Tim Duncan | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Ginobili’s return is a cruise

By Jeff McDonald

NEWARK, N.J. — Gregg Popovich worried about Manu Ginobili, because this is what Popovich does.

Specifically on Saturday, the Spurs coach was worried that Ginobili, back on the floor after a 22-game absence with a broken left hand, might spontaneously combust.

“It will be fun to see him, but there’s no telling what might go on,” Popovich said before what became an easy-does-it 103-89 victory over New Jersey. “He hasn’t played in so long. He might burst the first time he touches the ball.”

Ginobili didn’t explode. But late in the second quarter at the Prudential Center, he showed why Popovich might prefer to encase his star guard in bubble wrap until May.

Closing out hard on the Nets’ Anthony Morrow on a corner 3-pointer at the halftime horn, Ginobili went hurtling into the first row of seats.

Morrow missed, but Ginobili was so upset with himself for misreading the play, he whacked himself in the head with his surgically repaired hand.

Gary Neal scored 18 points to lead a list of six players in double figures for the Spurs, who built a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter and cruised to their seventh consecutive victory and third in a row to open the rodeo trip.

The best news the Spurs (19-9) received Saturday, however: The fifth metacarpal in Ginobili’s left hand is again strong enough to survive being attached to him.

“I felt good,” Ginobili reported after logging 17 minutes off the bench in his first action since Jan. 2. “I wasn’t going to do too many things, first because I can’t. I’m not ready. I need to slowly start getting back into basketball shape.”

Ginobili made his return at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter. Moments later, he logged his first points in 39 days when he scooped up a loose ball and scrambled the length of the floor for a layup.

The 34-year-old guard finished with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting and four assists, most of them working the pick-and-roll with DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter. He missed both his 3-point tries.

“The legs for the threes aren’t going to be there yet, but he got a good start,” Popovich said. “Scored a little bit, got a few assists, got a good rhythm. I thought he drove it pretty well, passed it pretty well. It was good to see.”

To Ginobili’s teammates, who went 15-7 without him, just getting the Argentine playmaker on the floor Saturday was cause enough for optimism.

“Just seeing him in uniform was great,” said point guard Tony Parker, who had 10 of his 12 points in the first half.

Even in the funky red, white and blue Dallas Chaparrals uniforms the Spurs donned Saturday as part of a salute to the ABA.

In truth, Ginobili was worried Saturday, too. Not for his own safety, but for what his return might do to his team’s winning streak.

New Jersey looked like a trap game to him, and he didn’t want to be the reason the Spurs fell for it. He needn’t have been concerned.

A balanced scoring attack combined with another sturdy defensive night helped the Spurs put New Jersey (8-21) away early, despite 27 points and eight assists from Deron Williams.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double, while Blair (11), Danny Green (10) and Splitter (10) also scored in double-digits.

In the end, the night was about a reserve guard whose numbers were statistically inconsequential to Saturday’s win, but whose mere presence gave the Spurs reason for hope.

Ginobili returned to the Spurs a bit more bionic than before. He has six screws in his shooting hand now, an addition someone joked might cause him problems at airport metal detectors.

“So far, so good,” Ginobili said.

One game into Ginobili’s comeback, the Spurs will take it.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

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Spurs 103, Nets 89: Feb. 11, 2012

New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, reaches for a loose ball in front of New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ MarShon Brooks (9) shoots a layup against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) makes a layup against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ MarShon Brooks (9) shoots between San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, and Kawhi Leonard (2) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) loses control of the ball under pressure from San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and DeJuan Blair (45) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with official Marat Kobut in the first half against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) fights for a rebound with San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, and Kawhi Leonard (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) shoots as San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, defends during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, shoots against New Jersey Nets’ Shawne Williams (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) pulls down a rebound against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, loses the ball as New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Shelden Williams (33) fights for the ball with San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, collides with New Jersey Nets’ Jordan Farmar (2) as he drives to the basket in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

Popovich: Life on road tougher than in the past

NEWARK, N.J. — Over the past nine seasons, the mythology of the Spurs’ rodeo road trip has taken on a life of its own.

It was a time when the Spurs jelled for the season’s stretch run, the place where championships were forged.

Is it still? Gregg Popovich isn’t so sure.

“As guys get older, the trip gets tougher,” the Spurs coach said. “When they were all young, it wasn’t that tough. I threw that pablum out there, ‘We all get together, it’s a bunker mentality.’

“Now, it’s ‘When is this sucker over?’”

This year’s incarnation of the rodeo trip has in fact barely begun. The Spurs are 2-0 on the nine-game jaunt heading into tonight’s game against New Jersey, still three weeks away from their next home date.

Five days in, Popovich has found value to life on the road. With so many new parts on his roster and in his rotation this season, the extended time away from home has given players a chance to bond in ways they might not have otherwise in this condensed lockout season.

A fan of team field trips on the road — he once took players on an outing to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., for example — Popovich laments the lack of time for such excursions this season.

“There’s no time for any of that stuff,” Popovich said. “This kind of trip, we’re together for so long, so we’ll do something.”

With five nights in New York City before and after tonight’s game against the Nets, the Big Apple would seem to be as good a place as any for such an outing.

Not so fast, Popovich said.

“All my field trips in New York are personal,” he said. “Total selfishness, and hedonistic.”

Duncan not heartbroken: ??After 13 straight trips to the All-Star Game, Tim Duncan was neither surprised nor dismayed to learn Western Conference coaches declined to put him on this year’s team.

“I’m not broken up about it,” Duncan said.

Popovich refused after practice Friday to enter a discussion about whether Duncan — who is averaging 13.9 points and 8.3 rebounds — deserved to be on the team. Later, Popovich joked he could have done more to promote his venerable captain’s All-Star chances.

“I thought about sending teddy bears to the coaches that said, ‘Vote for Tim,’” Popovich said.

To which Duncan shot back, with mock incredulity, “You didn’t do that?”

Lonely All-Star: Point guard Tony Parker got news of his fourth All-Star nod the way the rest of America did — by watching the TNT selection broadcast Thursday.

His inclusion gives the Spurs an All-Star representative for the 14th consecutive game.

“I was happy to keep the streak going for the Spurs,” Parker said. “I’ve always said it’s a reward for the team. We’ve been playing well.”

Parker’s only regret is that Duncan won’t be going with him. He considers Duncan in the same category as Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki — an aging but still worthy candidate, despite a drop in numbers.

“When you see Dirk making it, I thought maybe T.D. had a chance,” Parker said. “I was sad. I have to go solo.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Parker gets All-Star nod, but not Duncan

By Jeff McDonald

NEW YORK — After 13 trips to the NBA All-Star Game, Spurs forward Tim Duncan has a pretty good idea of what an All-Star looks like.

In his mind, it looks a lot like Tony Parker.

“Easily,” Duncan said when asked if the Spurs point guard should make this year’s Western Conference squad. “There’s no doubt.”

Apparently, West coaches agreed.

When the NBA announced All-Star reserves Thursday night, Parker found his name on the list, an accomplishment that pushes him further into rarefied air in San Antonio.

The Feb. 26 game in Orlando, Fla., will mark Parker’s fourth All-Star appearance, making him one of only four Spurs players all-time to boast at least that many. Two of them (David Robinson and George Gervin) are in the Naismith Hall of Fame. The other (Duncan) one day will be.

“It will be a great reward for my team and the whole Spurs organization,” Parker said.

This time, however, Parker will be going alone.

Until now a death-and-taxes-style lock for the All-Star Game, Duncan was left off the West squad for the first time in his career.

His omission not only snaps a string of 13 consecutive All-Star appearances, it ends a streak of consecutive starts (12) that was the second-longest in NBA history. Only Boston great Bob Cousy (13) enjoyed a longer one.

Though Duncan’s numbers — 13.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 27.6 minutes — are similar to last year’s, he appears to have been outpolled by Memphis’ Marc Gasol for the final big man spot.

By rule, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich could not vote for his own players while casting a ballot for the reserves, but offered Parker a heavy endorsement in recent weeks.

“Tony’s played All-Star basketball all year long,” Popovich said.

With star guard Manu Ginobili out with a broken hand since Jan. 2, Parker has lifted his game — and lifted the Spurs to the second-best record in the West (19-8).

Heading into Saturday’s game at New Jersey, Parker is averaging 18.9 points and a career-best 7.7 assists. Since the beginning of January, when Ginobili was hurt, he’s averaging 19.8 points and 7.9 assists.

Parker’s inclusion on the West team gives the Spurs a representative in 14 consecutive All-Star games. In Orlando, he will join a backcourt that includes starters Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers) and Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) and reserves Steve Nash (Phoenix) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).

“We’ve needed Tony to be a scorer the whole time Manu’s been out,” Popovich said. “He scores, he assists, he’s been leading us out there. He’s been really special.”

Barring a setback, Ginobili is due back Saturday in New Jersey. Because of Parker, the Spurs were not only able to survive Ginobili’s absence, but thrive.

The Southwest Division-leading Spurs will carry an NBA-best six-game winning streak into New Jersey.

In the past 2 1/2 weeks, Parker turned in the top assist game of his career (17 at New Orleans) and two of his top-10 scoring nights (42 against Oklahoma City, 37 at Philadelphia).

The All-Star honor is one Parker openly courted and coveted in the past few weeks. He missed participating in last year’s game in Los Angeles, when Duncan and Ginobili played and Popovich and his staff coached.

“It would be great to go back,” Parker said a day before the announcement. “It would be nice after what happened last year. Everybody went, and I wanted to go.”

In the end, the Western Conference coaches gave Parker his golden ticket to Orlando. It will be a lonely trip, but a well-deserved one.

jmcdonald@express-news.net