Basketball: Bryant, Duncan, Garnett headline Hall of Fame class

NBA legends Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett headline the star-studded group selected to the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class announced Saturday.

The trio, who combined for 11 NBA championships, are among nine people scheduled to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Aug. 29.

Also selected were Tamika Catchings, a 10-time WNBA All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist, coaches Eddie Sutton, Rudy Tomjanovich, Barbara Stevens and Kim Mulkey, and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann.

"The Class of 2020 is undoubtedly one of the most historic of all time and the talent and social influence of these nine honorees is beyond measure," said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Hall of Fame.

"In 2020, the basketball community has suffered the unimaginable loss of iconic figures Commissioner David Stern and Kobe Bryant, as well as the game itself due to COVID-19. 

"We have also banded together like never before in appreciation of the game and those who have made it the uniting force it is today. Today we thank the Class of 2020 for all they have done for the game of basketball and we look forward to celebrating them at Enshrinement in August."

-Field Level Media/Reuters-

NBA: Bryant, Duncan, Garnett head 2020 Hall of Fame nominees

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh were named Thursday in a a star-studded list of nominees for entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Between them, Bryant, Duncan, Garnett and Bosh, amassed 13 NBA titles, four NBA regular season MVP, five NBA finals MVP awards and 59 All-Star game appearances.

The quartet were named on a 50-strong list of players and coaches which will be whittled down to around a dozen names during the All-Star Weekend in Chicago on February 14-16.

Bosh, whose career was cut short in 2016 after problems with blood clots, said he was honored by the nomination.

"My career ended earlier than expected and that hurt immensely," the former Miami star said. "To come to this point being nominated for the Hall of Fame with my heroes is truly an amazing feeling."

The final picks for enshrinement will be revealed during college basketball's Final Four championship in Atlanta in April.

Other first timers nominated this year include Shawn Marion, Buck Williams, Mark Eaton and Michael Finley.

The list also includes several players who have been nominated before but who have yet to earn enough votes for entry, including Tim Hardaway, Richard Hamilton, Chris Webber and Ben Wallace.

Coaching nominees meanwhile include Rick Adelman, George Karl, Dick Motta and Rudy Tomjanovich.

Women's nominations feature three-time WNBA champion Swin Cash and 2012 WNBA Finals MVP Tamika Catchings, as well as trailblazing San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon.

rcw/mdl

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Duncan returning to Spurs as an assistant coach

Tim Duncan will return to the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach in 2019-20.

The team made the announcement Monday, also noting that Will Hardy has joined head coach Gregg Popovich's coaching staff.

Duncan, 43, played 19 seasons with the Spurs and won five NBA championships playing for Popovich from 1997-2016.

"It is only fitting, that after I served loyally for 19 years as Tim Duncan's assistant, that he returns the favor," joked Popovich.

A 15-time All-Star and two-time Most Valuable Player, Duncan is the Spurs' all-time leader in games (1,392), points (26,496), rebounds (15,091) and blocked shots (3,020).

Duncan was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest.

Hardy first joined the Spurs as a basketball operations intern in 2010 after graduating from Williams College.

"Will Hardy is a talented, young basketball mind who has earned a great deal of respect from everyone in the organization thanks to his knowledge, spirit and personality," Popovich said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tim Duncan announces retirement

LOS ANGELES -- San Antonio Spurs star power forward Tim Duncan, one of the best players in NBA history, announced his retirement Monday, ending a brilliant 19-season career that included five league titles.

The 40-year-old Duncan, who was selected as the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, spent his entire career with the Spurs -- an anomaly in a league where players often change teams.

The Spurs reached the playoffs in every one of his 19 seasons.

#ThankYouTD, for everything.https://t.co/tsjN4go8Rk

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2016

"Tim Duncan is one of the most dominant players in NBA history," National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said, adding that Duncan's "understated selflessness made him the ultimate teammate."

"For two decades Tim represented the Spurs, the city of San Antonio and the league with passion and class."

Duncan, together with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, formed one of the most successful trios in NBA history. They hold the league record for regular season wins (575) and postseason wins (126).

Duncan and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also formed a dynamic duo, accounting for the most wins ever by a player-coach duo at 1,001.

Duncan, a three-time NBA Finals MVP and a two-time regular season MVP, led San Antonio to titles in 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2014.

The Spurs posted a 1,072-438 regular-season record since drafting Duncan -- the best 19-year run in league history.

News about Duncan quickly began trending on Twitter, with the hashtag #ThankYouTD taking hold.

"Nineteen seasons. Five rings. One team. #ThankYouTD," the Spurs tweeted on Monday.

He averaged 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during his career. But last season's campaign was disrupted by a knee injury and he played in only 61 games.

San Antonio was eliminated in the playoffs this past season by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Duncan's final game was a 113-99 loss to the Thunder in game six of the Western Conference semi-finals on May 12. In his career finale, he scored 19 points, with five rebounds and a block in 34 minutes.


- Talk of retirement -

At the end of June, Duncan had exercised a $6.4 million player option for next season, but talk of retirement loomed large.

Spanish star Pau Gasol, who during his career has played power forward and center, has reportedly agreed to join San Antonio on a two-year deal worth $30 million, after spending the last two seasons with the Chicago Bulls -- and it now looks like he will help fill the void left by Duncan.

Ginobili, 38, has said he plans to take his time in deciding about playing a 15th season for the Spurs for $2.9 million next season.

He was emotional about Duncan's departure.

"Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! #ThankYouTD," Ginobili said on Twitter.

Parker said: "Greatest Power Forward Ever! It was an honor to play with you !! #spursfamily."

Kobe Bryant -- who like Duncan won five league titles over a two-decade career with the same team, the Los Angeles Lakers, before retiring -- tweeted: "Congrats TD #19yrs #GoSpursGo."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs spank Grizzlies to keep pace with Warriors

LOS ANGELES, United States - The shorthanded San Antonio Spurs fended off the pesky Memphis Grizzlies with a 110-94 win to tie the Chicago Bulls for best home start in NBA history on Friday night.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 32 points and 12 rebounds as the Spurs played just well enough to remain undefeated at home this season, stretching their win streak to 37-0 at the AT&T Center arena.

They are now tied with the 1995-96 Bulls for the longest home winning streak to start a season.

"I had good offensive rhythm tonight," Aldridge said. "The guys were looking for me out there."

San Antonio had a 98-92 lead and were struggling to put away the Grizzlies until Manu Ginobili hit a three-pointer with 3:22 left to give them a cushion.

They got two more baskets from beyond the arc by Kevin Martin and Ginobili on the next possession to ice the victory. Martin was starting his first game with the Spurs.

San Antonio "hit three threes in a row and that was it -- it was very, very frustrating," said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger.

The Spurs improved to 61-11 overall. They have also won a franchise-best 46 straight regular-season games at home since a loss to Cleveland in March of last season.

San Antonio's streak is the second longest in history, trailing only the continuing 52-game streak by Golden State, who beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 128-120 on Friday.

The depleted Spurs played without an injured Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw, Danny Green and Patty Mills, who were all held out for rest. With so many regulars out it enabled Martin and Kyle Anderson to start.

Memphis' injuries woes were even worse than the Spurs. Marc Gasol (right foot fracture), Mike Conley (left Achilles tendinitis), Zach Randolph (right ankle sprain) and Brandan Wright (right MCL sprain) all missed the contest.

Tony Parker scored 14 points for San Antonio, Martin and Ginobili added 13 points apiece and Tim Duncan had 12.

JaMychal Green's 20 points led six Memphis players in double figures. Lance Stephenson added 17 points and Matt Barnes scored 14.

The Spurs led 37-23 after the first quarter and 64-51 at halftime.

Warriors bottle up Mavs

The Warriors took advantage of a shorthanded Mavericks squad to ride another record-setting three-point-shooting performance to a win.

On a night when former Warrior and current Mavericks power forward David Lee was presented with his championship ring, Golden State set an NBA record for most three-pointers in a season by connecting on 21 of 45 attempts.

The 17th of the 21 came with 9:51 to go in the game and was Golden State's 934th of the season, allowing them to pass the previous record set by the Houston Rockets last season.

Klay Thompson dropped in nine three-pointers on a 40-point night and Stephen Curry drained five three-pointers which added up to almost half his 33 points.

The Warriors improved to 65-7 to remain four games ahead of the Spurs for top seeding in the Western Conference playoffs.

Timberwolves edge Wizards in OT

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Gorgui Dieng sank the game-winning jumper with 30 seconds left in the second overtime as the Minnesota Timberwolves setback the Washington Wizards' playoff hopes with a 132-129 victory.

Zach LaVine had 25 points for the Timberwolves, who trailed late in regulation and both overtimes.

Trailing 129-124 with 1:55 left, Minnesota scored the final eight points.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs run away from Detroit in win

The San Antonio Spurs continue to set one milestone after another during this record-breaking season but insist they aren't paying any attention while keeping their collective eyes on the ultimate prize, another NBA title.

Kawhi Leonard poured in 27 points as the San Antonio Spurs shrugged off a ragged first half and ran away from the Detroit Pistons 97-81 on Wednesday, winning their sixth straight game and remaining unbeaten at home this season.

San Antonio (51-9) improved to 29-0 at the AT&T Center this season, extending its record for the best home start by a Western Conference team. It was the Spurs' first game at home since Feb. 6 because of their annual Rodeo Road Trip and it took them a while to find their stride.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Spurs as four of their starters scored in double figures. Tim Duncan hit for 12 points and gathered eight rebounds in 20 minutes of court time and Tony Parker scored 10 points for San Antonio.

The Spurs, up by one point at halftime, turned up their defense in the third quarter as Detroit shot just 22 percent from the floor and trailed by as many as 17 points. Aldridge scored 13 points in the period.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was pleased with his team's effort on defense after halftime.

"It was very good," Popovich remarked in his succinct manner. "We allowed 30 points in the second half. It's pretty special if you can do that. We played a better second half for sure."

San Antonio clinched its 19th straight playoff appearance, tying the Boston Celtics (1951-69) for the fourth-longest streak in NBA history. It's the fewest games needed to clinch a postseason spot in franchise history, excluding strike-shortened seasons.

Aldridge claimed he was not aware that the team clinched a playoff spot.

"It's something that's not been talked about in our locker room and I haven't really been paying attention because I try to stay locked in to what we are doing," Aldridge said. "It's not about (the milestones). We have a bigger picture in mind and the guys are focused on that."

"In the second half we were more active defensively," Aldridge added. "We were able to keep guys in front of us and we competed harder."

The victory also allowed the Spurs to lengthen their regular-season home victory streak to 38 games, dating back to an overtime loss to Cleveland last March, and built on their best start in franchise history after 60 games.

The Spurs own the second-longest active playoff streak among the four major professional sports trailing only the NHL's Detroit Red Wings (24).

Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris scored 16 points each to lead Detroit while reserve Aron Baynes added 12 points and Reggie Jackson hit for 11. Andre Drummond took a game-high 14 rebounds for the Pistons.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak by the Pistons (31-30).

"San Antonio plays great defense but we were very individual on offense in the second half," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We didn't play together, we didn't move the ball, we didn't get second or third options and we played a lot of one on one and forced shots. If you do that against a good defensive team like them, you have no chance."

Leonard and Aldridge played the entire first quarter and combined for 17 of the Spurs' points as San Antonio ground out 28-19 advantage after 12 minutes of play. Leonard poured in 11 points in the quarter, including a short jumper with 3.3 second left to grant the Spurs their lead.

San Antonio sent all reserves to the floor to begin the second quarter and the group went scoreless for the first 2:47 of the period, allowing the Pistons to push to a 32-28 lead on a jumper by Morris. The Spurs bench finally responded, as Kyle Anderson and Boris Diaw scored five points each to put San Antonio back in front.

Detroit rolled off a 12-0 run with the help of 3-pointers from reserves Steve Blake and Reggie Bullock, and a running one-hander by Jackson. The Pistons' charge caught San Antonio's attention and Leonard had six points in a 12-5 spurt that handed the Spurs a 52-51 lead at halftime.

The third quarter belonged to the Spurs, who outscored Detroit 27-14 and pushed their lead to 79-65. It also marked the first appearance in a San Antonio jersey by veteran guard Andre Miller, who was signed by the Spurs on Feb. 29 after he was waived by the Timberwolves four days earlier.

"The ball just got stuck and San Antonio made us pay for not making them work," Jackson said. "They continued to find good shots and forced us into bad shots and turnovers. We stopped moving the ball. Sometime you think you have a shot you think you can make when you should make the pass instead -- we were guilty of that tonight."

Prior to the game, the Spurs' Manu Ginobili announced that he's been cleared to return to practice after undergoing testicular surgery Feb. 4 from an injury suffered the night before against New Orleans. He went through shoot-around with the Spurs on Wednesday, but the team will hold him out of game action until at least next week.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

NBA: Cavs down Sixers, Duncan leads Spurs over Knicks

Cavaliers 107, 76ers 100

LeBron James scored 22 points to become the youngest player in NBA history to surpass 25,000 points in Cleveland's 107-100 win over Philadelphia on Monday.

The 30-year-old James, 20th on the all-time scoring list, needed 21 points at the beginning of the night to reach 25,000. He did so when he dunked on a lob from Matthew Dellavedova with 8:05 left in the game.

Mo Williams added 21 points for Cleveland, which won its third straight to improve to 3-1. Kevin Love had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half.

- - -

Spurs 94, Knicks 84

Tim Duncan recorded the 831st double-double of his career leading San Antonio Spurs over New York.

The ageless center scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Duncan is fifth all-time in that category. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who stands in fourth place, registered 885 double-doubles.

Duncan had plenty of help as San Antonio dominated the paint. Kawhi Leonard had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks, LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and Tony Parker chipped in with 16 points.



 - - -

Bucks 103, Nets 96

Jerryd Bayless paced a balanced scoring attack with 26 points, and Greg Monroe added 23 points and 13 rebounds as Milwaukee won for the first time this season.

The Bucks outscored the Nets 8-0 down the stretch to secure the win.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points and eight rebounds while Khris Middleton added 17 points.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Tim Duncan allegedly scammed by financial adviser

San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan was allegedly scammed out of $25 million by longtime financial adviser Charles Banks.

Bloomberg reported the 18-year veteran and future Hall of Fame big man lost more than 10 percent of his career earnings.

- -

Forward Jeff Green exercised his $9.2 million player option for next season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Acquired from the Boston Celtics in a trade during the 2014-15 season, Green played in 78 games for both teams and averaged 15.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists. (Editing by Frank Pingue)

--
Coach Mike Budenholzer will hold a joint title of coach and team president in a shakeup of the Atlanta Hawks that includes the dismissal of general manager Danny Ferry.

Ferry has been exiled since last summer, when a racially insensitive scouting report on free agent Luol Deng put the fellow Duke alum in the crosshairs.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs beat Clippers in OT to tie series

Spurs 111, Clippers 107 (Overtime)

Tim Duncan scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Kawhi Leonard added 21 points and nine boards, lifting the San Antonio Spurs to an overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game Two of the Western Conference first round series.

The Spurs never trailed in the extra session. Danny Green's corner three-pointer 46 seconds into overtime gave San Antonio a 97-94 lead and they did not look back.

Game Three is Friday at San Antonio.

Clippers forward Blake Griffin had a triple-double 29 points and 12 rebounds and 11 assists but lost a critical possession in the final seconds of regulation that allowed the Spurs to tie it.

- - - (Editing by Peter Rutherford)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Duncan leads Spurs against Bucks

Tim Duncan scored 20 points and helped the San Antonio Spurs overcome a sluggish start in a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Boris Diaw added 14 points off the bench to help the Spurs earn their fifth consecutive home victory. San Antonio (29-17) has six wins in its past seven games overall.

- - -

Pacers 106, Magic 99

Rookie reserve Damjan Rudez scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, sparking the Indiana Pacers to a come-from-behind victory over the Orlando Magic.

Rudez, from Croatia, finished with 18 points. He hit four three-point baskets in the fourth, helping the Pacers (16-30) snap a seven-game losing streak.

- - -

Raptors 114, Pistons 110

DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Detroit Pistons to improve to 29-15.

The Pistons (17-28), who lost point guard Brandon Jennings for the season to an Achilles tendon injury, got a career-high 35 points from point guard D.J. Augustin in losing their second in a row.

- - -

Wizards 117, Nuggets 115 (OT)

Kris Humphries had a season-high 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, guard John Wall had 19 points and 16 assists, and the Washington Wizards held on to beat the Denver Nuggets.

Paul Pierce scored 19 point for the Wizards, who won for the first time in three games.

Ty Lawson marked his return to the Nuggets lineup with 31 points and 12 assists but missed a game-tying jumper in the final seconds of overtime.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs beat Pacers sans Coach Pop

SAN ANTONIO -- Assistant coach Ettore Messina guided San Antonio over the Indiana Pacers 106-100 Wednesday, becoming the first Italian to coach an NBA game while replacing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Popovich, the NBA's longest-tenured coach, missed the game with what the team called a minor medical procedure. The coach who guided the Spurs to last season's NBA title will miss an undisclosed period of time.

"He will be back soon," said Messina, an Italian Basketball Hall of Fame member and two-time Euroleague Coach of the Year.

French guard Tony Parker and forward Kawhi Leonard each scored 21 points for San Antonio, while Leonard also contributed 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who improved to 10-4.

Tim Duncan added 17 points for the Spurs, who were two games behind Southwest division leader Memphis.

Rodney Stuckey scored 22 points to lead Indiana, which also had 13 points from Luis Scola and 12 from reserve Chris Copeland.

The Pacers fell to 6-9, three games behind pace-settler Chicago in the Central division.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs vs Mavericks to launch 2014-15 NBA season

Tim Duncan and the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs will host the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 28 as part of a triple-header to launch the 2014-15 season, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday.

The Spurs will be presented with their championship rings before tip-off, with Kobe Bryant and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers set to host the Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic visiting the New Orleans Pelicans in the night's other games.

On Oct. 29, Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls will visit Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks, before the league's most valuable player Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder taken on the Trail Blazers in Portland later that day.

Perhaps the most anticipated game in the opening week of the NBA's 69th season will feature 10-time All-Star LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the New York Knicks on Oct. 30.

This will be James' first game back with the Cavaliers since the league's biggest draw turned his back on Cleveland to play four seasons with the Miami Heat, leading them to four NBA Finals, including two titles.

When James announced his decision to return home last month, the Cavaliers were immediately listed as 4-1 favorites to win the 2014-15 NBA championship, despite never previously having won a title in 44 years of existence.

The other game scheduled for Oct. 30 will feature Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers at home to the Thunder.

Christmas Day will serve up several blockbuster games, starting in New York at 12 p.m. ET (1600 GMT) when the Knicks host the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden.

Next up will be the Spurs at home to the Thunder in a rematch of the 2014 Western Conference Finals before James and the Cavaliers travel to Miami to take on the Heat.

Also on Christmas Day, the Lakers will visit the Bulls and former Lakers forward Pau Gasol before Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors visit the Clippers in Los Angeles.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Championships define legacy of Spurs' Big Three

SAN ANTONIO -- Ever since they joined forces 12 years ago, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have been able to put personal goals aside and focus on winning championship rings.

The San Antonio Spurs' Big Three did just that Sunday, collecting their fourth championship together by beating the Miami Heat in five games in the 2014 NBA finals.

Theirs is a legacy that is built on titles and not egos, said Ginobili.

"It's very unique. I don't think it's happened to many teams in history where three players have played together for so long and in a successful manner like this where no one is egotistical and trying to demand things," Ginobili said.

The core group combined for 49 points in game five as the Spurs defeated the Heat 104-87 Sunday at the AT&T Center arena to claim their fifth title in franchise history.

Winningest trio in playoff history

The three became the winningest trio in post-season history these playoffs, and now have 117 playoffs victories.

"They've gotten over themselves. (That) is what we always talk about," said Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich. "It's absolutely not about any one of them, and they know that.

"If you have three people on your team that lead the way in that manner, it's to be enjoyed on a daily basis. So that's probably the first thing I've enjoyed about them. It makes my job so much easier."

Their leader through all the ups and downs since the 2002-03 season has been Duncan, who is also the first player in league history to win championships 15 seasons apart with the same team.

Duncan is 38 years old and Ginobili is 36, so there is a chance one of them might not play next season. But with the depth the Spurs' lineup showed in these finals there is also a good chance they could get back here and go for a fifth title together.

Duncan, who suggested on Saturday that he would be back next season, said he has been feeling more reflective during these playoffs.

"I think the last couple of years, I have really taken a step back and stopped to enjoy what the journey means," said the player, a native of the Virgin Islands.

"I appreciate every game more. I appreciate every accomplishment and everything we get to go through and every experience, knowing it might be the last time I do it."

These playoffs have been especially gratifying for three-time finals MVP Duncan. He recorded the 158th career playoff double in game four to pass Magic Johnson for the most all-time.

And his 30 minutes of playing time in game four allowed him to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most all-time career playoff minutes.

Asked about his accomplishments after game four, the soft-spoken Duncan said he was honored.

"I can appreciate you saying the names and having passed them in anything," he said. "It is an honor to be in that position. But the focus is on winning one more and once that is done I can look back and say 'Hey, that's truly an honor.'"

Still explosive

The French-born, five-time NBA all-star Tony Parker made his debut with the Spurs at age 19.

Parker, now 32, showed all series long that he is still explosive and his ability to get to the basket hasn't diminished.

His presence in the finals however was a bit of a surprise because of his repeated injuries.

The Spurs' guard suffered a hamstring strain in game five of the league quarter-finals against Portland, and did not play the second half of game six of the semi-finals with an ankle problem.

The 2014 finals have given new life to Argentine star Ginobili, who is in his 10th season.

He struggled in last year's playoffs and even talked of retirement after one of the worst seasons of his NBA career.

But the talk didn't last long as the Spurs sixth man eventually signed a two-year, $14-million contract.

And it turned out to be money well spent, as Ginobili averaged 14.5 points and 4.2 assists per game in the regular season, and scored 19 points in the game five clincher on Sunday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dominant Spurs not ready to size championship rings

Having been down that agonizing road a year ago, San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan understands that until the two-time defending champion Miami Heat are eliminated from the NBA Finals they still have a pulse.

"We know the caliber team they are, and we have a lot of respect for what they're able to do," said Duncan, the Spurs' 38-year-old spiritual leader and 14-time All-Star.

"They're able to throw it into another gear, and they're going to do just that. They don't want this to be done. They have already won on our homecourt, so they feel they can do it again.

"We don't want to give them any life."

The Heat may still be alive in the series but they're on life support, facing a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven NBA Finals heading into Sunday's Game Five in San Antonio.

But Miami has a knack for pulling off the impossible. It was in last year's finals that the Heat, facing elimination, erased a five-point deficit in the final 28 seconds of regulation in Game Six and beat the Spurs 103-100 in overtime.

The Heat won Game Seven to claim their second straight crown and leave the Spurs wondering what might have been.

Miami's LeBron James, who scored 28 points in Thursday's 107-86 drubbing by the Spurs, said the Heat cannot be thinking about becoming the first team to recover from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals.

"We've got to worry about Sunday first," he said. "Go up there in a hostile environment, where we were able to steal one in Game Two, and try to get another one and go on from there.

"Obviously, I do know the numbers. It's never been done before. But we're still a confident bunch, even though our heads are lowered down right now.

"Of course, being down 3-1 and losing two straight games at home, that's just human nature. But we've still got to go out and play on Sunday."

San Antonio routed the Heat by 15 points in the opener at home, but lost the next game, 98-96. Hoping to win one of the next two in Miami to regain the homecourt advantage, the Spurs played flawlessly and crushed the Heat in both games.

"They're a high-oil machine and they move the ball extremely well," said James. "They put you in so many difficult positions. If you're not right on time, right on target, they're going to make you pay for it."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said his focus was on beating the Spurs on Sunday and getting the series back to Miami for a Game Six. He said the path may be arduous but winning the championship is still possible.

"Our group has been through everything you possibly can be through except for this circumstance, so why not?," he said. "Why not test ourselves right now collectively?

"(We have a) championship resolve that we've proven time and time again. We'll have to do it in a different way."

San Antonio's pass-first offense has everyone playing well, especially Kawhi Leonard, who scored a career-high 29 points in Game Three and 20 on Thursday to help the Spurs become the first team to win two straight on the road by 15 or more points in a single finals.

The Spurs' Duncan has already won four titles and after being so close a year ago, is taking nothing for granted.

"Obviously, they're the champions, and they're going to come out and show a lot of fire and come with a lot of energy," he said of Sunday's game at the AT&T Center.

"We're going to use our homecourt and we're going to come with the same focus that we did in these last two games, and hopefully close it out at home."

(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Duncan, Popovich likely to return to Spurs next season

Signs point to power forward Tim Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich returning to the San Antonio Spurs next season.

Speculation during the playoffs has centered around whether the two would be back should they win a fifth NBA title. ESPN reported that the 38-year-old Duncan has a June 24 deadline to opt in to his contract next season.

- -

LeBron James will not let winning or losing the NBA Finals dictate his decision on whether to opt in to the final year of his contract with the Miami Heat, according to a report.

James and the Heat are facing elimination, trailing 3-1 with the best-of-seven series returning to San Antonio for Game 5 on Sunday. No team has come back from a similar deficit in the Finals.

- -

Through four games, the 2014 NBA Finals are averaging 14,931,000 viewers per game, up compared to last year's Finals between the same teams, according to Nielsen.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Leonard snaps out slump to power Spurs past Heat

MIAMI - This is what everyone waited for. Three games into the NBA finals, Kawhi Leonard finally unleashed the high-octane offense that got him voted to the NBA all-rookie team in 2012.

Leonard, who will turn 23 later this month, scored 16 of his 29 points in the first quarter as the San Antonio Spurs spanked the Miami Heat 111-92 to grab a 2-1 series lead.

"You can see when he gets in a groove like that, he can be special," said Spurs veteran Tim Duncan.

Leonard not only injected new life into the Spurs' 2014 championship pursuit but he made his coach Gregg Popovich look like the master motivator.

Leonard's first-quarter points total on Tuesday was just two points less than he totalled for both games one and two of the best-of-seven series.

"I was just in attack mode trying to be aggressive early. Just knocking down a couple of shots got me going," Leonard said.

Leonard averaged 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in the regular season and led his team in scoring five times.

So when he scored just nine points, two rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes during a game two loss in San Antonio, Popovich decided it was time for a hear-to-heart with the third-year player.

Asked what he told Leonard -- who struggled with foul trouble in the first two games -- Popovich would only say, "That's family business."

The first time Duncan saw Leonard play was before the start of the 2011-12 season. He was not terribly impressed.

"He came down and worked out with us. It was before the team was together. So I got an early look at him," Duncan said.

"I thought he had a lot of work to do. He wasn't shooting the ball like he does now. But Pop and the guys saw something in him and they allowed him to kind of develop and find his own way."

Duncan also felt it was time to have a talk with Leonard before Tuesday's contest.

"We have been on him about continuing his play," Duncan said. "Foul trouble has been a problem for him in the first couple of games and it took him out of his game."

Popovich said he just wanted to see the same Leonard he watched drive defences crazy during the regular season.

"He has to be one of our better players on the court or we are not good enough," Popovich said. "He has got that kind of talent. It is the NBA finals. You can't be mediocre out there if you want to win a game."

Manu Ginobili says his Spurs teammates have faith in Leonard.

"The guy is what 22, 23? He played a couple of OK games. He didn't play bad. We trust him. We knew he was going to step up," Ginobili said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs silence Thunder to lead series 3-2

Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw were electric off the bench as the San Antonio Spurs routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-89 in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday to move one win away from a berth in the NBA Finals.

Ginobili scored 19 points, Diaw added 13 and veteran forward Tim Duncan contributed a team-high 22, along with 12 rebounds, as the Spurs made the most of home court advantage to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

All-Star point guard Tony Parker weighed in with 12 points while Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green tallied 14 points apiece as top-seeded San Antonio had six players in double-figures.

The Spurs, aiming for a return to the NBA Finals after losing to the Miami Heat in seven games last year, outshot their opponents by 51 percent to 43 from the field.

League MVP Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 25 points and dynamic guard Russell Westbrook scored 21 but both players appeared to be a little fatigued after their brilliant efforts at home on Tuesday in their Game Four win.

The series shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game Six on Saturday with the eventual winners advancing to meet either the Heat or Indiana Pacers for the NBA title.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs rout Thunder to take 2-0 series lead

The San Antonio Spurs put the Oklahoma City Thunder to the sword with a spectacular exhibition of shooting in the second half to tighten their grip on the Western Conference finals with a 112-77 win in Game Two on Wednesday.

With All-Star point guard Tony Parker scoring a team-high 22 points and Danny Green pouring in a dazzling array of seven three-pointers, the Spurs sizzled on their home court to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Veteran forward Tim Duncan contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds while Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw tallied 11 points apiece off the bench as San Antonio had five players in double-figures.

The Spurs, aiming for a return to the NBA Finals, outshot their opponents by 50 percent to 39 from the field.

"In the second quarter, we moved the ball much better, got to our shooters," Duncan, a 14-time All-Star who has won four NBA championship titles with the Spurs, told reporters.

"Danny was obviously hot tonight and TP (Parker) was great just attacking, going straight by people."

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 15 points each but, for the second straight game, they sorely missed the shot-blocking skills of forward Serge Ibaka, who is out for the rest of the playoffs with a calf injury.

League MVP Durant and dynamic guard Westbrook, Oklahoma City's one-two knockout punch, were restricted to a combined 13-for-40 from the field, and Duncan was delighted.

"Work, work for everything," Duncan said of San Antonio's strategy against the usually high-scoring duo. "Keep them off the free throw line, make their shots as tough as possible.

"Those guys are great scorers, we know that, but we want to make them work for everything they get."

MORE PHYSICAL

The Thunder, adopting a more physical approach than in Monday's Game One which they lost 122-105, made a fast start and withstood a sizzling 12-2 run by the Spurs to lead 26-24 after the first quarter.

However, San Antonio then turned on the style to take control as Green poured in three three-pointers and Ginobili added one of his own from beyond the arc to put the home team 58-44 up at halftime.

Roared on by increasingly vocal fans, the Spurs pulled further ahead with a stunning display of shooting from the field, a driving layup by Kawhi Leonard giving them a 29-point advantage before they ended the third quarter leading 91-62.

There was no way back from there for Oklahoma City as the San Antonio bench players maintained control.

"I hope our locker doesn't feel good," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "You shouldn't feel good. We got our butts kicked, but we have a good opportunity to come back and win Game Three."

The series shifts to Oklahoma City where Game Three will be played on Sunday.

Two years ago, the Spurs took a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals before losing to the Thunder in six games, and that remains a bitter memory for Duncan and his team mates.

"We will remind everybody of that situation," said Duncan. "We go into Oklahoma for that first game with the focus that we will need to win two games there."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom/Patrick Johnston)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs overcome Parker loss to beat Blazers

SAN ANTONIO -- Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and seven rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the Western Conference final with a dominating 104-82 win over Portland on Wednesday.

Danny Green scored 22 points and Tim Duncan added 16 points with eight rebounds to help the Spurs win the series over the Trail Blazers four games to one and reach their third straight conference final.

Duncan said the Spurs are starting to come together at the right time. "We got to the point now where we understand how we need to play for a longer period of time," Duncan said.

The win in front of a crowd of 18,581 may have come at a cost as San Antonio's all-star guard Tony Parker left midway through the first quarter with tightness in his left hamstring and did not return.

Duncan said after the game that he doesn't think it is a serious injury.

"It was more a precaution than anything," Duncan said. "They just don't want to get him any more hurt. They will check it out tomorrow."

The Spurs won by an average of 21 points in their three home wins in the series and await the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Oklahoma City leads that matchup 3-2 with game six scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles.

LaMarcus Aldridge paced Portland's attack with 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds and Damian Lillard tallied a 17-point, 10-assist double-double in the loss.

San Antonio had a chance to sweep on Monday, but Portland pulled out a 103-92 victory.

"We ran out of energy in our last game," said Duncan. "We had better focus this game and we used our home court to our advantage."

Blazers coach Terry Stotts said he told his charges not to hang their heads just because they ended the 2013-14 season with a loss.

"We had a special year," Stotts said. "Every one of our starters had career years.

"One thing about losing in the playoffs you end on a loss, but we got a taste of the playoffs. We got a taste of success and something we can build on for next season."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Dominant Spurs move to brink of sweeping Blazers

Guard Tony Parker scored 29 points as the San Antonio Spurs whipped the Portland Trail Blazers 118-103 on Saturday to move to the cusp of the Western Conference finals.

Forward Tim Duncan collected 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Spurs, who took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that continues in Portland on Monday.

Five players scored in double figures for San Antonio, which again got great production from a bench that combined for 40 points, compared to six points from Portland's reserves.

The Spurs, behind 20 points on 9-for-12 shooting from Parker, held a 60-40 edge at halftime after San Antonio shot 56 percent from the field in the first half.

Portland made a run after the long break, outscoring San Antonio 17-4 in the first five minutes of the third quarter to draw within 64-57, but the Spurs steadied the ship and pulled away for the emphatic win.

Portland has led for only 33 seconds over the first three games of the series, such has been the dominance of the Spurs, who have won by a combined total of 56 points after being taken to seven games by Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich paid tribute to Parker, as well as his bench.

"Tony, he's been the engine for us and he started out really well tonight, he made shots and involved everybody else," Popovich told reporters. "He played great 'D' (defense) at the other end. He's really playing a complete game.

"We achieved home court advantage because the bench played so well all year long and allowed us to keep guys at 30 minutes or less the entire season. They've continued to be big for us this series."

Portland coach Terry Stotts acknowledged his team were guilty of leaving themselves too much to do after making poor starts.

"In some ways this is very similar to Games One and Two," he said. "We get down big in the first half and then play hard in the second half but the hole's too big.

"Against San Antonio, if you put your guard down they take advantage of it. They're good because they have a lot of options. Everybody's a threat.

"This is as well as I've seen them play all season. Game Seven against Dallas they came out of gate and they haven't stopped since then."

San Antonio, who finished the regular season with the best record in the league, last won the NBA championship in 2007.

(Editing by John O'Brien)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com