McDonald: Duncan Inactive Again (Cavs Game)

[Mavs<Spurs]

Resting him just in case is a good idea.

Lakers are way ahead of us in the standings.

And if another team catches us and passes us in the standings, if Tim is healthy we can still beat the other Western teams (other than the Lakers).

And if we finish second, but Tim isn't healthy, we aren't going anywhere anyway.


So, this makes sense to me.

Hopefully, it won't continue to plague him the rest of the season. That's the really important thing.

[Agloco]

Duncan inactive again
By Jeff McDonald

Tim Duncan will miss his third consecutive game with a sore right knee. Duncan was listed as inactive on the official roster the Spurs handed in to officials for tonight's game against Cleveland.

Duncan is suffering from what doctors have diagnosed as tendonosis. The Spurs are 2-0 without him, having defeated Dallas and Portland already on this homestand.

[duncan228]

McDonald's update has better news.

UPDATE: The medical staff has cleared Duncan to play. Duncan wants to play. The holdup (of course) is coach Gregg Popovich.

"I just think he's too important to us," Popovich said before tonight's game. When he said he couldn't go on Tuesday, that affects me. He doesn't say that. He doesn't miss anything. He doesn't miss practices. When he says that, that worries me."

It is fair to classify Duncan's latest night on the inactive list as "precautionary." Popovich said he expects Duncan back either Sunday at Portland or Monday at the Clippers.

"Why not make sure he's as strong as he can possibly be?" Popovich said. "I'd feel much better Sunday or Monday. Physically, he's fine. He's ready to go. I just want to make sure."

[Agloco]

McDonald's update has better news.