hill — particularly when he didn’t recognize the incoming number with one he would have associated with his coach.

“I think if he called from his actual real number, I probably wouldn’t have picked up,” Hill said, chuckling. “Because I know, they normally call with bad news.”

It was a strange call that had multiple numbers when Hill picked up.

“He called from another line. I didn’t know who it was,” Hill said. “It was like 20 digits, so I thought it was TP  (Tony Parker) calling from France or something.”

Hill said he’s leaving the Spurs franchise with no grudges to management and no regrets after the surprising trade.

“For what? The Spurs gave me the chance to play in the NBA and I’m thankful for that,” Hill said. “They gave me a chance to move on to another organization to better myself and my family. I’m grateful for that.”

TD becomes team NBA career leader in games, scoring in one fell swoop

Tim Duncan passed David Robinson twice in the same game on the Spurs’ career record list, becoming the franchise’s leader in games and scoring in NBA games.

When George Gervin’s ABA points are factored in, he’s still the leader in career scoring. But the NBA doesn’t recognize ABA statistics, giving Duncan the career honor.

By scoring 19 points at Utah on Nov. 19, Duncan topped Robinson’s mark of 20,790 points. In the same game, he played in his 988th career NBA game, topping Robinson’s previous mark of 987 games.

Those statistical honors were secondary to Duncan to his team’s 94-82 victory over the Jazz, which enabled them to improve to 10-1 for the season.   

No. 6: Duncan becomes Spurs NBA career leader in points, games in victory over Utah.

When: Nov. 19, 2010. 

Where: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City.

What happened: Tim Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 94-82 triumph over Utah. In the process, Duncan passed David Robinson as the franchise’s NBA career leader in scoring and games played.  

What was said, Part I: ”I wasn’t thinking about it too much. I think that was the best part about it — it just kind of happened,” Duncan on breaking the scoring record with two free throws with 5:28 left in the third quarter.

What was said, Part II:  ”You don’t notice him too much, but he had 19 (points) and 14 (rebounds). There’s no flash, no beating the chest. Just go up and down the court and go home and get a sandwich. That’s what he does,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, describing Duncan’s big game to reporters after the game.

What was said, Part III: ”It does mean a lot to have come this far and do this much, especially knowing how much David has meant to the franchise,” Duncan, describing passing Robinson to the Express-News.

What was said, Part IV: ””I’m just happy for him. He’s been the driving force behind our championships and for him to have the record now for games played and points is appropriate, and I’m really excited for him,” Popovich, describing Duncan’s career feats.

GAME NOTES: Duncan’s achievements overshadowed a grinding victory over the Jazz, who played the game without then Coach Jerry Sloan. The veteran coach was missing as he attended a family funeral back home in Illinois and was replaced by lead assistant Phil Johnson. The Spurs jumped to an early lead before the Jazz rallied from a 15-point deficit to tie the score late in the third quarter. But the Spurs put the game away down the stretch as Duncan and Tony Parker combined for 10 fourth-quarter points. Parker led the Spurs in scoring with 24 points as five San Antonio players scored in double figures. Deron Williams led Utah with 23 points, but hit only 7-for-19 from the field. The victory enabled the Spurs to snap a five-game losing streak to the Jazz. San Antonio had a 46-31 edge in rebounding, including 16-6 in offensive rebounds.  

Previous bad memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: Black Friday fourth-quarter collapse against Dallas helps snap Spurs’ .  

No. 8: : Spurs blown out by Orlando by 22.

No. 7: Lowly Clips to Spurs.

No. 6:  Heat’sfrom 30-point loss 10 days earlier

Previous good memories:

No. 10: .

No. 9: boosts comeback victory over Thunder.

No. 8: leads overtime victory over Memphis.

No. 7:boosts Spurs past Warriors.

Draft prospect: Kyle Singler

The Spurs own the 29th pick in the June 23 draft, one of the lowest slots of the Tim Duncan era. This year’s draft pool is considered to be uncommonly shallow, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Spurs either deal the pick or select a future prospect to stash overseas. Over the next few weeks, the Courtside blog will profile selected players who could be wearing silver and black, should the Spurs elect to keep their pick.

Kyle Singler was a four-year starter for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, and there was a time when that line on the resume would have been enough to make him one of the more highly regarded prospects in any NBA draft. With the growing multitude of early-entry candidates and foreign additions to the draft pool, however,  being a four-year Dookie isn’t enough to earn lottery consideration anymore.

Still, Singler — a 6-foot-9 forward — could slip into the bottom of the first round, at which point the Spurs might be willing to take a flier on his blueblooded pedigree. Singler isn’t exactly an athletic wunderkind, isn’t much of a defender and won’t help the Spurs on the glass.

What Singler was in college is what he is projected to be in the NBA: A smart, solid role player who can knock down an open jumper. The Spurs, who had Singler in for a workout last month, could do worse at the end of the first round.

Singler averaged 16.2 points over his four-year career at Duke, peaking at 17.7 per game as a junior. His Duke background doesn’t hurt his stock, either. Generally speaking, players who do a four-year tour of duty under Coach K tend to hit the NBA with an ingrained sense of professionalism (see Shane Battier).

Singler’s draft stock probably would have been higher had he entered following the 2009-10 season, when he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in Indianapolis. He returned for his senior season, which was solid but unspectacular as compared to the rest of his collegiate career.

Though in no way, shape or form suited for an NBA frontcourt, Singler could provide the Spurs with depth at small forward, an area of need. As the draft winds to the end of the first round, there are worst ways to roll the dice than on a four-year Dookie.