duncan228
10-16-2008, 11:28 PM
Duncan back in the swing of things (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/31147864.html)
By Mike Monroe
CLEVELAND — The discussion in the Spurs' locker room at Gund Arena before their preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night focused on football.
As Bruce Bowen, the Spurs' No. 1 Dallas Cowboys fan, weighed in on his favorite NFL team's recent trade for wide receiver Roy Williams, he stumbled trying to remember the names of two of the Cowboys receivers, referring to them only by their numbers, 84 and 19.
“You mean Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin,” said Tim Duncan, whose pro football allegiance is to the Chicago Bears. “Geez, Bruce, you've got to know your team better.”
The Spurs know this: No. 21 is still the most important number on their roster.
In his first extended stint of the preseason, Duncan put up the sort of numbers that have characterized his perennial All-Star and two-time MVP career. In 26 minutes he scored 16 points, on six of 10 shooting, and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the Spurs to a 91-70 victory.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had decided it was time for Duncan to begin getting into a regular-season rhythm. He had played only 36 minutes through the first three games, sitting one out altogether as Popovich evaluated younger, less-proven players trying to make the team.
Duncan was happy to show his coach his rhythm was back.
“It's about that time to start gearing it up a little bit,” Duncan said. “I know he's going to spread it out a little more and have people play different times, different games, different amounts. He wants to get Kurt (Thomas) back into the game a little bit and start getting him moving, and start getting the guys who are going to play together on the floor together a little bit. It's the time to start doing that.”
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, a former Spurs assistant under Popovich, had his starting center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, on the court most of the time Duncan played, providing a good test for both players.
“I'd rather play against him than any of their young guys,” Duncan said.
What Popovich saw from Duncan was precisely what he wanted to see: The inside presence that makes him one of the game's best post players, but also a willingness to look for his shots on the perimeter.
“He's looking for his offense and shooting the ball,” Popovich said. “We don't want him to be down on the block all the time. Get out on the court and make some shots. It's easier.”
In the final three games of the preseason, Popovich methodically will extend the playing time of all his veteran players, including Duncan.
“I wanted to get Tim into the third quarter tonight,” he said. “Next week we'll get him into the fourth quarter.”
Entering his 12th season, Duncan has learned to use the preseason for just what it is intended.
“Obviously, I've been through enough preseasons,” he said. “I want to get to the point when it starts counting. At the same time, you want to feel good going into the season, and luckily enough, 82 games gives you enough time to get yourself right. But you want to go into the season feeling like you've been in a game and you know what your body feels like.”
Duncan was joined in the starting lineup by veteran forward-center Kurt Thomas, playing for the first time this preseason after struggling with a strained left hamstring.
“It felt real good to be out there, running up and down with my teammates,” Thomas said. “I'm just trying to shake the rust off and get back in my own rhythm.”
By Mike Monroe
CLEVELAND — The discussion in the Spurs' locker room at Gund Arena before their preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night focused on football.
As Bruce Bowen, the Spurs' No. 1 Dallas Cowboys fan, weighed in on his favorite NFL team's recent trade for wide receiver Roy Williams, he stumbled trying to remember the names of two of the Cowboys receivers, referring to them only by their numbers, 84 and 19.
“You mean Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin,” said Tim Duncan, whose pro football allegiance is to the Chicago Bears. “Geez, Bruce, you've got to know your team better.”
The Spurs know this: No. 21 is still the most important number on their roster.
In his first extended stint of the preseason, Duncan put up the sort of numbers that have characterized his perennial All-Star and two-time MVP career. In 26 minutes he scored 16 points, on six of 10 shooting, and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the Spurs to a 91-70 victory.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had decided it was time for Duncan to begin getting into a regular-season rhythm. He had played only 36 minutes through the first three games, sitting one out altogether as Popovich evaluated younger, less-proven players trying to make the team.
Duncan was happy to show his coach his rhythm was back.
“It's about that time to start gearing it up a little bit,” Duncan said. “I know he's going to spread it out a little more and have people play different times, different games, different amounts. He wants to get Kurt (Thomas) back into the game a little bit and start getting him moving, and start getting the guys who are going to play together on the floor together a little bit. It's the time to start doing that.”
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, a former Spurs assistant under Popovich, had his starting center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, on the court most of the time Duncan played, providing a good test for both players.
“I'd rather play against him than any of their young guys,” Duncan said.
What Popovich saw from Duncan was precisely what he wanted to see: The inside presence that makes him one of the game's best post players, but also a willingness to look for his shots on the perimeter.
“He's looking for his offense and shooting the ball,” Popovich said. “We don't want him to be down on the block all the time. Get out on the court and make some shots. It's easier.”
In the final three games of the preseason, Popovich methodically will extend the playing time of all his veteran players, including Duncan.
“I wanted to get Tim into the third quarter tonight,” he said. “Next week we'll get him into the fourth quarter.”
Entering his 12th season, Duncan has learned to use the preseason for just what it is intended.
“Obviously, I've been through enough preseasons,” he said. “I want to get to the point when it starts counting. At the same time, you want to feel good going into the season, and luckily enough, 82 games gives you enough time to get yourself right. But you want to go into the season feeling like you've been in a game and you know what your body feels like.”
Duncan was joined in the starting lineup by veteran forward-center Kurt Thomas, playing for the first time this preseason after struggling with a strained left hamstring.
“It felt real good to be out there, running up and down with my teammates,” Thomas said. “I'm just trying to shake the rust off and get back in my own rhythm.”