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Ginobili ready for stretch run

CLEVELAND — Though he is not ready to declare himself fully prepared for a playoff run, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili is encouraged enough by his recent productivity to believe he can reach maximum efficiency by season’s end.

Limited by a series of injuries to just 21 of the team’s 50 games, the two-time All-Star from Argentina has scored 50 points in his last three games, which included playing both games of a back-to-back set for just the third time.

The strained left hip flexor that slowed his return after his recovery from a strained left oblique no longer is causing postgame aches and pains. He is beginning to feel like a legitimate third leg of the Spurs’ Big Three with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

“T.D. is playing great, and we know the kind of season Tony is having, and I’m slowly trying to join in,” Ginobili said. “I’m starting to feel better, stronger, not aching like two weeks ago, so I’m feeling optimistic and feeling really good.”

The Big Three is on a run of three straight games in which all three members have scored in double figures and totaled at least 50 points. The Spurs are 6-0 when the three stars score 50 or more.

With tonight’s game the first of the final 16 of the season and the playoffs little more than three weeks away, Ginobili says the Big Three are easing into playoff mode.

“Yeah, there’s under 20 games to go,” he said. “We know we’re on the last stretch, and we’ve really got to start to click even more. We want to be the best team we can possibly be, and I think we are on the right track.”

Streaking: Winners of seven consecutive games, the Spurs already have two of the nine longest win streaks of the season. Their 11-game streak that stretched from Jan. 30 through Feb. 20 is the longest.

Only two other teams have win streaks longer than seven games: The Miami Heat won nine in a row from Feb. 10 through March 1; and the Chicago Bulls won eight straight from Feb. 20 through March 7.

Coach of the Month: For the second consecutive month, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was named the NBA’s Western Conference Coach of the Month.

Popovich guided the Spurs to a 12-3 record in March, including the seven-game winning streak to end it, and victories in nine of the past 10 games.

Flattening the learning curve: The Spurs didn’t practice Monday, but newcomers Boris Diaw and Patty Mills stayed late after a Sunday practice session for some extra work. The pair joined second-year guard James Anderson in a three-on-three-game against coaching interns, including former backup center Sean Marks, so they could familiarize themselves with the offensive and defensive systems and get some added conditioning.

“We’ve got a few guys who have to get used to playing with us,” Ginobili said, “so that’s important.”

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA

Timing of three days off pleasing to Parker

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Bruce Bowen’s jersey retirement luncheon

Former Spur Bruce Bowen speaks to the media before his jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 jersey hangs at the ATT Center during his jersey retirement luncheon on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Former Spur Bruce Bowen (left) and current Spur Tim Duncan share a moment at Bowen’s jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Spur Tony Parker (center) shares a laugh with teammates Tiago Splitter (left) and Tim Duncan (right) at Bruce Bowen’s jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (from left) and players Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili tell stories about former teammate Bruce Bowen at his jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Retired Spurs forward Bruce Bowen is introduced by fellow Spurs great Sean Elliott at a luncheon honoring Bowen at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Former Spurs players Danny Ferry (right) and Sean Marks chat during the jersey retirement luncheon for Bruce Bowen at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

As deftly as Gregg Popovich has managed the minutes of his players in the compressed, 66-game post-lockout schedule — only Tony Parker and Tim Duncan average as many as 28 minutes per game — the Spurs coach is mindful of the grind that awaits his team in the final six weeks.

Wednesday’s game against the Timberwolves at the ATT Center will begin a stretch of six games in eight nights, including the final three on the road.

Awaiting in mid-April: Eight games in 11 days.

Thus, the three-day break in the schedule that arrived after Saturday’s loss in Dallas was welcomed by everyone, especially Parker, the only Spurs player averaging more than 30 minutes (34.5).

“Definitely, it’s going to help recharge the battery,” said Parker, who admitted fatigue played a role Saturday when he was held to 13 points, his lowest output in March. “I think it was catching up with me because it was a hard game against Oklahoma City (on Friday).

“These three days are definitely going to help me be ready for the big stretch coming up for us.

“Back-to-back-to-back, six games in eight days. That’s a lot of games coming up, so these three days are perfect.”

Aware that Parker didn’t seem as sharp Saturday as he has been most of the season, Popovich promised to guard against overworking him.

“We’ll watch that,” he said. “He’s strong, he’s in great shape, he’s more focused than ever. It’s his best year, and he’s had some good ones.

“We want him to keep that level of energy and focus, and we certainly don’t want to start overplaying him to win a game here and there, that’s for sure.”

Retirement lunch: After an early practice Monday morning, the entire Spurs roster bussed to the ATT Center for a luncheon honoring Bruce Bowen, whose No. 12 will be retired in conjunction with Wednesday’s game.

Bowen, who won three championships with the Spurs before retiring in the summer of 2009, called the impending honor the most special one ever bestowed on him.

“Someone asked me, ‘What if you’re inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame?’” Bowen, 40, said before the luncheon. “It wouldn’t surpass this. This is something that comes from the organization and people you were around for quite some time.”

Considered the premier wing defender of his time, Bowen was named to eight consecutive All-Defensive teams, including five straight first-team mentions between 2002-03 and 2007-08.

Those who played with Bowen consider his inclusion in the ATT Center rafters to be a no-brainer. He will join George Gervin, David Robinson, James Silas, Johnny Moore, Avery Johnson and Sean Elliott as players similarly honored.

“He’s not the type of player who normally gets his jersey retired,” said Manu Ginobili, who played alongside Bowen for seven seasons. “But what he’s done in this franchise was big. It’s very well-deserved.”

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Spurs notebook: Dad-to-be McDyess glad to be retired

By Mike Monroe
mikemonroe@express-news.net

HOUSTON — Admitting it felt strange to be sitting in the stands 10 rows behind the Spurs bench, and even weirder seeing Tim Duncan sitting out the second half of the third game of the season because the Spurs were being blown out by the Rockets, Antonio McDyess put to rest any thoughts that he might elect to come out of retirement at any time this season.

“Uh-uh,” he said, flashing his characteristic smile. “A lot of people have been asking, but it’s not happening.”

McDyess and his wife are expecting their first child in a few days and he said he is comfortable with his decision to leave the NBA after 16 seasons, the last two with the Spurs.

The former All-Star and Olympic gold medal winner paid a short visit to the Spurs locker room after the Rockets’ 105-85 drubbing, to the delight of coach Gregg Popovich.

“The best part of this whole night was seeing Antonio,” Popovich said.

ANXIOUSLY WAITING: Second-year shooting guard Gary Neal is looking forward to the Spurs’ next practice session, whenever that may be.

Cleared to begin contact work after undergoing an appendectomy on Dec. 12, Neal has been working hard on conditioning this week but understands he needs a practice or two before he can expect to get in a game for the first time this season.

“He’s working out with Sean Marks back in San Antonio,” Popovich said. “We won’t practice tomorrow, but he’ll do something.

“He’s got to have contact before we get him into a game. It might be a month-and-a-half before we have a chance to practice again, but we can get some of the rookies in there with him so he can get some contact. I expect he’ll be back in another week, or so.”

RATINGS MONSTERS: After drawing more viewers for their regular season opener against the Grizzlies than ESPN’s Monday Night Football game that featured Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ quest for a single-season passing record, the Spurs continued their domination of local prime-time TV for their Wednesday night game against the Clippers.

That game posted an 11.1 overnight Nielsen rating, more than doubling the ratings for the University of Texas-Cal Holiday Bowl game, which came in at 5.1.

DOMINANT THIRDS END: The Spurs went into Thursday’s game against the Rockets having outscored their first two opponents 67-31 in the third quarter.

The trend ended against the Rockets, who outscored the Spurs 25-24 in the third.