hopefully he's just waiting for the playoffs to begin...
He's just in a slump
He's declining as the season goes on
He's just waiting for the playoffs to begin
Without wanting to make too much of Duncan's pisspoor performance against the Lakers on Sunday, I have to admit he's had a couple subpar games in a row in the last two weeks. Is this a slump, or a sign of him wearing down for the season? Or is he holding out some reserve for the playoffs, as he has been so good at doing throughout his career?
hopefully he's just waiting for the playoffs to begin...
this and slump...
2 points twice in three games against the Lakers.
How could anyone in their right mind say he's saving it for the playoffs?
This is who Tim Duncan is now, in his twilight. The man's had a great career but you're kidding yourself if you think yesterday, against the league's biggest and most talented frontline he's thinking "I could play harder but I'm not gonna go all out today, I'll save it for the playoffs."
The Lakers are the biggest obstacle in his way from ever winning again. He knows that. Pop knows that and deep down every Spurs fan knows it whether or not yall wanna acknowledge it.
So yesterday, on your home court for all to see, do you really think he packed it in? I saw that stone cold face of reality plastered on his mug in the 2nd half and in my opinion it was his own confirmation of what we all knew before this season even started; He's no longer dominant player in the middle he needs to be in order for SA to beat LA.
Yeah, Lakers front line clearly gives him trouble. Though, he often has a whole other gear he kicks it into in the playoffs, and I suspect even against the Lakers we'll see some of this. Also, I suspect we'll see Pop playing with defensive rotations more.
The reality is, Duncan can't go at the Lakers front line if Manu, Tony, and the role players aren't making outside shots. And Sunday, they weren't making any of them. The reason for the first two wins against the Lakers is that that wasn't the case.
LOL at the overconfidence of Lakers fans...
Regarding his career and his decline, I take solace in this:
"There really isn’t any diplomatic way to this: Tim Duncan’s playoff performances essentially run circles over Kobe Bryant’s."
http://www.warriorsworld.net/2011/02...-debate-close/
So Duncan's done. The Spurs season is nothing more than an illusion masked by successful 3p chucking a la the Suns but you take solace in the opinion that Duncan's playoff performances "runs circles" [around] Kobe's.
I take solace in the fact that Kobe can only add to his already legendary career.
TBH, he isn't in a slump... IMO, the Lakers have a huge size advantage and do a good job of bodying Duncan and forcing him to pass the ball out of the low post. He really doesn't get many good looks.
No one in Lakerland is conducting polls as to whether Kobe Bryant is "done."
Gain a little perspective.
Lol @ midnightpulp being able to talk about the game honestly in this thread too. Resorted to trolling about Duncan vs Kobe because he is an emotionally invested who also happens to be deranged.
But they don't chuck. Visit that thread in the NBA forum to see how I once again wrecked your ass.
Cry some more. This is exactly the kind of reply I expected when I posted that article, and the reply I wanted, actually. You can't stand the fact that many people out there believe Duncan to be the better player between the two. If basketball fans don't conform to your opinion that Kobe is greater than Duncan, they're "fanboys" and "deluded."
And watching your whine about it is highly entertaining.
Gotta love history2b. The guy doesn't even post under his old username anymore because it got on so much. The Spurs are so irrelevant that he creates multiple usernames on a Spurs forum.
As far as Duncan, he's obviously in decline and not just saving it for the playoffs. He's still capable of going for 20+ and 15 rebounds on any given night, but i don't think it's smart to depend on it. Duncan can still perform against good front lines (Mavs and Celtics) but Andrew Bynum has the length, athleticism and strength to take Duncan out of the game offensively. It's difficult to really judge Duncan's current ability against a healthy Bynum because Bynum has always been a tough matchup for him. He should be matching up with Gasol...but having a 6'6" center makes that impossible.
In last 20 games duncan hit double digits in scoring 16 times. Obviously he has bad games once in a while. Who doesn't? Plus he doesn't need to score as much as he used to, due to the depth of the spurs. Lakers shot well, and if they were always this good, they wouldn't be fighting thunder for the 3 seed.
Nothing wrong with Duncan, he just doesn't have a matchup he can take advantage of when he plays the Lakers.
Rest of the league : 28.7 minutes per game.
13.5 PPG
9.2 RPG
2 BPG
.488 FG%
vs the Lakers (3 gms) : 28.3 minutes per game.
4 PPG
6.3 RPG
0.7 BPG
.192 FG%
The sad thing is this is meant to be a positive argument for Duncan. Making 5 shots a game shouldn't be that hard for Timmy.
The last few years, there's always talk about reducing TDs regular season minutes so he's fresher for the playoffs. This is old news, but if they REALLY wanted to keep him fresh for the playoffs, they should have acquired a defensive big with some length to play along side him. I just think they're asking him to do too much defensively. The Spurs have basically played the entire season with one center.
funny stuff
but seriously, (SRSLY), he is just biding his time until he becomes more powerful than we could ever imagine
True. Bynum is younger, fresher, stronger and more athletic. Duncan has more talent, but even that is negated since he's arthritic. We need a big like a Nazr Mohammed (sigh) to body guys like Bynum up.
Duncan will average 17+ and 10+ in the playoffs. Book it.
I don't think some people realize the offense Pop is running. Its not Duncan-friendly, but at the same time, it is. It benefits Duncan in that he doesn't have to do much except set some screens and shoot a bank shot every now and then. On defense, obviously he struggles a bit sometimes, but think about how long and athletic some of those guys are that he goes up against. I'm not saying Duncan is going to put up 28 pts, 12 rbs, and 4 blocks per game in the playoffs, I know hes declining, but he's not done. He's been very limited this year.
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