Very good recent, in depth analysis video of David Robinson’s game

[Ice009]

I guess a lot of us were the same age! I am a Spurs fan as well because of Robinson. While everyone is on the Bulls, Magic or Rockets, there were few spurs fans like me back then who chose and liked a team freely and not because everyone else is in the bandwagon. I am not from the US as well.

Interesting that a lot of us aren't in the US. At the time, most of my friends were also Bulls/Jordan fans, and yeah, friends and other people I knew that weren't Bulls fans usually also liked the Magic and Rockets.

[SpurPadre]

Chalk me up as another person without any San Antonio or Texas ties who became an eventual life-long Spurs fan because of The Admiral. I happened to change the channel one afternoon and tuned in to the Spurs vs. Suns in their 1993 playoff series and found myself awestruck by his play and how much he carried the team. Yeah, they lost that series in heartbreaking fashion but I instantly became a rabid fan of his and loved his character off the court as the classiest athlete I had ever seen. I never looked back. I regret not having watched him in the years before that but I only just became a basketball fan that year...and he was the reason why I even started liking basketball then as a 13 year old in San Francisco. I still believe he was the most talented Spurs player of All-Time whose strength of character still inspires the structure of the franchise to this very day.

[Ice009]

Dave was the reason I became a Spurs fan way back in '94 but I could always tell from watching Tim post up guys and the way he boxed out that Tim just had greater strength. Recently I watched game 2 of '01 WCF where Tim lit up the Lakers for 40 points but ended up losing to the Lakers. Tim guarded Shaq from the start of the game. One of the commentators mentions that Tim insisted that he wanted to guard Shaq and that to have Dave guard Grant/Horry. I found it interesting that Tim had more confidence in himself guarding Shaq then Dave but I think that had to do with Tim knowing he had greater strength to push Shaq out of his post up spots.

I still remember that game like it was yesterday. It was a tough loss as Tim played his ass off and I think he outplayed Shaq most of the time during our losses to the Lakers (game 3 and 4 of that series was the only time he wasn't great). It was usually Kobe that killed us as we didn't have anyone to keep him in check (just shows how deadly of a combination Shaq and Kobe were - too bad they didn't get along and let their egos ruin it. It really was fun going up against those guys). Spurs, most of the time did a fantastic job neutralizing prime Shaq (better than any other team in NBA history). Despite David not having the core strength to hold Shaq (he definitely had the upper body strength), I still recall him being one of the best Shaq defenders of the era. Where did you watch game 2? I thought I recalled David doing a great job on Shaq games 3 and 4 of that series (even though we were blown out), or maybe I'm thinking of the following season ('01/'02). The point is, David was a pretty great defender despite his lower body limitations.

Those of you that say he skipped leg days (it does look like that ) or have gym/weight lifting experience, do you guys think he could have actually improved his lower body strength? I don't know if there is anything he could have done as looking at his upper body, I'd seriously doubt he didn't also work on his legs when training/lifting weights (his upper body was amazing). I am guessing it was the makeup of his body that didn't allow him to do it. I thought I remember reading an article around the time when he was having his back issues, that the doctor said it's the way his body is built is what is leaving him susceptible to the lower body and back injuries. He just didn't have a big enough torso. You are right, though, about him not having the lower body strength to hold Shaq at bay (David did a lot of it with his upper body strength), and also his lower body probably wouldn't have helped him if he did want to be a post player.

The other reason I loved David is, he had no problem stepping aside for Tim on day one. I remember after Tim got to the Spurs, David and Tim has some practices together and he told people in the organization that Tim is already better than he is. I remember the person in the article said something like "what are you talking about David", as if, he couldn't believe that David would say that right away after only just practicing with the guy a few times. I wish those two could have played together longer, and/or had a better supporting cast while David was still playing. I loved that 2003 team. We only got to see D-Rob on a talented Spurs team for one season and I loved that season/team (not only for Tim Duncan's amazing season, but also because D-Rob got to finally play on a team with young/upcoming talent for the first time career - edit : I should add I never saw his rookie season team. I do know they had a lot of good talent too before it all fell apart).

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

As you can guess from my screen name, I’m a huge fan of David Robinson. Lol

Great thread and conversation about one of the best NBA players to grace this earth.

[daslicer]

I still remember that game like it was yesterday. It was a tough loss as Tim played his ass off and I think he outplayed Shaq most of the time during our losses to the Lakers (game 3 and 4 of that series was the only time he wasn't great). It was usually Kobe that killed us as we didn't have anyone to keep him in check (just shows how deadly of a combination Shaq and Kobe were - too bad they didn't get along and let their egos ruin it. It really was fun going up against those guys). Spurs, most of the time did a fantastic job neutralizing prime Shaq (better than any other team in NBA history). Despite David not having the core strength to hold Shaq (he definitely had the upper body strength), I still recall him being one of the best Shaq defenders of the era. Where did you watch game 2? I thought I recalled David doing a great job on Shaq games 3 and 4 of that series (even though we were blown out), or maybe I'm thinking of the following season ('01/'02). The point is, David was a pretty great defender despite his lower body limitations.

Those of you that say he skipped leg days (it does look like that ) or have gym/weight lifting experience, do you guys think he could have actually improved his lower body strength? I don't know if there is anything he could have done as looking at his upper body, I'd seriously doubt he didn't also work on his legs when training/lifting weights (his upper body was amazing). I am guessing it was the makeup of his body that didn't allow him to do it. I thought I remember reading an article around the time when he was having his back issues, that the doctor said it's the way his body is built is what is leaving him susceptible to the lower body and back injuries. He just didn't have a big enough torso. You are right, though, about him not having the lower body strength to hold Shaq at bay (David did a lot of it with his upper body strength), and also his lower body probably wouldn't have helped him if he did want to be a post player.

The other reason I loved David is, he had no problem stepping aside for Tim on day one. I remember after Tim got to the Spurs, David and Tim has some practices together and he told people in the organization that Tim is already better than he is. I remember the person in the article said something like "what are you talking about David", as if, he couldn't believe that David would say that right away after only just practicing with the guy a few times. I wish those two could have played together longer, and/or had a better supporting cast while David was still playing. I loved that 2003 team. We only got to see D-Rob on a talented Spurs team for one season and I loved that season/team (not only for Tim Duncan's amazing season, but also because D-Rob got to finally play on a team with young/upcoming talent for the first time career - edit : I should add I never saw his rookie season team. I do know they had a lot of good talent too before it all fell apart).

Originally when I first watched game 2 I was a senior in hschool. Recently I watched it again on youtube. It's a game I'm guilty of watching a bunch of times only because Tim looked so amazing in that game despite losing. Dave got lit up by Shaq badly in game 3. Shaq had 35 point on close to 70 percent shooting but to Daves credit he also had 24 points on 55 percent shooting. Shaq also lit up David in game 4 but I don't criticize Dave for not being able to contain him since he was past his prime by then. Dave did great job on Shaq in '99 when he was still in his prime. Dave earlier in his career also used to light up Shaq and that was the reason why I actually became a fan of Dave. I remember watching a magic game back in the spring of '94 on NBC and being in awe as a 10 year old watching Dave bust Shaq's ass. Dave couldn't counter Shaq's post ups like Tim but when he was healthy he was very good at using his quickness to force Shaq into turnovers and was very good at ball denial on Shaq.

The '03 team was my favorite championship team out of the 5. That season was magical for few reasons. Getting to see Dave go out on top was amazing. Seeing Tim win back to back MVP's along with seeing a new generation of spurs supporting cast in Parker/Manu/Bowen. The pieces were in a place to win multiple les in which they did. I do wish Dave's back could have held up longer and he could played a few years. I do believe with a healthy Dave the Spurs would have beaten the Lakers again in '04 despite them adding that ring Malone.

[DRob_50]

I still remember that game like it was yesterday. It was a tough loss as Tim played his ass off and I think he outplayed Shaq most of the time during our losses to the Lakers (game 3 and 4 of that series was the only time he wasn't great). It was usually Kobe that killed us as we didn't have anyone to keep him in check (just shows how deadly of a combination Shaq and Kobe were - too bad they didn't get along and let their egos ruin it. It really was fun going up against those guys). Spurs, most of the time did a fantastic job neutralizing prime Shaq (better than any other team in NBA history). Despite David not having the core strength to hold Shaq (he definitely had the upper body strength), I still recall him being one of the best Shaq defenders of the era. Where did you watch game 2? I thought I recalled David doing a great job on Shaq games 3 and 4 of that series (even though we were blown out), or maybe I'm thinking of the following season ('01/'02). The point is, David was a pretty great defender despite his lower body limitations.

Those of you that say he skipped leg days (it does look like that ) or have gym/weight lifting experience, do you guys think he could have actually improved his lower body strength? I don't know if there is anything he could have done as looking at his upper body, I'd seriously doubt he didn't also work on his legs when training/lifting weights (his upper body was amazing). I am guessing it was the makeup of his body that didn't allow him to do it. I thought I remember reading an article around the time when he was having his back issues, that the doctor said it's the way his body is built is what is leaving him susceptible to the lower body and back injuries. He just didn't have a big enough torso. You are right, though, about him not having the lower body strength to hold Shaq at bay (David did a lot of it with his upper body strength), and also his lower body probably wouldn't have helped him if he did want to be a post player.

The other reason I loved David is, he had no problem stepping aside for Tim on day one. I remember after Tim got to the Spurs, David and Tim has some practices together and he told people in the organization that Tim is already better than he is. I remember the person in the article said something like "what are you talking about David", as if, he couldn't believe that David would say that right away after only just practicing with the guy a few times. I wish those two could have played together longer, and/or had a better supporting cast while David was still playing. I loved that 2003 team. We only got to see D-Rob on a talented Spurs team for one season and I loved that season/team (not only for Tim Duncan's amazing season, but also because D-Rob got to finally play on a team with young/upcoming talent for the first time career - edit : I should add I never saw his rookie season team. I do know they had a lot of good talent too before it all fell apart).

It’s great seeing all these comments from fans who started following the Spurs at the beginning of the D-Rob era. Being outside of Texas, I always felt like the only Spurs fan around, everywhere I was.

Regarding your comment on lower body strength, he might have been at a disadvantage due to having disproportionately long legs and a shorter torso. I can relate from personal experience, it takes a lot more leg work with those proportions (Though I’m 6’5 not 7’1” lol) to build a balanced physique. As a result, I’m also something of a leg day skipper myself lol.

[J_Paco]

Ben Taylor is easily the best NBA podcaster/Youtuber out there. Someone put me on to his site (backpicks.com), YouTube channel (Thinking Basketball), podcast (same name as channel) and book (same name as channel & book).

He is essentially the TiMVP of the NBA commentating community, IMO.

Note: He'll also be covering Timmy in a few weeks as he goes through the "greatest peaks in NBA history."

[lefty]

Ben Taylor is easily the best NBA podcaster/Youtuber out there. Someone put me on to his site (backpicks.com), YouTube channel (Thinking Basketball), podcast (same name as channel) and book (same name as channel & book).

He is essentially the TiMVP of the NBA commentating community, IMO.

Note: He'll also be covering Timmy in a few weeks as he goes through the "greatest peaks in NBA history."

[Thomas82]

Great video. Shows his faults and strengths very well. Thanks for posting. DRob was a force but could’ve been even better with a Rod Strickland instead of Avery. :P

You can thank Red McCombs for that one.

[gilmor]

Most important DRob's role - Mentoring Tim. And no ego issue whatsoever.