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Kind of depressing and 100% true. With the off-season additions a 2003 Timmy would be hoisting that le in June no doubt..
He's gonna pace himself as much as he can all year long, looking to stay as healthy as possible for the playoffs. Tim's been doubted in years past during the season only to turn it on like a mad-man for the playoffs. He'll be okay..
Kind of depressing and 100% true. With the off-season additions a 2003 Timmy would be hoisting that le in June no doubt..
Who the would ever question that, if this team was around him in 03 they might make a run at the Bulls record and possibly go 15-2 in the playoffs again, that Tim is gone now though and we have a great team to give him some cushion no matter how he does.
Definitely looked slow and rusty, but IMO it will all be worked out as these first few months progress and Timmy gets in better shape.
I wouldn't completely discount Van Gundys observations because he had to watch Tim abuse his front line for years.
Duncan hasn't been able to to jump for like 4 years.
Duncan was obviously rusty and looked a bit out of shape. He's never been a player who's relied on athleticism. However, it's clear that he's dropped some weight, so he should be quicker. He did rebound very well and really didn't need to score much at all. He'll be fine.
Rule number 1 as an nba fan:
NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER listen to what anyone whos last name is VAN GUNDY has to say. frankly, it could be either one. i dont know which one is dumber. the one who put jameer nelson in in the finals or the one who thought it was a good idea
+1 I am also slightly concerned about this. Hope ron ron goes psycho or blair turns into megatron
I agree with Van Gundy. Duncan looked like Zydrunas as far as movement goes. He refused to jump at any point in time and looked very stiff. I can't remember what point in the game but there was a play where he fell down as if he was in Patrick Ewing's Seattle SuperSonics body. It was as if he couldn't avoid falling down because he wasn't agile enough anymore to stop.
The Spurs still looked great, but if teams actually start figuring out to let Duncan try and score 1-1, the Spurs will be in trouble. The Spurs offensive philosophy revolves around that double team coming and smarter coaches like VG and PJ will see they're way better off letting Duncan labor to draw fouls and toss up shots at difficult angles than giving the Spurs an open perimeter player.
Duncan has gotten to the point where his go to move is a runner in the lane that he throws from low behind his head. It's close to a hook shot but isn't because he has to put more space between himself and the defender so it doesn't get blocked.
Are some of you guys serious?..
Duncan wasn't even trying on either side of the floor, it was pretty clear, and he still had a nice game..he didn't even try ONE pump fake or counter move on Okafor..he did the same move like 4-5 times, and that was the only attempted offense we saw from him..I don't see where he looked slow, I really disagree with that..I didn't see him getting beat or getting outrebounded, or being too slow offensively..are you sure you guys weren't watching 1997-2003 Duncan videos during the off-season and comparing them?..
Duncan looks the same as he looked pre-injury last year, where he was averaging 25-12 until Parker and Manu returned..the difference? he had to, now he doesn't..
BTW, Okafor is definitely a better defender than both Gasol and Bynum by a decent margin IMO..not too many guys defend better than him, that's pretty much the only thing he does at a high level..
You guys are getting brainwashed a little too much by JVG here..if Tim Duncan is the supposed key to beating the Lakers(I don't believe it is), then I wouldn't worry at all, since you can never doubt a healthy Duncan..never..
yeah yeah yeah Duncan is over the hill, he sucks, he can't dunk, he's too old, blah blah blah.
Duncan wasn't allowed to touch a basketball all summer, and he also has been held back in training camp.
Your seeing probably what he'd look like in a pick up game in August.
12 rebounds still impressive against Okafor and West.
I must admit that I yelled at him for allowing that soaring, down-the-lane, dunk by Julian Wright. I didn't like how he moved out of the way and just let the guy score. However, I then realized it's only Game 1 and the Spurs were well on their way to a blowout.
Eh, tryin to block dunks isn't a huge concern with me. JMSO however.
I can see why you'd feel that way howeveah.
Timmy got packed by the bottom of the backboard. It wasn't one of his better games but bigmen don't typically start fast out of the blocks. He clearly had very little lift tonight but his rebounding was great.
That play annoyed me at first as well, but I also ended my thoughts like you did..Duncan really was giving minimal effort out there compared to what we'll get from a healthy Timmy later on..
preseason was Duncan's training camp, and the first few months of the regular season is going to be his preseason..
I can agree that it's possible he might just need a few weeks to become more fluid in games that count.
12 rebounds is fantastic but I don't think it's a good measuring stick as far as how he looked in general tonight.
If possible, I think he needs to become more assertive in the offense as the season progresses. If the Spurs use him as a rebounder and decoy for the entire season and then he tries to turn his offensive game on vs. the Lakers in the playoffs, it won't work. JVG is right, he has to be able to consistently score on Pau/Bynum/Odom. If those guys can relegate him to working hard for his points/sending him to the line and then neutralizing him, the Spurs have no shot. Duncan needs to have a clear advantage.
Exactly. I just don't want the guy getting hurt while he's rounding into shape.
The knee brace, while preventive, does look heavy and distracting. Sometimes, those things can be a psychological block. I wonder if it bothers him or limits him in any way? I also wonder if Tim, being the analytical type, will eventually move to something lighter and smaller?
no way to me he looked alot quicker just really out of bball shpe, did you see how many times he kept that ball alive? he almost went out of bounds getting a loose ball. i think hes just playing smart and remember pop said he was going to start out of shape as far as bball. his body is in shape but hes not in basketball rythm
For what it's worth, Duncan said it doesn't bother him. He tried several over the summer and settled on this one. He said it was bulky at first but now he doesn't really feel it.
i think duncan is playing to his compe ion right now to be honest. i think once he steps up to gasol or dirk its on. by the way mcdyess and the rest of the guys are talking it seems like timmy is saving his explosiveness until he actually needs it. i think its awesome he doesnt have to try so damn hard out there against crappy teams, we let the beast devour them until its time to bring out the timmy for the more experienced players
Good to know. Thanks for sharing.
For what it's worth, that brace looks like something that should be attached to an automobile.
You think thats bulky, check out the knee braces Sean Elliott had in his first year in the NBA.Good to know. Thanks for sharing.
For what it's worth, that brace looks like something that should be attached to an automobile.
Dude looked like he had prosthetic legs.
I remember those. Perhaps this is the 2009 model of that version.
FWIW, Duncan looked like this many times last year. In the playoffs how did he look, kick ass, especially in the elimination game.
No worries.
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