duncan228
04-19-2008, 12:42 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA041908.01D.BKNspurs.main.38f07d4.html
Spurs hoping for a lack of Shaq
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
On Friday afternoon, little more than 24 hours before the Spurs would open their quasi-annual playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Tim Duncan was predictably asked to reflect on a certain February swap that brought a certain nemesis back into his life.
Yes, Duncan finally admitted. He was happy he didn't have Kurt Thomas to push him around anymore.
"I've had some great battles with him over the years," Duncan said.
Thomas, of course, is the former Phoenix forward who two months ago became Duncan's teammate by way of Seattle.
As for that other little trade, the one that essentially gave Thomas' old Duncan-deterring role in Phoenix to one Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal?
Duncan has had some battles with that guy, too.
The Suns acquired O'Neal in a blockbuster Feb. 4 deal that sent Shawn Marion to Miami. He was brought in precisely for this moment, precisely to deal with Duncan.
When the Spurs tip off their third Western Conference playoff series in four seasons against Phoenix today at the AT&T Center, they are sure to notice the difference in their perennial postseason punching bags.
The Suns have gotten a little bigger around the middle.
At 7-foot-1 and 325 pounds, O'Neal offers the Suns the best shot they've had at making Duncan into a mere mortal.
"He's just a big body," Duncan said. "When you have to play over the top of him, obviously it's a problem."
For the better part of two series in 2005 and 2007, Duncan was like death and taxes to the Suns, only far less enjoyable for them to endure. He has carved a good swath of his Hall of Fame career at Phoenix's expense.
In the 2005 Western Conference Finals, Duncan averaged 27.4 points in five games. In last season's conference semifinals, the Suns held him to a mere 26.8 points per game.
A disinterested defender, Amare Stoudemire couldn't handle Duncan. For all his moxie and bag of veteran tricks, neither could Thomas.
Not surprisingly, the Suns went 3-8 during those series.
Enter O'Neal, whose history of epic postseason engagements with Duncan stretches back to the late 1990s when he was with the Lakers.
The early returns for Phoenix have been favorable.
In the two meetings against the Spurs this season with O'Neal manning the middle, the Suns are 2-0. In those two games, Duncan averaged 20 points, but made just 15 of 40 field goals.
Without their bell cow running amok, the Spurs managed fewer than 88 points in both those games.
"Shaq definitely helps them in that regard," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's one of the reasons he's there."
In order to reprise his role as the Suns' traditional postseason nemesis, Duncan will have to defeat an old nemesis of his own.
He has a plan for alleviating his newfound struggles with the O'Neal-infused Suns, and it isn't a complicated one.
"Attempt to make shots," Duncan said. "As simple as it sounds, when the ball goes in the basket, it helps a lot."
Duncan, who will turn 32 the day before Game 3 of this series, has seen his scoring average drop to 19.3 points per game this season, the second lowest of his career.
Still, he remains the literal and figurative centerpiece of the Spurs' offense. Duncan ranks second among active players in postseason scoring, rebounding and blocked shots — behind only O'Neal in all categories.
O'Neal, at 36, isn't the same player he was during his MVP days. Unlike any other Suns player, however, he owns a proven track record of making life difficult for Duncan.
"If anybody knows what he's going to do with the ball," O'Neal has said, "it's me."
To which Duncan retorted: "He can know me all he wants. If the ball goes in or it doesn't go in, that's what matters."
Duncan's teammates, who have watched him annually elevate his game for the postseason, are confident their All-Star forward will again rise to the occasion.
Shaq or no Shaq.
"I've been with Tim for six years, and I've seen him adjust to different situations so well," Manu Ginobili said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I know he's going to find a way."
Spurs hoping for a lack of Shaq
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
On Friday afternoon, little more than 24 hours before the Spurs would open their quasi-annual playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Tim Duncan was predictably asked to reflect on a certain February swap that brought a certain nemesis back into his life.
Yes, Duncan finally admitted. He was happy he didn't have Kurt Thomas to push him around anymore.
"I've had some great battles with him over the years," Duncan said.
Thomas, of course, is the former Phoenix forward who two months ago became Duncan's teammate by way of Seattle.
As for that other little trade, the one that essentially gave Thomas' old Duncan-deterring role in Phoenix to one Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal?
Duncan has had some battles with that guy, too.
The Suns acquired O'Neal in a blockbuster Feb. 4 deal that sent Shawn Marion to Miami. He was brought in precisely for this moment, precisely to deal with Duncan.
When the Spurs tip off their third Western Conference playoff series in four seasons against Phoenix today at the AT&T Center, they are sure to notice the difference in their perennial postseason punching bags.
The Suns have gotten a little bigger around the middle.
At 7-foot-1 and 325 pounds, O'Neal offers the Suns the best shot they've had at making Duncan into a mere mortal.
"He's just a big body," Duncan said. "When you have to play over the top of him, obviously it's a problem."
For the better part of two series in 2005 and 2007, Duncan was like death and taxes to the Suns, only far less enjoyable for them to endure. He has carved a good swath of his Hall of Fame career at Phoenix's expense.
In the 2005 Western Conference Finals, Duncan averaged 27.4 points in five games. In last season's conference semifinals, the Suns held him to a mere 26.8 points per game.
A disinterested defender, Amare Stoudemire couldn't handle Duncan. For all his moxie and bag of veteran tricks, neither could Thomas.
Not surprisingly, the Suns went 3-8 during those series.
Enter O'Neal, whose history of epic postseason engagements with Duncan stretches back to the late 1990s when he was with the Lakers.
The early returns for Phoenix have been favorable.
In the two meetings against the Spurs this season with O'Neal manning the middle, the Suns are 2-0. In those two games, Duncan averaged 20 points, but made just 15 of 40 field goals.
Without their bell cow running amok, the Spurs managed fewer than 88 points in both those games.
"Shaq definitely helps them in that regard," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's one of the reasons he's there."
In order to reprise his role as the Suns' traditional postseason nemesis, Duncan will have to defeat an old nemesis of his own.
He has a plan for alleviating his newfound struggles with the O'Neal-infused Suns, and it isn't a complicated one.
"Attempt to make shots," Duncan said. "As simple as it sounds, when the ball goes in the basket, it helps a lot."
Duncan, who will turn 32 the day before Game 3 of this series, has seen his scoring average drop to 19.3 points per game this season, the second lowest of his career.
Still, he remains the literal and figurative centerpiece of the Spurs' offense. Duncan ranks second among active players in postseason scoring, rebounding and blocked shots — behind only O'Neal in all categories.
O'Neal, at 36, isn't the same player he was during his MVP days. Unlike any other Suns player, however, he owns a proven track record of making life difficult for Duncan.
"If anybody knows what he's going to do with the ball," O'Neal has said, "it's me."
To which Duncan retorted: "He can know me all he wants. If the ball goes in or it doesn't go in, that's what matters."
Duncan's teammates, who have watched him annually elevate his game for the postseason, are confident their All-Star forward will again rise to the occasion.
Shaq or no Shaq.
"I've been with Tim for six years, and I've seen him adjust to different situations so well," Manu Ginobili said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I know he's going to find a way."