Spurs' Stephen Jackson (03) dunks against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT&T Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs' Stephen Jackson (03) lines up a three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT&T Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs' Stephen Jackson (03) gestures after making a three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT&T Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs' Stephen Jackson (03) lines up a free throw against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT&T Center on Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
SPORTS Stephen Jackson puts up a shot in the first half as the San Antonio Spurs play the New Orleans Hornets at the AT&T Center on April 6, 2012. Tom Reel/ San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, talks to teammates Gary Neal (14), Stephen Jackson (3) and Tim Duncan during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 6, 2012, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 128-103. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) (AP)
Memphis Grizzlies' Gilbert Arenas (10) is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Gary Neal, left, and Stephen Jackson (3) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, April 12, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (AP)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs' Stephen Jackson drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies' Rudy Gay during first half action Thursday April, 12, 2012 at the AT&T Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Stephen Jackson of the San Antonio Spurs (3) runs out of bounds toward head trainer Will Sevening during NBA action at the AT&T Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Stephen Jackson (3) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Phoenix Suns during NBA action at the AT&T Center on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum, top center, and San Antonio Spurs forward Stephen Jackson fight for a loose ball as Spurs forward Tim Duncan, left, and Lakers forward Pau Gasol, right, of Spain, close in during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, April 20, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani) (AP)
Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum, top center, and San Antonio Spurs forward Stephen Jackson fight for a loose ball as Spurs forward Tim Duncan, left, and Lakers forward Pau Gasol, right, of Spain, close in during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, April 20, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani) (AP)
Spurs' Stephen Jackson (03) makes a pass against Los Angeles Lakers' Josh McRoberts (06) in the second half at the AT&T Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs' Stephen Jackson (03) defends against Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace (15) in the second half at the AT&T Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs' Tim Duncan (left) provides support to teammate Stephen Jackson (03) during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at the AT&T Center on Friday, Apr. 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Lakers, 121-97. Kin Man Hui/Express-News. (San Antonio Express-News)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs' Stephen Jackson shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee during first half action Sunday April 22, 2012 at the AT&T Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs' Stephen Jackson drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee (left) and Samardo Samuels during second half action Sunday April 22, 2012 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 114-98. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
San Antonio Spurs' Stephen Jackson, right, is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson during an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 22, 2012, in San Antonio. The Spurs won 114-98. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) (AP)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs' Stephen Jackson drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers' Alonzo Gee (left) and Samardo Samuels during second half action Sunday April 22, 2012 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs won 114-98. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Portland Trail Blazers' Raymond Felton (5) drives into San Antonio Spurs' Stephen Jackson during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 23, 2012, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (AP)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson reacts after making a three pointer against the Utah Jazz during first half action of Game 1 of the Western Conference first round Sunday April 29, 2012 at the AT&T Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Stephen Jackson of the San Antonio Spurs, left, shoots as DeMarre Carroll of the Utah Jazz defends during NBA playoffs action at the AT&T Center on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson reacts after hitting a shot during the second half of game two of the Western Conference first round at the AT&T Center, Sunday, May 2, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz 114-83 and lead the series, 2-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson covers Utah Jazz Alec Burks during the first half of game two of the Western Conference first round at the AT&T Center, Sunday, May 2, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson and Utah Jazz Jamaal Tinsley struggle for control of the ball during first half action of Game 2 of the Western Conference first round Wednesday May 2, 2012 at the AT&T Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson keeps the ball away from Utah Jazz DeMarre Carroll during the first half of game two of the Western Conference first round at the AT&T Center, Sunday, May 2, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson reacts after a play during first half action of Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Utah Jazz Wednesday May 2, 2012 at the AT&T Center. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
FOR SPORTS - San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson looks for room around Utah Jazz Derrick Favors during first half action of Game 3 of the Western Conference first round Saturday May 5, 2012 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. (PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Stephen Jackson (3) reacts after scoring a three-point shot against the Utah Jazz in the second half of Game 3 in the first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Spurs defeated the Jazz 102-90 to lead the series 3-0. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley) (AP)
SPURS -- San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson reacts after shooting a three-pointer in the second half of game three of the Western Conference first round at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Saturday, May 5, 2012. The Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 102-90, and lead the series 3-0. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
By Mike Monroe
Long before he returned to the Spurs in mid-March, forward Stephen Jackson already had contributed in a major way to the steady defensive improvement that helped his future old team secure the top seed in the Western Conference.
By torching the Spurs for 34 points in the Bucks’ 106-103 victory in Milwaukee on Jan. 10, Jackson provided Gregg Popovich a teachable moment the Spurs coach deemed worthy of hyperbole.
At the time, Popovich declared this was “the worst defensive team we’ve ever had,†a criticism calculated to grab the attention of players he feared had become overly reliant with an uptempo offense that was producing more points than nearly every other team in the NBA.
Since receiving that none-too-subtle reminder of their defensive deficiencies, the Spurs have continued to shore things up in that area. They proceeded to hold the Jazz to 38.2 percent shooting in a first-round playoff sweep.
No team in the other seven first-round series has held an opponent to a lower percentage, a fact even Popovich finds moderately encouraging.
“I think Utah helped us a little bit,†Popovich said after running his team through a vigorous, 90-minute practice Wednesday aimed at keeping the team sharp for the upcoming conference semifinals. “They didn’t shoot the ball very well, and I thought we were pretty focused defensively on what we wanted ? to do, especially in the paint. So I thought we did a good job defensively.
“We want to continue to get better because we haven’t been great all year long. We’ve been basically average, so we worked on defense for a decent amount of time today again in hopes we’ll continue to get better.â€
Jackson laughed at the notion that the most productive game of his short stay in Milwaukee had instigated the sort of postgame Popovich rant he was familiar with from his first stint with the Spurs (2001-03).
“Everything Pop says is to motivate guys and to get guys to see the big picture,†Jackson said. “I wasn’t here at the time so I don’t know what the conversation was about, but being back, I feel confident with our defense.
“I think we’re starting to get more and more on the same page, and we’re starting to trust each other a little more. That’s a good thing.â€
It hasn’t hurt that the Spurs added two solid defenders since then. Jackson, dealt for March 17, and Boris Diaw, signed as a free agent March 26, have played outstanding individual defense while getting comfortable with the Spurs’ complicated system of rotations.
Always known mostly for his complete offensive game, Diaw surprised Popovich with his ability to limit some of the league’s better post players.
“What I always try to do, on every team, is try to give what the team needs,†Diaw said. “I’m not really coming with one set of skills â€" ‘This is what I do, and that’s it.’ I’m trying to fit in with the team. The Spurs, when they were thinking about me, they were thinking about the days of (when I was with) Phoenix. Teams back then were really offensive-oriented. I knew coming back here, we needed good, solid defense.â€
Diaw’s familiarization process continued in the rugged first-round series against Utah.
“With the new guys, it takes a little bit of time to get comfortable with whatever rotations we’re going to be in or whatever calls we might be in,†Popovich said. “In the heat of battle sometimes you can’t remember things the same way. It takes repetition, and there hasn’t been a whole lot of that.
“They do a pretty good job on an individual basis, but they still have to learn the systems of team defense.â€
mikemonroe@express-news.net
Twitter: @Monroe_SA
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