Kori Ellis
12-09-2004, 03:11 AM
Multi-faceted Duncan is NBA's best
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3231766
So here's this guy, Tim Duncan, who's got credentials galore including six All-Star game appearances, five All-NBA citations, three MVPs, two gold rings, and probably even a partridge in a pear tree.
When Duncan first came into the league (in 1997), several NBA coaches believed that he was soft and he does have an elongated, but far from muscular physique. Still, he can be counted on to average 22+ points and 12+ rebounds per outing and he's always among the league leaders in blocked shots and shooting percentage.
So what's the real low-down on TD? How do opponents defend him and attack him? Are there any holes in his game? Is he better than Kevin Garnett? And what about his less than golden performance in Athens?
Perhaps a comprehensive scrutiny of the high-flying Seattle Supersonics' visit to San Antonio on Wednesday can get Duncan's ultimate significance into clearer focus.
Offense
TD showcased it all baby hooks left and right, bankers, tip-ins, dunkers, running flips, and even a 3-ball but none of his stuff was enough as the Sonics dulled the Spurs on both ends of the court and won by a score of 102-96.
If he had his druthers, Duncan would post-up on the left box and take the ball into the middle from there, a jump hook over his left shoulder is his weapon of choice. But, in the first quarter he was matched against the brutish 7'1", 272-pound Jerome James, so Duncan spun right, ducked-under left, and only then did he come back right to launch a jump hook.
Definitely a Hall-of-Fame move.
When he's stationed on the right box, Duncan also wants to dribble into the middle. After planting a pair of lefty hooks, Duncan took his left hand into the paint, but switched the ball into his right hand for a leaning flipper. Nick Collison happened to be defending TD, and was helpless when Duncan changed hands and brought the ball into his outstretched arms. Count the basket and also pin an unavoidable foul on the surprised defender.
Another transcendent maneuver.
That's the thing with Duncan he's never flashy, is seldom spectacular, and is rarely overpowering. His game is just solid and basic, yet highly unpredictable.
What else can he do with the ball?
Find cutters when he's two-timed and even make cross-court passes to unguarded teammates. Make precise reversal passes when he's stationed at the high-post. Turn and face, then fake and shoot or else turn, turn, face and drive in one fluid motion. And fire up quick jump hooks in the pivot without having to put the ball on the floor. (Indeed, where most other pivot men need to dribble at least once to get their body parts in synch and gather for whatever move they have in mind, Duncan's remarkable balance is one of the keys to his effectiveness.)
Finesse is the name of Duncan's game. Instead of engaging in the ferocious gangbusters routine that most bigs employ to either claim or deny optimum position in the pivot, Duncan cleverly uses his elbows and his butt to claim and maintain his favorite spots. Also, whenever a teammate tosses up a shot, Duncan wants to avoid being boxed out. Instead of instigating or encouraging violent physical contact, he'll try to slither and slide his way around his defender or else he'll simply take a half-step back relying on his long arms to either snatch offensive rebounds or at least keep the ball alive.
Since no known hooper has ever been flawless (MJ was often quite stubborn, Oscar Robertson couldn't fly, Jerry West couldn't go left with authority), what, then, are Duncan's imperfections?
The only time his balance is impaired is when he catches on the right box, dribbles left into the paint, and pulls-up for a short jumper. That's when he tends to lunge slightly and his shot is often flat.
He's also a streaky jump shooter, even when he can unleash his celebrated banker from the left side. In fact, defenders are advised to back away and let him shoot from there. Some glass-bangers will ring the bell, most will go awry, and by letting Duncan shoot he'll be denied the opportunity of getting his teammates involved.
Duncan's difficulties at the foul line are another significant failing. This season, he's shooting about 65%, last year he made good on only 59.9% of his free throws, and his career mark is under 70%. What's the problem here? It's that Duncan begins his shooting motion with the ball below his waist, then, while his body is stiff and upright, he brings the ball over his head for the release. This is completely the reverse of the classic free throw form: Move the body, not the ball. He should try holding the ball somewhere around the level of his shoulders, then dip his body, and bring the ball to his desired release point.
Still, Duncan had enough junk in his trunk to score beaucoup points against an impressive Seattle defense that was hot-footed, intense, well-coordinated, and extremely physical.
Defense
Duncan is at his best here when he can keep his man away from his body but still within reach. Twice in the first quarter, Reggie Evans was able to bang into Duncan, keep the bigger man on his back, and then spin sharply (first left, then right) for a pair of easy hoops. A perfect example of how to neutralize a shot-blocking big crowd him so that he can't extend his arms.
Duncan has never been accused of being a sky-walker, but he's perpetually among the NBA's elite shot-blockers (he averages 3.1 per outing) because he relies on his length, his extension, and his timing.
In defending screen/rolls, Duncan will sometimes just show himself laterally and never challenge the ball (this was his modus operandi in the Spurs' rather listless first half), and sometimes jump out and be more aggressive (his game plan when San Antonio rallied in the second half). The most glaring faults in Duncan's defense are his lack of sheer physicality, and his occasional lateness in rotating to a help spot.
So, how good is he? Merely the best player in the league.
Better than Shaq? Yes, but only because of the miles on the Big Diesel's odometer.
Better than The Big Ticket? Yes, because of his two rings, his court awareness, and his defensive prowess.
What about TD's tarnished performance in the recent Olympics? The pace of the games was too slow, the zones too congested, his teammates' jump shots too deficient, his coach too self-serving, the available practice time too brief, and everybody concerned with Team USA was too confused.
As good as he is, though, TD can't spur his teammates to a championship on his own. He needs Malik Rose to continue banging the boards, Manu Ginobili to make better decisions with the ball, and most of all, Duncan needs Brent Barry to earn his salary.
Bet your bottom dollar that all of things will come to pass later rather than sooner. And Tim Duncan will get another chance to prove that he's the one big man who everybody else in he league looks up to.
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3231766
So here's this guy, Tim Duncan, who's got credentials galore including six All-Star game appearances, five All-NBA citations, three MVPs, two gold rings, and probably even a partridge in a pear tree.
When Duncan first came into the league (in 1997), several NBA coaches believed that he was soft and he does have an elongated, but far from muscular physique. Still, he can be counted on to average 22+ points and 12+ rebounds per outing and he's always among the league leaders in blocked shots and shooting percentage.
So what's the real low-down on TD? How do opponents defend him and attack him? Are there any holes in his game? Is he better than Kevin Garnett? And what about his less than golden performance in Athens?
Perhaps a comprehensive scrutiny of the high-flying Seattle Supersonics' visit to San Antonio on Wednesday can get Duncan's ultimate significance into clearer focus.
Offense
TD showcased it all baby hooks left and right, bankers, tip-ins, dunkers, running flips, and even a 3-ball but none of his stuff was enough as the Sonics dulled the Spurs on both ends of the court and won by a score of 102-96.
If he had his druthers, Duncan would post-up on the left box and take the ball into the middle from there, a jump hook over his left shoulder is his weapon of choice. But, in the first quarter he was matched against the brutish 7'1", 272-pound Jerome James, so Duncan spun right, ducked-under left, and only then did he come back right to launch a jump hook.
Definitely a Hall-of-Fame move.
When he's stationed on the right box, Duncan also wants to dribble into the middle. After planting a pair of lefty hooks, Duncan took his left hand into the paint, but switched the ball into his right hand for a leaning flipper. Nick Collison happened to be defending TD, and was helpless when Duncan changed hands and brought the ball into his outstretched arms. Count the basket and also pin an unavoidable foul on the surprised defender.
Another transcendent maneuver.
That's the thing with Duncan he's never flashy, is seldom spectacular, and is rarely overpowering. His game is just solid and basic, yet highly unpredictable.
What else can he do with the ball?
Find cutters when he's two-timed and even make cross-court passes to unguarded teammates. Make precise reversal passes when he's stationed at the high-post. Turn and face, then fake and shoot or else turn, turn, face and drive in one fluid motion. And fire up quick jump hooks in the pivot without having to put the ball on the floor. (Indeed, where most other pivot men need to dribble at least once to get their body parts in synch and gather for whatever move they have in mind, Duncan's remarkable balance is one of the keys to his effectiveness.)
Finesse is the name of Duncan's game. Instead of engaging in the ferocious gangbusters routine that most bigs employ to either claim or deny optimum position in the pivot, Duncan cleverly uses his elbows and his butt to claim and maintain his favorite spots. Also, whenever a teammate tosses up a shot, Duncan wants to avoid being boxed out. Instead of instigating or encouraging violent physical contact, he'll try to slither and slide his way around his defender or else he'll simply take a half-step back relying on his long arms to either snatch offensive rebounds or at least keep the ball alive.
Since no known hooper has ever been flawless (MJ was often quite stubborn, Oscar Robertson couldn't fly, Jerry West couldn't go left with authority), what, then, are Duncan's imperfections?
The only time his balance is impaired is when he catches on the right box, dribbles left into the paint, and pulls-up for a short jumper. That's when he tends to lunge slightly and his shot is often flat.
He's also a streaky jump shooter, even when he can unleash his celebrated banker from the left side. In fact, defenders are advised to back away and let him shoot from there. Some glass-bangers will ring the bell, most will go awry, and by letting Duncan shoot he'll be denied the opportunity of getting his teammates involved.
Duncan's difficulties at the foul line are another significant failing. This season, he's shooting about 65%, last year he made good on only 59.9% of his free throws, and his career mark is under 70%. What's the problem here? It's that Duncan begins his shooting motion with the ball below his waist, then, while his body is stiff and upright, he brings the ball over his head for the release. This is completely the reverse of the classic free throw form: Move the body, not the ball. He should try holding the ball somewhere around the level of his shoulders, then dip his body, and bring the ball to his desired release point.
Still, Duncan had enough junk in his trunk to score beaucoup points against an impressive Seattle defense that was hot-footed, intense, well-coordinated, and extremely physical.
Defense
Duncan is at his best here when he can keep his man away from his body but still within reach. Twice in the first quarter, Reggie Evans was able to bang into Duncan, keep the bigger man on his back, and then spin sharply (first left, then right) for a pair of easy hoops. A perfect example of how to neutralize a shot-blocking big crowd him so that he can't extend his arms.
Duncan has never been accused of being a sky-walker, but he's perpetually among the NBA's elite shot-blockers (he averages 3.1 per outing) because he relies on his length, his extension, and his timing.
In defending screen/rolls, Duncan will sometimes just show himself laterally and never challenge the ball (this was his modus operandi in the Spurs' rather listless first half), and sometimes jump out and be more aggressive (his game plan when San Antonio rallied in the second half). The most glaring faults in Duncan's defense are his lack of sheer physicality, and his occasional lateness in rotating to a help spot.
So, how good is he? Merely the best player in the league.
Better than Shaq? Yes, but only because of the miles on the Big Diesel's odometer.
Better than The Big Ticket? Yes, because of his two rings, his court awareness, and his defensive prowess.
What about TD's tarnished performance in the recent Olympics? The pace of the games was too slow, the zones too congested, his teammates' jump shots too deficient, his coach too self-serving, the available practice time too brief, and everybody concerned with Team USA was too confused.
As good as he is, though, TD can't spur his teammates to a championship on his own. He needs Malik Rose to continue banging the boards, Manu Ginobili to make better decisions with the ball, and most of all, Duncan needs Brent Barry to earn his salary.
Bet your bottom dollar that all of things will come to pass later rather than sooner. And Tim Duncan will get another chance to prove that he's the one big man who everybody else in he league looks up to.