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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)

Mike Monroe: Bowen’s No. 12 jersey should be recognized

Just about this time a dozen years ago the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers were in Denver to play the Nuggets in a regular-season game, but reigning MVP Shaquille O’Neal was avoiding the media after his team’s morning shootaround at the Pepsi Center.

He was changing his size-22s in a courtside seat when a couple of reporters sneaked past his bodyguard and asked if he would answer a few questions.

“I’ll answer all your questions,” he said, “if you’ll answer one for me.”

O’Neal pointed to a banner hanging high in the rafters.

“Who is Beck?” he asked.

There, next to similar banners with names O’Neal recognized — Issel, English and Thompson — was the stumper, the name emblazoned beneath the No. “40.”

Byron Beck was an original Denver Rocket, a hook-shot specialist center who was the first player drafted by the franchise that became the Nuggets. He was the only Denver player to go all the way from the franchise’s first season in the ABA through its first season in the NBA, which would be the final one of his career.

Beck retired with pedestrian career averages of 11.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but for the Nuggets franchise his presence from its inception had been enough. Retiring his number made perfect sense to Nuggets management, so when Beck left the game in 1977, his number went straight to the rafters.

Had the Internet been around in those days, there likely would have been the same sort of catty online comments that accompanied the announcement Monday that Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 will be retired by the Spurs in ceremonies at the ATT Center on March 21.

One reporter who has covered the Heat since Miami joined the NBA as an expansion franchise took to Twitter to suggest, facetiously, that Miami consider a similar honor for Keith Askins, a defensive specialist guard-forward for the Heat for nine seasons. During that period, Askins averaged 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Bruce Bowen (right) made a career of pestering offensive standouts such as Suns guard Steve Nash. (Edward A. Ornelas / eaornelas@express-news.net)

Retiring a number is the ultimate honor a team can bestow on one of its own and each franchise establishes its own criteria. This is evident when you run through the list of numbers retired by NBA teams and understand the various sentiments that produce such veneration.

The Nets retired Drazen Petrovic’s number and the Timberwolves retired Malik Sealy’s after tragic accidents took them in the prime of their careers. Similarly, the Celtics retired Reggie Lewis’ number after he died at age 27. The Royals (now the Kings) retired Maurice Stokes’ number after the 25-year-old All-Star forward’s career was cut short by paralysis from a brain injury precipitated by a fall during a game in 1958.

Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond played only two seasons for the Cavaliers. But he was from Akron, a basketball hero in Northeast Ohio long before his pro career, and he helped lead the expansion Cavs to their first playoff appearance.

The first number retired by the Blazers was that of Lloyd Neal, a rugged power forward with career averages of 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds. Like Bowen, Neal was a versatile defensive specialist. His ability to guard the game’s top centers, even though he was 6-foot-7, made him beloved by the team’s players, coaches and fans, who thoroughly endorsed his recognition.

Defense was the hallmark of all four Spurs championship teams and Bowen was the best perimeter defender on three title teams.

Hanging Bowen’s number alongside those of David Robinson, George Gervin, James Silas, Johnny Moore, Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson doesn’t diminish those Spurs standouts. His offensive numbers may not be gaudy, but there is one number that screams for recognition: Eight.

That’s the number of times Bowen was recognized on the NBA’s All-Defensive team, a unit selected annually by the league’s head coaches.

Every coach who ever sent a high-scoring shooting guard or small forward on the court to be tortured by Bowen would endorse the honor the Spurs have chosen to give him.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

By the numbers: TP’s big game leads Spurs’ victory

After all of their road struggles earlier this season, the Spurs needed to reclaim their home court.

It wasn’t always pretty, but San Antonio persevered for 101-95 overtime victory Wednesday night over Houston.

In the process, the Spurs overcame an early 12-point deficit in one of their most spirited efforts of the season.

Here are some of the numbers that helped explain why the Spurs again won at home.

6 – Rebounds for Kawhi Leonard in the fourth quarter and overtime. He grabbed four in overtime.

7-0 — Difference in fouls in overtime. Houston committed seven, the Spurs none.

11 — Consecutive possessions that Houston scored during San Antonio’s defensive struggles late in the first quarter.

20.0 – Houston and San Antonio’s shooting percentage in overtime. Like Kevin Martin said after the game, the offensive struggles deserved the tag of “lockout ball.”

28 — Tony Parker’s point total — highest by a Spurs player this season.

45:18 – Parker’s playing time — most in a game since he played 47:44 on Dec. 27, 2008.

65.0 — Houston’s shooting percentage in the first quarter.