Spurs news and notes: Coach of the Year, Hill is key, and more

• NBA.com says Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl should be the 2010-2011 NBA Coach of the Year and not San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich:

There are several great candidates for the Coach of the Year award this season. Doug Collins, Phil Jackson, George Karl, Nate McMillan, Gregg Popovich and Tom Thibodeau all deserve recognition for the job they’ve done with their teams.

With the Nuggets original roster, Karl coached the No. 1 offense in the league. With a completely different kind of roster since the trade, Karl is coaching the No. 1 defense in the league.

But those numbers don’t match the Nuggets’ impressive transition from elite offensive team to elite defensive team. And that may be why George Karl deserves to be named Coach of the Year.

• SportsInteraction.com asks if the Los Angeles Lakers can catch the Spurs for the number one seed in the playoffs:

The Spurs pre-playoff collapse has changed that situation and now they lead the Lakers by just 2.5 games. With L.A. having 6 games to play, as opposed to San Antonio’s 5, the Spurs must win 4 of their final 5 games to be absolutely certain of clinching first place in the West.

• HoopsWorld.com talks about George Hill as an important key to the Spurs’ success:

The big three’s production in the postseason is a given. They’re going to do their part, but there will be nights where they need help and no other Spur is more capable than Hill.

• Richard Jefferson fielded some questions from fans in San Antonio. Check out the video at Spurs.com.

• Austin Toros head coach Brad Jones had this to say to the Toros players when their season ended:

“I told them that the goal in this league, whether you win a championship or not is we make them feel like they’ve gotten better,” he said. “That’s the goal of our staff. Everyday we come to work trying to help them get better, while at the same time winning some games. Hopefully they feel that way. We didn’t meet all of our team goals, but hopefully they met some of their individual goals.” (TorosNation.com)

• RedsArmy.com keeps the Spurs in the Boston Celtics’ cross-hairs as the playoffs approach.

• USAToday.com says the new college basketball champions UConn Huskies are like the San Antonio Spurs:

Connecticut is the power that has somehow been lost in the glitter of others, even with three championships in 13 years. The Huskies are the San Antonio Spurs of college basketball.

• The Spurs announced the Team Up Challenge champions. See who won at Spurs.com.

• Express News’ Tim Griffin talks about another Spurs title run.

• Pounding The Rock recaps the Spurs last win over the Phoenix Suns.

• Spurs’ legend David Robinson was a guest at a very fancy and expensive house in San Antonio:

Alamo Heights spread has hosted a president, hoops star Asking price: $3.7 million

Owned by a noted Texas Republican stalwart, the home was built by Bartlett Cocke General Contractors on a foundation of solid rock with support from a series of columns and arches.

Former Spurs basketball player David Robinson has been a guest in the home, as well as notable politicians such as former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. (Express News)