Danny Green Makes Most of His Opportunity With Spurs The Jeremy Lin phenomenon has taken the N.B.A. by storm, not only because of his stellar play, but because of the unique circumstances that got him his chance. Though Lin's story is undeniably remarkable, someone else experiencing quite a Cinderella story of his own is San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green, who went to St. Mary's in Manhasset, N.Y., before attending North Carolina. Where Lin has become the savior of the Knicks, Green has emerged as a key player in the Spurs" rotation, helping them to an 11-game winning streak in February. Currently holding a No. 2 playoff seeding in the competitive Western Conference, the Spurs seem to have found an interesting formula for success. Instead of bailing on aging talent, they have have meshed youth with experience. The Spurs have taught their young talent to feed off the veterans well enough to maintain one of the better records (24-10) in the N.B.A. In a telephone interview, Green praised the mix of talent, noting: "It's a great mix. We've been growing a lot, and I think having to deal with various injuries made us a stronger team. Our young guys had to step up. That experience will only help us in the playoffs once we get everyone back on the court together. Having guys who can play versatile roles is great, especially when different opportunities open up. Major minutes have come Green's way because of injuries to Manu Ginobili. He responded by averaging nearly 8 points a game this season while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. A lengthy defender, Green makes sure he is not a liability whether he scores or not. When the team looks to him, he has no problem knocking down shots from long range or driving to the basket. He was also often on the court late in games during the Spurs" impressive win streak. Recognizing his opportunity, Green added: "I got lucky because Manu plays my position. When he went down, my team needed me. I've tried to take advantage of it. I'm hitting shots, playing good defense, and Coach Pop's been showing more trust in me as I do.  Only in his third N.B.A. season (having played in just a total 28 games during the first two), there is still a lot for Green to learn. As he has been thrust into a prominent sixth man/starting role, one man who has greatly elevated Green's game has been the All-Star point guard Tony Parker. Talking about Parker's impact, Green said: "Tony's one of the best guards in the league because he makes my job easy. He can attack the rim and penetrate the defense real well. He does a great job of hitting the open man too, and I think he's putting up M.V.P. numbers. He's done a great job of balancing scoring the basketball while facilitating for his teammates on offense. "But when some of us are having poor shooting nights," he continued, "Tony's been the one to take on the scoring load and put the team on his back. He's carried us to a number of victories, and that's what it's all about. As we keep winning, I definitely think he cements himself as an M.V.P. candidate. He's been great. Though the Spurs will aim to overtake the Thunder as the top seed in the West, Green says he and his team cannot sleep on other teams below them that are poised for a stronger second half. He cited the Lakers, the Rockets and, of course, the Mavericks, as potential threats moving forward. What will Green's responsibilities be as his team looks to claim the top spot? "My teammates are going to help me, because in addition to Tony, Manu will create opportunities for others once he gets back, too," he said. "I just have to hit my spots, effectively, because when a guy like Tim Duncan draws the double-team, I have to be ready to catch passes and hit open 3"s if he kicks it out. All these guys have to be respected on offense, so the rest of us just have to cut, stay open, and make things easier for ourselves. The former D-Leaguer said he was hoping to participate in the 3-point-shooting contest last weekend, but there's always next year. Green's goal remains helping the Spurs continue to work toward a championship. Though they have won big in the past with squads full of proven veterans, the Spurs" recipe for success calls for different ingredients this season, with the up-and-coming Green proving to be a major one so far.