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I don't like the sound of Duncan needing tests. Looks like it's time for Spurs fans to dust off the rosary beads again . . .
Duncan sits with stiff knee; tests to come
Mike Monroe
Tipoff time for Tuesday's Spurs-Mavericks game at the AT&T Center was approaching, and as veteran power forward Kurt Thomas pulled on his game jersey, he looked across the Spurs' locker room and realized something was amiss.
Missing, in fact, was Tim Duncan, bothered by stiffness in his right knee to the point the team's medical staff decided he should sit out the game.
“He wasn't in his locker,” Thomas said, “so I figured something was going on.”
The Spurs won't know what is really going on inside Duncan's right knee until he visits team doctors today.
The two-time MVP and perennial All-Star power forward has been held out of two of the Spurs' last eight games. He also missed the team's Feb. 3 game at Denver.
Duncan had gone through his normal pregame warmup routine about 90 minutes before tipoff, and when he returned to the locker room, he appeared to be in a jovial mood, joking with reporters. But he rubbed the knee vigorously when he sat in his locker, then reported to head athletic trainer Will Sevening.
Sevening and the medical staff recommended he sit out the game.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was surprised to learn about Duncan's situation.
Though Duncan recently disclosed that his knee has been sore much of the season, he had gone through the team's morning shootaround without incident.
“He'll see the doctors in the morning and we'll see what they say,” Popovich said. “His knee didn't have any strength and he couldn't get it warmed up; he couldn't get it loosened up.”
Duncan's absence meant that the Spurs' remaining big men — Thomas, Matt Bonner and Fabricio Oberto — would have to team up on Dallas' scoring star, Dirk Nowitzki.
Bonner had the primary defensive assignment on Nowitzki, but the Spurs' defensive game plan relied on help defenders behind Bonner. Thomas provided plenty of help. Oberto, logging more playing time than in any game since Nov. 16, took his own turn at frustrating Nowitzki on the perimeter.
When it turned out that Duncan, a member of the NBA's All-Defensive team every season he has been in the league, could not play, adherence to the team's defensive principles was even more vital.
“Obviously, Tim's length makes a big difference when he's coming to help in the paint,” Bonner said, “and his ability to block and change guys' shots. But everybody rose to the challenge and was extra-aggressive rotating whenever Dirk either drove the ball or caught the ball in areas where he's dangerous.”
The Mavericks' All-Star, who entered the game as the NBA's No. 5 scorer, averaging 25.3 points per game, made only five-of-15 shots, finishing with 14 points.
Oberto played his typically physical brand of defense on Nowitzki, even managing to draw an offensive foul on the Mavericks' 7-foot star when Nowitzki led with his elbow as he tried to drive on him in the third quarter.
“I felt I had position on that play,” Oberto said. “Sometimes the defender has to be focused more, because the guy who is playing offense has the advantage with the refs. Dirk is a great offensive player, so he usually gets that call.”
I don't like the sound of Duncan needing tests. Looks like it's time for Spurs fans to dust off the rosary beads again . . .
Can I worry now?
I don't like the sound of Duncan needing tests. Looks like it's time for Spurs fans to dust off the rosary beads again . . .
Edit: Never mind. I'm worried.
nah... duncan is just doggin it coz other than that denver game, he hasn't been given much days offs.
well he's most likely out for today as well
Tim's injury worries me.
I hope that it is not going to be a persistent problem.
And apparently this has been bothering him for a little while now.
Hopefully he fully recovers and this is just temporary.
Otherwise, this franchise is history. Great history, but just history.
We rise and fall with #21!
Get well and recover quickly Timmy!
Sounds like Tendinitis.....
That doesn't just go away with time though does it?
I am completely guessing, but I think I heard that once you have this, you have it for life.
Some days it will bother you more than others, but you will always have it.
Is this correct?
Hope Spurs can stay unbeaten while he's out(it'll be hard with no Manu as well), he shouldn't miss more than 3-4 games, I think Bonner/KT/Fab/Pops can hold down the fort. It doesn't sound too bad. Get well, Tim!!! Eat all the ice cream sandwiches, and play all the Halo 3 matches you want, just relax.
That doesn't just go away with time though does it?
I am completely guessing, but I think I heard that once you have this, you have it for life.
Some days it will bother you more than others, but you will always have it.
Is this correct?
I aint no doctor either.....It was just a guess.
I don't like this. It was fine this morning, he went through his "normal pregame warmup", and then this?
or tarot cards.
I don't like the sound of Duncan needing tests. Looks like it's time for Spurs fans to dust off the rosary beads again . . .
Whatever your way of asking / hoping for something good about Timmy's knee regardless of your world view.
Hopefully, somebody's sincere effort at wishing Timmy's knee heels up quickly and fully in accordance with their world view will be responded to positively.
So, everybody from atheist to agnostic to theist of whatever religion, let's wish Tim's knee heals quickly and completely in our own ways.
damn i hope hes fine
Uhm.....rheumatism????
it'll be a sad day when retirement talk will be going on throughout the media
i'm scurrred.
More like Tendinitis
ahh . it does sound like Tendinitis, but let's see what happens. Hopefully it's nothing major.
Me got a feeling it's got something to do with something he ate in the morning......
The basketball gods are pissed at the Spurs for some reason.
We need these ladies.
I don't like the sound of Duncan needing tests. Looks like it's time for Spurs fans to dust off the rosary beads again . . .
Tendinitis will be like that plantar fasciitis injury....Needs rest and playing will agravate it.
The worst thing about tendinitis if once he sits on the bench to rest.... it will tighten up and he will struggle with it the rest of the game...........
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