Ludden: Seasonal slumping by Duncan

[kris]

No, I didn't say that Tim has to use his head more than a laborer. He's a basketball player, not a lawyer or a physicist.

What I said is that Tim has a highly specialized skill that almost nobody else in the world has. He does something that you or I never, ever, could have a prayer of doing, no matter how hard we worked. We would embarrass ourselves if we tried.

And he has proven over and over again that he is the absolute best at what he does. He got there despite not having the greatest athletic gifts in the world, but by practicing and working and practicing and working and sweating every last detail for years and years. And you're belittling it like it's easy, and ing because he is not performing at his absolute peak 100% of the time. You're acting as if he must just not care about his job because he goes into a little funk four months before the playoffs start.

And, yeah, I think it stems from that goofy populist mindset in the city where you grew up. You're all caught up in how much money he makes and how many perks there are in the NBA. They get those perks because their unique skills are so valuable to their employers. You expect their compensation packages to make them superhuman. Is it reasonable? No. But I think that's the point. You don't want to be reasonable because you were raised to have contempt for people in Timmy's shoes.

The guy you are describing is John Stockton, not Tim Duncan.

[Brutalis]

I never realized until today how many personal comments are silently included into posts about the Spurs directed towards other members as some insult or cheap shot. I am aware the ones I see doing this probably know each other. But did you ever think to the other 100 people reading the thread how much of a jackass you end up looking like? Or does anyone care about that either.

[Extra Stout]

Being a NBA player is the easiest job in the world. You go out and play basketball. When you use signing autographs to make it sound taxing it really makes it sound easy.

Your argument is not working.

Give Kevin McHale a call and tell him that.

He'd come over and kick your ass, except he can hardly walk now.

[spurjur]

Being a NBA player is the easiest job in the world. You go out and play basketball. When you use signing autographs to make it sound taxing it really makes it sound easy.

Your argument is not working.

Watch out! These guys in here will get on you for saying something like that. I think they work for the Players Association.

[kris]

I looked it up. Tim Duncan only shoots 50% from the field! Dammit, if only half the houses I build stayed standing, I'd be out of business, and I don't make near what he makes! He has it so easy! How hard is it to shoot a ball in a basket compared to what I do!

If he's not shooting 100%, then he's not working hard enough. He has no passion. Never mind that he has all that hardware and that other pedigreed NBA players are flocking to get one of the Spurs's roster spots so they can be his teammate. He goes through a funk a couple weeks a year, so he's lazy.

You're really good at oversimplifying and taking things out of context.

[Brutalis]

Being a NBA player is the easiest job in the world. You go out and play basketball. When you use signing autographs to make it sound taxing it really makes it sound easy.

Your argument is not working.

Some people can ruin it for themselves with stupid comments such as this. I give it a 10.

[Extra Stout]

The guy you are describing is John Stockton, not Tim Duncan.

Right, because Tim Duncan is just as much an athlete as Kevin Garnett.

Of course, you'd probably say Garnett is a warrior because he makes faces on the court. That's a better barometer of success than rings.

[easjer]

My point is not that signing autographs was hard, my point was that there is much more to the job than simply running up and down a court for thiry minutes three times a week, as Kip originally stated.

It's a specialized job. I can't say how hard it is - I'm not an NBA player. I have no basis to compare my job to an NBA player's job. I can compare my job to other jobs I've worked, but that's it.

I know it takes a lot of skill and practice in order to be half as good as Tim Duncan is. That practice and conditioning is not easy.

[kris]

Watch out! These guys in here will get on you for saying something like that. I think they work for the Players Association.

I don't care what anybody says - if you play basketball (NBA) for a living, you've got it on easy street.

[pache100]

Right, because Tim Duncan is just as much an athlete as Kevin Garnett.

No, Tim Duncan is not athletic. We've been down that road before and I never came back. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that Tim is definitely NOT an athlete.

[pache100]

I don't care what anybody says - if you play basketball (NBA) for a living, you've got it on easy street.

And you know this because you are an NBA basketball player? What's your real name!?!?!?

[Brutalis]

So what are the conditions and les of being an athlete?

And, he isnt athletic? Seriously. What the is wrong with people today...

[pache100]

So what are the conditions and les of being an athlete?

And, he isnt athletic? Seriously. What the is wrong with people today...

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthre...uncan+athletic

I think there was another thread, too, but I can't find it.

[spurjur]

And you know this because you are an NBA basketball player? What's your real name!?!?!?

I have read just about every post in this thread. I have held back, but it seems there are a few who think that playing in the NBA is easy. The ones who think this way are being questioned how they know this if they don't play in the NBA.

Then there are those who feel like they know that playing in the NBA is hard. Yet no one has asked them how do they know its hard when they don't play in the NBA?????

[Brutalis]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthre...uncan+athletic

I think there was another thread, too, but I can't find it.

Rofl dude

The question was Tim isn't atheltic, not AS althetic compared to other players.

geez. All I saw was "tim isn't"

In which he IS. Maybe not as much as others. But he is..

[kris]

My point is not that signing autographs was hard, my point was that there is much more to the job than simply running up and down a court for thiry minutes three times a week, as Kip originally stated.

It's a specialized job. I can't say how hard it is - I'm not an NBA player. I have no basis to compare my job to an NBA player's job. I can compare my job to other jobs I've worked, but that's it.

I know it takes a lot of skill and practice in order to be half as good as Tim Duncan is. That practice and conditioning is not easy.

You can say how hard it is. Have you played basketball before? It's just like playing basketball with other people on your level except they are on the highest level. You don't have to have played in the NBA to judge how hard it is. Maybe in some wierd way where the fame turns really negative like in the case of Manu, but that's pretty attenuated.

I don't know if anybody knows it, but Tim Duncan is a natural. The game comes much easier for him than it does for everybody else. I think he played a lot of street ball in the VI, Dave Odom incorporated some footwork knowledge and stuff like that, and Tim Duncan took it from there. He's not some self made guy who made himself into a NBA player. I'm not saying he didn't endure all the Wake practices, I'm just saying he's not the John Crotty or Avery Johnson that is being described.

[pache100]

I have read just about every post in this thread. I have held back, but it seems there are a few who think that playing in the NBA is easy. The ones who think this way are being questioned how they know this if they don't play in the NBA.

Then there are those who feel like they know that playing in the NBA is hard. Yet no one has asked them how do they know its hard when they don't play in the NBA?????

I don't think it's any harder or easier than any other job, actually. I know things and have skills that make me able to do my job; a lot of people could probably do it without training with no problem, a lot of others probably couldn't. I KNOW I could not do Tim Duncan's job.

The part I found ridiculous is that some people here do not believe Tim Duncan has the right to be tired because he took the summer off. That's freakin' hilarious to me. Sorry if it's not to you.

[Extra Stout]

I don't care what anybody says - if you play basketball (NBA) for a living, you've got it on easy street.

Any high-paying job is going to make life more comfortable.

[pache100]

Rofl dude

The question was Tim isn't atheltic, not AS althetic compared to other players.

geez. All I saw was "tim isn't"

In which he IS. Maybe not as much as others. But he is..

I know. That's why I said there was another thread where it was argued that he is not athletic. I just couldn't find it with search. And, I'd have to care a lot more about it than I do to put any more effort into it right now.

[spurjur]

You can say how hard it is. Have you played basketball before? It's just like playing basketball with other people on your level except they are on the highest level. You don't have to have played in the NBA to judge how hard it is. Maybe in some wierd way where the fame turns really negative like in the case of Manu, but that's pretty attenuated.

I don't know if anybody knows it, but Tim Duncan is a natural. The game comes much easier for him than it does for everybody else. I think he played a lot of street ball in the VI, Dave Odom incorporated some footwork knowledge and stuff like that, and Tim Duncan took it from there. He's not some self made guy who made himself into a NBA player. I'm not saying he didn't endure all the Wake practices, I'm just saying he's not the John Crotty or Avery Johnson that is being described.

Yikes!!! You are about to get your head cut off. Don't you know that you can be stoned to death for making a comment like that in this forum.

This is a forum where people who somewhat question the Spurs players, coaches, or owner get dissed and head chewed off. In case you didn't know. You either praise the Spurs players or you're not welcomed.

[pache100]

Yikes!!! You are about to get your head cut off. Don't you know that you can be stoned to death for making a comment like that in this forum.

This is a forum where people who somewhat question the Spurs players, coaches, or owner get dissed and head chewed off. In case you didn't know. You either praise the Spurs players or you're not welcomed.

You don't have a clue. Someone ought to give you one for Christmas.

[Brutalis]

I know. That's why I said there was another thread where it was argued that he is not athletic. I just couldn't find it with search. And, I'd have to care a lot more about it than I do to put any more effort into it right now.

oh.

[kris]

Duncan is athletic. Athleticism doesn't just encompass jumping high. (Although Duncan does have reasonable leaping ability.) Duncan is agile, quick, coordinated, and can run. He can do these things because he is athletic. It's kind of like the fast twitch vs. slow twitch thing. Kevin Garnett has more of that leaping explosiveness whereas Tim Duncan has more agility and coordination.

[spurjur]

I don't think it's any harder or easier than any other job, actually. I know things and have skills that make me able to do my job; a lot of people could probably do it without training with no problem, a lot of others probably couldn't. I KNOW I could not do Tim Duncan's job.

Because you're not 7ft tall and about 250 or so. And because you didn't start playing basketball for fun and while doing it got good at it.

The question was how can you assume that NBA life is a hard one when you have never done it. I'm not trying to start a whole different argument with you or anyone else here.

[pache100]

Because you're not 7ft tall and about 250 or so. And because you didn't start playing basketball for fun and while doing it got good at it.

The question was how can you assume that NBA life is a hard one when you have never done it. I'm not trying to start a whole different argument with you or anyone else here.

That's good, cause I'm done beating my head against the wall. The wall's all bloody and I have one of a headache.