Shaq Uncut: Timmy mentioned frequently

[tmtcsc]

For those of you interested:

I read Shaq's book (and no, its not a picture book - Thanks Admiral) "Uncut" and in it, he mentions Timmy several times in a very respectful and admiring way. He said that Tim was a cool cat that couldn't be rattled. He'd talk mess to him and try to get in his head but Tim would never bite.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book:

The Spurs won because of Tim Duncan, a guy I could never break. I could talk trash to Patrick Ewing, get in David Robinson’s face, get a rise out of Alonzo Mourning, but when I went at Tim he’d look at me like he was bored and then say, “Hey, Shaq, watch this shot right here off the glass.”

You gotta love that. I used to say Duncan and I were like two mafia bosses. I was the loud East Coast boss, taking names, knocking heads. Tim was the laid-back, one-hundred-acre farm don. Nobody knows what he does, he’s the chill mafia guy, but we both know how to carry out a hit. I was jealous of guys like Duncan and Kevin Garnett, who got to do stuff like face up and shimmy.

On Tim's health:

"I ran into Gregg Popovich in the bathroom in the spring of the 2010–11 season, and I asked how Timmy was doing, and Pop said, “His knee is bone on bone.”

Shaq on the WCF games against Spurs in 2001:

"We took Game 1. In Game 2 they were up 15 in the third quarter and Duncan was terrific, and I was like, Damn, we can’t let this happen. Kobe was thinking the same thing, and he just took over the game. He went nuts. He was spectacular and the Spurs had no answer. He brought us all the way back, and after we won I said, “He’s my idol.” And I wasn’t even kidding. We went on to sweep the Spurs—did you hear that? We swept the Spurs!"


Shaq's honest opinion of Pop and Tim through the years:

"Even though I thought a lot of Pop and Duncan, I said some crap about the Spurs through the years. But the truth is, I didn’t mean it. Those two guys knew that. They understood how I rolled. But you know at some point Pop is going to get me back. So they foul the shit out of me in the ’08 playoffs and I’m a little irritated. We play them in the season opener the following year, and the first time I touch the ball—I’m talking like five seconds into the game—they hack me. I look over at their bench like, Are you kidding me? and there’s Pop, laughing his ass off, giving me the two thumbs-up. You gotta love a guy who has a sense of humor like that. Pop understood that even though I respected him I had to market myself and sometimes that meant saying stuff to amp up the game. It was never personal. So he played along."

Thought it would be Spurs vs Celtics last year:

"They brought me in to bang Dwight Howard, and he was gone. They wanted me to rebound against the Lakers. They were gone, too. I thought it would be us and the Spurs, me and Tim Duncan, two guys with four rings going at it—but they were gone, too. I did everything I could to get back on the court. I have the holes in the back of my heel to prove it."

Much love for Tim:

"I think I’ve made it pretty clear how I feel about Tim Duncan. One of the best ever. The Spurs have changed their offense to protect Timmy a little. He’s always been a team player, so you’ll never hear him complain."

[Ice009]

That started out great, but that last sentence is a REAL DOWNER. wow.

[Nathan89]

On Tim's health:

"I ran into Gregg Popovich in the bathroom in the spring of the 2010–11 season, and I asked how Timmy was doing, and Pop said, “His knee is bone on bone.”

3oXGbVqfFMc

[lefty]

You have to be pretty stupid to let Shaq get in your head

[tim_duncan_fan]

It's gonna be really fucking sad and just plain weird not having Tim in a year or two.

Tim, Shaq and Kobe are all past prime/retired.

It makes me feel old and sick.

[ALVAREZ6]

It's gonna be really fucking sad and just plain weird not having Tim in a year or two.

Tim, Shaq and Kobe are all past prime/retired.

It makes me feel old and sick.

Very weird feeling...even Manu's retirement coming soon. :( Just because of my age it's hard not associating the NBA as Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Iverson, etc. and a bunch of other players. These guys were the faces of the league for a long time, and it's just crazy thinking that the draft class of 2003 (Lebron, Bosh, Wade, Melo) have almost been in the league for a decade.

[Ditty]

Don't worry Spurs will tank next season get the next young tired old shit bag Kobe Bryant-Shabazz Muhammad, and have $30 million of Salary Cap room possibly, and go after Blake Griffin in the summer of 2013.:hungry:

[DesignatedT]

Shabazz is a bad mfer

[Danny.Zhu]

Bone on Bone......

[Ditty]

Shabazz is a bad mfer

Hell yeah dude will be a top 5 player in this league in a few years, see him as a better shooting Dwayne Wade. I would be willing to let the Spurs suck next season in order for a chance to get him, if not I heard there's a few other damn good players also, but defintley Shabazz is way over all of them.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Very weird feeling...even Manu's retirement coming soon. :( Just because of my age it's hard not associating the NBA as Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Iverson, etc. and a bunch of other players. These guys were the faces of the league for a long time, and it's just crazy thinking that the draft class of 2003 (Lebron, Bosh, Wade, Melo) have almost been in the league for a decade.

I feel the same way.

And I really don't like this generation of players. Lebron, Melo, Wade, Amare, Paul, DWill...I feel nothing for them.

I love Tim, Shaq and Kobe's games and the mostly unspoken rivalry. It'll be a legend. These guys won't be forgotten.

The prime guys today will have none of that.

I like Rose's and Durant's games, but I don't see true hall of fame greatness in any of the prime guys this generation. Rose and Durant may step into Kobe/Shaq and Duncan-like roles, but it's not a given. They need to start writing their legacies if they really want to leave them.

Lol I'm 23 and I know this reads like some grumpy old fart post.

[Fireball]

Thats why I never had a problem with Shaqs attitude ... he never said shit about my favorite player. Thanx for the new signature ...

[stephen jackson]

Don't worry Spurs will tank next season get the next young tired old shit bag Kobe Bryant-Shabazz Muhammad, and have $30 million of Salary Cap room possibly, and go after Blake Griffin in the summer of 2013.:hungry:
:hat

[spurs4real]

Bone on Bone......

Yes I'm surprised no one has really commented on that. That's serious. Bone on one, and that was referring to the 2010-2011 season last year. And the legend that is Tim Duncan only grows.

[spurs1990]

Why the hype for Shebazz all of a sudden?

[Obstructed_View]

I remember Shaq getting in David Robinson's face once. David pushed him away much the same way he pushed Kevin Garnett.

[Ginobilly]

Damn! I didn't know Timmy was bone on bone already? With Kobe you hear about it every 10 seconds when the Lakers are playing, but Timmy is so humble he has kept it quiet from the fans and media for a long time. Could somebody please refer Timmy to that Nazi doctor that fixed the popes and kobe's knee.:depressed

[Giuseppe]

Not as funny as when you all found out Kobe was bone on bone.

[Ginobilly]

Not as funny as when you all found out Kobe was bone on bone.

Timmy and Kobe have been some my of favorite players for the past ten years. It sucks to see them decline physically because the NBA will not be the same without these two guys. Timmy and Kobe have been the face of the NBA since 99 and have 9 titles between them.:depressed

[Bruno]

Given his knees and the craziness of this year schedule, Pop should consider benching Duncan to limit his minutes. With Spurs current roster, the best way to do it would be to start Blair with Splitter and have Bonner and Duncan coming from the bench.

[Fireball]

Does not matter if you start him or if Timmy is coming from the bench. But something around 26-28 minutes should be all he plays ...

[Summers]

Thanks for posting the quotes! Not good to hear about his knee.

[Seventyniner]

Given his knees and the craziness of this year schedule, Pop should consider benching Duncan to limit his minutes. With Spurs current roster, the best way to do it would be to start Blair with Splitter and have Bonner and Duncan coming from the bench.

Duncan coming off the bench just feels wrong. He would never complain, though.

I'd prefer him starting, but coming out at the 6:00 mark of the 1st quarter and just playing situational minutes from there. 6 minutes in each quarter adds up to 24 per game, not excessive by any means. First 6 of the 1st and 3rd quarters, last 6 of the 2nd and 4th (cut the 4th quarter minutes if it's a blowout). Also sitting him for the second game of a B2B or B2B2B will help.

[Giuseppe]

You can't bring him off the bench. It's not done with a player of his heritage. He'd be made a fool of & he'd lose all referee protocol.

[lefty]

Duncan is done


Just retire already, you tired old shit bag

[therealtruth]

Didn't Kobe get an experimental knee procedure to regrow the cartilage? Maybe TD should consider it.

[gospursgojas]

Bone on bone

-cia pop

[Seventyniner]

"Bone on bone" might be the worst 3-word Spurs-related phrase I've heard since "players locked out".

[Killakobe81]

A couple of things:

1. bittersweet to hear about duncan's knee ... I think it's geat news to hear it's not that he is "tired" his knee just won't let him pull out too many vinatage Duncan games. However the last great run I expected him to have is probably not gonna happen ...:depressed

2. Shaq has ALWAYS shown duncan respect. and he is right without Kobe you guys end that dynasty early ... :toast

3. and like Shaq i love Pop, the hate on him here is crazy talk. When you guys have some veteran hack coaching you will realize what a smarrt ass, kick ass coach you have ...and besides Duncan was the biggest reason yall have 4 titles ...:nope

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Thanks tmt. :tu :)


That started out great, but that last sentence is a REAL DOWNER. wow.

Mmmmm-hmmm.


I feel the same way.

And I really don't like this generation of players. Lebron, Melo, Wade, Amare, Paul, DWill...I feel nothing for them.

I love Tim, Shaq and Kobe's games and the mostly unspoken rivalry. It'll be a legend. These guys won't be forgotten.

The prime guys today will have none of that.

I like Rose's and Durant's games, but I don't see true hall of fame greatness in any of the prime guys this generation. Rose and Durant may step into Kobe/Shaq and Duncan-like roles, but it's not a given. They need to start writing their legacies if they really want to leave them.

Lol I'm 23 and I know this reads like some grumpy old fart post.

:lol


Given his knees and the craziness of this year schedule, Pop should consider benching Duncan to limit his minutes. With Spurs current roster, the best way to do it would be to start Blair with Splitter and have Bonner and Duncan coming from the bench.

I think a better way to go would be to totally rest Tim (and Manu) whenever they feel they need a rest, and certainly on many b2bs. NBA is becoming a league where depth and roster management matters.

[Trainwreck2100]

That's that CIA pop for you

[crc21209]

Pretty sad to read about the "bone on bone" comment. But that goes to show you what a competitor TD is....:tu

[TD 21]

Given his knees and the craziness of this year schedule, Pop should consider benching Duncan to limit his minutes. With Spurs current roster, the best way to do it would be to start Blair with Splitter and have Bonner and Duncan coming from the bench.

Sounds great, until you realize that Pop would never play two bigs together for significant minutes that can't shoot. So unless at least one of them has developed at least a semi-reliable mid range jumper, that isn't happening.

Even if he were willing to do that, if they don't trade Blair and alter the makeup of their big rotation and instead just settle for signing McRoberts, or someone of that ilk, then they won't have enough talent upfront to have the luxury of doing that. All the more reason to aggressively pursue Jefferson, who would give them the luxury of flat out sitting out Duncan some games.

[Sixth Street]

Bump

[Chinook]

Thank goodness for the Medium Three. They've allowed Duncan to remain elite so long. But that brace is the real MVP.

[hsxvvd]

Shabazz is a bad mfer

:lol