duncan228
12-15-2008, 11:54 PM
Duncan's consistency outshines big numbers (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Duncans_consistency_outshines_big_numbers.html)
By Mike Monroe
He didn't score 33 points in one quarter, or 46 points in one game, but Tim Duncan's consistent production in four games last week earned him the 19th Western Conference Player of the Week award of his 11-plus seasons in the NBA.
Duncan was chosen for the weekly honor over Denver's Carmelo Anthony, who tied an NBA record for points in one quarter, with 33 in a Nuggets win over Minnesota; and ahead of Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 46 points in a Mavericks victory over Oklahoma City.
In four Spurs victories last week, Duncan scored 88 points and grabbed 50 rebounds. He also played outstanding defense in all four games, culminating with a key block of a Kevin Durant shot in the final minute of Sunday's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder that sealed the outcome.
New York's Al Harrington was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after scoring 100 points for the Knicks in three games.
Extra work: Four players whose playing time has been minimal in recent games worked on their conditioning long after the conclusion of a relatively short practice session Monday morning.
Ime Udoka, who has logged only three minutes in the past three games, and Jacque Vaughn, limited to one minute since a 12-minute stint on Dec. 6, had been playing a lot of one-on-one games to stay in shape and keep sharp.
On Monday, the games were expanded to two-on-two, and they were joined by Ian Mahinmi, who has not played since being recalled from the D-League's Austin Toros last week, and by Fabricio Oberto, the former starting center who didn't play in Sunday's game against Oklahoma City.
Notable: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has given his players a lot of time off since the difficult back-to-back set that included a double-overtime victory in Dallas, followed by a game against the physical Atlanta Hawks.
Monday's practice lasted only an hour, and Popovich did not schedule a practice session for today, when the Spurs will fly to New Orleans for a Wednesday game against the Hornets. ... The Spurs waived Blake Ahearn, the 6-foot-2 point guard from Missouri State the club had signed when Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were on the injured list. Ahearn appeared in three games for the Spurs before being assigned to the Toros. The Spurs now have 14 players on their roster.
By Mike Monroe
He didn't score 33 points in one quarter, or 46 points in one game, but Tim Duncan's consistent production in four games last week earned him the 19th Western Conference Player of the Week award of his 11-plus seasons in the NBA.
Duncan was chosen for the weekly honor over Denver's Carmelo Anthony, who tied an NBA record for points in one quarter, with 33 in a Nuggets win over Minnesota; and ahead of Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 46 points in a Mavericks victory over Oklahoma City.
In four Spurs victories last week, Duncan scored 88 points and grabbed 50 rebounds. He also played outstanding defense in all four games, culminating with a key block of a Kevin Durant shot in the final minute of Sunday's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder that sealed the outcome.
New York's Al Harrington was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after scoring 100 points for the Knicks in three games.
Extra work: Four players whose playing time has been minimal in recent games worked on their conditioning long after the conclusion of a relatively short practice session Monday morning.
Ime Udoka, who has logged only three minutes in the past three games, and Jacque Vaughn, limited to one minute since a 12-minute stint on Dec. 6, had been playing a lot of one-on-one games to stay in shape and keep sharp.
On Monday, the games were expanded to two-on-two, and they were joined by Ian Mahinmi, who has not played since being recalled from the D-League's Austin Toros last week, and by Fabricio Oberto, the former starting center who didn't play in Sunday's game against Oklahoma City.
Notable: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has given his players a lot of time off since the difficult back-to-back set that included a double-overtime victory in Dallas, followed by a game against the physical Atlanta Hawks.
Monday's practice lasted only an hour, and Popovich did not schedule a practice session for today, when the Spurs will fly to New Orleans for a Wednesday game against the Hornets. ... The Spurs waived Blake Ahearn, the 6-foot-2 point guard from Missouri State the club had signed when Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were on the injured list. Ahearn appeared in three games for the Spurs before being assigned to the Toros. The Spurs now have 14 players on their roster.