Ask any GM/coach the following question:
If you have to pick one player from the current team, who would you take?
I would say the majority would pick Tim Duncan.
I actually agree with Nikos here... Bowen is a very important player defensively, but the Spurs defense is anchored with Tim Duncan.
I was very keen regarding this precise point during last year's playoffs. Duncan offensive output could be replaced by committee with the emergence of TP, Manu and the bench (including Finley, Horry, Barry and Beno). Duncan is completely irreplaceable on the defensive end though.
Do you really agree he's been more valuable than Tony? I'd take Tim over anyone in the league (except maybe Amare and King James).
tony deserves the recognition as the spurs' mvp, but in our hearts i think we know that the spurs are tim duncan; they've always been, and even hobbled he still is. Tony has stepped up so much that he deserves recognition as the MVP, but I think that Tim Duncan is still what the Spurs are about. :-) and I'm glad that it's still that.
i think a good example of my point would be the Clippers game at Los Angeles, we didn't look that horrible without TP. even though he's a huge part of what we do.
No offense to Tony who's done a stellar job at tightening up the Spurs slack, with him we haven't skipped a beat even with Tim and Manu down....Other teams aren't that fortunate.
HOWEVER, until the playoffs come around and Tony becomes this unstoppable offensive machine like Stoudamire or Manu last year, we shouldn't jump the gun in crowning him yet. Regular Season success is ALL TALK; it gets the sportswriters talking, it gets the fans something to chat about because there's nothing else going on at the time. Suns and Kings are proof that talk is cheap.
If you want to really consider MVP then look at the games when key players were out. When Manu was out in December the Win/Loss ratio was probably the worst til we got him back. Then you got Tim out in February and they became a totally offensive team against the CRAPTORS! that was more embarassing. And it was a close game. With Tony out last week or so. They didn't really miss him.
Tim is the MVP because he changes the game the most regardless if he sucks his presence is there. Who's the real number 2 option debate is stupid because Tony's just a scorer right now. His defense is solid but he doesn't really do much without the ball in his hand like Tim and Manu, who distract defenses and make key plays. I'm sorry but after last year's playoff rep, Manu has had his share of double teams like Tim. It's that much harder this year with Tim AND Manu on the floor regardless if they were only 60 percent this year. Against the Pistons defense, they know how to shut down Tony's layups, and we've yet to see how Tony will adjust to their defense.
Tony's still really young so I still see him as a work in progress. This isn't the Lakers where people pick and choose. You root for everyone's strengths on the Spurs.
Tim Duncan as MVP is a stretch. Of course Tim Duncan is our franchise player that has not really been as clutch as he can be if healthy.
Personality contest aside - Tony has been most improved and relatively healthy.
We don't have the luxury of seeing an extended period of him being out.
He is starting to extend his range slightly to the 3 point range. Once that is second nature - he will be demanding double teams. Defenses have a hard time stopping him from dancing thru the paint.
Tim has really played well thru PF and has done one of a great job. Demanding double teams, etc.
I think the playoffs will be the true test - we know it could be either one.
Manu has streaks of brilliance but not MVP as of yet. I am afraid of another tweaked ankle and he is out for a while.
Basically - this rant is about Tony as being the MVP based on his current performance.
haha, i think i just owned your ass. when you stick to non-stop cussing and insults, you just got owned you homer. why dont you PROVE why Parker is the team MVP, instead of just throwing insults? BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.
oh, and your grammar is quite bad. "...but if you think Tony Parker has not be the #1 reason..."
has not BE??? what the is that?
next...
My grammar is bad? Look at you, you can't even capitalize your words.
Tony Parker is averaging more points than Tim, has more 30 point games than him, and has carried the team when needed. Tim's not doing the scoring, and Tim's not beating the other PG's to the rim, Tony Parker is. Tony Parker is finally starting to be consistent with his midrange game while Tim Duncan has lost his bank shot, Tony shoots a better FT% than Tim and Tony also has a higher FG% than him.
What the else do you want? For Tony to school Terry's ass tomorrow? Tim Duncan is this franchise, but with his injuries, Tony has been our MVP. And if anyone really think Tim is the MVP with the way he's playing, than we're in trouble come playoff time.
And v2000, do everyone on this forum, shut the up, and go put Dirk's back in your mouth because no one here likes you and your takes absolutely suck more than Keith Van Horn.
Duncan has been pretty horrible on defense this year. Thus if you took Bowen of the Spurs this season, the whole defensive system would go down the drain and they'd suck. I'm standing by that statement. Even though v2000doesn't think I know anything about basketball.
Kori only writes for the Spurs and follows them, what does she know about basketball from some re ed Mav fan, right?
i dont capitalize because i dont want to. but there is a big difference between capitalization, which very few people do over the internet, and complete grammar problems.
you CLEARLY lack knowledge of basketball. maybe you should try PLAYING the game a little more, then you would understand how much Tim Duncan really helps Tony Parker. anyone that has really played basketball and truly understands the game knows how helpful it is to have a dominant big man inside, absorbing double and triple teams.
again, you have to resort to non-stop insults. give it up. you = my .
no, you clearly dont, if you say that without Bowen, the Spurs would suck. what are you going to do? ban me because im a mavs fan, and pointing out that you, along with a NUMBER of people here CLEARLY lack knowledge of the game? the only way you will truly understand the game is if you PLAY it.Duncan has been pretty horrible on defense this year. Thus if you took Bowen of the Spurs this season, the whole defensive system would go down the drain and they'd suck. I'm standing by that statement. Even though v2000
If Duncan is playing horrible D like he has been this season and Bowen wasn't here, then how would the Spurs still be good defensively?
And if the Spurs aren't good defensively, then how would they still be a good team?
A Tony, Manu, Mike, Timmy, Nazr lineup is not a good team ?
Not defensively.
When Tim's 100% then sure it's good. But Tim hasn't been a good defender all season.
You said that if they are not good defensively then they are not good.
The defense is spurs problem this year and I'm mad because they didn't pick it up and it's 2 weeks to tyhe playoffs. Seven games. Not much time fr Pop. Accualy - no time.
Duncan has NOT been playing horrible D. sure, its not as good as its been in the past, but its still better than almost all PFs in the league. quit trying to exaggerate his injury. I havent seen him miss any games because of it. he has only missed one game all year.
Duncan has played great defense compared to my favorite player.
He has played horrible D compared to his normal D.
His injury isn't something that was going to get better by resting a few weeks or even a month, so they didn't sit him out.
yea, horrible D for him is still better than almost all PF's in the league. hes fine. maybe a LITTLE tweaked up, but thats it. he is still the best PF in the game today.
Duncan's defense is at like 60% of his usual D. He's often slow to rotate and isn't even playing that well man-to-man. When players like Kenny Thomas and Mehmet Okur are blowing by him consistently, it's safe to say Duncan is nowhere close to where he once was.
Luckily, I think he can turn up the intensity in the playoffs.
If Duncan, can't play 80% of his usual D, this team is losing in 5 to the Pistons.
If he can play 80% or better, this team still has a shot at the Finals.
I still don't think Duncan has been 'THAT BAD' on D. Maybe 70% of his normal self but he is still an above average defensive presense, certainly more valuable than most, if not all perimeter defenders in this league.
If Bowen is really that dominant on D then he must be the Spurs best player (or 2nd) or the system really deserves most of the credit for the teams 58-17 record. I never seen a system and a perimeter lead defender this dominant on defense like the Spurs this season, they are still clearly the best defensive team in the league. On offense they are in the Top 10, but at the bottom of that pile. So their offense really is just above average and not great -- but very good.
Duncan is well below average on offense and according to you much worse on D. So how the are the Spurs winning?
(in order of importance)
1. Parker's offense
2. Spurs defensive system
3. Bowens defense
4. Duncan's Offense
5. Ginobili's efficient offense
6. Random role players shooting well on some nights and playing enough D when they have to.
Is that how the Spurs have 58 games? Duncan is clearly worse on offense this season, AND worse on defense. He practically isn't even that much more effective than Manu going by the stats, and certainly Tony is the teams #1 option and most valuable offensive player. How is the team this good despite the injuries? Chemistry? Luck?
I don't see how you can justify the Spurs being bad or well below average on defense if Bowen were not on the team. They still would be an above average defense, and maybe a better offensive team depending on who his replacement is. They would be worse overall of course considering Duncan's health -- but I still think Bowen's defensive impact is overstated (not that he isn't one of the best defenders in the league, and not that he doesn't help set the tone for the Spurs).
Please let me know the 4-5 main reasons the Spurs are winning (player wise and system)?
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