Kori Ellis
06-21-2005, 01:02 AM
Buck Harvey: Saved again, Duncan leans on an old power
Web Posted: 06/21/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA062105.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2ca73e09.html
San Antonio Express-News
How could he leave Robert Horry open? In the closing seconds of Game 5?
Tim Duncan had no excuse.
That was in 2003, in the second round, when the Spurs were also matched against the defending champions. Horry had the game-winner lined up then, too, from the same angle on the court as Sunday, but as a Laker.
Horry saved Duncan that day with a miss, just as he saved Duncan against the Pistons with a make. Duncan, having left Horry to double Kobe Bryant, escaped the same beating that Rasheed Wallace takes today.
But Duncan was still beaten up in 2003, just as he is now, as a superstar whose status requires constant review. Two years ago his hands looked as sweaty as Shaquille O'Neal's head, and Duncan went to Los Angeles for Game 6 with everyone wondering if he really deserved his MVP trophy that season.
What happened?
The Spurs should hope for the same tonight.
The Spurs should also be bracing for a brawl. The Pistons showed few cracks in their first loss in a week, and they likely have something else going for them. In their hearts, don't they know they were the better team Sunday night?
They've also been down in the playoffs too many times to be nervous about this one. To use the Pistons' own catchphrase, this is what they do.
But this is what Duncan does, too. He's the most complete player in the game, a marvel of calm and power and skill, and yet his failures often come with body language that invites criticism.
Sunday, again, it was about free throws. When Duncan kept missing, just as he did in Game 4 in the Phoenix series, everything else he did against the Pistons was diminished.
Duncan isn't exactly Michael Jordan, now is he?
He's not. But he also finished with 26 points Sunday night, as well as 19 rebounds against the NBA's most rugged frontline.
As for him missing free throws: If this isn't his strength, is it called "choking" when he misses? Duncan can get the yips in Atlanta in January, too, when no one is watching.
But that doesn't stop the questions about his toughness, and the same happened in 2003 against the Lakers. His legacy was at stake then with statistical proof. Over the first five games of that series, Duncan went 5 for 20 in fourth periods.
That Game 5 in San Antonio took that further. Duncan led the Spurs that night with 27 points and 14 rebounds, similar numbers to Sunday, but he and the other Spurs went cold late in the game. They blew a 25-point lead, with Kobe Bryant going for 19 points in the final 13 minutes.
Calling a timeout, Duncan slammed the ball in disgust. Again, who was the MVP?
Then Duncan drifted to Bryant on the final play, leaving Horry open and proving that 'Sheed isn't the only one who can space out. As David Robinson said that night, "Horry is not the guy you want shooting an open 3-pointer with the game on the line."
The SBC Center waited for the heartbreak that the Palace waited for Sunday. Gregg Popovich said then the shot caused "a giant gulp and the lowering of the heart organ to the belly."
Larry Brown, with his own intestinal issues, probably felt similarly affected Sunday night.
Horry's shot in 2003 went into the cylinder, just as it usually does for him, only to come back out. Forget winning two lotteries — isn't this the sign that the Spurs franchise has been blessed?
The Spurs headed to L.A. knowing they'd been lucky. The series, Robinson said then, "Ain't over by any stretch."
When Robinson used "ain't," everyone knew he was serious.
Just as serious was Duncan. But the mental profile didn't stop there.
With a reprieve, Duncan went on the road with an assortment of emotions: Euphoric that the Spurs were up 3-2, yet anxious because he hadn't played well.
It's a powerful mix, and it was then. Duncan reacted by eliminating the three-time champions by outscoring the combination of O'Neal and Bryant in the second half.
Duncan ended with 37 points and 16 rebounds, and then went on to his second title. His MVP status was secure.
But his reputation won't be until he's retired. So he's back tonight, forced to prove again that this is what he does, with the same emotions in play that were there in 2003.
Should the Pistons want this?
Horry knows better than anyone.
Web Posted: 06/21/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA062105.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2ca73e09.html
San Antonio Express-News
How could he leave Robert Horry open? In the closing seconds of Game 5?
Tim Duncan had no excuse.
That was in 2003, in the second round, when the Spurs were also matched against the defending champions. Horry had the game-winner lined up then, too, from the same angle on the court as Sunday, but as a Laker.
Horry saved Duncan that day with a miss, just as he saved Duncan against the Pistons with a make. Duncan, having left Horry to double Kobe Bryant, escaped the same beating that Rasheed Wallace takes today.
But Duncan was still beaten up in 2003, just as he is now, as a superstar whose status requires constant review. Two years ago his hands looked as sweaty as Shaquille O'Neal's head, and Duncan went to Los Angeles for Game 6 with everyone wondering if he really deserved his MVP trophy that season.
What happened?
The Spurs should hope for the same tonight.
The Spurs should also be bracing for a brawl. The Pistons showed few cracks in their first loss in a week, and they likely have something else going for them. In their hearts, don't they know they were the better team Sunday night?
They've also been down in the playoffs too many times to be nervous about this one. To use the Pistons' own catchphrase, this is what they do.
But this is what Duncan does, too. He's the most complete player in the game, a marvel of calm and power and skill, and yet his failures often come with body language that invites criticism.
Sunday, again, it was about free throws. When Duncan kept missing, just as he did in Game 4 in the Phoenix series, everything else he did against the Pistons was diminished.
Duncan isn't exactly Michael Jordan, now is he?
He's not. But he also finished with 26 points Sunday night, as well as 19 rebounds against the NBA's most rugged frontline.
As for him missing free throws: If this isn't his strength, is it called "choking" when he misses? Duncan can get the yips in Atlanta in January, too, when no one is watching.
But that doesn't stop the questions about his toughness, and the same happened in 2003 against the Lakers. His legacy was at stake then with statistical proof. Over the first five games of that series, Duncan went 5 for 20 in fourth periods.
That Game 5 in San Antonio took that further. Duncan led the Spurs that night with 27 points and 14 rebounds, similar numbers to Sunday, but he and the other Spurs went cold late in the game. They blew a 25-point lead, with Kobe Bryant going for 19 points in the final 13 minutes.
Calling a timeout, Duncan slammed the ball in disgust. Again, who was the MVP?
Then Duncan drifted to Bryant on the final play, leaving Horry open and proving that 'Sheed isn't the only one who can space out. As David Robinson said that night, "Horry is not the guy you want shooting an open 3-pointer with the game on the line."
The SBC Center waited for the heartbreak that the Palace waited for Sunday. Gregg Popovich said then the shot caused "a giant gulp and the lowering of the heart organ to the belly."
Larry Brown, with his own intestinal issues, probably felt similarly affected Sunday night.
Horry's shot in 2003 went into the cylinder, just as it usually does for him, only to come back out. Forget winning two lotteries — isn't this the sign that the Spurs franchise has been blessed?
The Spurs headed to L.A. knowing they'd been lucky. The series, Robinson said then, "Ain't over by any stretch."
When Robinson used "ain't," everyone knew he was serious.
Just as serious was Duncan. But the mental profile didn't stop there.
With a reprieve, Duncan went on the road with an assortment of emotions: Euphoric that the Spurs were up 3-2, yet anxious because he hadn't played well.
It's a powerful mix, and it was then. Duncan reacted by eliminating the three-time champions by outscoring the combination of O'Neal and Bryant in the second half.
Duncan ended with 37 points and 16 rebounds, and then went on to his second title. His MVP status was secure.
But his reputation won't be until he's retired. So he's back tonight, forced to prove again that this is what he does, with the same emotions in play that were there in 2003.
Should the Pistons want this?
Horry knows better than anyone.