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“I just like him personally better than the other players,” Popovich said. “He laughs at my jokes. Timmy doesn't laugh at them anymore. He's heard them all.”
Spurs center Tim Duncan puts up a shot as Clippers center Chris Kaman moves in trying to defend during the first half of Sunday night's game. Although he didn't play in the fourth quarter, Duncan finished with 21 points.
Popovich vows to limit Duncan's workload
Jeff McDonald
LOS ANGELES — A quarter of the way through the season, Tim Duncan leads the Spurs in scoring, rebounding and blocks.
But there is one statistical category involving Duncan that coach Gregg Popovich is monitoring more than others — minutes played.
Duncan entered Sunday night's game against the Clippers at the Staples Center averaging 32.2 minutes per game, second on the team behind Richard Jefferson. That number marks the upper limit of playing time Popovich expects to give his 33-year-old All-Star forward on a nightly basis.
“We always try to keep him around 32,” Popovich said before the game. “That's the way it has to be. If we want him for the playoffs, I can't play him 38, 39 minutes a game. It won't work.”
The concept of limiting Duncan's workload is not a new one.
Since turning 30 before the start of the 2006-07 season, Duncan's minutes have declined slightly each year. Duncan averaged 33.6 last season, the end of which saw him wracked with tendonosis in his knees.
So far this campaign, Duncan has used his allotment of minutes wisely, averaging 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, two blocks and 3.6 assists per game heading into Sunday.
“He's probably been our most consistent player from the beginning of the year to this point,” Popovich said. “We're slowly getting everybody to join him.”
Still, Popovich vows to fight the temptation to overplay Duncan.
“He's been good, but I'll make sure he doesn't get out of whack, minutes-wise,” Popovich said.
LeBron Jr.: Before the game, Popovich had a bit of fun with a reporter who had been sent to pen a story on second-year guard George Hill.
After the reporter asked a third question about Hill, Popovich playfully began busting his chops.
“Are you related to him?” Popovich joked. “He's not that good. He's a skinny little kid, second year in the league, and it's like he's LeBron or something.”
Popovich did clarify his preseason label of Hill as “my favorite player.”
“I just like him personally better than the other players,” Popovich said. “He laughs at my jokes. Timmy doesn't laugh at them anymore. He's heard them all.”
Finley stays home: As expected, injured guard Michael Finley did not make the three-game road trip, staying behind to nurse a sprained left ankle. He is not expected back until the end of the month at the earliest.
Can you hear me now?: Before leaving the game, Duncan took a shot in the ear from teammate Matt Bonner as the pair fought for the same rebound in the third quarter.
Bonner didn’t sound too apologetic afterward.
“Luckily, he doesn’t shoot with his ear,” Bonner said.
Last edited by duncan228; 12-14-2009 at 01:16 AM.
“I just like him personally better than the other players,” Popovich said. “He laughs at my jokes. Timmy doesn't laugh at them anymore. He's heard them all.”
“I just like him personally better than the other players,” Popovich said. “He laughs at my jokes. Timmy doesn't laugh at them anymore. He's heard them all.”
holy cow we just posted the same exact thing
hehehehehehehehehehehehe
Kind of funny that there's a Finley mention under the "Pop's favorite player" part..love beats all..
Update in the article:
Can you hear me now?: Before leaving the game, Duncan took a shot in the ear from teammate Matt Bonner as the pair fought for the same rebound in the third quarter.
Bonner didn’t sound too apologetic afterward.
“Luckily, he doesn’t shoot with his ear,” Bonner said.
If Pop truly wants to limit Duncan's minutes, yet still manage minutes for both McDyess and Ratliff, perhaps he should take Ian off ice and give him some spot minutes. Certainly, a blowout game like the Clippers could've been used for just such a strategy.
Bonner is a ruthless hard-ass..
Bonner is trying to be super tough red rocket this year. Got his serious face on. Playing like Perkins out there.
Wish we could limit Pop's minutes some nights...
Only to his friends, not to his opponents =p
It'd certainly be useful for the procurement of leads lately..Wish we could limit Pop's minutes some nights...
seriously michael finley should j ust continue to stay at home when the season is over....we are winning games now hahahha
Hey, he was going to slap that one Kings player, give him his props.
hey whats duncans per36 watever it is....
Per 36 minutes?
21 points (.546)
11.8 boards
4 assists
2.2 blocks
FT .747
No, he just need to give Blair 21 minutes per game. When he does that, DeJuan averages 12p/10r.
You people need to forget about Ian. He's painfully obviously NOT a part of the Spurs future plans.
Indeed. This year he has been more physical than he has ever been. He still has natural limitations, but he is playing harder in every area. I think watching Blair has inspired him some.
If TD can play 32MPG and we can still win games it'll help a lot for the playoffs with a fresh TD
i dont like to see pop limiting td....
td show us ur worth 20m a season
I think blair's D has gone from painfull to bad so a e in minutes could be warranted...
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