DieMrBond
01-10-2007, 06:12 PM
HOW TO STOP TIM DUNCAN
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6349248
Each week we'll enlist the help of a scout or coach and attempt to find some way to stop the league's most unstoppable players.
Tim Duncan
This defensive dilemma doesn't figure to be as severe until the San Antonio Spurs start marching into the playoffs. When that occurs, the game will slow down and their superstar center (I don't care what anyone says ... he's no stinkin' power forward) will be more involved.
Anyway, with that established, let's visit with an assistant coach currently employed by a Western Conference team. When the subject is stopping — well, slowing down — Duncan, this X-and-O guy goes a bit against the grain.
"Allow the Spurs to go ahead and start their offense on the right side," the coach said. "This will have Duncan on the left block facing out and make him turn over his right shoulder into the middle."
And that's good for us, bad for him?
"Well, he's more efficient turning both ways than anyone out there, but you have a better chance if he's going over his right shoulder to the middle. Obviously, you don't want to let him drop step baseline and make a lay-up. So, if you can keep him on the left block facing out and turn him over his right shoulder into help, you're golden."
You're really and truly golden?
"Well, maybe. If your help defense is late rotating, you're toast. But if he's got it going, you send the guy guarding (Bruce) Bowen to double on the entry pass. When the ball goes back to Bowen, run at him and make him put the ball on the floor. He doesn't enjoy that."
Thanks for the insight, and thanks for killing any future column that includes advice on how to guard Bruce Bowen.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6349248
Each week we'll enlist the help of a scout or coach and attempt to find some way to stop the league's most unstoppable players.
Tim Duncan
This defensive dilemma doesn't figure to be as severe until the San Antonio Spurs start marching into the playoffs. When that occurs, the game will slow down and their superstar center (I don't care what anyone says ... he's no stinkin' power forward) will be more involved.
Anyway, with that established, let's visit with an assistant coach currently employed by a Western Conference team. When the subject is stopping — well, slowing down — Duncan, this X-and-O guy goes a bit against the grain.
"Allow the Spurs to go ahead and start their offense on the right side," the coach said. "This will have Duncan on the left block facing out and make him turn over his right shoulder into the middle."
And that's good for us, bad for him?
"Well, he's more efficient turning both ways than anyone out there, but you have a better chance if he's going over his right shoulder to the middle. Obviously, you don't want to let him drop step baseline and make a lay-up. So, if you can keep him on the left block facing out and turn him over his right shoulder into help, you're golden."
You're really and truly golden?
"Well, maybe. If your help defense is late rotating, you're toast. But if he's got it going, you send the guy guarding (Bruce) Bowen to double on the entry pass. When the ball goes back to Bowen, run at him and make him put the ball on the floor. He doesn't enjoy that."
Thanks for the insight, and thanks for killing any future column that includes advice on how to guard Bruce Bowen.