Kori Ellis
03-07-2005, 11:39 PM
Duncan D-moralizing to Spurs opponents
By David DuPree, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-03-07-scorers-table_x.htm
Tim Duncan's minutes and offensive numbers are down from previous seasons, but his effectiveness has never been more evident.
That's because it's the San Antonio Spurs defense that makes everything work, and it's Duncan who holds it all together.
"We spend a lot of time on not relying only on Tim," guard Manu Ginobili says. "If he has an off-night offensively, there are some other players who can step up, but having him back there on defense gives us that constant advantage that other teams don't have."
Though he has a mild ankle sprain that could keep him out of Tuesday night's game against the New Jersey Nets, Duncan is not only third in the league in rebounding (11.6) and blocked shots (2.68) but plays outstanding man-to-man defense — both in the post and on the perimeter. He defends the screen-and-roll as well as any big man and does many of the little things that make San Antonio's defense perhaps the best in the NBA.
The Spurs have the best record in the NBA (46-13), give up the fewest points (86.7 a game) and hold opponents to the lowest shooting percentage (42.2).
That's the Duncan influence.
He rotates to cut off drivers and causes shooters to hesitate in close when they see him lurking, and he seldom commits silly reach-in fouls or leaves his feet needlessly. Using a statistical system that measures a player's defensive prowess, Duncan emerges as the best.
Three categories were used — personal foul-free throw differential (free throw attempts minus personal fouls), the glass factor (rebounds plus blocked shots) and giveaways-takeaways (steals minus turnovers). The totals from each of the three categories were added, and the highest final total is the theoretical best defender.
Players who average at least 24 minutes a game were divided into three groups: centers and power forwards, shooting guards and small forwards and point guards.
Only one team, the Washington Wizards, had two players in the top five in two of the three positions: Larry Hughes was third among shooting guards and small forwards and Gilbert Arenas third among point guards.
"Maybe the best backcourt in the NBA," Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says of Arenas and Hughes. "They're young, athletic, really impressive."
Ranking players by defensive numbers
Centers, power forwards
Player, team Personal foul diff. Glass factor Giveaway/ takeaway Total
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 5.0 14.3 -1.4 17.9
2. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 3.9 15.0 -1.2 17.7
3. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami 6.9 12.8 -2.3 17.4
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 6.5 11.7 -1.1 17.1
5. Ben Wallace, Detroit 1.4 14.3 +0.1 15.8
Shooting guards, small forwards
Player, team Personal foul diff. Glass factor Giveaway/ takeaway Total
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 8.4 7.0 -3.1 12.3
LeBron James, Cleveland 5.5 7.7 -0.9 12.3
3. Larry Hughes, Washington 4.4 6.4 +0.5 11.3
4. Paul Pierce, Boston 5.3 7.2 -1.3 11.2
5. Tracy McGrady, Houston 4.9 6.9 -1.0 10.8
Point guards
Player, team Personal foul diff. Glass factor Giveaway/ takeaway Total
1. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 8.8 4.0 -2.0 10.8
2. Dwyane Wade, Miami 6.6 6.5 -2.7 10.4
3. Gilbert Arenas, Washington 5.0 4.6 -1.0 8.6
4. Steve Francis, Orlando 4.6 6.3 -2.8 8.1
5. Jason Kidd, New Jersey 1.0 7.0 -0.7 7.3
Category key: Personal foul differential = free throw attempts minus personal fouls; glass factor = rebounds plus blocked shots; giveaway and takeaway = steals minus turnovers.
By David DuPree, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-03-07-scorers-table_x.htm
Tim Duncan's minutes and offensive numbers are down from previous seasons, but his effectiveness has never been more evident.
That's because it's the San Antonio Spurs defense that makes everything work, and it's Duncan who holds it all together.
"We spend a lot of time on not relying only on Tim," guard Manu Ginobili says. "If he has an off-night offensively, there are some other players who can step up, but having him back there on defense gives us that constant advantage that other teams don't have."
Though he has a mild ankle sprain that could keep him out of Tuesday night's game against the New Jersey Nets, Duncan is not only third in the league in rebounding (11.6) and blocked shots (2.68) but plays outstanding man-to-man defense — both in the post and on the perimeter. He defends the screen-and-roll as well as any big man and does many of the little things that make San Antonio's defense perhaps the best in the NBA.
The Spurs have the best record in the NBA (46-13), give up the fewest points (86.7 a game) and hold opponents to the lowest shooting percentage (42.2).
That's the Duncan influence.
He rotates to cut off drivers and causes shooters to hesitate in close when they see him lurking, and he seldom commits silly reach-in fouls or leaves his feet needlessly. Using a statistical system that measures a player's defensive prowess, Duncan emerges as the best.
Three categories were used — personal foul-free throw differential (free throw attempts minus personal fouls), the glass factor (rebounds plus blocked shots) and giveaways-takeaways (steals minus turnovers). The totals from each of the three categories were added, and the highest final total is the theoretical best defender.
Players who average at least 24 minutes a game were divided into three groups: centers and power forwards, shooting guards and small forwards and point guards.
Only one team, the Washington Wizards, had two players in the top five in two of the three positions: Larry Hughes was third among shooting guards and small forwards and Gilbert Arenas third among point guards.
"Maybe the best backcourt in the NBA," Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says of Arenas and Hughes. "They're young, athletic, really impressive."
Ranking players by defensive numbers
Centers, power forwards
Player, team Personal foul diff. Glass factor Giveaway/ takeaway Total
1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 5.0 14.3 -1.4 17.9
2. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 3.9 15.0 -1.2 17.7
3. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami 6.9 12.8 -2.3 17.4
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 6.5 11.7 -1.1 17.1
5. Ben Wallace, Detroit 1.4 14.3 +0.1 15.8
Shooting guards, small forwards
Player, team Personal foul diff. Glass factor Giveaway/ takeaway Total
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 8.4 7.0 -3.1 12.3
LeBron James, Cleveland 5.5 7.7 -0.9 12.3
3. Larry Hughes, Washington 4.4 6.4 +0.5 11.3
4. Paul Pierce, Boston 5.3 7.2 -1.3 11.2
5. Tracy McGrady, Houston 4.9 6.9 -1.0 10.8
Point guards
Player, team Personal foul diff. Glass factor Giveaway/ takeaway Total
1. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 8.8 4.0 -2.0 10.8
2. Dwyane Wade, Miami 6.6 6.5 -2.7 10.4
3. Gilbert Arenas, Washington 5.0 4.6 -1.0 8.6
4. Steve Francis, Orlando 4.6 6.3 -2.8 8.1
5. Jason Kidd, New Jersey 1.0 7.0 -0.7 7.3
Category key: Personal foul differential = free throw attempts minus personal fouls; glass factor = rebounds plus blocked shots; giveaway and takeaway = steals minus turnovers.