duncan228
03-17-2011, 01:02 PM
Duncan evolves with Spurs' game (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/03/17/spurs/)
Ian Thomsen
SI.com
How many big games does this make for Tim Duncan? On Friday his Spurs will visit Dallas to play the rival Mavericks. San Antonio's hold on the overall No. 1 seed isn't in danger -- its lead is 5 1/2 games over the Nos. 2 Celtics and Bulls, and 6 1/2 over the Mavs -- but the Spurs arrive with recent losses to the Bulls, Lakers and Heat by a combined 56 points. That trend must be stopped.
Duncan has been and continues to be the Spurs' stopper. He'll turn 35 next month, and his minutes (28.7), points (13.3) and other stats are at career-lows. But when the playoffs arrive those numbers will surely rise, practically out of habit.
"I've never talked to Timmy one time about changing his role -- we've had zero discussions about it," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "And his role really hasn't changed. He may not get as many touches as he used to, but he's still the foundation of our defense. He still creates the environment on the floor for us and is basically the center of the universe."
The personality of the Spurs' offense has grown more fluid and outgoing as they've pushed the pace up court and grown less effective on defense. Duncan doesn't worry about their new look or his reduced numbers, though he does acknowledge that his lessened role has helped keep him relevant defensively. "I don't use as much energy on the offensive end, my focus is more rebounding and defending now," he said. "It's all about success, and we've had success this season, obviously, playing this way. As long as we continue to [succeed], I enjoy it."
Duncan still shows defensively out to the three-point line, and he still leads the Spurs in rebounds (9.1) and blocks (1.9). "I think I'm playing pretty well defensively right now, and at this point in my career I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing," he said. He isn't quite as active as when the Spurs were known for playing the league's most intimidating defense. "He picks and chooses a little bit more now than he used to," said Popovich, which is another way of hinting at a threat for the postseason: Duncan should be able to raise his level when the games matter most.
"This is the best I've felt in a couple of years now," he said recently. "You'd expect for there to be a decline every year. But I had a good summer and I found a [knee] brace that works for me, and I feel good all the way around."
Keep reading... (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/03/17/spurs/)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/03/17/spurs/
Ian Thomsen
SI.com
How many big games does this make for Tim Duncan? On Friday his Spurs will visit Dallas to play the rival Mavericks. San Antonio's hold on the overall No. 1 seed isn't in danger -- its lead is 5 1/2 games over the Nos. 2 Celtics and Bulls, and 6 1/2 over the Mavs -- but the Spurs arrive with recent losses to the Bulls, Lakers and Heat by a combined 56 points. That trend must be stopped.
Duncan has been and continues to be the Spurs' stopper. He'll turn 35 next month, and his minutes (28.7), points (13.3) and other stats are at career-lows. But when the playoffs arrive those numbers will surely rise, practically out of habit.
"I've never talked to Timmy one time about changing his role -- we've had zero discussions about it," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "And his role really hasn't changed. He may not get as many touches as he used to, but he's still the foundation of our defense. He still creates the environment on the floor for us and is basically the center of the universe."
The personality of the Spurs' offense has grown more fluid and outgoing as they've pushed the pace up court and grown less effective on defense. Duncan doesn't worry about their new look or his reduced numbers, though he does acknowledge that his lessened role has helped keep him relevant defensively. "I don't use as much energy on the offensive end, my focus is more rebounding and defending now," he said. "It's all about success, and we've had success this season, obviously, playing this way. As long as we continue to [succeed], I enjoy it."
Duncan still shows defensively out to the three-point line, and he still leads the Spurs in rebounds (9.1) and blocks (1.9). "I think I'm playing pretty well defensively right now, and at this point in my career I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing," he said. He isn't quite as active as when the Spurs were known for playing the league's most intimidating defense. "He picks and chooses a little bit more now than he used to," said Popovich, which is another way of hinting at a threat for the postseason: Duncan should be able to raise his level when the games matter most.
"This is the best I've felt in a couple of years now," he said recently. "You'd expect for there to be a decline every year. But I had a good summer and I found a [knee] brace that works for me, and I feel good all the way around."
Keep reading... (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/03/17/spurs/)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/03/17/spurs/