duncan228
04-17-2009, 10:55 PM
Once again, this will be about Duncan (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Once_again_this_will_be_about_Duncan.html)
Buck Harvey
If Mark Cuban had taken a running start, and if he had summoned all of his Dancing-With-the-Stars zeal, he couldn't have hurt Tim Duncan's left knee.
That's how massive Duncan's knee brace looked on Friday. Cuban couldn't have dented it, nor could an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test.
Custom built, these braces cost about $1,800. When straps and hinges are aligned properly, the brace unloads pressure. For Duncan's left knee, it's the outer area that gets unloaded.
But Duncan wears this only in practice. He will take off the brace tonight, maybe opting for a sleeve, and then this first-round series will be decided.
If his knees aren't ready — if he can't move and take advantage of a Dallas weakness — he will lose in the first round for the first time in his career.
This is nothing new. For the Spurs of the past decade, it's always been about Duncan. It was a year ago in the playoff opener.
Then, he threw in a 3-pointer, sending the Spurs into a second overtime and the Suns toward their own crash. Duncan's shot defined how tight that series was, and what followed in the second overtime explains why the Spurs are in trouble now.
Manu Ginobili drove on Raja Bell for the game-winner.
That's the Ginobili who pushed the Spurs toward titles in 2005 and 2007, and he was there in 2006, too.
Most remember his foul on Dirk Nowitzki in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals; most forget he had 30 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6.
Given that, it's understandable the Mavericks wanted this first-round draw. They've been peaking, playing better defense, with Nowitzki in a groove, and the Spurs aren't the Spurs without Ginobili.
Still, the No. 3 seed could upset the No. 6. And the simplest way for that to happen would be for Duncan to take advantage of what was there in 2006 and is still there today.
He's been telling people he feels great, better than anytime since the All-Star break. The tendonosis in the right knee has subsided, which is not unusual; almost 90 percent of those afflicted with this can recover with conservative care.
The left knee, the one with the brace, has come around as well. Rest over the past week has meant a lot, and, if all of this sounds familiar, it should.
In 2006 he suffered from plantar fasciitis until, well, he played the Mavericks. Then Gregg Popovich made a radical move, putting Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic on the bench to go small.
A reason: Popovich wanted shooters surrounding Duncan to discourage double teams. Given time to work inside, Duncan averaged 32.3 points against Dallas.
In the first six games the Mavericks starting center was DeSagana Diop. But because Diop was so often in foul trouble, and because Duncan was so effective, Avery Johnson moved Erick Dampier into the starting lineup for Game 7.
Then Duncan scored a playoff career-high 41 points.
Whatever faults Diop had, the Spurs staff always saw him as a problem for them. When Dallas traded Diop this season, the Spurs didn't mind.
Diop came off the bench to guard Duncan in overtime of Game 7, and Duncan would miss 6 of 7. Diop was fresh, though, again, this was mostly about Duncan.
The plantar fasciitis hadn't returned. He was cramping.
He's three years older now, and the coaches aren't looking for anything close to 32.3 points a game. But they didn't expect it then, either.
Instead, either ignoring pain or freed by the lack of it, Duncan had found something. He scored against Dampier, and he gave the Spurs a chance, and he has to do it again.
If he's to see the second round again.
Buck Harvey
If Mark Cuban had taken a running start, and if he had summoned all of his Dancing-With-the-Stars zeal, he couldn't have hurt Tim Duncan's left knee.
That's how massive Duncan's knee brace looked on Friday. Cuban couldn't have dented it, nor could an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test.
Custom built, these braces cost about $1,800. When straps and hinges are aligned properly, the brace unloads pressure. For Duncan's left knee, it's the outer area that gets unloaded.
But Duncan wears this only in practice. He will take off the brace tonight, maybe opting for a sleeve, and then this first-round series will be decided.
If his knees aren't ready — if he can't move and take advantage of a Dallas weakness — he will lose in the first round for the first time in his career.
This is nothing new. For the Spurs of the past decade, it's always been about Duncan. It was a year ago in the playoff opener.
Then, he threw in a 3-pointer, sending the Spurs into a second overtime and the Suns toward their own crash. Duncan's shot defined how tight that series was, and what followed in the second overtime explains why the Spurs are in trouble now.
Manu Ginobili drove on Raja Bell for the game-winner.
That's the Ginobili who pushed the Spurs toward titles in 2005 and 2007, and he was there in 2006, too.
Most remember his foul on Dirk Nowitzki in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals; most forget he had 30 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6.
Given that, it's understandable the Mavericks wanted this first-round draw. They've been peaking, playing better defense, with Nowitzki in a groove, and the Spurs aren't the Spurs without Ginobili.
Still, the No. 3 seed could upset the No. 6. And the simplest way for that to happen would be for Duncan to take advantage of what was there in 2006 and is still there today.
He's been telling people he feels great, better than anytime since the All-Star break. The tendonosis in the right knee has subsided, which is not unusual; almost 90 percent of those afflicted with this can recover with conservative care.
The left knee, the one with the brace, has come around as well. Rest over the past week has meant a lot, and, if all of this sounds familiar, it should.
In 2006 he suffered from plantar fasciitis until, well, he played the Mavericks. Then Gregg Popovich made a radical move, putting Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic on the bench to go small.
A reason: Popovich wanted shooters surrounding Duncan to discourage double teams. Given time to work inside, Duncan averaged 32.3 points against Dallas.
In the first six games the Mavericks starting center was DeSagana Diop. But because Diop was so often in foul trouble, and because Duncan was so effective, Avery Johnson moved Erick Dampier into the starting lineup for Game 7.
Then Duncan scored a playoff career-high 41 points.
Whatever faults Diop had, the Spurs staff always saw him as a problem for them. When Dallas traded Diop this season, the Spurs didn't mind.
Diop came off the bench to guard Duncan in overtime of Game 7, and Duncan would miss 6 of 7. Diop was fresh, though, again, this was mostly about Duncan.
The plantar fasciitis hadn't returned. He was cramping.
He's three years older now, and the coaches aren't looking for anything close to 32.3 points a game. But they didn't expect it then, either.
Instead, either ignoring pain or freed by the lack of it, Duncan had found something. He scored against Dampier, and he gave the Spurs a chance, and he has to do it again.
If he's to see the second round again.