The Morning Tip-Off

Breaking Down Tim Duncan’s Legacy – Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report turned to former NBA stars Steve Smith, Isiah Thomas, Dennis Scott and Brent Barry to get their unique insight into the NBA world as they dissect the legacies of the greatest in the game as we head into the 2013 NBA playoffs.

What T-Mac Will Bring To San Antonio Spurs’ Playoff Push – Bleacher Report

The upside of adding a player of McGrady’s caliber is obvious. With Manu Ginobili (hamstring) and Tony Parker (neck, ankle) nursing various ailments, San Antonio could be in dire need of a reliable playmaker.

Although he’s more widely known for his scoring outbursts, McGrady has always been a competent creator for himself (19.6-point-per-game career average) and for his teammates (4.4 career assists per game against 2.2 turnovers)

Diaw Confident He Will Play In Second Round – Spurs Nation

A full participant in both of the Spurs’ lengthy practice sessions this week, Boris Diaw on Wednesday almost guaranteed he will be in uniform for Monday’s Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the winner of the Denver-Golden State first-round series.

The 6-foot-9 post player didn’t play in the first-round sweep of the Lakers after undergoing surgery April 12 to have a synovial cyst removed from his lower spinal cord.

GIF: Tracy McGrady Dishes To Aron Baynes For The Smash – Pounding the Rock

Tracy McGrady enters the game late in the 4th quarter much to Spurs fans delight. About a minute or two into his playing time, DeJuan Blair finds Tracy McGrady in the low block who finds Aron Baynes wide open who slams it home.

Which Guards Averaged The Most Points In The Paint – All U Can Heat

Guards that average a large number of points in the paint tend to excel at dribble penetration (duh).  And dribble penetration is one very basic way of creating offense — by getting an easy basket in the paint, or getting fouled and shooting free throws, or making the defense collapse and passing to get an open perimeter jump shot.

One of the best in the business at dribble penetration is Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs.

Suns Maybe Looking In San Antoino For Their GM Opening – Project Spurs

After the Phoenix Suns dismissed Lance Blanks from being the team’s general manager, there’s been an opening and one that’s likely to be filled before the NBA Draft. Banks was a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ organization from 2000-2005 where he served as a scout and got promoted to director of scouting. He also served as a television analyst during his last years with the organization.

The Suns are interviewing for the open position and they may be looking for a current Spurs official to take over that job.

Five Things We Learned From Round 1 – 48 Minutes of Hell

This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s completely healthy, but mentally he’s locked in. I saw Ginobili when he left the podium after Game 2′s win over the Lakers, and he held his right hamstring as he went into the training room for some post-game treatment. I don’t think he’s 100 percent yet, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he’s playing.