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Ginobili practices five-on-five

By Mike Monroe

Before he would allow injured two-time All-Star guard Manu Ginobili to suit up for another game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided he wanted to see him go through a full practice, including a five-on-five scrimmage.

Such a practice took place Saturday morning at the Spurs’ training facility, but Ginobili’s availability for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets at the ATT Center officially remains a game-time decision.

If you ask his teammates, however, Ginobili appears ready.

“He played great today in practice,” forward Matt Bonner said. “He went live and went hard, and he’s doing what Manu does — playing with a lot of energy and making hustle plays, scoring and passing.”

Bonner knew better than to guess Popovich’s decision about Ginobili’s availability.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he said, “but he looked good today is all I can say.”

Ginobili missed 22 games with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand, an injury incurred Jan. 2 in a loss to the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. He returned for four games before suffering a strained left oblique in the Spurs’ overtime victory over the Clippers at Staples Center on Feb. 18.

The Spurs have won 18 of 27 games without their high-energy starting shooting guard.

Talking practice: Practice time has been a rare commodity during the compressed, 66-game season. But the seven-game post-All-Star break homestand that covers 18 days already has given the Spurs time for three practice sessions.

“With the schedule as it is, we have two weeks at home, so we’ll probably have practices every other day,” said guard Gary Neal. “It’s good. You come in here and get up a good sweat and go over some defensive concepts and get those fresh in your mind and get ready to play the next game.”

The practice time has been especially important for players coming off injuries. In addition to Ginobili, Tiago Splitter and Kawhi Leonard were able to regain some rhythm and continuity.

“It’s a little bit of normalcy these two weeks while we’re at home to take advantage of that time and work on some things in practice,” Bonner said. “It’s also good for guys coming off injuries. It gives them a chance to try and get their rhythm back.”

Statistical minutiae: The 102-72 victory over the Bobcats on Friday night was the Spurs’ largest margin of victory this season. The scoring in Friday’s game was split evenly between starters and bench players, 51 apiece. The Spurs had a season-high 55 rebounds against the Bobcats.

mikemonroe@express-news.net
Twitter.com: @Monroe_SA

Spurs have transitioned to Team Tony

ORLANDO, Fla. — Spurs point guard Tony Parker was sitting in a hotel ballroom earlier this weekend, immersed in the drudgery of his fourth NBA All-Star media day, reflecting on the unlikely journey that got him here.

Specially, he recalled a disaster of a pre-draft camp in Chicago more than 10 years ago that had nearly derailed his career before it began.

Then 19, Parker arrived at the workout not so fresh after a 12-hour flight from Paris and walked directly into a booby trap. His practice partner that day, a Spurs staffer and nondescript former NBA player named Lance Blanks, had been dispatched with explicit instructions to give the skinny kid from France the business.

“I was terrible,” Parker remembers of that day in 2001. “Lance was beating me up. He was playing no defense, just fouling me like crazy. I didn’t play well. They almost didn’t draft me.”

It took a second workout in San Antonio a few weeks later — plus some cajoling from general manager R.C. Buford — to get coach Gregg Popovich on board with selecting Parker 28th overall.

Even then, Popovich didn’t have high expectations once Parker arrived at training camp.

“At the time, I just wondered if he’d be able to make our team,” Popovich said.

Ten-plus seasons later, Parker has long since cleared that low bar. On the cusp of turning 30, Parker landed in Orlando in the midst of his best professional season, having tugged the Spurs to a 24-10 record despite missing star guard Manu Ginobili for all but nine games.

Tonight at the Amway Center, Parker will make his fourth All-Star appearance. In Spurs history, only Tim Duncan (13), David Robinson (10) and George Gervin (12, including three in the ABA) have made more.

With Duncan at age 35 and slowing, and Ginobili these days spending more time in street clothes than in uniform, Parker has emerged as the lead horse of a team that still harbors credible NBA title aspirations.

“He’s been our everything,” said Duncan, who will miss the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. “He’s played MVP caliber, he really has.”

Ginobili put it even more starkly.

“This is Tony’s team now,” he said.

Parker has accepted the keys, in part because he has no choice. He hit the All-Star break averaging 19.4 points and a career-best 8.1 assists, and riding a streak of four consecutive points-assists double-doubles.

“With Manu out, I have to do a lot more,” Parker said. “I have to be in attack mode the whole time.”

Apart from the numbers, Popovich has been impressed by Parker’s decision-making and control of the game. Night in and night out, Parker seems to sense what the Spurs need, and gives it to them.

Some of Parker’s box scores this season have been mind boggling: 34 points and 14 assists at Toronto, 30 points and 10 assists against the Clippers, 20 points and a career-high 17 assists at New Orleans.

“It’s his most complete season as a point guard,” Popovich said. “When you consider all aspects of the game — offense, deciding when to score and when to involve people, what’s the time of game, what’s the score, what’s going on, who’s hot, who’s rolling, playing defense at the other end and then being a leader out on the court — he’s doing all of those things better than he ever has.”

That’s high praise for a player who already has an NBA Finals MVP (2007) and All-NBA mention (2009) on his résumé.

The telltale night of Parker’s season came Feb. 4 in a home victory against Oklahoma City, when he broke Avery Johnson’s franchise assist record — and for dessert, pumped in 42 points.

Ginobili calls that the best game of Parker’s career, eclipsing even a 55-point night at Minnesota in November 2008.

“The game in Minnesota, he knew he had to score,” Ginobili said. “Against Oklahoma City, he was scoring, he was setting guys up. Every decision he made was the right one.”

Opposing coaches have begun to focus on Parker as the head of the Spurs’ snake. When a team faces the Spurs nowadays, limiting Parker’s penetration is typically the emphasis of the defensive game plan.

“Tony Parker is playing the best basketball he’s ever played,” Denver coach George Karl said. “There’s no question about that at all. Before, you always thought you could turn him over a little bit and force him into bad decisions. The games I’ve watched, I haven’t seen any of that.”

L.A. Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who will start ahead of Parker for the West All-Stars tonight, believes his Spurs counterpart has been annually underrated.

“Tony’s been doing the same thing he’s doing now for the past eight, 10 years,” Paul said. “When you know basketball, you appreciate it.”

Still, Parker could have envisioned none of this the day he arrived at Spurs training camp in 2001, still bruised from his pre-draft workout with Blanks.

“I thought if I could play like 15, 20 minutes and be a good player in the NBA, I’d be happy,” Parker said.

Over time, the goals changed, as did the expectations. Now, Parker is only the Spurs’ everything.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Tony Parker career timeline

Express-News Spurs beat writer Jeff McDonald takes a season-by-season look at the point guard’s development, from teenage starter to four-time All-Star:

2001-02: As a 19-year-old rookie, installed as starting point guard four games into inaugural campaign, replacing Antonio Daniels.

2002-03: Started every game for a team that wins NBA championship, but is benched most fourth quarters against New Jersey in the Finals in favor of Speedy Claxton.

2003-04: Before the season, Spurs flirt with Nets All-Star Jason Kidd in free agency. Had Kidd come, Parker likely would have been pushed out the door.

2004-05: Helped earn Spurs’ third title with seven-game victory over Detroit, but still struggles with consistency in playoffs.

2005-06: Enjoyed a regular-season breakout, averaging 18.9 points en route to first All-Star appearance.

2006-07: Enjoyed postseason breakout, becoming first Spurs player other than Tim Duncan to earn Finals MVP, in sweep of Cleveland. Also garners second straight All-Star invite.

2007-08: Builds on Finals performance, averaging 18.8 points and six assists.

2008-09: With Manu Ginobili limited to 56 games due to injury, Parker explodes for 22 points and 6.9 assists per game, both career highs, highlighted by a 55-point opus in double-overtime win at Minnesota in November. Named to third All-Star team, and draws All-NBA honors for first time.

2009-10: Injury-plagued, plays in only 50 games. Scoring average dips to 16 points, its lowest since 2003-04 season.

2010-11: A bounce-back campaign of sorts, he scores 17.5 points with 6.6 assists.

September 2011: At Eurobasket tournament in Lithuania, leads French national team to first Olympics berth since 2000.

2011-12 (so far): Carrying Spurs again with Ginobili out, he’s averaging 19.4 points and career-best 8.1 assists. Surpassed Avery Johnson as franchise’s all-time assist leader in win over Oklahoma City in February, scoring 42 points in process. Today will play in fourth All-Star Game.

Spurs rout Bobcats; Ginobili still sits

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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