duncan228
05-02-2008, 10:35 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/dflores/stories/MYSA050308.10C.COL.BKNflores.spurs.c1adb559.html
David Flores: Duncan defined by basics
San Antonio Express-News
There’s a reason Shaquille O’Neal dubbed Spurs forward Tim Duncan the “Big Fundamental.”
From his footwork to his trademark bank shot to his jump hook — with either hand — to his defense and rebounding, Duncan embodies a commitment to the basics of basketball that so many players of his generation lack.
Maybe Duncan’s career would have turned out differently if he had grown up in urban America, instead of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In Duncan’s case, playing his high school ball in the boonies couldn’t have turned out better.
“Tim was not infected by a lot of the negative outside influences that most of his contemporaries grew up with,” Dave Odom, his former coach at Wake Forest, said the other day. “Today, when players come into your program, you have to break them down and build them back up.”
Duncan was different, to say the least.
“He had virtually no bad habits,” Odom said.
If I were a high school post player today, I would record every Spurs game and study each facet of Duncan’s game.
And then work to put all the pieces together, just as he has done through the years.
“He just goes out and plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” said former St. Mary’s coach Buddy Meyer, who watches Spurs workouts occasionally. “He’s a coach’s dream, that’s what he is.”
When Duncan takes the floor tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, basketball purists everywhere will sit back and marvel at the things he does with, and without, the ball.
But let’s face it: There always will be those who don’t fully appreciate Duncan’s greatness because, they say, he lacks sizzle and charisma.
Unfortunately, that mentality pretty much describes American society today: style over substance.
“I guarantee you the guys who step on the court and play with and against Tim know and appreciate how great he is,” said former Central Catholic coach Joe Cortez, the winningest high school basketball coach in San Antonio history. “He’s a virtuoso, not an entertainer. You watch him for his excellence, not his flash and dash.”
While others fly to the basket and beat their chest after a rim-jarring dunk, Duncan methodically wears down the opposition with the subtleties of his repertoire.
Odom, who left Wake Forest in 2001 to take the basketball job at South Carolina, is well versed in the nuances of Duncan’s game. After all, he’s the coach who taught Duncan much of what he knows about basketball.
“He’s the type of player who doesn’t have to have his numbers every night,” said Odom, who resigned at South Carolina in March. “As the game progresses, he gets a sense of what’s needed and what’s not needed. On those nights when Ginobili, Parker or Finley are giving you the scoring, he will take what is seemingly a secondary role to those guys.”
Like Bird, Magic and Michael, Duncan makes the players around him better.
“You might think he’s taking a secondary role sometimes, but he really isn’t,” Odom said. “If one of his teammates is going off, the other team still can’t quit concentrating on Tim because he’s always a threat. I’ve always thought he has a carpe diem approach to the game. He seizes the moment.”
Even when he was a rookie 11 years ago, Duncan demonstrated maturity beyond his years. Of course, there’s a reason why he entered he NBA so well prepared, mentally and physically.
As hard as it may be for some younger fans to believe, Duncan actually played four seasons of college basketball and earned his degree before he went pro. Imagine that.
Duncan has won four NBA championships, but his most enduring legacy may be the beautiful simplicity of his game. The Big Fundamental? That’s Tim Duncan, all right.
Enjoy the ride while you can because we may never see another one like him.
David Flores: Duncan defined by basics
San Antonio Express-News
There’s a reason Shaquille O’Neal dubbed Spurs forward Tim Duncan the “Big Fundamental.”
From his footwork to his trademark bank shot to his jump hook — with either hand — to his defense and rebounding, Duncan embodies a commitment to the basics of basketball that so many players of his generation lack.
Maybe Duncan’s career would have turned out differently if he had grown up in urban America, instead of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In Duncan’s case, playing his high school ball in the boonies couldn’t have turned out better.
“Tim was not infected by a lot of the negative outside influences that most of his contemporaries grew up with,” Dave Odom, his former coach at Wake Forest, said the other day. “Today, when players come into your program, you have to break them down and build them back up.”
Duncan was different, to say the least.
“He had virtually no bad habits,” Odom said.
If I were a high school post player today, I would record every Spurs game and study each facet of Duncan’s game.
And then work to put all the pieces together, just as he has done through the years.
“He just goes out and plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” said former St. Mary’s coach Buddy Meyer, who watches Spurs workouts occasionally. “He’s a coach’s dream, that’s what he is.”
When Duncan takes the floor tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, basketball purists everywhere will sit back and marvel at the things he does with, and without, the ball.
But let’s face it: There always will be those who don’t fully appreciate Duncan’s greatness because, they say, he lacks sizzle and charisma.
Unfortunately, that mentality pretty much describes American society today: style over substance.
“I guarantee you the guys who step on the court and play with and against Tim know and appreciate how great he is,” said former Central Catholic coach Joe Cortez, the winningest high school basketball coach in San Antonio history. “He’s a virtuoso, not an entertainer. You watch him for his excellence, not his flash and dash.”
While others fly to the basket and beat their chest after a rim-jarring dunk, Duncan methodically wears down the opposition with the subtleties of his repertoire.
Odom, who left Wake Forest in 2001 to take the basketball job at South Carolina, is well versed in the nuances of Duncan’s game. After all, he’s the coach who taught Duncan much of what he knows about basketball.
“He’s the type of player who doesn’t have to have his numbers every night,” said Odom, who resigned at South Carolina in March. “As the game progresses, he gets a sense of what’s needed and what’s not needed. On those nights when Ginobili, Parker or Finley are giving you the scoring, he will take what is seemingly a secondary role to those guys.”
Like Bird, Magic and Michael, Duncan makes the players around him better.
“You might think he’s taking a secondary role sometimes, but he really isn’t,” Odom said. “If one of his teammates is going off, the other team still can’t quit concentrating on Tim because he’s always a threat. I’ve always thought he has a carpe diem approach to the game. He seizes the moment.”
Even when he was a rookie 11 years ago, Duncan demonstrated maturity beyond his years. Of course, there’s a reason why he entered he NBA so well prepared, mentally and physically.
As hard as it may be for some younger fans to believe, Duncan actually played four seasons of college basketball and earned his degree before he went pro. Imagine that.
Duncan has won four NBA championships, but his most enduring legacy may be the beautiful simplicity of his game. The Big Fundamental? That’s Tim Duncan, all right.
Enjoy the ride while you can because we may never see another one like him.