Duncan wrests focus from Dirk
Spotlight shifts from Mavs' Nowitzki to ageless Spurs center, a force in Game 2
By Jeff Caplan
ESPNDallas.com
After every game, Dallas Mavericks head video coordinator Mike Shedd hand-delivers game film on DVD to each player. Before Shedd could stretch his hand out to give a copy of Game 2 to Brendan Haywood sitting at his locker, the center swiftly countered, "I don't need one, Shedd."
Just as quickly, Shedd recoiled his hand and the video guru was gone without a word. Haywood had seen enough of Tim Duncan for one night.
"No, there's nothing really to take to the memory bank," the 7-footer said after Duncan victimized him for 10 fourth-quarter points, eight on four consecutive possessions that put the San Antonio Spurs back in control of a series-evening, 102-88 victory. "It's not like he kept beating me for dunks or he kept getting low-post position. He took the shots that I wanted him to take, but he hit them."
Duncan is on fire, canning a variety of shots from all angles, whether he's beating single coverage with a strong move, or defying a swarm in the paint by getting off an impossible-looking shot. Or he'll riddle a trapping defense with outlet passes to a perimeter filled with 3-point shooters.
"That's kind of what he wants," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "That's what they play all season long with him just having 16, 17, 18 points, but getting all the shooters involved."
It's a big problem for the Mavericks, who surrendered the home-court edge Wednesday and now head to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday night and Game 4 on Sunday.
If the Mavs' two big men, Haywood and Erick Dampier, who found plenty of pine time in Game 2 after registering a minus-20 in 22 minutes, can't figure out a way to slow the ageless Duncan, they might rename River City, Party City -- not only is it fiesta time in San Antonio, but Duncan turns 34 on Sunday.
After he hobbled around on aching knees during last season's first-round series dominated by the Mavs, logged a career-low minutes this season and was continually reminded of his deteriorating scoring average for a second season after the All-Star break, Duncan has reintroduced the Mavs and their eager newcomer from the Eastern Conference to Playoff Timmy.
Nowitzki was hailed for his Game 1 flirtation with perfection, but it's now Duncan through two games who is dictating this series. The 6-11 power forward has averaged 38 minutes, 26.0 points on 59.0 percent shooting, and 12.5 rebounds.
"I'm feeling pretty energized," Duncan said after his monster 25-point, 17-rebound effort in Game 2.
Coming into the series, the Mavs felt they had as good a defensive tag team as any to push on Duncan. Not that the plodding, 265-pound Dampier and the livelier Haywood were going to shut Duncan down, but they would definitely make him work.
And they have. Duncan's just been better.
"Hey, he has a bunch of moves," Haywood said. "You take away his first move and his second move, he scores on his third counter and you just have to tip your hat to the guy and that's what we had to do [in Game 2]."
Dampier, who reclaimed his starting job from Haywood in early April, played 30 minutes in Game 1 and got the call in crunch time. He finished with five points and 12 rebounds. Roles were reversed in Game 2 with Haywood playing 26 minutes and all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter. Despite Duncan's brilliance late, Haywood still finished a plus-6, with two points and eight rebounds.
However, the fourth quarter was a demolition. Duncan had 10 points and five rebounds, including three offensive boards, while Haywood tallied a single defensive rebound.
Come Game 3, coach Rick Carlisle will probably continue to divvy up the minutes by feel.
"A lot of times it'll be a flip of the coin, really," Carlisle said.
When Game 2 grew uncomfortably close for the Spurs at 89-84 after leading 80-60, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich called for No. 21 on four consecutive possessions. Three minutes later, the only player on the roster who's hoisted all four NBA les made it 97-84.
"We went to Tim just about every other time down the stretch, and he came through by scoring and rebounding at the other end," Popovich said. "He's always that guy that gets taken for granted because he's been doing that for so many years, just being an anchor for us."
Haywood was left humbled and with no excuses, while Carlisle was left to study film and come up with an answer -- if there is one.
"We have to make adjustments on the fly," said Caron Butler, Haywood's longtime teammate in Washington. "We have to look at his touches and where he's getting the ball, and you know he's a tough cover. He's a guy that can get it done night in and night out. I don't think nobody ever figured it out."
Perhaps the reason Haywood declined Shedd's DVD.
That's what he wants you to think. He's just getting what he wants to get, while making you think you're making him do what you want to do...
Anyway, isn't that basically the story of Duncan's career? Everyone thinks they're dictating his shot selection or on-court actions, when he's just so damn multi-faceted it really doesn't matter, he's going to take what you give him and kill you with it.
haywood hes as y as they come ... and in game 2 he could not show off coz theyre losing hahaha
"I don't think nobody ever figured it out."
Did this guy go to college - or even high school? I guess English wasn't his best subject. That's another area where Duncan totally outshines him!!!
Timmy!
glad haywood didn't take the game tape.... expect much of the same thing from timmy tomorrow night!
love this from Haywood, not like Timmy is the best PF of all time or anything. Sure, you dominated him Brendon and just got unlucky
please keep thinking that way for 3 more games
So Haywood thinks he's dictating what Duncan does. Can you believe this prick?
you and your inability to learn from the past, Haywood. Enjoy getting your ass torched AGAIN by the Big Fundamental.
When the Mavs had Diop, they had a much more physical defender capable of making Timmy work a lot harder than Dampier and Haywood.
Haywood hasn't played against a big man of Tim's caliber when he was with the Wizards. Now he's experiencing first-hand getting humiliated by the greatest PF to play the game
"I don't give them no respect. None."
~ Jerome James, Seattle Supersonics, 2005
Haywood seems like a but I don't know much about him because he's been irrelevant almost his entire career. A player of very little consequence to a real team. Lol Wizards.
hahahaha what a ing tool. Is he even in the league any more?
He's in his last year on the lucrative 30+ million dollar deal Isaiah Thomas gave him in New York. Here's a picture of him during Media Day this year in his Chicago uni after he got traded from NY to Chicago in the Larry Hughes deal...
Talk about work ethic...
He's in his last year on the lucrative 30+ million dollar deal Isaiah Thomas gave him in New York. Here's a picture of him during Media Day this year in his Chicago uni after he got traded from NY to Chicago in the Larry Hughes deal...
Talk about work ethic...
Disgusting.
+1, I was thinking the same thing.
I'm sure we will find out later that Jerome James and Brendan Haywood were twins separated at birth.
Yikes. I sure as hope that Jerome is sending Isiah Thomas something nice for his birthday every year.He's in his last year on the lucrative 30+ million dollar deal Isaiah Thomas gave him in New York. Here's a picture of him during Media Day this year in his Chicago uni after he got traded from NY to Chicago in the Larry Hughes deal...
Talk about work ethic...
I hope Duncan schools this idiot again.
Oh, snap.
Anybody got that pic of him loading his locker into a garbage back after the Spurs sent him fishing in 2005?
No doubt Tim Duncan was the best player on the court in game 2.
And though you expect him to win his matchup if he's singled up on Haywood, it's a little troubling to hear Haywood say that Duncan took the shots Haywood wanted him to take.
Basically Duncan was able to back Haywood down to anywhere he wanted. At least with Dampier, he can win the position battle every now and then.
lol Haywood. Duncan rarely posts up any more bro. Those 15 footers are the shots he has settled on for the last few seasons
I love watching Duncan when he's feeling it.
"Here? Okay. I can hit a shot from here."
basket
"What about there? You want me there? That's cool."
basket
"I don't like this spot, I'm going to amble over here, if that's alright."
basket
"From here? All the way out here? But the paint is so far away! Here Tony, have a layup on me."
assist
"Christ, three of you? That's too much damn work; I'm old. Somebody hit a corner 3."
assist
dont quote like you know anything about our team Diop was NOT physical at all. Thats why he's in Charlotte now. Stupid comment Raspsa
what has Haywood ever won again?
Haywood is an idiot, nothing new here.
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