Is this the Tim Duncan Farewell Tour?

[sasaint]

Wow. At the start of the season I thought he had another year at least left in him. Now I hope he can just play his stellar D for the rest of this season.

It would be fitting for Tim and Kobe to end their careers in the same season - with Kobe dragging his team into the abyss on his personal farewell tour, and Timmy helping his team to another championship before quietly retiring in the offseason. Perfectly contrasting ends to perfectly contrasting careers.

Given his decline, I think it is time to experiment by moving Tim to the second unit and playing West with the first unit.

[lil'mo]

You are dumb

[exstatic]

You are dumb

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Vous est stupide

[Russo21]

Tim has been missing a lot of 'bunnies' this season. Shooting 51% somehow but geez he's missing a lot of layups and little floaters, reminiscent of the one he missed over Battier in the 2013 Finals. Still one of the best big men in the NBA but he has to start knocking down those easy uncontested shots he's been missing.

[tmtcsc]

[100%duncan]

[Obstructed_View]

Who gives a ? Timmy doesn't need accolades or adoration. I fully expect to see him walk off the court in the middle of a game sometime next year or the year after, followed quickly by a press release that Duncan has retired and Pop has hired him as an assistant coach.

[SAGirl]

Given his decline, I think it is time to experiment by moving Tim to the second unit and playing West with the first unit.

There will be some trolling here from usual suspects.

I have read your posts and I know you are a true fan and mean this question as an honest talking point.

I think Pop has played Lamarcus as a Center with West as PF when Timmy sits, so Pop is doing his own experimenting. Lamarcus is obviously not as good as Timmy protecting the rim, so Pop prefers to play Timmy with LMA whenever he can and Timmy is having a good game.

Also, the coaching of Boban has picked up. Boban has been up and down and has improved from his preseason appearances, as well as early season, but he's obviously still a project with a lot to learn defensively.

I think Pop will play Tim as he did with Lakers. If he's struggling, he will be benched, but I think in general Pop doesn't think anyone else is ready to provide the defense that Timmy still provides so he will play and if he's struggling Pop will make adjustments.

I want to read others opinions on this too. Its a curious subject bc Timmy complicates spacing as his shot is gone and his PnR is also complicated, bc he sets good screens but they don't have to guard him all the way out in the paint. Almost feels sacrilegeous talking about Timmy this way...

[raybies]

There will be some trolling here from usual suspects.

I have read your posts and I know you are a true fan and mean this question as an honest talking point.

I think Pop has played Lamarcus as a Center with West as PF when Timmy sits, so Pop is doing his own experimenting. Lamarcus is obviously not as good as Timmy protecting the rim, so Pop prefers to play Timmy with LMA whenever he can and Timmy is having a good game.

Also, the coaching of Boban has picked up. Boban has been up and down and has improved from his preseason appearances, as well as early season, but he's obviously still a project with a lot to learn defensively.

I think Pop was upset in this Lakers game bc none of his big men were entirely doing well. Timmy struggled and was benched politely. Boban had his chance and he also struggled. Kyle had a chance, he hesitated on taking a shot, plus the unit had bad issues rebounding/defending and he was benched. Rasual did the best bc he was scrappy and hitting his shots, but what really opened the game up was Manu, Patty and Danny playing scrappy defense forcing TO and getting easy baskets. In reality Pop never found a big men combination that worked really well for the bench.

I could share insight about others (the new players are my favorite subjects to talk about), but this thread is about Timmy.

I think Pop will play him as he did with Lakers. If he's struggling, he will be benched, but I think in general Pop doesn't think anyone else is ready to provide the defense that Timmy still provides so he will play and if he's struggling Pop will make adjustments.

I want to read others opinions on this too. Its a curious subject bc Timmy complicates spacing as his shot is gone and his PnR is also complicated, bc he sets good screens but they don't have to guard him all the way out in the paint. Almost feels sacrilegeous talking about Timmy this way...

Was thinking the same thing too. Duncan isn't hitting that top of the key shot ever now. In the playoffs that will be exposed. With all the new guys that have their strengths I think you live with the Tony 3 and the Timmy 15footer. That's what I'd do. I love Timmy but I don't think he can possibly do this for one more year. And the more he gets exposed the more it will resonate with him. If he wasn't so dominant on D heck he might of retired already. Do you think he would ever play one more year but off the bench? I think if it came to that he might realize what that means. Teams already see him as a weakness attacking him on pick and rolls and such but he actually defends it pretty well. But just watching him move, he's slowly getting more stiffer lol We'll see though. The playoffs will be the deciding factor and if he wins I think he goes out like Robinson. On top of the world. And if that happens I think manu goes out with him and maybe west. Then it hits me like that thread "too good to be true" we have it good and should just enjoy every second of this cause it's not gonna last forever. We truly are spoiled. Greatest pf of all time.

[sasaint]

There will be some trolling here from usual suspects.

I have read your posts and I know you are a true fan and mean this question as an honest talking point.

I think Pop has played Lamarcus as a Center with West as PF when Timmy sits, so Pop is doing his own experimenting. Lamarcus is obviously not as good as Timmy protecting the rim, so Pop prefers to play Timmy with LMA whenever he can and Timmy is having a good game.

Also, the coaching of Boban has picked up. Boban has been up and down and has improved from his preseason appearances, as well as early season, but he's obviously still a project with a lot to learn defensively.

I think Pop will play Tim as he did with Lakers. If he's struggling, he will be benched, but I think in general Pop doesn't think anyone else is ready to provide the defense that Timmy still provides so he will play and if he's struggling Pop will make adjustments.

I want to read others opinions on this too. Its a curious subject bc Timmy complicates spacing as his shot is gone and his PnR is also complicated, bc he sets good screens but they don't have to guard him all the way out in the paint. Almost feels sacrilegeous talking about Timmy this way...

Interesting that nobody has commented at all on my own quote - just my comment.

But one way to look at the Spurs as they have developed over the last several seasons is this: They have 3 units: 1st Unit, 2nd Unit, Finishers. The job of the 1st unit is to beat most of the other first units and hold its own against the others. The job of the 2nd unit is to crush the other team's 2nd unit. The job of the Finishers is to do whatever is necessary to win. Manu found out this long ago, and has been very happy with and excellent at being a crusher. Most of the teams in the league have the opposite mentality: 1st unit is big guns to blow the opponent away; 2nd unit is not so good, so they hope they can just hold their own (most 2nd units are there to not let leads diminish TOO MUCH). Most teams do not have coaching and strategizing like the Spurs do. They have literally turned the game inside out. It is no disgrace to play on the Spurs' 2nd unit.

[sasaint]

Was thinking the same thing too. Duncan isn't hitting that top of the key shot ever now. In the playoffs that will be exposed. With all the new guys that have their strengths I think you live with the Tony 3 and the Timmy 15footer. That's what I'd do. I love Timmy but I don't think he can possibly do this for one more year. And the more he gets exposed the more it will resonate with him. If he wasn't so dominant on D heck he might of retired already. Do you think he would ever play one more year but off the bench? I think if it came to that he might realize what that means. Teams already see him as a weakness attacking him on pick and rolls and such but he actually defends it pretty well. But just watching him move, he's slowly getting more stiffer lol We'll see though. The playoffs will be the deciding factor and if he wins I think he goes out like Robinson. On top of the world. And if that happens I think manu goes out with him and maybe west. Then it hits me like that thread "too good to be true" we have it good and should just enjoy every second of this cause it's not gonna last forever. We truly are spoiled. Greatest pf of all time.

I suspect West returns, period - maybe especially if Tim hangs 'em up.

[raybies]

To answer the question, yes imo this is his farewell tour.

[Spurtacular]

Was thinking the same thing too. Duncan isn't hitting that top of the key shot ever now.

Don't know why people keep bringing this up. Tim stopped shooting the top of the key shot a couple seasons back as the offense was transitioning away from that. Tim rarely takes this type of shot early in the shot clock. If he does, it's in the first or second quarter almost like a warm-up shot.

[SAGirl]

I love Timmy but I don't think he can possibly do this for one more year. And the more he gets exposed the more it will resonate with him. If he wasn't so dominant on D heck he might of retired already. Do you think he would ever play one more year but off the bench? I think if it came to that he might realize what that means. Teams already see him as a weakness attacking him on pick and rolls and such but he actually defends it pretty well. But just watching him move, he's slowly getting more stiffer lol We'll see though. we have it good and should just enjoy every second of this cause it's not gonna last forever. We truly are spoiled. Greatest pf of all time.

I agree with you, he's slowed obviously, but what has surprised me is the number of 3 second violations he still gets called out on, bc he's slow moving in and out of the paint, and even setting screens sometimes. As long as he could get it done in the paint though, Timmy is gold bc of his defense combined with his hook shots, those are unblockable. He's just lately not scoring well, missing stuff he used to make, having trouble with centers (even against Love he struggled except at the end of the game), many centers give him a ton of trouble (Hibbert scoring over him like he's some all-star), he just can't prevent these guys from getting in their spots like he used to. Its tough to see him decline.

But one way to look at the Spurs as they have developed over the last several seasons is this: They have 3 units: 1st Unit, 2nd Unit, Finishers. The job of the 1st unit is to beat most of the other first units and hold its own against the others. The job of the 2nd unit is to crush the other team's 2nd unit. The job of the Finishers is to do whatever is necessary to win. Manu found out this long ago, and has been very happy with and excellent at being a crusher. Most of the teams in the league have the opposite mentality: 1st unit is big guns to blow the opponent away; 2nd unit is not so good, so they hope they can just hold their own (most 2nd units are there to not let leads diminish TOO MUCH). Most teams do not have coaching and strategizing like the Spurs do. They have literally turned the game inside out. It is no disgrace to play on the Spurs' 2nd unit.

That is a nice analysis. I think the unsolvable issue is that no one we have can provide Timmy's rim protection and we are a defensive minded team. I don't think Pop switches him at all. In a way he's like Danny, in the defensive aspect that is. When your best asset is defense, you are probably better with the starting unit, and then strategically reinforcing the bench as needed (Danny's case more as he's younger and can play more, but you get my point).

I am thinking Timmy will retire. I called it in the game thread and I have just had a "feeling" about it. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer or contrarian or anything. It's a legit feeling. It won't go on forever, maybe one more season is what I am telling myself, and I think we all are, but that is a way to deceive yourself from knowing when this one is it.

No matter how much preparation we do, when they retire we are in for a rude awakening. Because they are here, we have drafted and developed a lot of guys that are elsewhere. We will have to develop and live through growing pains, including the very real question Kawhi will have to answer: whether he can really carry this franchise when Tim/Manu retire.

From there on, the youngster we have and the 2 rookies. They have potential but will struggle games. They are no HoF players. That is why its unfair to compare them to Tim/Manu. It will be growing pains. I believe in them, but it will be growing pains.

[SAGirl]

I suspect West returns, period - maybe especially if Tim hangs 'em up.

agree on this. We have loved him and I bet PATFO too.

[Obstructed_View]

Don't know why people keep bringing this up. Tim stopped shooting the top of the key shot a couple seasons back as the offense was transitioning away from that. Tim rarely takes this type of shot early in the shot clock. If he does, it's in the first or second quarter almost like a warm-up shot.

There are about three reasons to take that shot, and those reasons only come up every four or five games.

[Spurtacular]

This thread is shameful, tbh.

[Slomo]

vous êtes stupide

Agree with the opinion, disagree with the grammar

[Gagnrath]

Perhaps. If the Spurs win a ring yes definitely. Otherwise I think that it becomes very dependent on both how he is feeling towards the end of the season and how compe ive his play is against the mid level players in the league. I don't see him staying at the point where it becomes a struggle or a good day for him to win hiS head to head matchup with the average starter in the league. He at this point in his career has to put in to much work and suffering with his bad knees to merely be thought of as average.

[Brazil]

Smh

Tim is fine and Spurs are fine... First unit is holding nicely stuff with net positive rating, second unit is tearing apart opponents... Why in would you change that to move Tim in second unit ? It is already complicated to integrate in the team LMA, to make room for superstar Kawhi, for players to get used new roles like TP, to develop boban, to fit west into second unit.... Yeah why not middle of the season change again everything and acclimate Tim on second unit... Smh

people have no clue

tim is still among best Spurs player and fans are crying cauz you know he cannot shoot that top of the key shot he doesn't take anymore... Dear god people, use your brain.

for the rest nobody knows what he will do but for as far as I'm concerned he can do the he wants and I'll take this Tim version for another year in a heartbeat

[Agloco]

There are about three reasons to take that shot, and those reasons only come up every four or five games.

I'd argue that those reasons will become more frequent in the playoffs. For the record though, I don't think that shot is broken. More like playing a bit of possum.

[Agloco]

Agree with the opinion, disagree with the grammar

168/7.3 is incapable of making grammatical errors.

[313]

Win or not, I think he retires after this year. Same with Manu. Glad I got to see them live their last time here in Detroit.

[EVAY]

I would like to see Tim come back for another year, and I believe that he is capable of doing it. What I don't know is if he will.

Thus, to the OP question: It may well be. I hope not, but it will be up to him.

Manu? I believe he is going to hang it up after this year. He has hinted in a couple of interviews that it is so much harder to get over the little things (getting knocked around) than it used to be, and he doesn't look like he is having a good time when he is talking about it. I love Manu and would love to see him come back with Timmy next year.

I just have the feeling that neither of them will. Hope to high heaven I am wrong.