Duncan 1999 versus Duncan 2009, 50 Games

[Galileo]

Duncan 1999 versus Duncan 2009

With all the talk here that Duncan might be slowing down, Galileo decided to take a look at Duncan today vs. Duncan ten years ago.

Duncan has played exactly 50 games in both 98/99 and 08/09.

Many think 1999 was Duncan's best season.

Win/Loss record

2009 35-15

1999 37-13

Minutes

2009 1763

1999 1963

Points

2009 1039

1999 1084

Missed FG

2009 372

1999 427

Missed FT

2009 99

1999 111

Rebounds

2009 525

1999 571

Assists

2009 195

1999 121

Turnovers

2009 109

1999 146

Blocks

2009 92

1999 126

Steals

2009 24

1999 45

TOTAL (pts + rebs + asts + blcks + stls - missed shots - TOs)

2009 1312 [4% better than 1999]

1999 1263

Points per 36 minutes

2009 21.2

1999 19.9

Missed FG per 36 minutes

2009 7.6

1999 7.8

Missed FT per 36 minutes

2009 2.1

1999 2.1

Rebounds per 36 minutes

2009 10.7

1999 10.5

Assists per 36 minutes

2009 4.0

1999 2.2

Turnovers per 36 minutes

2009 2.2

1999 2.7

Blocks per 36 minutes

2009 1.9

1999 2.3

Steals per 36 minutes

2009 0.5

1999 0.8

TOTAL per 36 minutes

2009 26.4 [14% better than 1999]

1999 23.1

Minutes per game

2009 35.3

1999 39.3

Duncan is playing 4 fewer minutes per game, but is producing more, and producing even more per minute.

If Duncan should have been MVP in 1999, then he should be in 2009 as well.

Duncan is pacing himself. Expect to see maybe his best ever playoff performance this season.

Tim Duncan
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html

[Mal]

Ok, but Spurs are boring, Kobe is selling shirts etc etc etc... If Duncan have one 50 pts game or make some dunks. We will be 3-5 in voting, that`s all. I hope he will have Finals MVP :D

[jason1301]

in 99; his blocks are up, his steals are up, he was FASTER, and his young body could AFFORD playing more minutes.

Still I see your point, TD is Mr Consistency, but he was better back then, and he was much faster.

[baseline bum]

Tim had a really rough beginning to the 99 season, which I think is skewing those stats some. Still, 99 Duncan didn't see very many double teams the way 00-present Duncan does.

[Galileo]

Duncan was indeed faster in 1999. However, have you noticed the immense gulf in Duncan's passing ability between '99 and '09?

Assist/turnover ratio:

2009 1.79

1999 0.83

And despite Duncan being faster in '99, Duncan is scoring more points per minute now despite taking fewer shots.

Tim Duncan
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

You oughta give some props to Bill Simmons too, because that's pretty much what he pointed out about Duncan in his annual "trade value" column on Thursday.

My take on Duncan is that he's slightly less fun to watch today in one sense - he doesn't fly around the court any more for dunks and spectacular blocks - but overall he's more fun to watch for basketball purists because of the way he can out-think, and thus out-play, entire teams at both ends. Few players adjust their game to their changing abilities throughout their career as well as Duncan has... the only guy in recent memory that I can think of who did this as well as Timmy has is MJ.

Here's to the best PF of all time! :toast

[Rogue]

obviously today's Duncan is more efficient and more of a teamworker, his four rings changed tim from an elite player to a mature teamleader who is still elite. just like the oscar changing actors, halle berry was just a piece of beauty in the movies before she won the oscar in 02, but she has never played a supporting role since then.

[mystargtr34]

Good analysis, but who said 1999 was Duncan's best season?

His best season was either 01/02, 02/03 or 03/04. I would go with 02/03, mainly because of what he did in the Finals that year.

Still, this season Tim has been his best since about 2004.

[Galileo]

You oughta give some props to Bill Simmons too, because that's pretty much what he pointed out about Duncan in his annual "trade value" column on Thursday.

My take on Duncan is that he's slightly less fun to watch today in one sense - he doesn't fly around the court any more for dunks and spectacular blocks - but overall he's more fun to watch for basketball purists because of the way he can out-think, and thus out-play, entire teams at both ends. Few players adjust their game to their changing abilities throughout their career as well as Duncan has... the only guy in recent memory that I can think of who did this as well as Timmy has is MJ.

Here's to the best PF of all time! :toast

kudos, Bill Simmons!

[baseline bum]

Duncan was indeed faster in 1999. However, have you noticed the immense gulf in Duncan's passing ability between '99 and '09?

Assist/turnover ratio:

2009 1.79

1999 0.83

And despite Duncan being faster in '99, Duncan is scoring more points per minute now despite taking fewer shots.

Tim Duncan
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html

Yeah, was not a great passer out of the double team for a while. I remember it took him about half a season in 99-00 to be comfortable with all the defensive attention that title in 99 brought on him.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

kudos, Bill Simmons!

;) :toast

[Galileo]

Duncan 2009

50.4 minutes per win

Duncan 1999

53.1 minutes per win

That is more evidence of increased efficiency for Tim.

[m33p0]

i'd like to take an order of '99 duncan with extra cheese and '09 duncan for veteran savvy.

[TDMVPDPOY]

99 duncan low post spin moves and1 plays.....NO ONE couldve stop that shit down low....

give me 99 duncan

[Cry Havoc]

in 99; his blocks are up, his steals are up, he was FASTER, and his young body could AFFORD playing more minutes.

Still I see your point, TD is Mr Consistency, but he was better back then, and he was much faster.


99 duncan low post spin moves and1 plays.....NO ONE couldve stop that shit down low....

give me 99 duncan


You should also consider the fact that in 1999, Duncan was somewhat of an unknown quantity. NO one could have predicted back then that he was going to be a walking legend 10 years down the road, let alone the GOAT at the 4 position. Teams saw him at Wake, but Duncan was still vastly improving his game. In 1999, the Spurs didn't have nearly the perimeter defense which made for a lot more block opportunities.

Also, many players in the NBA probably were not aware of just how DOMINANT Tim is on defense, so the guards of the league would probably drive on him much more often than they do today. Today, unless you have a full head of steam, you just don't go at Duncan, period, unless you want to get your shot knocked into the hands of TP or Manu for some easy fast break points. In '99, players hadn't yet figured out that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Duncan is a much smarter player today. He is STILL fast and lethal, he has just figured out (like Michael Jordan did at ~30 years of age) that he doesn't need to use his speed and his ability all the time if he can just get it done with smarts, which is much less tiring and demanding on the body.

You may think Duncan is a step slow these days, but personally I feel that he's figured out how to be just as good without wearing his body completely away. And when he's 36 and putting up 20-10 every night, you'll wonder how it's possible. He's making it possible right now by not going for every single block or rebound possible and not pushing his body to the absolute limit.


Moreover, I see this EVERY SINGLE YEAR about how Duncan is slowed down and isn't as productive now. And then, EVERY SINGLE YEAR in the playoffs, he puts on a show and just absolutely dominates the best players in the league.

And it's going to happen again. Promise.

[lefty]

obviously today's Duncan is more efficient and more of a teamworker, his four rings changed tim from an elite player to a mature teamleader who is still elite. just like the oscar changing actors, halle berry was just a piece of beauty in the movies before she won the oscar in 02, but she has never played a supporting role since then.

He was a bit stubborn back then (rarely), sometimes ignoring double teams, taking bad shots with 2 guys on him or turning the ball over

[Thomas82]

You should also consider the fact that in 1999, Duncan was somewhat of an unknown quantity. NO one could have predicted back then that he was going to be a walking legend 10 years down the road, let alone the GOAT at the 4 position. Teams saw him at Wake, but Duncan was still vastly improving his game. In 1999, the Spurs didn't have nearly the perimeter defense which made for a lot more block opportunities.

Also, many players in the NBA probably were not aware of just how DOMINANT Tim is on defense, so the guards of the league would probably drive on him much more often than they do today. Today, unless you have a full head of steam, you just don't go at Duncan, period, unless you want to get your shot knocked into the hands of TP or Manu for some easy fast break points. In '99, players hadn't yet figured out that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Duncan is a much smarter player today. He is STILL fast and lethal, he has just figured out (like Michael Jordan did at ~30 years of age) that he doesn't need to use his speed and his ability all the time if he can just get it done with smarts, which is much less tiring and demanding on the body.

You may think Duncan is a step slow these days, but personally I feel that he's figured out how to be just as good without wearing his body completely away. And when he's 36 and putting up 20-10 every night, you'll wonder how it's possible. He's making it possible right now by not going for every single block or rebound possible and not pushing his body to the absolute limit.


Moreover, I see this EVERY SINGLE YEAR about how Duncan is slowed down and isn't as productive now. And then, EVERY SINGLE YEAR in the playoffs, he puts on a show and just absolutely dominates the best players in the league.

And it's going to happen again. Promise.

Good post.

[SequSpur]

yeah, Duncan is by far the best player in the NBA. But the tools keep banging kobe and lebron.. what do you do?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

His consistency is astounding.

[HarlemHeat37]

IMO, this is the best Timmy has looked since about 2004 or 2005..and I'm being serious with that comment..the reason being that his J is better than ever, and he's brought back the patented bank shots..he's also turned into the best passing big man in the NBA this season, his passing has just been amazing..his patience and poise with double teams is better than ever..

we won't ever see him get back to the 2003 level though, where he was easily the best player in the NBA..25 PPG, 15 RPG, 5 APG, 3 blocks per game..those are absolutely disgusting playoff averages..then you add in the fact that the TP was only putting up 15 PPG on 40% shooting, Jax was putting up 13 PPG on 41% shooting, and Manu was putting up 9 PPG on 39% shooting..ridiculous..