Hollinger: NBA Finals: Best single-game performances: No. 6 Tim Duncan

[duncan228]

NBA Finals: Best single-game performances: No. 6 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=BestFinalsGame-Individual-6)
By John Hollinger
ESPN.com

6. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 Finals, Game 1

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/lead/lead550.jpg
Tim Duncan dominated the paint in the 2003 Finals which was no small feat against the Nets' defense.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/temp%20duncan%202/gm103.jpg
Game Score: 43.3
Result: Spurs 101, Nets 89
Series: Spurs win in 6

This is perfect: The top-rated Duncan game is one that absolutely nobody remembers. However, Duncan's Game 1 annihilation of the Nets was not only his personal-best Finals performance, but the ridiculous 43.3 is the top Game Score for any Finals game of the post-merger era -- and he did it against an elite defensive team.

It would be hard to find a game that greater exemplifies Duncan's understated excellence. The 2003 Finals were low on sex appeal because San Antonio and New Jersey both were small-market teams, but it was a gritty series that required Duncan's best.

In the opener, he more than delivered.

Going up against two of the better defensive centers of the decade in Jason Collins and Dikembe Mutombo, Duncan ripped off 32 points, 20 rebounds, seven blocks, six assists and three steals. He even shot 10-for-14 from the free throw line and he had only one turnover.

Duncan broke open a tie game at the half by scoring 24 of his 32 points after the break, and was only two steals away from the only "five-by-five" in Finals history.

*********************

The rest of the top-ten.

1. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1997 Finals, Game 5
2. Magic Johnson, Lakers: 1980 Finals, Game 6
3. James Worthy, Lakers: 1988 Finals, Game 7
4. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1998 Finals, Game 6
5. Karl Malone, Jazz: 1998 Finals, Game 5
7. Isiah Thomas, Pistons: 1988 Finals, Game 6
8. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1991 Finals, Game 2
9. Dwyane Wade, Heat: 2006 Finals, Game 3
10. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1992 Finals, Game 1

*********************

Hollinger's explanation of his method for the list.

Best Finals performances: The method (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=BestFinalsGame-Individual-intro)

[Louae]

He had two games from the Nets series but left off the game 6 performance. How can you possibly do that?

[boutons_deux]

His Game6 wasn't too shabby, either.

[duncan228]

Hollinger's list is 50, the rest are 'Insider'. If someone could check maybe Duncan's game 6 is there.

Thanks. :)

[jaffies]

I figured one of Shaq's games would be in the top 10.

[sananspursfan21]

michael jordans performance at #1? :wow

[DynastyBuilder]

21. Manu Ginobili, Spurs: 2005 Finals, Game 2

Ginobili's Game Score isn't overwhelming, but on a per-minute, opponent-adjusted basis this one is an all-timer -- only two other efforts in the post-merger era rate higher than his 45.3 per 40 minutes. (Those two, if you're curious, are Michael Jordan's Game 1 against Portland in 1992, and MJ's Game 2 against the Lakers in 1991.)
32. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 1999 Finals, Game 1
35. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 Finals, Game 5

Yes, Game 5 … not Game 6. Two of Duncan's games from New Jersey crack the list, but surprisingly, his Game 6 didn't. While he finished two blocks shy of a quadruple that night, his performance in Game 5 was both more effective (in terms of Game Score) and more important.
45. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2007 Finals, Game 1

[duncan228]

21. Manu Ginobili, Spurs: 2005 Finals, Game 2
32. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 1999 Finals, Game 1
35. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 Finals, Game 5
45. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2007 Finals, Game 1

Thanks! :toast

[FromWayDowntown]

He had two games from the Nets series but left off the game 6 performance. How can you possibly do that?

I can understand it, mostly because stat guys like Hollinger are obsessed with efficiency, and Duncan's Game 6 wasn't a masterpiece of efficiency in the way that Game 1 was.

Game 6 is remembered for the near-quad, but Duncan "only" had 21 points in Game 6 and shot under 50% in doing that. He also turned the ball over 4 times and only got to the line 5 times.

By comparison, in Game 1, Timmy shot better than 60% from the field, got to the line 14 times, and scored 32 points while equaling his rebounding total from Game 6. But unlike Game 6, Timmy also turned it over only 1 time and had 3 steals to go along with a productive number of assists (6) and a substantial number of blocks (7).

Taken together, the near quad is probably more memorable but probably not a more productive Game. And that's saying a lot.

[Spurs Brazil]

2003 was TD best year. He had a bunch of FANTASTIC games

[Thompson]

For a second I thought it said he was 10-14 3 pointers made/attempted. :lol

Is there any easy way to make the columns line up correctly when you try to post box scores? I've tried spacing them out right manually in the past, but it never seems to work.

[duncan228]

Is there any easy way to make the columns line up correctly when you try to post box scores? I've tried spacing them out right manually in the past, but it never seems to work.

I just edited the post, it's fine now.

There is a way, I think it's the 'code' function, but I can't get it to work either. :lol

[baseline bum]

I'll take Magic's game 6 over Jordan's flu game any day. Tim's game 1 in 03 was crazy; it looked like he was playing against his little brother or something, even though he was going against athletic pre-surgery KMart and Mutombo.

[Agloco]

The rest of the top-ten.

1. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1997 Finals, Game 5
2. Magic Johnson, Lakers: 1980 Finals, Game 6
3. James Worthy, Lakers: 1988 Finals, Game 7
4. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1998 Finals, Game 6
5. Karl Malone, Jazz: 1998 Finals, Game 5
7. Isiah Thomas, Pistons: 1988 Finals, Game 6
8. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1991 Finals, Game 2
9. Dwyane Wade, Heat: 2006 Finals, Game 3
10. Michael Jordan, Bulls: 1992 Finals, Game 1



Imagine that, the GOAT appears 4 times. I wonder how many times hes in the Top 20 or Top 50?

[baseline bum]

Imagine that, the GOAT appears 4 times. I wonder how many times hes in the Top 20 or Top 50?

Fucking Jordan-sucking media. Kobe's resume is right there with his.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406100DET.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200106060LAL.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200806170BOS.html

[Cane]

Always great to see Duncan get respect from the media, thanks to the OP for sharing! :toast



Fucking Jordan-sucking media. Kobe's resume is right there with his.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406100DET.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200106060LAL.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200806170BOS.html

:lol

[jdev82]

i was so pissed when i saw that number two was magic and not TDs game 6. i guess if youre a fucking idiot and go by a bullshit stat like gamescore that depends on shooting percentage, a 9/20 game with 20 boards 10 assists and 8 blocks isnt as good as an 11/17 game with lesser stats in a game that meant less, even tho in game 6 tim defended k mart and he went 3/23 and im not kidding

[Agloco]

Fucking Jordan-sucking media. Kobe's resume is right there with his.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406100DET.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200106060LAL.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200806170BOS.html

:lol

[Agloco]

i was so pissed when i saw that number two was magic and not TDs game 6. i guess if youre a fucking idiot and go by a bullshit stat like gamescore that depends on shooting percentage, a 9/20 game with 20 boards 10 assists and 8 blocks isnt as good as an 11/17 game with lesser stats in a game that meant less, even tho in game 6 tim defended k mart and he went 3/23 and im not kidding

I'm not sure what K-Mart shot offhand, but I vividly remember him bricking every shot he put up in the fourth quarter. He shot them out of the game by himself.

[E-RockWill]

So, this Duncan guy is good, eh?!

[FromWayDowntown]

i'm not sure what k-mart shot offhand, but i vividly remember him bricking every shot he put up in the fourth quarter. He shot them out of the game by himself.

3-23.

[TDMVPDPOY]

im surprise no ai or shaq on the top10

[Johnny RIngo]

Malone shouldn't have been on the list imo. Should have had a Larry Bird game in his place.

[BillMc]

21. Manu Ginobili, Spurs: 2005 Finals, Game 2

32. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 1999 Finals, Game 1
35. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 Finals, Game 5

45. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2007 Finals, Game 1

What were Manu's numbers on that game?

Also, while the points are valid about efficiency in Tim's 2003 Game 6, still a near quadruple double in the clincher? (I.E. talking home the title.) Hard to believe it can't make the top 50.

Seems to be a shortage of old timers on the list. No Russell, West, Chamberlain, Mikan, etc in the top ten.

Still an interesting read from Hollinger...:toast

[Mel_13]

What were Manu's numbers on that game?

Also, while the points are valid about efficiency in Tim's 2003 Game 6, still a near quadruple double in the clincher? (I.E. talking home the title.) Hard to believe it can't make the top 50.

Seems to be a shortage of old timers on the list. No Russell, West, Chamberlain, Mikan, etc in the top ten.

Still an interesting read from Hollinger...:toast

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200506120SAS.html

List is since the merger.

[BillMc]

im surprise no ai or shaq on the top10

Yeah, Shaq was scary good in the Finals during their three-peat. (As Kobe lovers seem to forget....)

[BillMc]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200506120SAS.html

List is since the merger.

Thanks! :toast Yep, those are some seriously efficient numbers from Manu.

[Agloco]

I'm not sure what K-Mart shot offhand, but I vividly remember him bricking every shot he put up in the fourth quarter. He shot them out of the game by himself.


3-23.

:lol

That's some strong work from K-Mart......Thanks SA second title. :toast

[Trimble87]

I have insider, I'll post all the spurs players explanations/numbers tonight. Also any requests for other players.

21. Manu Ginobili, Spurs: 2005 Finals, Game 2

32min, 6-8fgm-a, 11-13ftm-a, 3reb, 7ast, 3stl, 3to, 27pts.

Game Score: 33.1
Result: Spurs 97, Pistons 76
Series: Spurs win in 7



http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0608/nba_g_ginobili_203.jpg


This one is probably the most underrated Finals performance in history. Ginobili played only 32 minutes but shredded one of the greatest defensive teams of all time while he was on the court. He finished with 27 points and seven assists while missing only two shots; even his at-the-time erratic 3-point shot found the net on four of his five attempts, and he added three steals at the defensive end in the Spurs' 97-76 rout.
Ginobili's Game Score isn't overwhelming, but on a per-minute, opponent-adjusted basis this one is an all-timer -- only two other efforts in the post-merger era rate higher than his 45.3 per 40 minutes. (Those two, if you're curious, are Michael Jordan's Game 1 against Portland in 1992, and MJ's Game 2 against the Lakers in 1991.)
And while the outcome of the individual game didn't swing on Ginobili's performance, the same can't be said of the series -- San Antonio prevailed in seven games largely because of Ginobili's efforts as Tim Duncan's prime sidekick.


32. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 1999 Finals, Game 1

44min, 13-21fgm-a, 7-10 ftm-a, 16reb, 2ast, 2stl, 2blk, 1to, 33pts

Game Score: 34.0
Result: Spurs 89, Knicks 77
Series: Spurs win in 5




http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0607/nba_g_timduncan1_203.jpg


Spurs-Knicks was one of the least sexy series of all time, further diminished by the lockout that robbed the league of nearly half its season. But Duncan owned the Spurs' 89-77 win in the opener. He dominated New York with 33 points and 16 rebounds -- those coming in a series in which the average score was in the low 80s -- to set the tone for the Spurs' five-game series win.
The performance also set the tone for Duncan in Game 1s. Against New Jersey in 2003 he produced the highest-rated Finals game since the merger, and his Game 1 against Cleveland in 2007 also cracks the list … with that trio of series openers providing his three highest-rated Finals games.


35. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 Finals, Game 5

46min, 10-18fgm-a, 9-10ftm-a, 17reb, 4ast, 1stl, 4blk, 6to, 29pts

Game Score: 25.7
Result: Spurs 93, Nets 83
Series: Spurs win in 6



http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0607/nba_g_duncan_203.jpg


Yes, Game 5 … not Game 6. Two of Duncan's games from New Jersey crack the list, but surprisingly, his Game 6 didn't. While he finished two blocks shy of a quadruple that night, his performance in Game 5 was both more effective (in terms of Game Score) and more important.
While it didn't have the drama of a closeout game at home to clinch the title, none of that happens without Duncan's Game 5. The Spurs were playing on the road in a series tied 2-2, and while Duncan didn't come anywhere near a quad, his offensive performance -- 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting and a rare 9-of-10 from the line -- and his usual 17 boards allowed the Spurs to outlast New Jersey in a typically gritty defensive battle.


45. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2007 Finals, Game 1

39min, 10-17fgm-a, 4-5ftm-a, 13reb, 1ast, 2stl, 5blk, 2to, 24pts

Game Score: 30.7
Result: Spurs 85, Cavaliers 76
Series: Spurs win in 4



http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0605/nba_g_rhljtd_203.jpg


Duncan's raw numbers don't look that impressive from this one, but he played only 39 minutes in the slowest-paced game mentioned on this list (the final score was 85-76). Factor that in and this one compares to his two other Game 1 masterpieces, with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 13 rebounds, five blocked shots and one accidental in-flight removal of LeBron James' headband.
The only reason it can't rate higher is because of the overmatched opponent -- the Spurs had essentially won the title already by winning the Western Conference and these Finals were a mere formality, as San Antonio proved by winning in four.

[duncan228]

Appreciate it Trimble87. :tu

[ChuckD]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200506120SAS.html

List is since the merger.

Not to mention that blocks weren't an NBA stat back then, and are a part of his formula. They'd be playing with one stat tied behind their backs.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

How many times did Kobe crack the list?...........Oh