duncan228
12-14-2009, 12:58 AM
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/2009-2010/12-13-0922.jpg
Spurs center Tim Duncan puts up a shot as Clippers center Chris Kaman moves in trying to defend during the first half of Sunday night's game. Although he didn't play in the fourth quarter, Duncan finished with 21 points.
Popovich vows to limit Duncan's workload (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Popovich_vows_to_limit_Duncans_workload.html)
Jeff McDonald
LOS ANGELES — A quarter of the way through the season, Tim Duncan leads the Spurs in scoring, rebounding and blocks.
But there is one statistical category involving Duncan that coach Gregg Popovich is monitoring more than others — minutes played.
Duncan entered Sunday night's game against the Clippers at the Staples Center averaging 32.2 minutes per game, second on the team behind Richard Jefferson. That number marks the upper limit of playing time Popovich expects to give his 33-year-old All-Star forward on a nightly basis.
“We always try to keep him around 32,” Popovich said before the game. “That's the way it has to be. If we want him for the playoffs, I can't play him 38, 39 minutes a game. It won't work.”
The concept of limiting Duncan's workload is not a new one.
Since turning 30 before the start of the 2006-07 season, Duncan's minutes have declined slightly each year. Duncan averaged 33.6 last season, the end of which saw him wracked with tendonosis in his knees.
So far this campaign, Duncan has used his allotment of minutes wisely, averaging 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, two blocks and 3.6 assists per game heading into Sunday.
“He's probably been our most consistent player from the beginning of the year to this point,” Popovich said. “We're slowly getting everybody to join him.”
Still, Popovich vows to fight the temptation to overplay Duncan.
“He's been good, but I'll make sure he doesn't get out of whack, minutes-wise,” Popovich said.
LeBron Jr.: Before the game, Popovich had a bit of fun with a reporter who had been sent to pen a story on second-year guard George Hill.
After the reporter asked a third question about Hill, Popovich playfully began busting his chops.
“Are you related to him?” Popovich joked. “He's not that good. He's a skinny little kid, second year in the league, and it's like he's LeBron or something.”
Popovich did clarify his preseason label of Hill as “my favorite player.”
“I just like him personally better than the other players,” Popovich said. “He laughs at my jokes. Timmy doesn't laugh at them anymore. He's heard them all.”
Finley stays home: As expected, injured guard Michael Finley did not make the three-game road trip, staying behind to nurse a sprained left ankle. He is not expected back until the end of the month at the earliest.
Can you hear me now?: Before leaving the game, Duncan took a shot in the ear from teammate Matt Bonner as the pair fought for the same rebound in the third quarter.
Bonner didn’t sound too apologetic afterward.
“Luckily, he doesn’t shoot with his ear,” Bonner said.
Spurs center Tim Duncan puts up a shot as Clippers center Chris Kaman moves in trying to defend during the first half of Sunday night's game. Although he didn't play in the fourth quarter, Duncan finished with 21 points.
Popovich vows to limit Duncan's workload (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Popovich_vows_to_limit_Duncans_workload.html)
Jeff McDonald
LOS ANGELES — A quarter of the way through the season, Tim Duncan leads the Spurs in scoring, rebounding and blocks.
But there is one statistical category involving Duncan that coach Gregg Popovich is monitoring more than others — minutes played.
Duncan entered Sunday night's game against the Clippers at the Staples Center averaging 32.2 minutes per game, second on the team behind Richard Jefferson. That number marks the upper limit of playing time Popovich expects to give his 33-year-old All-Star forward on a nightly basis.
“We always try to keep him around 32,” Popovich said before the game. “That's the way it has to be. If we want him for the playoffs, I can't play him 38, 39 minutes a game. It won't work.”
The concept of limiting Duncan's workload is not a new one.
Since turning 30 before the start of the 2006-07 season, Duncan's minutes have declined slightly each year. Duncan averaged 33.6 last season, the end of which saw him wracked with tendonosis in his knees.
So far this campaign, Duncan has used his allotment of minutes wisely, averaging 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, two blocks and 3.6 assists per game heading into Sunday.
“He's probably been our most consistent player from the beginning of the year to this point,” Popovich said. “We're slowly getting everybody to join him.”
Still, Popovich vows to fight the temptation to overplay Duncan.
“He's been good, but I'll make sure he doesn't get out of whack, minutes-wise,” Popovich said.
LeBron Jr.: Before the game, Popovich had a bit of fun with a reporter who had been sent to pen a story on second-year guard George Hill.
After the reporter asked a third question about Hill, Popovich playfully began busting his chops.
“Are you related to him?” Popovich joked. “He's not that good. He's a skinny little kid, second year in the league, and it's like he's LeBron or something.”
Popovich did clarify his preseason label of Hill as “my favorite player.”
“I just like him personally better than the other players,” Popovich said. “He laughs at my jokes. Timmy doesn't laugh at them anymore. He's heard them all.”
Finley stays home: As expected, injured guard Michael Finley did not make the three-game road trip, staying behind to nurse a sprained left ankle. He is not expected back until the end of the month at the earliest.
Can you hear me now?: Before leaving the game, Duncan took a shot in the ear from teammate Matt Bonner as the pair fought for the same rebound in the third quarter.
Bonner didn’t sound too apologetic afterward.
“Luckily, he doesn’t shoot with his ear,” Bonner said.