LakeShow
05-25-2008, 12:13 AM
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24799951/
Duncan, defending champs just about done
Star's uninspiring Game 2 against Lakers raises tough questions
http://media2.msnbc.com/j/ap/45c5804a-d7d4-449a-9396-c01baf0c14d7.h2.jpgChris Pizzello / AP
OPINION
By Steve Greenberg
http://media2.msnbc.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/sourceTSN_01-2.gif (http://register.sportingnews.com/subscriptions/index.html?sourceid=subscribe)updated 1:04 a.m. PT, Sat., May. 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES - With 2:11 left to play in the first half, I sent an instant message to my editor saying, "The bottom line is we're seeing this develop as a battle between Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan — the best in the game vs. one of the best ever."
Duncan had just stuck a jumper from the elbow to lift the Spurs into a 37-37 tie in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. It completed a two-and-a-half-minute stretch during which Duncan dominated, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds, giving him a double-double before the half.
After his 30-point, 18-rebound monster performance in Game 1, Duncan was looking ready and able to carry the Spurs on his back in this series.
"He was basically doing everything that we could have asked from him," says reserve forward Kurt Thomas. Now I'm ready to chuck that notion right out the window.
The third quarter was when the bottom dropped out on this Spurs season. Duncan played all 12 minutes but could muster only two points and three boards. He was outplayed in the period by Pau Gasol, whom he had used and abused for a game and a half.
There are some pretty tough questions that have to be asked about the 32-year-old Duncan, easily a top 20 player all-time but an 11th-year veteran who has been heavy-legged at times this postseason:
Can he handle the West finals schedule? For the Spurs, whose seven-game series against the Hornets ended on Monday, every game against the Lakers will be played following a single day's rest. Duncan should be buoyed enough by the home crowd in San Antonio to play with energy for most of Games 3 and 4, but what will he have left after that?
Why isn't he fighting harder for offensive position? Against the Hornets and Tyson Chandler, Duncan was just plain guilty of not working hard enough to receive the ball in position to make a single move and score. Instead, he expended tons of energy trying to back Chandler down, then seemed to run out of gas in a few games and become nothing more than a ball swinger by the second half.
Friday night in Game 2, Duncan had his bank shot going a little bit during the first half, but throughout the third quarter he set screens and moved the ball — and that's all — on offense. And with Parker struggling to get into the lane, a couple of Duncan post-ups would have come in very handy.
"We were playing well, the score was tied at 37, and then they went on that run," says Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "I think, you know, being out of gas had somewhat of an effect, but not as much as the good play of the Lakers."
Nevertheless, it is inexcusable for Duncan to play 12 minutes and put up only one shot in a huge playoff game on the road. The big guy must be really tired.
Will Duncan ever get back to the Finals? After the ridiculousness that was Game 2 finally ended, Duncan lingered by the Spurs bench to slap the hands of his teammates as they left the court. He was letting them know: We came back from down 0-2 against the Hornets. We'll just have to do it again.
But even the most ardent Spurs fans must be seeing the writing on the wall. The Lakers are younger, quicker and — yes — more talented than the defending champs; presumably, that will be true next season as well.
Even though San Antonio is down 2-0, having suffered the double-indignity of blowing a 20-point lead and being blown out by 30 points, this has to be its best chance to win one last title.
Duncan, defending champs just about done
Star's uninspiring Game 2 against Lakers raises tough questions
http://media2.msnbc.com/j/ap/45c5804a-d7d4-449a-9396-c01baf0c14d7.h2.jpgChris Pizzello / AP
OPINION
By Steve Greenberg
http://media2.msnbc.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/sourceTSN_01-2.gif (http://register.sportingnews.com/subscriptions/index.html?sourceid=subscribe)updated 1:04 a.m. PT, Sat., May. 24, 2008
LOS ANGELES - With 2:11 left to play in the first half, I sent an instant message to my editor saying, "The bottom line is we're seeing this develop as a battle between Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan — the best in the game vs. one of the best ever."
Duncan had just stuck a jumper from the elbow to lift the Spurs into a 37-37 tie in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. It completed a two-and-a-half-minute stretch during which Duncan dominated, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds, giving him a double-double before the half.
After his 30-point, 18-rebound monster performance in Game 1, Duncan was looking ready and able to carry the Spurs on his back in this series.
"He was basically doing everything that we could have asked from him," says reserve forward Kurt Thomas. Now I'm ready to chuck that notion right out the window.
The third quarter was when the bottom dropped out on this Spurs season. Duncan played all 12 minutes but could muster only two points and three boards. He was outplayed in the period by Pau Gasol, whom he had used and abused for a game and a half.
There are some pretty tough questions that have to be asked about the 32-year-old Duncan, easily a top 20 player all-time but an 11th-year veteran who has been heavy-legged at times this postseason:
Can he handle the West finals schedule? For the Spurs, whose seven-game series against the Hornets ended on Monday, every game against the Lakers will be played following a single day's rest. Duncan should be buoyed enough by the home crowd in San Antonio to play with energy for most of Games 3 and 4, but what will he have left after that?
Why isn't he fighting harder for offensive position? Against the Hornets and Tyson Chandler, Duncan was just plain guilty of not working hard enough to receive the ball in position to make a single move and score. Instead, he expended tons of energy trying to back Chandler down, then seemed to run out of gas in a few games and become nothing more than a ball swinger by the second half.
Friday night in Game 2, Duncan had his bank shot going a little bit during the first half, but throughout the third quarter he set screens and moved the ball — and that's all — on offense. And with Parker struggling to get into the lane, a couple of Duncan post-ups would have come in very handy.
"We were playing well, the score was tied at 37, and then they went on that run," says Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "I think, you know, being out of gas had somewhat of an effect, but not as much as the good play of the Lakers."
Nevertheless, it is inexcusable for Duncan to play 12 minutes and put up only one shot in a huge playoff game on the road. The big guy must be really tired.
Will Duncan ever get back to the Finals? After the ridiculousness that was Game 2 finally ended, Duncan lingered by the Spurs bench to slap the hands of his teammates as they left the court. He was letting them know: We came back from down 0-2 against the Hornets. We'll just have to do it again.
But even the most ardent Spurs fans must be seeing the writing on the wall. The Lakers are younger, quicker and — yes — more talented than the defending champs; presumably, that will be true next season as well.
Even though San Antonio is down 2-0, having suffered the double-indignity of blowing a 20-point lead and being blown out by 30 points, this has to be its best chance to win one last title.