One Player, One Rebound (Duncan)

**duncan228** · 12-12-2008

One Player, One Rebound
By Austin Burton

Tim Duncan (photo. adidas)

Let’s say Kevin Garnett has done his job, getting that one defensive stop that Team Dime needed with the game on the line. But after KG’s man forces up a brick, we still need the ball back. So who’s the right man to get that do-or-die rebound?

Tim Duncan.

Check the records. Duncan ranks sixth all-time on the career list for rebounds in the postseason (behind Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq and Mailman). And since 1991, Duncan owns the NBA’s top single-game postseason rebounding performance, when he pulled down 25 boards (along with 34 points) in an ‘02 conference semis Game Five against the Lakers. And that’s just one of Duncan’s THIRTEEN 20-rebound playoff games. To no surprise, Duncan’s career rebounding average in the postseason (12.7 rpg) tops his regular season career average (11.8 rpg). Long story short: TD gets boards when it matters.

But what does history matter at this point? Dikembe Mutombo also has a jaw-dropping resume of boards and blocks, but would you bet on 42-year-old Deke to get a crucial rebound today? So let’s look at the here and now. Duncan has the size (6-11) and length you want in a rebounder. He has the instincts and fundamental skills, and his body is still young enough to react to what his mind wants to do. At 32 years old, TD is posting 10.6 boards per night this season –including three games of 15-plus boards — and currently ranks sixth in the League.

True, Dwight Howard, the NBA’s current rebounding king, jumps higher and is stronger. David Lee has more outward energy and will run through a brick wall for a loose ball. KG has just as much experience, plus he’s quicker and more athletic. But in terms of technical proficiency, positioning, footwork, instincts and simply getting it done when it has to get done, Duncan is the man.

**duncan228** · 12-12-2008

Related:

One Player, One Defensive Stop
By Austin Burton

It probably started with an e-mail exchange during one of Dwyane Wade’s latest 40-point explosions, or when Brandon Roy was coming out of the huddle for another game-winning shot opportunity. However it started, one of the toughest arguments circulating in the Dime office has been:

If you had to take one guy to get one defensive stop with everything on the line, who would it be?

Almost by instinct, names like Ron Artest, Bruce Bowen and Shane Battier were immediately put in play. After a while, though, it seemed the majority was leaning toward Kobe, still with the Beijing Olympics fresh in their minds.

But at the end of the day, given the choice, the one guy I’d go with is Kevin Garnett.

While KG may not be the pound-for-pound best 1-on-1 defender in the game, he’s at least in the starting five. He might not be the NBA’s best shot-blocker, but he’s an intimidating presence near the rim nonetheless. He might not collect steals with the regularity of a Chris Paul, but you still don’t want to be lazy with the ball around him. And he might not be as technically proficient as Battier, but he’s definitely got the basketball IQ and instincts to know where to be in any situation.

For me, what gives KG the edge is his versatility. In this hypothetical scenario, we don’t know who is taking this crunch-time shot. But whether it’s LeBron bringing the ball up, Baron Davis going coast-to-coast, Hedo Turkoglu starting as the inbound passer, Ray Allen running around multiple screens, Yao looking for a lob with 0.2 left, Dirk Nowitzki setting up in the high post, Tim Duncan setting up in the low post, or Kobe getting the ball wherever he wants, Garnett is the only man in the League who can conceivably guard — and deny — them all.

**I. Hustle** · 12-12-2008

Originally Posted by duncan228

KG has just as much experience, plus he’s quicker and more athletic. But in terms of technical proficiency, positioning, footwork, instincts and simply getting it done when it has to get done, Duncan is the man.

BS. He doesn't have half of Duncan's playoff experience.

**Blake** · 12-12-2008

Originally Posted by duncan228

Related:

One Player, One Defensive Stop
By Austin Burton

It probably started with an e-mail exchange during one of Dwyane Wade’s latest 40-point explosions, or when Brandon Roy was coming out of the huddle for another game-winning shot opportunity. However it started, one of the toughest arguments circulating in the Dime office has been:

If you had to take one guy to get one defensive stop with everything on the line, who would it be?

Almost by instinct, names like Ron Artest, Bruce Bowen and Shane Battier were immediately put in play. After a while, though, it seemed the majority was leaning toward Kobe, still with the Beijing Olympics fresh in their minds.

But at the end of the day, given the choice, the one guy I’d go with is Kevin Garnett.

While KG may not be the pound-for-pound best 1-on-1 defender in the game, he’s at least in the starting five. He might not be the NBA’s best shot-blocker, but he’s an intimidating presence near the rim nonetheless. He might not collect steals with the regularity of a Chris Paul, but you still don’t want to be lazy with the ball around him. And he might not be as technically proficient as Battier, but he’s definitely got the basketball IQ and instincts to know where to be in any situation.

For me, what gives KG the edge is his versatility. In this hypothetical scenario, we don’t know who is taking this crunch-time shot. But whether it’s LeBron bringing the ball up, Baron Davis going coast-to-coast, Hedo Turkoglu starting as the inbound passer, Ray Allen running around multiple screens, Yao looking for a lob with 0.2 left, Dirk Nowitzki setting up in the high post, Tim Duncan setting up in the low post, or Kobe getting the ball wherever he wants, Garnett is the only man in the League who can conceivably guard — and deny — them all.

He just Plaxicoed himself here