Hunter Says Offer Is Rejected

It’s 15 days and counting until the NBA’s July 1 lockout, with no negotiations in sight.

At lockout minus-18, Commissioner David Stern warned the players not to make “a mistake of epic proportions.”

Wednesday, union head Billy Hunter said he had offered the league a one-year extension, which it rejected.

Like Stern, Hunter says he believes the current deal works. That being the case, Hunter asks why the players are being asked for givebacks.

“It’s almost lunacy to talk about not getting a deal,” Hunter said. “ ... I believe if there is a lockout, it would be a protracted one. It would be a death knell for the NBA.”

Hunter says the sides met for the last time three weeks ago, and the league walked out. Hunter says he plans to call Stern once more before the June 30 deadline.

The players will meet in Las Vegas on June 28.

*

Twenty-two seconds into Tuesday’s Game 3, San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili was kneed in the left thigh when he collided with Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince and struggled the rest of the way, scoring seven points and taking only six shots.

The Spurs, however, are affecting complete lack of interest.

Coach Gregg Popovich, asked if it bothered Ginobili, said, “I didn’t even ask him. I mean, I’m sure it bothered him, but that’s got nothing to do with the loss.”

Said Tony Parker: “We kept asking if he was OK and he said he was all right. I don’t know, you know, I guess he was OK.”

Said Ginobili: “I’m all right. I just get hit there pretty often, so I’m used to it. Just one of those things that happens every other game.”

Ginobili runs into so many opponents in his basket-attacking style that the San Antonio Express-News’ Buck Harvey calls him “El Contusion.” It’s also not unusual for Ginobili to stop shooting; he took fewer than 10 shots in three playoff games before Tuesday.

However, the Pistons would be happy if they could turn him into a passer again, by trapping him coming off pick-and-rolls or by whatever means are necessary.

A year ago, they did the same thing, single-covering Shaquille O’Neal, leaving the rest of their defense ready to help Prince guard Kobe Bryant. The key may be what Tim Duncan does against one defender, either Rasheed Wallace or Ben Wallace. In Game 2, Duncan missed 10 of 15 shots and scored 14 points.

*

Bruce Bowen, the Spurs’ best defender, played for Larry Brown in Philadelphia. After Games 1 and 2, when Bowen held Richard Hamilton to a total of 28 points, Brown told Hamilton to stop pump-faking when he came off screens, since Bowen was never far behind. In Game 3, Hamilton scored 24 points.

Said Brown: “I think if you look at the run San Antonio has had, [Bowen] had to guard [Shawn] Marion, he had to guard Ray Allen, he had to guard Carmelo [Anthony]. He can guard you in the post, he can guard you out on the perimeter. He’s relentless in what he does.

“I think Rip is starting to figure out that he can’t back him down and do herky-jerky things. You’ve got to do what you do best, and that’s come off the screens and shoot the midrange jump shot.”