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Spurs 102, Bobcats 72: March 2, 2012
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) drives to the basket against Charlotte Bobcats’ Byron Mullens (22) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) shoots over Charlotte Bobcats’ Corey Maggette (50) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) attempts to block Charlotte Bobcats’ Gerald Henderson (15) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) attempts to score against Charlotte Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera (21) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Danny Green (04) defends against Charlotte Bobcats’ Corey Maggette (50) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots over against Charlotte Bobcats’ DeSagana Diop (07) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) shoots over Charlotte Bobcats’ D.J. Augustin (14) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) takes aim for a three-pointer against the Charlotte Bobcats in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) attempts to block a shot against Charlotte Bobcats’ Corey Maggette (50) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) gets hits by teammate Gary Neal (14) while defending Charlotte Bobcats’ Byron Mullens (22) in the first half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (center) smiles while chatting with Tim Duncan (21) during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) goes up for a shot against Charlotte Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera (21) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Charlotte Bobcats’ Boris Diaw (32) gets an open dunk against the Spurs in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) lines up a three-pointer against Charlotte Bobcats’ Derrick Brown (04) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich points out a call to a game official during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs Silver Dancers perform during a timeout in the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) looks to pass against Charlotte Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera (21) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (second from right) kids around with teammate Kawhi Leonard (second from left) during their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) shoots against Charlotte Bobcats’ Boris Diaw (32) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) dunks against the Charlotte Bobcats in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) contends for a rebound against Charlotte Bobcats’ Derrick Brown (04) in the second half at the ATT Center on Friday, Mar. 2, 2012. Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
By Jeff McDonald
The decision went back and forth for about 48 hours. The Spurs’ coaching staff debated the issue, consulted with the team’s medical staff, flip-flopped on an answer and then flip-flopped again.
In the end, coach Gregg Popovich opted to hold Manu Ginobili out of Friday’s game against Charlotte, even though Ginobili was probably healthy enough to play, even though Ginobili wanted to play.
“We changed our decision every day, 10 times,” Popovich said before the Spurs’ 102-72 victory over the moribund Bobcats. “We don’t know what’s right. We’re just trying to do what’s right.”
Left unsaid, at least publicly: The Spurs were good enough, even without Ginobili, to handle the worst team in the NBA.
With Ginobili in street clothes one more night, recuperating from a strained oblique, Tony Parker scored 15 points and Tim Duncan and Richard Jefferson added 14 apiece to lift the Spurs to their most lopsided victory of the season.
It was the Spurs’ first win at the ATT Center since Feb. 4, a hiatus asterisked by a nine-game rodeo road trip that bled into the All-Star break.
The Spurs (25-11) enjoyed a much easier time Friday than in Wednesday’s return to the building, when they lost 96-89 to Chicago, in part because they played sharper and in part because Charlotte (4-30) isn’t Chicago.
“It was one of those where you just wanted to respect your opponent and get back to work the next day,” Jefferson said.
Heading into the game, more than one Spurs player dropped a pet Popovich phrase: “appropriate fear.”
“Just because their record isn’t the same as our record doesn’t mean they can’t go out and kick our butt if we don’t compete,” Popovich said.
So the Spurs competed, and they got their work done early.
After taking a 51-41 lead at half, the Spurs rarely led by fewer than that many the rest of the way. Ahead by 15 heading to the fourth quarter, Popovich turned the game over to the reserves, who outscored Charlotte 28-13 in the final frame.
Matt Bonner led the Spurs’ bench brigade with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while rookie Kawhi Leonard had 10 in his return from a calf injury.
“We did a good job sharing the ball, and it led to open shots,” Bonner said.
If it is possible to have a turning point in a 30-point game, it came with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
A brief Spurs scoring drought had allowed the Bobcats’ to creep within nine, and Charlotte’s Corey Maggette was diving to the rim, trying to make it a seven-point game.
Jefferson met him there for a blocked shot, igniting a fast break that led to a Gary Neal 3-pointer and a 67-55 edge for the Spurs.
“It was nothing,” Jefferson said. “Just lucky timing.”
The block was part of an all-around solid night for Jefferson, who added four 3-pointers and seven rebounds.
“I thought he had a darn good defensive game,” Popovich said.
In the end, the Spurs exhausted all the drama in pre-game, with the “will he or won’t he?” surrounding Ginobili’s status.
The star guard has missed 27 of the Spurs’ 36 games this season, first with a broken hand then with the strained oblique.
Ginobili’s next return is imminent, if not official, subject to the rigors of one more practice this morning. Barring a setback, it appears likely he will play in Sunday’s nationally televised game against Denver.
Having survived the most injury-plagued stretch of their season, getting Leonard and Tiago Splitter and T.J. Ford back from injuries that pre-dated the All-Star break, the Spurs are looking forward to at last being at full strength.
“One more guy to go,” Parker said. “I can’t wait.”
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN