Duncan trying to figure out new role with Spurs

[Old School 44]

Nice article on Duncan and the transition to his new role. The last part is so telling. Manu has gone through the same thing. Tony is still "resisting".

"As an individual, you have to try not to fight it," Duncan said of the transition. "We're all compe ors and we all want to do what we've always done. But you have to understand what's best for the team, and I think we're all here for that. So it's just about accepting that, finding your niche and your new role."

That's not as easy as Duncan made it sound, and he even admitted to resisting somewhat.

"I always resist it," Duncan said. "Yeah, absolutely. But it is what it is. If I didn't resist it, I wouldn't be a compe or and I wouldn't be where I am. You just have to kind of play through it, and know it's what's best for the team. Eventually, it's what's best for you, too."

Full article.

[Kawhi 5-0]

Awesome! Yes, Manu really set the tone for this by accepting bench role. It's really a genius strategy to not have all your big guns in at first. Green benefitted from the confidence of starting. Mills, Manu, Boris, West...that's a great second unit. Then you have Bonner as the bunker buster in case you need to clear space in the lane. Same thing with Boban: bunker buster in case the opposition refuses to go small. If you add Kyle to that 2nd unit you have three amazing passers (including Diaw and Ginobili). The natural scorers would seem to be Patty and West. Manu in pick and roll with West could be great.

I think Tony could potentially come off the bench.
I think Timmy would (though that would mean either a really small starting front court or Boban as a starter...yikes).

[Old School 44]

It's a tough thing to transition to a lesser role when you've been "the man" throughout your career. Duncan's done this almost seamlessly. Hat's off to David who did it before him.

[Russ]

If you're asking for a five minute stretch, he's still the best player on the team.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

If you're asking for a five minute stretch, he's still the best player on the team.

even a 10 minute stretch, honestly


82 games of 40 minutes? Nah. But Pop has never done that to him. Nor will he do it to LMA. It's not the Spurs' way.

[SupremeGuy]

If you're asking for a five minute stretch, he's still the best player on the team.

Playoff Duncan is still the best player on the team and one of the best players in the league.

[Brazil]

If you're asking for a five minute stretch, he's still the best player on the team.

it's not like he was not the best player of the entire serie against the clippers

5 mn

[TheGreatYacht]

[random21]

If you're asking for a five minute stretch, he's still the best player on the team.

#truth

[DarrinS]

I love me some Matt Barnes

fify