objective
11-08-2008, 04:34 AM
Sure, injuries to Manu and others have played their role in the bad start, and have gotten most of the attention, along with some of the role players being old and done (Finley most of all), and Bowen's age and defense has drawn some attention.
But something not discussed much at all is Duncan's defensive game, which to me so far this early season might be the worst of his career. Is that a factor at all in why they've lost the close games this season and if so, a slump that will end or a continuing reason to worry about the previously dependable "Spurs Defense"?
Duncan in the past has been an overlooked DPoY candidate and has been the foundation of their defense. But this year he sure hasn't played worthy of a DPoY candidate as far as I could tell. He seem's like he's been scored on more one-on-one, and for the team isn't the defensive anchor the Spurs have taken for granted all these years.
Now I'm not saying he's Michael Finley bad out there, not at all. He just hasn't played to my eyes the Duncan-esque defense we're all used to that the Spurs count on.
Through 5 games this year, he's totaled 2 blocks, an average of 0.4 bpg in 39 mpg. Not only that but it feels like the close contests and altered shots are fewer as well, though that may be a misperception on my part.
I looked at the game logs of every year he's played, and this 5 game stretch is the worst 5 game stretch of blocks in his career. Only once has he had a stretch of 3 blocks in 5 games, in the 02 season.
And it's not like he's typically been an extremely slow starter with his blocks to start every year. The previous 5 seasons he's averaged in the first 5 games : 1.8, 1.2, 3.6, 3.0, 3.6, the other years he ranged from 1.4 to 3.6.
In the past the Spurs have been able to get away with poor defenders like Finley on the perimeter, or non-shotblockers up front like Oberto/Elson, because Duncan was there to carry them. At least so far, it's not happening.
Just a bad slump in an unlucky streak of games and no big deal?
Is it that he is having to put more energy into offense because of the absence of Manu, thus causing him to be unable to muster the defensive showings of the past? I don't doubt that on the whole for the season he'll average at least 1.5 bpg. Last season was the first in his career that he averaged less than 2.0 blocks per game though (1.9), so him not breaking 2.0 wouldn't be too surprising this year.
Or is Bowen not the only one who has raised the possibility of slowdown with his play? Duncan is 32 and has played not just 11 full seasons prior to this one, but he has also played 155 playoff games, nearly 2 full extra seasons worth of games. And the last 2 years he's had to man the rim defense all by himself because Oberto/Elson/Thomas couldn't even carry Rasho/Nazr's load, so that's even more defensive strain on him.
Is it a given that he'll return to DPoY quality defense?
Because if he doesn't play like the stellar first-team all defense player he's been, would a healthy Parker and Manu even be enough to win a title without the Spurs defense of old?
Just food for thought.
But something not discussed much at all is Duncan's defensive game, which to me so far this early season might be the worst of his career. Is that a factor at all in why they've lost the close games this season and if so, a slump that will end or a continuing reason to worry about the previously dependable "Spurs Defense"?
Duncan in the past has been an overlooked DPoY candidate and has been the foundation of their defense. But this year he sure hasn't played worthy of a DPoY candidate as far as I could tell. He seem's like he's been scored on more one-on-one, and for the team isn't the defensive anchor the Spurs have taken for granted all these years.
Now I'm not saying he's Michael Finley bad out there, not at all. He just hasn't played to my eyes the Duncan-esque defense we're all used to that the Spurs count on.
Through 5 games this year, he's totaled 2 blocks, an average of 0.4 bpg in 39 mpg. Not only that but it feels like the close contests and altered shots are fewer as well, though that may be a misperception on my part.
I looked at the game logs of every year he's played, and this 5 game stretch is the worst 5 game stretch of blocks in his career. Only once has he had a stretch of 3 blocks in 5 games, in the 02 season.
And it's not like he's typically been an extremely slow starter with his blocks to start every year. The previous 5 seasons he's averaged in the first 5 games : 1.8, 1.2, 3.6, 3.0, 3.6, the other years he ranged from 1.4 to 3.6.
In the past the Spurs have been able to get away with poor defenders like Finley on the perimeter, or non-shotblockers up front like Oberto/Elson, because Duncan was there to carry them. At least so far, it's not happening.
Just a bad slump in an unlucky streak of games and no big deal?
Is it that he is having to put more energy into offense because of the absence of Manu, thus causing him to be unable to muster the defensive showings of the past? I don't doubt that on the whole for the season he'll average at least 1.5 bpg. Last season was the first in his career that he averaged less than 2.0 blocks per game though (1.9), so him not breaking 2.0 wouldn't be too surprising this year.
Or is Bowen not the only one who has raised the possibility of slowdown with his play? Duncan is 32 and has played not just 11 full seasons prior to this one, but he has also played 155 playoff games, nearly 2 full extra seasons worth of games. And the last 2 years he's had to man the rim defense all by himself because Oberto/Elson/Thomas couldn't even carry Rasho/Nazr's load, so that's even more defensive strain on him.
Is it a given that he'll return to DPoY quality defense?
Because if he doesn't play like the stellar first-team all defense player he's been, would a healthy Parker and Manu even be enough to win a title without the Spurs defense of old?
Just food for thought.