duncan228
01-17-2010, 11:52 PM
Duncan supports sensible rest plan (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Duncan_supports_sensible_rest_plan.html)
Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS — The plan was in place before the Spurs even boarded their charter flight late last Tuesday night. Tim Duncan would need to pack two David Stern-approved outfits in order to sit behind the bench in half of the four games on the upcoming road trip.
As part of a new rest and recovery schedule meant to keep his star fresh for longer periods of the season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich aimed to sideline Duncan on the second night of two back-to-backs — Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Saturday in Memphis.
Then, the Spurs lost Friday in Charlotte, Antonio McDyess came down with neck spasms, and Duncan arrived in Memphis feeling spry for a 33-year-old. New plan.
“I felt good enough to play,” said Duncan, who had 23 points and eight rebounds in the 92-86 loss to the Grizzlies. “I wanted to be on the court to help these guys.”
When it comes to Popovich's grand plan to protect his health, Duncan doesn't foresee using his veto too often this season. He supports his coach's spoken commitment to giving him more rest than ever before.
Neither man wants a repeat of last season, when Duncan's production dipped precipitously after the All-Star break as sore knees wrecked his second half.
“I absolutely understand,” said Duncan, who has been the Spurs' most consistent player, leading them in scoring, rebounding and blocks. “It's a legitimate move. It's not something I'll fight very strongly, because it makes sense.”
Popovich's plan does not call for Duncan to take an automatic “Did Not Play” on the second night of back-to-backs, but the coach says the star forward will sit “more often than not” in that situation.
Technically, this afternoon's MLK Day matinee at New Orleans doesn't qualify, but it does cap a brutal stretch of five games in 61/2 days.
With the Spurs looking to snap a two-game losing streak and facing a Hornets team playing its best basketball of the season, don't expect to see Duncan sporting a jacket today, either.
“We've got a lot of guys dealing with some small injuries that are not 100 percent,” Duncan said. “If I feel good enough to play, I don't feel like I need to be sitting out.”
The big, black RoboCop brace Duncan straps to his left knee every night provides Popovich ample incentive to shoehorn him back into a sport coat eventually.
Duncan started strong last season, too, averaging 20.8 points before the All-Star break, before tendonosis began to rob his knees of their lift. He averaged 16.4 points after the break, shooting 46 percent.
Still, Popovich has a tightrope to walk between keeping his best player rested and keeping him in rhythm. After missing a game, Duncan — like most creatures of habit — often struggles to regain his groove.
Only twice this month has Duncan shot below 50 percent in a game. Both came after an extended period of rest.
After sitting at Oklahoma City, Duncan had his roughest outing of the season at Charlotte, going 4 of 12 for 10 points in the Spurs' 92-76 loss.
Earlier this month at Toronto, Popovich took the novel approach of sitting Duncan for the entire first quarter. Duncan finished 8 of 22 with 21 points in the final three frames and never quite got dialed in.
Going forward, Popovich said, that half-measure (or quarter-measure) is off the table.
“I think we're more geared to all or none,” Popovich said. “We're not going to piecemeal it. Either play or don't play.”
Given a choice, Duncan always prefers the former.
He concedes the balancing act between keeping him healthy and keeping him humming can be a delicate one. There's no question where Popovich falls.
“You'd always rather a guy be fresh,” Popovich said. “So we'll sit him from time to time, to put some insurance in the bank.”
At least that's the plan.
Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS — The plan was in place before the Spurs even boarded their charter flight late last Tuesday night. Tim Duncan would need to pack two David Stern-approved outfits in order to sit behind the bench in half of the four games on the upcoming road trip.
As part of a new rest and recovery schedule meant to keep his star fresh for longer periods of the season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich aimed to sideline Duncan on the second night of two back-to-backs — Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Saturday in Memphis.
Then, the Spurs lost Friday in Charlotte, Antonio McDyess came down with neck spasms, and Duncan arrived in Memphis feeling spry for a 33-year-old. New plan.
“I felt good enough to play,” said Duncan, who had 23 points and eight rebounds in the 92-86 loss to the Grizzlies. “I wanted to be on the court to help these guys.”
When it comes to Popovich's grand plan to protect his health, Duncan doesn't foresee using his veto too often this season. He supports his coach's spoken commitment to giving him more rest than ever before.
Neither man wants a repeat of last season, when Duncan's production dipped precipitously after the All-Star break as sore knees wrecked his second half.
“I absolutely understand,” said Duncan, who has been the Spurs' most consistent player, leading them in scoring, rebounding and blocks. “It's a legitimate move. It's not something I'll fight very strongly, because it makes sense.”
Popovich's plan does not call for Duncan to take an automatic “Did Not Play” on the second night of back-to-backs, but the coach says the star forward will sit “more often than not” in that situation.
Technically, this afternoon's MLK Day matinee at New Orleans doesn't qualify, but it does cap a brutal stretch of five games in 61/2 days.
With the Spurs looking to snap a two-game losing streak and facing a Hornets team playing its best basketball of the season, don't expect to see Duncan sporting a jacket today, either.
“We've got a lot of guys dealing with some small injuries that are not 100 percent,” Duncan said. “If I feel good enough to play, I don't feel like I need to be sitting out.”
The big, black RoboCop brace Duncan straps to his left knee every night provides Popovich ample incentive to shoehorn him back into a sport coat eventually.
Duncan started strong last season, too, averaging 20.8 points before the All-Star break, before tendonosis began to rob his knees of their lift. He averaged 16.4 points after the break, shooting 46 percent.
Still, Popovich has a tightrope to walk between keeping his best player rested and keeping him in rhythm. After missing a game, Duncan — like most creatures of habit — often struggles to regain his groove.
Only twice this month has Duncan shot below 50 percent in a game. Both came after an extended period of rest.
After sitting at Oklahoma City, Duncan had his roughest outing of the season at Charlotte, going 4 of 12 for 10 points in the Spurs' 92-76 loss.
Earlier this month at Toronto, Popovich took the novel approach of sitting Duncan for the entire first quarter. Duncan finished 8 of 22 with 21 points in the final three frames and never quite got dialed in.
Going forward, Popovich said, that half-measure (or quarter-measure) is off the table.
“I think we're more geared to all or none,” Popovich said. “We're not going to piecemeal it. Either play or don't play.”
Given a choice, Duncan always prefers the former.
He concedes the balancing act between keeping him healthy and keeping him humming can be a delicate one. There's no question where Popovich falls.
“You'd always rather a guy be fresh,” Popovich said. “So we'll sit him from time to time, to put some insurance in the bank.”
At least that's the plan.