awerner

(On Beno Udrih’s career in the NBA…)
“Making a career in the NBA is tough and he did it. I’m really happy for him.”

(On Kawhi Leonard’s progression defensively this season…)
“He’s done real well. He’s still in that process of learning about who he’s guarding more than anything. He’s young and hasn’t played that much. He’s just filling up his computer more than anything as far as how he wants to play certain people, what they like to do, that kind of thing. He’s really a willing defender and somebody who wants to be good at it and takes pride in it.”

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Coach Pop Pregame Media Availability - Spurs vs. Knicks

While their star point guard will try to put a controversy behind him, the San Antonio Spurs will seek to continue their dominance over the Brooklyn Nets.

Tony Parker and the Spurs will look to begin getting more consistent results at home by sending the Nets to a season high-tying fourth straight road loss Tuesday night.

Parker apologized Monday for a photograph that recently surfaced showing him making a gesture that's considered anti-Semitic. The picture showed Parker and French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala doing a "quenelle," which some describe as inverted Nazi salute.

Parker said via a statement that the photograph was taken three years ago. English Premier League soccer player Nicolas Anelka used the quenelle to celebrate a goal for West Bromich Albion on Saturday.

"While this gesture has been part of French culture for many years, it was not until recently that I learned of the very negative concerns associated with it," Parker said. "Hopefully this incident will serve to educate others that we need to be more aware that things that may seem innocuous can actually have a history of hate and hurt."

Parker will seek to move on by helping the Spurs earn their 24th win in 27 games against the Nets, including the 2003 NBA finals. San Antonio has won the past five meetings by an average of 19.4 points.

The Spurs (24-7) enter this matchup having won nine of 12 while Brooklyn (10-20) has dropped five of six. Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan combined for San Antonio's final 21 points in a 112-104 win over Sacramento on Sunday.

Ginobili finished with a season-high 28 points, and Parker had 22. The victory pushed San Antonio to 4-4 in its last eight home games, and the Spurs have alternated losses and wins over that stretch.

"We've got to keep working on it and try to go where we want to be," Ginobili said. "We're still just 31 games into the season. It's early. The tough part is we started really well but went back a little bit."

Brooklyn opened a difficult three-game trip with a 105-91 loss to Indiana on Saturday. The Nets held the Pacers to 19 points in the final quarter but scored just 15 and finished with 35 in the second half. They were also outrebounded 41-28.

"We just have to figure it out," said forward Mirza Teletovic, who had 17 points in his fifth start in seven games. "I think one day it will come together."

Nets coach Jason Kidd has tried to find the right starting lineup with Brook Lopez out for the season due to a broken foot. Kevin Garnett has moved into Lopez's spot at center, and Joe Johnson has played at forward and guard in the last four games.

Alan Anderson and Shaun Livingston have gotten starts along with Teletovic.

"I need everyone to be better, both offensively and defensively," said Kidd, who was on the 2003 Nets team that lost to San Antonio. "We can only do it as a team. It's not going to be just one person."

The Nets are facing teams that are a combined 73-17 on the trip, which ends Thursday against Oklahoma City. On this stop, they might focus more on limiting Parker, who averaged 24.5 points on 61.8 percent shooting and 8.5 assists in last season's two meetings.

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Gameday Preview: Spurs vs. Nets - 12/31/13

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Christmas Gift Exchange

(On any improvements needed on the defensive end…)
“The team can improve on everything. Transition defense, individual defense, team defense, post defense. It’s what you do every day. You try to improve all that stuff. Every team, nobody’s perfect.”

(On whether or not Tiago Splitter is fine for tonight’s game…)
“Yes he is.”

(On DeMarcus Cousins…)
“Very talented young man. Real aggressive. Does a good job.”

(On whether or not there is a stat that tracks if there are more open looks for Danny Green in this rotation and what those stats have shown…)
“Sure. You just have to find that out and figure it out.”

(On whether it’s a coincidence that players shooting percentage increases when playing with Manu Ginobili…)
“Probably not.”

(On Isaiah Thomas going from the last pick in the draft to where he is now and how much of the last part of the second round is a crapshoot…)
“I think it’s really cool. Excited for him. I love when that kind of stuff happens. But it just shows you that it’s subjective thank heavens. If it was a formula it’d be the most boring thing for everybody. If everybody knew if you were drafted seventh, if you were drafted 23rd this is what’s going to happen to you. That’d be no fun whatsoever. Having busts in the top 10 and having guys, like Isaiah, come through at the other end makes it great.”

(On why the Spurs passed on Isaiah Thomas twice…)
“Ask R.C. (Buford). My guess is we already have Tony Parker here so I don’t think we have a need at the point.”

(On whether or not all the analytics can provide answers at the draft…)
“I think all the analytics gives you a good idea about things. Some of the analytics are more true as far as making assumptions than other analytics. But when it comes to the draft that’s a different deal. That’s different than a shooting four spreading the floor and that type of thing. The draft talks about people’s character. Their ability to get along in certain situations with certain coaches with certain teammates in certain cities. Work ethic, circumstances and chance, injury. Parts of their game transfer to the NBA, some parts don’t. And you never know how all of that is going to fit together with somebody. You do your best, every team does their best to do their homework and try to figure that out, but it’s not a perfect science, as I said thank heaven.”

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Coach Pop Pregame Media Availability - Spurs vs. Kings

SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have assigned guard Nando De Colo and forward Malcolm Thomas to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

This will mark De Colo’s fourth assignment to the Toros this season. In three games in Austin, he has averaged 30.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 4.33 steals in 38.0 minutes. He has appeared in 11 games this season for the Spurs, averaging 1.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 7.3 minutes.

The assignment will mark Thomas’ third stint in Austin this season. In three games with the Toros, Thomas has averaged 20.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.33 blocks in 37.3 minutes.

Both players will be available Sunday afternoon when the Toros host the Tulsa 66ers at 3 p.m. inside the Cedar Park Center.

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Spurs Assign De Colo and Thomas to Austin

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks entered their Christmas break with a needed win.

The San Antonio Spurs didn't have nearly as good a holiday.

Looking to build on their latest effort, the Mavericks try to avoid a sixth consecutive loss to the visiting Spurs as these Southwest Division rivals meet for the first time Thursday night.

Dallas (16-12) had dropped back-to-back games and four of six before winning 111-104 at Houston on Monday. Nowitzki led the way with 31 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter.

"You don't ever want to sit on two days at Christmas with a three-game losing streak, so we definitely wanted to have this one," Nowitzki told the team's official website. "We competed and everybody who was out there played hard."

After undergoing knee surgery and missing the first 27 games of 2012-13, the 35-year-old Nowitzki appears to be back to his old self. He is averaging a team-leading 21.5 points, 4.2 more than last season.

"The driving the ball is what's missing a little now," Nowitzki said. "I do a lot of one or two dribble and then up, but I want to get back to driving some more to the basket and get to the foul line. I don't think I'm in '11 shape, but compared to the last two years I feel a lot better. The right knee is great and I feel better."

The Mavericks could use a vintage performance from Nowitzki as they try to snap their recent woes against the Spurs (22-7). Dallas has dropped nine of 11 in the series, including five straight by an average of 17.4 points.

Nowitzki has been held to 13.6 per game and 35.9 percent shooting during that skid. However, he did score 21 and pull down 11 rebounds in a 92-91 loss at San Antonio on March 14, their last meeting.

The first-place Spurs look to get back on track after falling 111-98 to Houston on Christmas Day. Manu Ginobili scored a team-high 22 points off the bench but Tony Parker had a season-low six on 3-of-11 shooting.

"We didn't play well," said Parker, whose team is one of only two yet to lose back-to-back games this season. "Move on to the next one, it's the NBA."

San Antonio allowed the Rockets to shoot 52.3 percent, its third-highest mark surrendered thus far. The Spurs are 0-6 when yielding more than 110 points compared to 22-1 when they don't.

"We just didn't give very good performances," coach Gregg Popovich said. "You can live with that from time to time. Nobody's going to play perfect every night. But you can't combine poor performances with a lack of physicality and a lack of discipline. They whipped us. They whipped us good. That's an embarrassing loss."

Tim Duncan has been held to a combined 20 points on 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) shooting in the last two games.

Monta Ellis is averaging 25.9 points in 10 matchups against San Antonio since the start of 2009-10, his third-highest mark against any opposing club. Ellis, averaging 20.6 points, is shooting 50.0 percent at home compared to 42.7 percent on the road.

Dallas has compiled an 11-3 record on its own court. The Mavericks have won five straight within their division.

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Gameday Preview: Spurs @ Mavericks - 12/26/13

After a seven-game road trip, the Los Angeles Clippers are ready to return to the comforts of home.

Awaiting them there Monday night are the San Antonio Spurs, one of the top teams in the Western Conference and a longtime nemesis of the Clippers.

"It's a test, a good test," forward Blake Griffin said of opening the season series with the Spurs. "To be away for a long period of time and come home and play a top-notch team, a team that always executes and plays the right way, so that's why I think it will be a good test for us."

The Clippers (16-9) played fairly well on their trip, going 4-3 and finishing with a 113-97 win at Washington on Saturday. Chris Paul had 38 points to go with 12 assists as the team shot 56.5 percent from the field and made 26 of 31 free throws, an impressive mark for a team ranked among the NBA's worst from the foul line at 70.9 percent.

Los Angeles, though, has lost 34 of 39 against San Antonio and eight of 11 since Paul's arrival, including a four-game sweep to the Spurs in the 2012 playoffs. Paul averaged 12.8 points on 36.8 percent shooting in that series and was no better in last season's four meetings with 11.8 points per game. Since May 2012, he has a 2.48 assist-to-turnover ratio versus San Antonio, compared to 4.15 against the rest of the league.

The Spurs (19-4), winners of four straight, have seen some strong play from Tim Duncan recently. Duncan averaged just 11.3 points on 39.2 percent shooting and 7.0 rebounds during the team's first 13 games, though he didn't play in two because coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest him. Since Nov. 29, however, Duncan has averaged 17.6 points on 56.9 percent shooting with 10.3 boards while not missing a game.

"It's not really that hard to do much better," Duncan said of his early season struggles. "I'm still not shooting the ball well, but I'm trying to play hard and find ways to contribute."

Duncan scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 100-84 win over Utah on Saturday. Popovich considered resting Duncan for the game, given that it was the team's fourth in five nights and the start of a four-game road trip, but Duncan insisted on being in the lineup, citing his strong play lately.

"We were never worried about Timmy. I've been saying (it) since the beginning of the season," point guard Tony Parker said. "He's the last guy we ever need to worry about. But now he's getting aggressive and he's getting his shot back."

Duncan looks to stay hot and help extend the recent struggles of Griffin, who is averaging 16.0 points on 41.0 percent shooting over the past six games. He had only two double-doubles on the road trip but remains among the league leaders with 17.

Both teams bring top offenses into this game, though they go about scoring in different ways.

The Clippers score 103.7 points per game, with four players averaging 14.0 or more. One of those players, J.J. Reddick, is out with a fractured bone in his right hand.

The Spurs, who score 103.3 points per game, have only one player - Parker - who averages more than 14.0. San Antonio is considered to have much better depth, with nine players averaging at least 7.0 points.

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Gameday Preview: Spurs @ Clippers - 12/16/13

While the San Antonio Spurs have mostly had their way against Eastern Conference opponents, the Milwaukee Bucks are still seeking their first win against the West.

The Spurs are hoping to see those trends continue Wednesday night as they go for a seventh win in eight games against the Bucks.

After falling 111-100 to NBA-leading Indiana on Saturday, San Antonio (16-4) opened a two-game trip with Tuesday's 116-103 win at Toronto. The Spurs shot 54.9 percent and recorded a season best-tying 30 assists in improving to 8-1 against the East.

"We had a lot of guys contribute with 30 assists and that's always fantastic when you get the ball moving," coach Gregg Popovich told the league's official website. "The point where you get 30 assists, you know people are playing the right way."

Manu Ginobili was one of seven players to score in double figures, posting team highs of 16 points and nine assists off the bench. San Antonio is 10-1 when he dishes out at least five assists.

"Manu looks healthy, he looks like he has fresh legs," Popovich said. "He is looking good so far and as long as he is healthy it is great for us."

The Spurs also got a boost from second-year center Aron Baynes, who scored a career-high 14 on 7-of-9 shooting while helping fill in for the injured Tiago Splitter (calf).

"Tiago is a big part of what we do so somebody has to step up. Right now, Baynesie is doing good," point guard Tony Parker said. "We see him in practice all the time so we know we have somebody who can play. He played international basketball, he's been to an Olympics. He's got some experience."

Ginobili is averaging 17.8 points and 5.6 assists in his last five meetings against Milwaukee, all San Antonio wins. The Spurs, who averaged 113.5 points in sweeping last season's two-game series, have taken six of seven from the Bucks.

San Antonio has posted an NBA-leading 81.6 winning percentage against the East since the start of 2010-11, going 71-16. Milwaukee, last in the league with 90.2 points per game, has averaged just 81.3 in going 0-3 against the West this season.

The Bucks (5-16), though, have won two of three overall after a 78-74 victory at Chicago on Tuesday. John Henson had a season-high 25 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks as the Bucks held the Bulls to 37.3 percent shooting.

"We just kept fighting," Henson said. "Man, we just kept fighting. As a young team, a scrappy team out here, that's what we got to do."

Brandon Knight also came up big with 19 points and a career high-tying 10 boards.

Gary Neal, who spent the first three seasons of his career with San Antonio before signing with Milwaukee this summer, is uncertain to face his former team after missing Tuesday's game with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Milwaukee is also dealing with injuries to Caron Butler (sore left knee) and Zaza Pachulia (fractured right foot).

The Bucks have dropped seven of eight at home, and the Spurs have won seven of eight on the road by an average of 14.1 points.

Tim Duncan is averaging 23.1 points in 15 games at Milwaukee, tied for his highest career road mark against any team. He scored 28 to go along with 13 rebounds as San Antonio won 117-110 in its last visit Jan. 2.