sa_butta
05-30-2005, 11:16 AM
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/cs-0505300211may30,1,42520.column?coll=cs-basketball-print&ctrack=1&cset=true
SAN ANTONIO -- It's Tim Duncan, stupid.
"You can say whatever you want, but I think the big difference is No. 21," Suns MVP guard Steve Nash said. "They are a terrific team, and he's one of the best players ever to play, as good a player as there is in the world, the best player in the game probably."
As in politics, sports has its entertaining figures, like Nash zipping around and shooting those high-arcing rainbows, Manu Ginobili making look-away passes after behind-the-back dribbling, Tony Parker darting past a defender in a desperate blink and Amare Stoudemire shaking the basket dunking.
But the difference in this much-anticipated, quickly disappointing Western Conference finals series that is now 3-0 Spurs is the biggest, most-talented guy, who also happens to be about as exciting as a free throw.
Fifteen straight good ones, as it turned out, for Duncan in the Spurs' Game 3 victory, as San Antonio continues to build what may well be the next NBA dynasty.
This is not winning with Avery Johnson and Mario Elie or Stephen Jackson. This is two exciting young talents in Parker and Ginobili to go along with the guy who, on overall talent at least, probably should be MVP every year, Duncan.
"We have a good young group because of people like Tony and Manu and Timmy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Timmy is just beginning to reach his prime years, so Nazr [Mohammed] is a young kid, Rasho [Nesterovic] is a young kid, Brent Barry still has good years ahead of him. So I think it's a group that if we can keep them together for a while, we can continue to compete at a high level."
It looks like after Monday night's Game 4, they could be headed to the NBA Finals for the third time in seven years, though in 1999 and 2003 it was with different players. It appears the core of this group will remain together, and it's anchored by the 29-year-old Duncan.
There's a tendency to overlook him because he prefers it that way. He speaks to reporters, but it's clearly uncomfortable for both sides. Duncan is polite, if not revealing. He never is rude or mean-spirited, just weary of the media. He only wants to play . . . and play in the big games, like he did in winning two Finals MVP awards with the Spurs.
Duncan has been the difference again. Sure, the Spurs have pushed the ball even more than the Suns, which has confused Phoenix. No one dared try that against them this season. Now the Suns, facing their last stand, will try to close the lane and invite the Spurs to make jump shots, similar to the Lakers' strategy last year after falling behind 2-0 in the conference semifinals against San Antonio. Of course, it helps to have Shaquille O'Neal when you're doing that.
Stopping Duncan will be more vital, if unlikely.
"We don't really have any vocal leaders like a lot of teams do," said the Spurs' Robert Horry, who has a chance for a sixth championship ring.
"We just have a lot of guys that lead by example. It's more of Tim's personality. We just have a lot of low-key guys who enjoy playing the game of basketball, going out, having fun and pumping up their teammates in certain subtle little ways."
So the Suns get the headlines, and the Spurs get the wins. And would the Suns have had the best record in the league if Duncan hadn't missed 16 games with ankle injuries. Would Nash have been MVP?
"I am going to do my part," Duncan said in one of his more daring statements after practice Sunday. "But we have a great group of guys here, guys that have been through it before. I don't know what I expected out of myself. I just wanted to play to whatever level I could, and help us however I could."
That included a franchise record 15 of 15 free throws in Game 3 for a player who long has been a poor free-throw shooter. He is 33 of 36 from the line in this series. He is averaging 30.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and three assists.
The Suns were asked about last year's Boston Red Sox and the Islanders of the NHL, who came back from 3-0 to win playoff series. There was talk of the Alamo here, where the famed Texas defenders made a valiant, historic stand.
"Any inspiration we can find right now we can use," Nash said.
And someone who can do something about Duncan.
"He's a very fun guy," Horry insisted. "He talks more in the locker room than I thought he would. I thought he was this quiet guy in the corner saying stuff every once in a while, but he's a very vocal guy. He's starting to get on my nerves."
The Suns' nerves too.
SAN ANTONIO -- It's Tim Duncan, stupid.
"You can say whatever you want, but I think the big difference is No. 21," Suns MVP guard Steve Nash said. "They are a terrific team, and he's one of the best players ever to play, as good a player as there is in the world, the best player in the game probably."
As in politics, sports has its entertaining figures, like Nash zipping around and shooting those high-arcing rainbows, Manu Ginobili making look-away passes after behind-the-back dribbling, Tony Parker darting past a defender in a desperate blink and Amare Stoudemire shaking the basket dunking.
But the difference in this much-anticipated, quickly disappointing Western Conference finals series that is now 3-0 Spurs is the biggest, most-talented guy, who also happens to be about as exciting as a free throw.
Fifteen straight good ones, as it turned out, for Duncan in the Spurs' Game 3 victory, as San Antonio continues to build what may well be the next NBA dynasty.
This is not winning with Avery Johnson and Mario Elie or Stephen Jackson. This is two exciting young talents in Parker and Ginobili to go along with the guy who, on overall talent at least, probably should be MVP every year, Duncan.
"We have a good young group because of people like Tony and Manu and Timmy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Timmy is just beginning to reach his prime years, so Nazr [Mohammed] is a young kid, Rasho [Nesterovic] is a young kid, Brent Barry still has good years ahead of him. So I think it's a group that if we can keep them together for a while, we can continue to compete at a high level."
It looks like after Monday night's Game 4, they could be headed to the NBA Finals for the third time in seven years, though in 1999 and 2003 it was with different players. It appears the core of this group will remain together, and it's anchored by the 29-year-old Duncan.
There's a tendency to overlook him because he prefers it that way. He speaks to reporters, but it's clearly uncomfortable for both sides. Duncan is polite, if not revealing. He never is rude or mean-spirited, just weary of the media. He only wants to play . . . and play in the big games, like he did in winning two Finals MVP awards with the Spurs.
Duncan has been the difference again. Sure, the Spurs have pushed the ball even more than the Suns, which has confused Phoenix. No one dared try that against them this season. Now the Suns, facing their last stand, will try to close the lane and invite the Spurs to make jump shots, similar to the Lakers' strategy last year after falling behind 2-0 in the conference semifinals against San Antonio. Of course, it helps to have Shaquille O'Neal when you're doing that.
Stopping Duncan will be more vital, if unlikely.
"We don't really have any vocal leaders like a lot of teams do," said the Spurs' Robert Horry, who has a chance for a sixth championship ring.
"We just have a lot of guys that lead by example. It's more of Tim's personality. We just have a lot of low-key guys who enjoy playing the game of basketball, going out, having fun and pumping up their teammates in certain subtle little ways."
So the Suns get the headlines, and the Spurs get the wins. And would the Suns have had the best record in the league if Duncan hadn't missed 16 games with ankle injuries. Would Nash have been MVP?
"I am going to do my part," Duncan said in one of his more daring statements after practice Sunday. "But we have a great group of guys here, guys that have been through it before. I don't know what I expected out of myself. I just wanted to play to whatever level I could, and help us however I could."
That included a franchise record 15 of 15 free throws in Game 3 for a player who long has been a poor free-throw shooter. He is 33 of 36 from the line in this series. He is averaging 30.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and three assists.
The Suns were asked about last year's Boston Red Sox and the Islanders of the NHL, who came back from 3-0 to win playoff series. There was talk of the Alamo here, where the famed Texas defenders made a valiant, historic stand.
"Any inspiration we can find right now we can use," Nash said.
And someone who can do something about Duncan.
"He's a very fun guy," Horry insisted. "He talks more in the locker room than I thought he would. I thought he was this quiet guy in the corner saying stuff every once in a while, but he's a very vocal guy. He's starting to get on my nerves."
The Suns' nerves too.