NBA Caspules: Hill steps in, leads Spurs past Nuggets 111-92

DENVER — After a month-long stretch of mediocre play, the San Antonio Spurs broke out with an emphatic victory over a top-notch team.

George Hill scored 17 points after starting in place of an injured Tony Parker and the Spurs headed into the All-Star break by routing the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets 111-92 on Thursday night.

DeJuan Blair also scored 17 points, Tim Duncan added 16 and Manu Ginobili 15 for the Spurs, who snapped a three-game losing streak to Denver, including an 0-2 mark this season in San Antonio.

"It was big," said Roger Mason, who had 14 points. "We've been struggling with our consistency. It lets us know how good we can be. This Denver team was playing probably the best in the league. They won in L.A., they beat Dallas pretty good. It shows what we can do when we focus, communicate and do the things we're capable of."

The Spurs had gone 8-8 since Jan. 10 before knocking off the Nuggets with one of their best all-around efforts of the season, highlighted by a superb defensive performance.

"I thought we played better than we have played," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It was one of three or four games that we played really well defensively in the first half of the season."

The Spurs outshot the Nuggets 53.2 percent to 39.2 in winning for just the third time in six games despite missing Parker, who was sidelined with a left hip flexor strain suffered three days ago during a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nuggets were missing their best defensive player, Kenyon Martin, who sat out a second consecutive game because of tendinitis in his left knee.

"They were hungry. They were intense and angry and had an attitude," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "It was kind of payback for the two wins we took from them down there. Sometimes, I think when we don't score, when we don't have offense, we get frustrated. Other than the first quarter, we shot under 35 percent all night."

Nene had 20 points and Carmelo Anthony 19 for the Nuggets, who lost for only the fourth time in 28 games this season at the Pepsi Center.

Down by nine at the half, the Nuggets narrowed the deficit to 56-52 on a fastbreak layup by Nene before San Antonio pulled away again.

The Spurs used a 7-0 burst capped by Mason's 3-pointer to go in front 72-58 with 4:27 left in the third, and took an 83-70 advantage into the fourth quarter.

They continued pulling away from there, scoring 12 of the first 16 points in the final period to extend their lead to 95-74, their biggest to that point.

"I think in the back of their minds, they knew that we won on their court, got 'em twice down there, and they saw this as an opportunity to get one going into the break," Anthony said. "It was just one of those nights."

Going on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, the Spurs built a 40-29 advantage. Blair fueled the spree with three straight baskets, including a dunk that came after Malik Allen turned the ball over in San Antonio's end of the court. Hill's fastbreak layup with 6:49 left in the second extended San Antonio's lead to 14 points, but Denver cut the deficit to 54-45 at halftime as Anthony made successive baskets in the last 52 seconds of the period.

San Antonio set a blistering shooting pace in the first quarter, hitting 72.2 percent of its shots (13 of 18), including all four from 3-point range, to take a 32-29 lead.

NOTES: The Nuggets failed to score 100 points for only the fourth time this season at the Pepsi Center. ... The Spurs improved to 11-11 on the road. ... San Antonio improved to 34-42 all-time in Denver. ... Anthony had just his fifth sub-20 point game of the season. ... Seven Spurs scored in double figures, including all five starters.

Hip injury sidelines Spurs’ Parker

DENVER — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is being held out of the team’s game against the Denver Nuggets because of a strained left hip flexor.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that Parker was injured during the team’s last game, a 101-89 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

Parker, averaging 16.9 points in 43 games, was sidelined for three games earlier this month after spraining his left ankle Jan. 27 against Atlanta.

Barkley still throwing darts after 10 years on TNT

ATLANTA — The camera lights fade, but there’s no "off" switch for Charles Barkley on the set of TNT’s "Inside the NBA."

Barkley is always on, even when he relaxes with fellow analyst Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson in a room where they watch NBA games and other programming on a wall of flat screen TVs. Many of Barkley’s on-air observations, jokes and insults are given test runs — sprinkled with profanity. Conversations from the viewing room carry over onto the set.

"Charles just has to watch his language a little more," Johnson said. "It’s like we just happen to be on the air."

Exchanges a little bit on the salty side are second nature to those who have worked with Barkley for a decade on "Inside the NBA," which has moved to Dallas for this week for Sunday’s NBA All-Star game.

Johnson said the group’s spontaneity drives the show.

"The best advice my dad ever gave me about broadcasting was just be yourself," said Johnson, the son of former longtime Atlanta Braves broadcaster Ernie Johnson Sr. "That’s all Charles is. He’s being himself. He entertains. It’s like he doesn’t even have to try.

"He likes to have fun and that’s exactly what he is on the air. There is never a point where he has to say ‘Now I have to go on TV and be the Chuckster.’ It’s who he is."

Barkley, in turn, says that after a decade of work on TNT he trusts his employers.

He says TNT had his back one year ago when he kept his job — after a two-month hiatus — following a DUI arrest in Scottsdale, Ariz. He says the Turner cable network also earned his trust by giving him the freedom to talk about more than basketball.

"What it did was it let me know that I can trust the people that I work for," he said.

Trust also comes with success.

"Inside the NBA" has won five Emmys for best studio show. Johnson has won two Emmys for best host. It has become a much-discussed show among NBA players.

"They’re good. They’re really good," said Jamal Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks. "For NBA players, it’s definitely must-see TV. I think every NBA player watches it."

The long run has been good for Barkley, the former 11-time All-Star.

Barkley’s ads for Taco Bell and T-Mobile are prominent during the games and studio show. He remains such a celebrity he was the host for "Saturday Night Live" on Jan. 9.

The TV gig has lasted two years longer than Barkley’s eight-year stay with the Philadelphia 76ers at the start of his NBA career. He was with the Phoenix Suns when he was named NBA MVP in 1993. He completed his career with Houston in 2000 and almost immediately moved to his TV job.

A 10-year special is planned for Friday night.

"Shoot, in TV you never know if you’re going to last 10 minutes or 10 years," Johnson said. "My only concern when this took shape was when the novelty wore off, would Charles still be into it or would it be like ‘I gave this a try, and that’s enough."’

Smith calls Barkley "the ultimate dart-thrower" and says his goal is "to make sure I’m not the target all the time."

No worries there. Barkley aims in all directions:

— On Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat: "Let’s be realistic. The Miami Heat are Michael Jackson with a bunch of Tito Jacksons. ... It’s just Dwyane Wade by himself, like me in this studio."

— On the movie "Avatar": "I want those three hours back in my life! I’m 47. I don’t do special effects. I need a plot line."

— On the Eastern Conference race: "Cleveland and Orlando are the two best teams in the East. The Boston Celtics, people keep waiting on them to get healthy. I mean no disrespect, but old people don’t get healthy. They die."

— On Clippers interim coach Kim Hughes: "First of all, I hate guys named Kim. I hate guys with girls’ names."

While Barkley enjoys his job, he’s also restless. He dreams of being a general manager for an NBA team.

"That’s next for me," Barkley said. "I’ve been doing this for 10 years. I’m going to need another challenge soon.

"I think some teams know that. I’ve got to make sure it’s a good situation for me. I mean, I’m not going to jump on the Titanic. I’ve got a great gig and I work with great people, but I’m going to need a bigger challenge."

Smith, who won NBA championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995, also would like to be a GM. He is fascinated by the idea that someday he and Barkley could be on the phone discussing a trade.

"I know I’d get the best out of the deal, so I’d call him every week," Smith said with a smile.

For now, the focus is the All-Star game.

Barkley is pumped about the big crowd waiting in Dallas. While he wants lose 50 pounds this year, he thinks he’ll look good in the stadium setting.

"You know the cool thing about 90,000 people?" he asked. "They’re going to be so far away I’m going to look skinny."

-- Charles Odum

Gerald Wallace’s long road to the All-Star game

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rick Adelman remembers drafting a raw, inexperienced 18-year-old from Alabama in 2001 while he was coaching the Sacramento Kings.

Adelman wasn’t sure what to do with Gerald Wallace.

"He played one year of college and he pretty much played zone his whole career," said Adelman, now coach of the Houston Rockets. "He just ran and dunked."

On Thursday, a little less than nine years later, Wallace boarded a plane for Dallas as the first All-Star in Charlotte Bobcats history. It’s the culmination of a rocky road from unhappy college kid to Sacramento benchwarmer to expansion draft pick to a player who has finally combined his freakish athletic ability with a well-rounded game.

And if averaging 18.8 points and 10.9 rebounds with an overflowing collection of acrobatic, above-the-rim plays isn’t enough, his current coach doesn’t think the 6-foot-7 small forward has reached his potential.

"He reminds me every day I watch him that he has so much more to improve on," Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. "And that’s not a knock on where he is. He’s made the All-Star team, so obviously people have recognized that."

Growing up in Childersburg, Ala., population 4,579, Wallace was the can’t-miss star. He earned national player of the year awards in high school, was a McDonald’s All-American and was expected to become a state hero down the road at Alabama.

It didn’t happen. Wallace didn’t mesh with coach Mark Gottfried and knew right away he’d only spend one year there. Wallace routinely jokes with his teammates that he didn’t go to college.

"The first week of his freshman year he was ready to come out," Brown said. "I don’t know how much he really got out of a really important year."

Wallace was the 25th pick in the 2001 draft but never played more than 54 games or average more than 4.7 points in three seasons with the Kings, then a Western Conference power.

"It was very frustrating," Wallace said. "But at the same time you can’t be mad because they won 60-something games before I got there. They won 60-something games the three years I was there. Who are you going to complain to?"

The Kings’ loaded roster left them with a difficult decision when Charlotte was awarded a team to replace the New Orleans-bound Hornets. The Kings thought about leaving Chris Webber unprotected for the 2004 expansion draft thinking the Bobcats wouldn’t take on his big contract. But the Kings decided to protect Webber and leave Wallace exposed.

Wallace’s life was soon upended. He went from a benchwarmer on a winner to a starter on a team full of castoffs that went 18-64 in its debut season.

"It makes the season long, it makes it hard," Wallace said. "My mom just told me, ‘Keep trying, keep going, keep going and eventually you’ll all start moving."’

Wallace’s scoring average improved from 11.1 to 15.2 to 18.1, setting himself up to sign a six-year, $57 million deal in the 2007 offseason.

Wallace averaged 19.4 points in Sam Vincent’s lone season as coach in 2007-08 before Larry Brown arrived prior to last season, paving the way for another growth spurt.

"He took me, a rough product, and chipped away all the rough edges," Wallace said of Brown.

While Wallace’s scoring average last season dipped to 16.6 points, his shooting percentage jumped from 45 to 48 percent. He averaged nearly two more rebounds a game, had 32 fewer turnovers and nine more blocks while gambling less on defense.

"The one thing I found out about him when I first got here is that he just wants to be coached," said Brown, whose 1,300 NBA and ABA coaching wins rank third all-time. "He’s been through so many coaches and different situations. Then he played power forward a lot since he’s been here. So he’s never really had a niche."

Many felt how Wallace would react to the demanding Brown would define his career. He was almost traded before the start of last season, but soon became one of Brown’s favorite players as he absorbed his teaching.

"He’s become a better ballhandler. He’s become a better shooter. He’s become less mistake-prone," Brown said. "Obviously, the rebounding has been huge. He’s learning how to guard on the perimeter, which was an area I thought he was way behind. There’s not one thing I think he hasn’t gotten better at. And I think he’s got so much more."

The 27-year-old Wallace ranks seventh in the NBA in rebounding. He’s shooting 48 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range, while increasing his blocks and cutting down further on his turnovers.

It’s helped push the Bobcats (26-25) into sixth place in the Eastern Conference as they eye their first playoff berth. Wallace’s All-Star selection is a big deal for the fledgling franchise. Every member of the organization signed a congratulatory poster that sits in Wallace’s locker.

"When we found out, you could see the smile on his face ear to ear," teammate Nazr Mohammed said. "He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face."

The good news continued Wednesday when Wallace was included in a pool of players to be selected for this summer’s world championships and the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

"That kind of athleticism is something that we want in this pool and on the two teams we’ll put together," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We’re going to play fast and play really hard defensively, and I think that Gerald will do both of those things."

Yes, Wallace is no longer just a flashy dunker.

"What he’s doing on the boards is incredible for a guy his size," Adelman said. "He’s learned how to play the game."

-- Mike Cranston

AP Source: NBA proposal targets all player types

DALLAS — The proposal the NBA sent to the players’ association for a new collective bargaining agreement seeks cuts from the biggest superstars down to guys not even in the league yet.

A person who has seen the document told The Associated Press on Thursday that first-round picks would have their salaries cut by about one-third and the minimum salary would be reduced by as much as 20 percent. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly about the negotiations.

The total value of a maximum contract for a veteran also would drop below $60 million, as previously reported by ESPN.com. That’s less than half of what LeBron James can sign for this summer if he opts out of his contract and re-signs with Cleveland.

The person said owners "have made it clear they intend to rein in player costs across the board from every segment of the player population."

The league sent the proposal to the union last week and negotiators from both sides will meet Friday to discuss a new deal to replace the one that will expire July 1, 2011. They already had some preliminary sessions and exchanged financial documents last summer, getting an early jump on the process with many teams hit hard by the economic downturn.

Neither the NBA nor the players’ associated have commented on the proposal.

Reductions in max deals seem the easiest way to cut costs, but the NBA’s proposal wouldn’t stop there. First-round picks are currently paid by a salary scale according to where they are selected, with the first two years guaranteed and the team drafting them holding separate one-year options on the third and fourth seasons.

This year’s No. 1 pick, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, was guaranteed at least $8.6 million in the first two years of his career.

A minimum salary for a player is determined by how many years he has been in the league.

Speaking of guarantees, those would change, too. The person said contracts in the new proposal would be guaranteed for only half of their value, and in some instances players would receive less than 50 percent.

The person also confirmed previous reports that the proposal effectively seeks a "hard" salary cap, eliminating tools such as the Bird and midlevel exceptions that allow teams over the cap to sign free agents.

The differences between management and the players have created fears of what would be the first work stoppage since the lockout that reduced the 1999 season to 50 games.

Commissioner David Stern has said the central issue will be the division of revenues, with players currently collecting 57 percent of the basketball-related income. The person said that would decrease to less than 45 percent using the current BRI formula.

-- Brian Mahoney

Kobe, A.I. out of All-Star game with injuries

DALLAS — Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers won’t play in the All-Star game this weekend.

Both former NBA MVPs were voted into the starting lineups by fans.

The NBA announced Thursday that Bryant will be replaced by Dallas point guard Jason Kidd on the Western Conference roster. Iverson’s spot in the Eastern Conference will be filled by New York forward David Lee.

Bryant missed his third straight game for the lakers Wednesday night with a sore left ankle.

Iverson missed his fifth straight game for the 76ers Wednesday night to be with his sick daughter.

Kidd will be making his 10th All-Star appearance, while Lee is a first-time All-Star.

The coaches will determine which players will replace Bryant and Iverson in the starting lineup.

The game is Sunday at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Hurt Bulls G Rose hopes to play in All-Star Game

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls say All-Star point guard Derrick Rose suffered "no significant injury" to his hip or lower back after a hard foul by Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

The team said Thursday that X-rays and an MRI revealed no major damage, one day after Rose left the game with a bruised right hip.

Rose will be re-examined by team physician Dr. Brian Cole in Dallas on Saturday. Rose still hopes to defend his Skills Challenge title that night and participate in his first All-Star game on Sunday.

Rose was injured about 2 1/2 minutes into Wednesday’s 107-87 loss when he got knocked to the floor by Howard on a driving layup. He clutched his lower back and was slow to get to his feet.

Elsewhere

Bird urges Pacers fans to remain patient

INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers president Larry Bird is urging fans to remain patient through the team’s struggles.

Indiana enters the All-Star break with an 18-34 record, well out of the playoff race after missing the postseason for the past three seasons. Last month, some players were openly wondering if their "weak-minded" defense could be righted and attendance woes have been a problem now for years, along with assorted off-the-court issues.

Yet Bird says the rebuilding phase that began when the Pacers traded Ron Artest in 2006 is on target, and will move into high gear after next season when the team gets salary cap space.

"We knew that we had to clean it out and rebuild it, and we knew we were going to go through some tough times," Bird told The Associated Press this week. "Nobody likes to lose, and everybody wants to be a part of a winner. We think we’re on the right track to get there."

Bird also took the pressure off coach Jim O’Brien, who is in his third year after back-to-back 36-46 seasons. O’Brien signed a one-year extension last September to coach through the end of next season, and Bird said he is in no danger of being replaced.

"The one thing Jimmy bought into when he came here was that we were going to rebuild, and we were going to struggle at times," Bird said. "I always say the losses are on me because I want him to work these guys hard, develop the young guys we have and keep moving forward with what we have."

The Pacers have suffered through a series of injuries. Top scorer Danny Granger missed a month with a heel injury, center Jeff Foster is out for the season with a back injury, guard/forward Mike Dunleavy missed several weeks while recovering from knee surgery and rookie forward Tyler Hansbrough has missed the past month with an inner ear infection.

Healthy or not, Bird expected rough times.

"Even if we were healthy all year, I thought we could win 36 to 41 games with this team," he said. "In a rebuilding phase, which I think we’re on track with, we’ll just have to go forward with it."

Bird, whose resume includes three NBA titles and three MVP awards with the Boston Celtics, said the Pacers still could play better.

"The one thing about this team is that we stand too much and we settle way too much for the outside shot," he said. "If we get to the hole and put the pressure on the defense, we’re a lot better. When we stand and just take outside shots, we have a tendency to struggle."

Granger, an All Star last season, hasn’t been quite as good this season. He’s still averaging 22.4 points per game, but that’s down more than three points from last season. He’s also shooting four percent lower from the field.

Forward Troy Murphy has remained steady, despite trade rumors. He averages 14 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

Part of the rebuilding process has led the Pacers to play younger players. O’Brien sat point guard T.J. Ford for 18 games while getting rookie A.J. Price some additional minutes.

"T.J. knows that I respect his game, and he knows how much I like him," Bird said. "It’s unfortunate that they’re in that situation, but at that time, we wanted to see if A.J. could play, and we know he can."

A bright spot has been second-year center Roy Hibbert. The 7-foot-2 Georgetown product has become a fan favorite with flashes of dominance. He’s averaging 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but that comes with 3.6 fouls every 24 minutes. He also sometimes struggles against quicker post players.

"With Roy, he’s made great strides," Bird said. "He’ll continue to get better because of his work ethic. He’ll struggle at times, but I think in the long run, he’ll be a very valuable player for us."

Second-year guard Brandon Rush has been inconsistent, but has shown potential. He’s averaging 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds. Hopes were high after he averaged 18.3 points and shot 55 percent from the field in the final 10 games last season.

Eventually, Bird said, the young core players will gain experience playing as a unit under O’Brien. Until then, he said, wins might not come as often as fans would like.

"Jimmy’s done an excellent job of doing the things I want him to do," Bird said. "It won’t show in wins and losses, but it will show in the long run."

-- Cliff Brunt

Cleveland’s West will play against Orlando

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Delonte West is active and will play against the Orlando Magic.

West, who has missed the last nine games with a broken left ring finger, will come off the bench for the Cavaliers. Daniel Gibson will remain the starting point guard.

The Cavaliers have won 12 straight. The last nine have come without their top two point guards in West and Mo Williams.

Shaq’s television show picked up for second season

CLEVELAND — Shaquille O’Neal says his reality television show "Shaq Vs." has been picked up by ABC for a second season.

Among O’Neal’s highlights in the first season was a football competition against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a swimming race against Michael Phelps and a boxing match against Oscar De La Hoya.

O’Neal says he has talked to a number of athletes about new challenges for next season, but nothing has been finalized.

Elsewhere

Former Lakers, WVU coach Fred Schaus dies at 84

Fred Schaus, a former Los Angeles Lakers coach and general manager who mentored Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley at West Virginia, has died. He was 84.

The former West Virginia coach and athletic director died Wednesday night in Morgantown, W.Va., said Dan Hastings, a funeral director at Hastings Funeral Home. Schaus had been living in a nursing home.

"Fred’s passing brings finality to a relationship that began in 1955, when he first came to our house to introduce himself as the coach of West Virginia University," West said in a statement released by the school.

A Cabin Creek native, West recalled Schaus telling him WVU would be the place for him to attend school and have an opportunity to play basketball.

"At that point in my life, he was the first coach to show interest in me," said West. "I was thrilled beyond words, and to this day I remember much about our meeting. Little did I know what a long-lasting relationship we would have."

Born in Newark, Ohio, Schaus became the first Mountaineers player to score 1,000 career points. He was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons of the NBA and also played for the New York Knicks from 1949-54.

He compiled a 127-26 record as head coach at West Virginia from 1954 to 1960, including six straight NCAA tournament berths. The Mountaineers, led by West, advanced to the NCAA championship game in 1959, losing to California 71-70.

Schaus followed West to the Lakers, going 315-245 in seven seasons as head coach and guiding the team to four NBA finals before becoming general manager in 1967. The 1971-72 Lakers, behind West and Wilt Chamberlain, won a then-record 69 games in the regular season and beat the Knicks for the NBA title.

"We shared many incredible experiences, both joyous and painful, during our years together at WVU and then as my coach with the Los Angeles Lakers," West said. "As a young man with little experience with the outside world, he became my mentor and sounding board as I progressed as an athlete and as a person."

Schaus returned to the college ranks in 1972, going 105-59 in six seasons as head coach at Purdue. He also served as athletic director at West Virginia from 1981-89 before he retired. Schaus was inducted into his alma mater’s athletics hall of fame in 1992.

Current athletic director Ed Pastilong succeeded Schaus.

"We lost one of our finest student-athletes, coaches and administrators in Fred," Pastilong said. "We are deeply indebted to his allegiance and service to WVU and our athletic department."

West Virginia annually honors the most outstanding captains of its varsity teams with the Fred Schaus Awards.

Hundley grew up in Charleston and remembers listening to WVU basketball games on the radio when Schaus was a player. Hundley, who earned his nickname for his on-court antics such as behind-the-back and no-look passes, also played for Schaus with the Lakers.

"He was a no-nonsense coach, but I learned years later that he secretly enjoyed all the things I did as a player at WVU," Hundley said in a statement. "He always told me, ‘I (don’t) care if you drop kick the ball out of the building, but we better be up by 20 when you do.’

"Fred taught me that the game was the most important thing. He never did anything to jeopardize the game."

Schaus is survived by his wife, Barbara, two sons, John and Jim, a sister, Mary Brown, and six grandchildren. Jim Schaus is the athletic director at Ohio University.

Services are scheduled for Sunday at Suncrest United Methodist Church in Morgantown with burial on Monday at Fairmount Cemetery in Jacksontown, Ohio.

-- John Raby