Duncan supports sensible rest plan
Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS — The plan was in place before the Spurs even boarded their charter flight late last Tuesday night. Tim Duncan would need to pack two David Stern-approved outfits in order to sit behind the bench in half of the four games on the upcoming road trip.
As part of a new rest and recovery schedule meant to keep his star fresh for longer periods of the season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich aimed to sideline Duncan on the second night of two back-to-backs — Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Saturday in Memphis.
Then, the Spurs lost Friday in Charlotte, Antonio McDyess came down with neck spasms, and Duncan arrived in Memphis feeling spry for a 33-year-old. New plan.
“I felt good enough to play,” said Duncan, who had 23 points and eight rebounds in the 92-86 loss to the Grizzlies. “I wanted to be on the court to help these guys.”
When it comes to Popovich's grand plan to protect his health, Duncan doesn't foresee using his veto too often this season. He supports his coach's spoken commitment to giving him more rest than ever before.
Neither man wants a repeat of last season, when Duncan's production dipped precipitously after the All-Star break as sore knees wrecked his second half.
“I absolutely understand,” said Duncan, who has been the Spurs' most consistent player, leading them in scoring, rebounding and blocks. “It's a legitimate move. It's not something I'll fight very strongly, because it makes sense.”
Popovich's plan does not call for Duncan to take an automatic “Did Not Play” on the second night of back-to-backs, but the coach says the star forward will sit “more often than not” in that situation.
Technically, this afternoon's MLK Day matinee at New Orleans doesn't qualify, but it does cap a brutal stretch of five games in 61/2 days.
With the Spurs looking to snap a two-game losing streak and facing a Hornets team playing its best basketball of the season, don't expect to see Duncan sporting a jacket today, either.
“We've got a lot of guys dealing with some small injuries that are not 100 percent,” Duncan said. “If I feel good enough to play, I don't feel like I need to be sitting out.”
The big, black RoboCop brace Duncan straps to his left knee every night provides Popovich ample incentive to shoehorn him back into a sport coat eventually.
Duncan started strong last season, too, averaging 20.8 points before the All-Star break, before tendonosis began to rob his knees of their lift. He averaged 16.4 points after the break, shooting 46 percent.
Still, Popovich has a tightrope to walk between keeping his best player rested and keeping him in rhythm. After missing a game, Duncan — like most creatures of habit — often struggles to regain his groove.
Only twice this month has Duncan shot below 50 percent in a game. Both came after an extended period of rest.
After sitting at Oklahoma City, Duncan had his roughest outing of the season at Charlotte, going 4 of 12 for 10 points in the Spurs' 92-76 loss.
Earlier this month at Toronto, Popovich took the novel approach of sitting Duncan for the entire first quarter. Duncan finished 8 of 22 with 21 points in the final three frames and never quite got dialed in.
Going forward, Popovich said, that half-measure (or quarter-measure) is off the table.
“I think we're more geared to all or none,” Popovich said. “We're not going to piecemeal it. Either play or don't play.”
Given a choice, Duncan always prefers the former.
He concedes the balancing act between keeping him healthy and keeping him humming can be a delicate one. There's no question where Popovich falls.
“You'd always rather a guy be fresh,” Popovich said. “So we'll sit him from time to time, to put some insurance in the bank.”
At least that's the plan.
The NBA needs to go the a 50 game schedule. They would make more money with a good TV product where the players played hard (like in college), weren't injured all the time, and the games meant something. They could even raise ticket prices.
The 82 game season is an effin joke.
Nice. That Raptors plan was horrible. Glad that isn't an option anymore.“I think we're more geared to all or none,” Popovich said. “We're not going to piecemeal it. Either play or don't play.”
Wonder if TD will play tomorrow. Third game in three in a half days? Has to at least be discussed.
I so agree!!
It boggles the mind that Pop ever thought it was a good idea.
I like the fact that McDonald acknowledged the 'creature of habit' thing with Tim. It's something I've always commented on and was the first thing I thought of after games like Toronto (coming off the bench) and Charlotte (sitting out the game before).
It's not shocking that a below-the-rim, skilled big man would be heavily dependent on his rhythm, but Tim's always seemed to take it to another level; he's not someone you just throw the ball out on the court and say: Go play! in other words. It's a routine, a ritual and a process for him to do what he does.
+100000 82 games with 20 btb games at 3 or 4 games a week is just insane.
damn, reading all these articles about resting, injuries, fatigue of back to back games, and afternoon practices makes me wonder if popovich is running a professional basketball team or a retirement home.
No surprise here. Duncan always gives his thumbs up to anything POop says, but if you look at it in the context of this season this risky strategy has (and will probably continue) to backfire.
Stocked with one of the best benches in the league so far which has afforded TD to play the lowest minutes of his career, this risky strategy has only resulted in negative results both times.
The raptors' game debacle was a vintage POop move that could have had tragic results far beyond losing the game blowing the teams' 5 game winning streak. Duncan could have easily went down with a season ending injury in this one.
One would have thought POop would have learned a lesson not to rock the boat when its sailing smoothly. After coming off a brilliant victory against the lakers, POop yet again had to tinker around, benching TD yet again in a tough game against the Thunder. The team minus Duncan eeked out a win but it didn't come without casualties. McDyess pinched a nerve in his neck that has caused missed games, and several players were mentally and physically exhausted which has led to a pair of ugly losses and a major loss of confidence and cohesion in the teams' overall play.
If Duncan feels good enough he should play...especially if Dice is still out. Parker OTOH, should probably sit and Pop should get in Jefferson's face and tell him it's time for him to grow a pair of balls.
My thoughts exactly, we got jefferson to relieve some of the load from Duncan/Manu/TP. He needs to start playing like it.
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