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Atlanta end skid, frustrate Orlando

ATLANTA — It’s safe to say the Orlando Magic were disgusted with their performance Thursday night.

With the All-Star break beginning Friday, the Magic didn’t want their 83-78 loss to the Atlanta Hawks to resonate, so they held a brief players-only meeting in hopes of correcting some bad habits.

“We need to be depending on each other as a team,” forward Ryan Anderson said. “We need to rely on each other, keep each other accountable. We haven’t been playing that great and we’re still third in the East, so we must be doing something right. But it just shows that we could be that much better.”

Josh Smith scored 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to help the Hawks snap a three-game skid with the victory.

J.J. Redick finished with 13 points and Dwight Howard had 12 for the Magic, who had won two straight and six of seven.

“Our energy was bad,” Redick said. “When we play that way, we’re bad. We have to figure out a way to eliminate that.”

Howard, who has been the subject of trade speculation this season, suggested that the Magic aren’t too far from correcting their mistakes.

“You’ve got to stick together and buy into what we’re trying to accomplish and go from there,” Howard said after the meeting that lasted between 8-10 minutes. “My focus is just to keep the guys in the locker room together despite what’s being said on the outside.”

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was more succinct.

“I’ve been saying it to you guys, and I come off as negative all the time — we don’t play hard enough,” Van Gundy said. “We just don’t. We’re not going to be anywhere near contenders in the East unless we’re going to play hard all the time, and we don’t. Simple as that.”

Saluting a few more of the season’s stars

The NBA All-Star break arrived almost at the midpoint of the 66-game schedule, a convenient stopping point to consider those who are in the lead for the postseason awards. Express-News NBA beat writer Mike Monroe delivers his choices:

COACH OF THE YEAR

Gregg Popovich, Spurs: Before the season began, nobody expected the Spurs would have the second-best record in the Western Conference, and that was before Manu Ginobili broke a bone in his left hand and later strained an oblique muscle. Popovich has given his youngest lineup in years the confidence to believe it can succeed, yet has also kept a wary eye on Tim Duncan’s playing time.

Other candidates:

• Rick Adelman, Timberwolves

• Kevin McHale, Rockets

• Erik Spoelstra, Heat

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers: For such a young player, especially one with such limited college experience, Irving has shown an amazing ability to score, including in crunch time.

Other candidates:

• Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves

• Kemba Walker, Bobcats

• Norris Cole, Heat

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Jeremy Lin, Knicks: The easiest selection of any of the awards, even if the sample size isn’t as large as we’d like. An undrafted player who has become a productive star fits this award perfectly.

Other candidates:

• Tiago Splitter, Spurs

• Ryan Anderson, Magic

• Paul George, Pacers

SIXTH MAN AWARD

James Harden, Thunder: Like most recent winners of this award, he plays starter minutes, especially in crunch time. It’s not uncommon for him to play all 12 minutes of fourth quarters.

Other candidates:

• Jason Terry, Mavericks

• Lou Williams, 76ers

• Matt Bonner, Spurs

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Serge Ibaka, Thunder: The league leader in blocked shots has changed the Thunder’s defensive dynamic, making the middle no-man’s land for opposing team’s slashers and drivers.

Other candidates:

• Dwight Howard, Magic

• Josh Smith, Hawks

• LeBron James, Heat

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA

Salad days gone, Duncan finds a way to stay young

ORLANDO — Tim Duncan ordered light Tuesday night. He had a Caesar salad.

And that made you sick?

“Bad eggs, bad dressing,” Duncan sighed. “Something bad.”

So Duncan was up most of the night in his Orlando hotel room. “In and out,” he said, when it was mostly out, and he missed the team meeting Wednesday morning.

Gregg Popovich didn’t want him to play against the Magic, and Duncan’s response was to the point.

“He told me to go fish,” Popovich said.

Duncan had worked too hard during the lockout to miss nights such as these. Popovich wasn’t going to keep Duncan from Dwight Howard, nor was a Caesar salad.

And this is how the Spurs won their first road game of the season.

They won it for other reasons, and the schedule was one. The Magic were not only on the third night of three games in a row, but Howard had also put in 39 minutes the night before.

Duncan, thanks to LeBron James, played less than 27 in Miami.

Then there was Tony Parker, coming alive for a burst; a Gary Neal 3-pointer that fell, in part, because one eventually had to; and the Magic’s J.J. Redick being about a second too late in overtime.

But none of it happens if Duncan isn’t cradling the game as lovingly as he does the basketball just before the tip. He spent the summer dropping both his body fat and a few thousand jump shots, and the result was clear Wednesday.

“He was fresh,” Popovich said, when he had expected something else from a sick man. “How he pivoted, and how he started and stopped, and how he moved across the lane, all of that was special. It’s a tribute to what he has done to get ready for this season.”

Duncan isn’t on his farewell tour. Most in the organization think he will try to play two to three more seasons after this one. Parker restated that again Wednesday.

But Duncan is also at a place where he takes nothing for granted. Add Howard to the equation, and a chance for Duncan to test himself yet again, and the night was mandatory.

Asked if he got amped up for Howard, Duncan nodded. “If you don’t,” Duncan said, “you will get destroyed.”

The numbers told of that. While Parker said Duncan “was unbelievable on Dwight,” imagine what Howard would have done without Duncan being unbelievable. Howard finished with 24 points and 25 rebounds.

Still, Howard didn’t score in the fourth quarter. And from the opening play to Redick’s too-late heave, Duncan pitted his knowledge and professionalism against Howard’s freakish physical ability.

They are opposites, both in age and emotions. While Duncan handled his own free agency years ago by privately assessing his options (coincidentally, Orlando was one of his options), Howard has turned his into a show.

Their differences were on the court Wednesday, too. Duncan remained typically stoic, and Howard went from playfully smiling to frustrated. Late in the third quarter, bothered by Duncan and the refs, Howard plowed into Duncan for an offensive foul.

They would trade hips and elbows the rest of the way. And shortly after Popovich ran a play in which Danny Green set up Duncan in the final seconds of regulation, Orlando had 0.3 seconds left on the clock.

Thinking about a lob?

“Yes,” Duncan with a tone that suggested he remembered everything.

In February of 2007 in Orlando, Howard went up over Duncan to take an inbounds pass at the buzzer to dunk and beat the Spurs.

“I told Dwight tonight,” Duncan said with a smile, “that’s not happening again.”

So they went to overtime, contrasts to the end. Duncan tossed in a jumper for the lead, with Popovich leaning with body language on the sideline. Howard followed with a roaring dunk after an offensive rebound.

Popovich called time to draw up Neal’s 3. As Duncan disgustingly went to the bench, a fan yelled what he’s been hearing for a while. “You’re OLD!”

But not too old, not after last summer. Not this night.

bharvey@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

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Spurs 85, Magic 83 (OT): Jan. 18, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan loses his grip on the ball as he is fouled by Orlando Magic’s Von Wafer (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy directs his layers during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (12) goes after a rebound in front of San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s J.J. Redick walks off the court after the Magic’s 85-83 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. Redick made a 3-point shot after the final buzzer. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s Ryan Anderson, right, makes a shot past San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter, of Brazil, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, makes a shot over Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

After sinking a 3-point shot in the closing seconds of overtime, San Antonio Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) gets a high-five from teammate Tony Parker (9), of France, in an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won 85-83. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) pump-fakes and is fouled by Orlando Magic’s Quentin Richardson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, center, fights for a rebound with San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, left, and DeJuan Blair (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) grabs a pass while being guarded by San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich yells to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, passes the ball around Orlando Magic’s Ryan Anderson (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, spins away from Orlando Magic’s Glen Davis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)