duncan228
06-05-2007, 07:47 PM
From CBS Sportsline.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10212805
Low key he may be, Timmy D rules key with iron fist
June 5, 2007
By Mike Freeman
CBS SportsLine.com National Columnist
Doyel: LeBron
Not too long ago I asked Tim Duncan a simple question. If you were more flamboyant, if you thumped your chest and grabbed your cajones on an hourly basis, would more people consider you the best player in the NBA?
Duncan shrugged his shoulders, his answer unremarkable. Undoubtedly he had been asked this before, and his irritation showed. He grunted something and looked away. Next question.
Even when being complimented, Tim Duncan can be a first bore.
In the sports world of 2007, crass sells, plainspoken does not. And Duncan is simply B-O-R-I-N-G.
This is an ode to boring, however. Thank goodness for boring, thank goodness for Duncan.
His is a story about how greatness can come in a package of pick-and-rolls and the intermediate shot. How a great pass from a big man can be as impressive as a two-fisted gorilla dunk. How you do not have to be a selfish, two-faced, headline grabbing player -- all of the things Kobe Bryant is -- to be a Hall of Famer.
This is what Duncan is: champion, low key, top 10 all time (and quickly moving toward the top five), brilliant, leader and team player.
This is what Duncan is not: me-first, crotch-grabber, shirt-popper, defendant or serial caller into talk shows demanding a trade.
He's not charming either. But so what.
Gregg "Kid Dynamite" Doyel is going to induce REM sleep by talking about how great LeBron James is. Wow Gregg. That's original. Why don't you kill a few pronouns and drown some adjectives telling us Michael Jordan was pretty decent. LeBron is good -- really going out on a limb there, dude. By the way, what is your next epiphany? That Oprah is rich?
If I had to rank my top three players in the NBA it would go like this: Duncan, James and Bryant.
Making a case for Duncan over James is dangerous business right now. Currently there is no hotter commodity in all of sports than James. Of course he is scary good. James, at this stage in his development, is even further ahead than Jordan was at 22.
That's right. James right now is better than Jordan was at the same period of his career.
Still, Duncan is one of those athletes that's a quiet superstar. As he wins championships -- almost in a pedestrian-like manner, like he is going to the movies -- others like James and Bryant slam dunk their way onto the highlight shows. All the while Duncan's greatness gets lost in a haze.
James is flash and dash while Duncan is a comfortable pair of lederhosen: solid and effective.
Duncan is better than James because of something once told to me by a Hall of Fame coach. When it's close, choose the big man.
And the rings.
James will win multiple championships, but that is in the future. Now, Duncan already has titles and a few NBA Finals MVP awards.
Of all the statistics about Duncan, this next one impresses me the most. In the 2004-05 season, Duncan was the only player in the NBA to make the All-NBA and All-Defensive first teams. That fact tells you Duncan is a player who hustles not just for points or dunks, but provides post defense and blocked shots.
Duncan is hurt publicly (as are the San Antonio Spurs) because he is not spectacular. He's all rhinestone; a moody, plainspoken great big man.
And he is better than James.
At least for now.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10212805
Low key he may be, Timmy D rules key with iron fist
June 5, 2007
By Mike Freeman
CBS SportsLine.com National Columnist
Doyel: LeBron
Not too long ago I asked Tim Duncan a simple question. If you were more flamboyant, if you thumped your chest and grabbed your cajones on an hourly basis, would more people consider you the best player in the NBA?
Duncan shrugged his shoulders, his answer unremarkable. Undoubtedly he had been asked this before, and his irritation showed. He grunted something and looked away. Next question.
Even when being complimented, Tim Duncan can be a first bore.
In the sports world of 2007, crass sells, plainspoken does not. And Duncan is simply B-O-R-I-N-G.
This is an ode to boring, however. Thank goodness for boring, thank goodness for Duncan.
His is a story about how greatness can come in a package of pick-and-rolls and the intermediate shot. How a great pass from a big man can be as impressive as a two-fisted gorilla dunk. How you do not have to be a selfish, two-faced, headline grabbing player -- all of the things Kobe Bryant is -- to be a Hall of Famer.
This is what Duncan is: champion, low key, top 10 all time (and quickly moving toward the top five), brilliant, leader and team player.
This is what Duncan is not: me-first, crotch-grabber, shirt-popper, defendant or serial caller into talk shows demanding a trade.
He's not charming either. But so what.
Gregg "Kid Dynamite" Doyel is going to induce REM sleep by talking about how great LeBron James is. Wow Gregg. That's original. Why don't you kill a few pronouns and drown some adjectives telling us Michael Jordan was pretty decent. LeBron is good -- really going out on a limb there, dude. By the way, what is your next epiphany? That Oprah is rich?
If I had to rank my top three players in the NBA it would go like this: Duncan, James and Bryant.
Making a case for Duncan over James is dangerous business right now. Currently there is no hotter commodity in all of sports than James. Of course he is scary good. James, at this stage in his development, is even further ahead than Jordan was at 22.
That's right. James right now is better than Jordan was at the same period of his career.
Still, Duncan is one of those athletes that's a quiet superstar. As he wins championships -- almost in a pedestrian-like manner, like he is going to the movies -- others like James and Bryant slam dunk their way onto the highlight shows. All the while Duncan's greatness gets lost in a haze.
James is flash and dash while Duncan is a comfortable pair of lederhosen: solid and effective.
Duncan is better than James because of something once told to me by a Hall of Fame coach. When it's close, choose the big man.
And the rings.
James will win multiple championships, but that is in the future. Now, Duncan already has titles and a few NBA Finals MVP awards.
Of all the statistics about Duncan, this next one impresses me the most. In the 2004-05 season, Duncan was the only player in the NBA to make the All-NBA and All-Defensive first teams. That fact tells you Duncan is a player who hustles not just for points or dunks, but provides post defense and blocked shots.
Duncan is hurt publicly (as are the San Antonio Spurs) because he is not spectacular. He's all rhinestone; a moody, plainspoken great big man.
And he is better than James.
At least for now.