Ludden: Seasonal slumping by Duncan

[Kori Ellis]

Seasonal slumping by Duncan

Web Posted: 12/20/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...n.4e0c33e.html

MILWAUKEE — Tim Duncan barreled down the baseline, split the Kings' Bonzi Wells and Peja Stojakovic and punched in a one-handed dunk. As the SBC Center crowd rose, Tony Parker howled at his teammate's show of force.

Before the fans returned to their seats, Duncan picked off a pass from Jason Hart and was driving to the rim. Holding the ball above his head, he elevated from the right side of the lane.

Hart realized Duncan was about to produce his second "SportsCenter" highlight in 15 seconds and fouled him hard enough to disrupt the dunk.

As Duncan walked to the free-throw line, Parker jogged toward the bench. "I think we got Timmy back," he said.

Parker, whose Spurs play the Bucks tonight in Milwaukee, may have been a bit premature. Although Duncan's aggressiveness in Saturday's fourth quarter helped carry the Spurs past the Kings, his play in Sunday's loss to New Orleans was a more accurate reflection of how he has been struggling. He made 4 of 12 shots against the Hornets and matched his season-low with 11 points. The eight rebounds he took were his second-fewest this season. He also added four turnovers to the five he committed one night earlier.

Over the past five games, Duncan has averaged 17.4 points while shooting 40 percent, though most of that production came in an overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers when he totaled 27 points and 22 rebounds.

Duncan said he hasn't felt good for a while but attributed it more to a lack of rhythm than his sore right foot. He received an anti-inflammatory injection in his heel a week ago but has yet to miss a game.

"He said his foot has been good," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

If anything, Duncan has looked more tired than hurt. He has lacked focus, evident when he threw away backcourt passes in the past two games. In the fourth quarter Sunday, he fumbled a routine bounce pass from Parker and watched in frustration as it banged off his knee and skidded across the court into the first row of fans.

The Spurs have lost all four times they've played on consecutive nights, and Duncan's production has dropped off noticeably. In the past three games he's played without a day of rest, he's averaged 13 points on 27.2 percent shooting.

"It's not just Tim," Parker said. "It's all of us."

Most of the Spurs have grown weary of the travel the team has done this month. Of the Spurs' seven trips in December, only one is longer than a single game. As soon as they unpack, it's time to pack again.

The Spurs begin another back-to-back tonight against Milwaukee. Wednesday's game in New York will be their fourth in five days. It might not be a coincidence that Duncan's 20-20 game against the Clippers came after two days of rest.

"He's not Superman," said one NBA scout, who has watched the Spurs many times in recent weeks. "It's a long season, and maybe he's got it on cruise control a little bit.

"He doesn't catch any breaks at all, either. The superstars all demand double-teams, and people are physical with him. They beat him up and foul him, especially with his free-throw problems."

The absence of Manu Ginobili, who can create opportunities off the dribble, also has affected Duncan, the scout said. Ginobili has missed the past four games with a sprained right mid foot and is expected to miss the rest of the trip.

Parker and Bruce Bowen think the team could do a better job helping Duncan find his rhythm. After Duncan's sudden burst of energy against the Kings, Parker immediately went back to him the next two trips down the floor. Duncan scored both times.

"He has so much responsibility for our team," Bowen said. "I think he's not getting shots that are open. There are times where we're not getting him the ball, and it almost keeps him out of (the offense)."

Duncan's struggles might not be as evident if he hadn't played so well at other times. Two weeks ago, he looked remarkably fresh. In three consecutive games, he showed off a baseline spin move he rarely used last season.

In previous years, Duncan also endured some type of early slump. And after the "What's wrong with Tim?" headlines appeared, he usually fought his way out if it.

The key to any extended struggle, Michael Finley said, is to keep things simple.

"I think he's putting a lot of pressure on himself to make shots instead of just shooting them," Finley said. "It sounds odd, but he'll be OK."

[T Park]

Most of the Spurs have grown weary of the travel the team has done this month. Of the Spurs' seven trips in December, only one is longer than a single game. As soon as they unpack, it's time to pack again.

The Spurs begin another back-to-back tonight against Milwaukee. Wednesday's game in New York will be their fourth in five days. It might not be a coincidence that Duncan's 20-20 game against the Clippers came after two days of rest.

"He's not Superman," said one NBA scout, who has watched the Spurs many times in recent weeks. "It's a long season, and maybe he's got it on cruise control a little bit.

"He doesn't catch any breaks at all, either. The superstars all demand double-teams, and people are physical with him. They beat him up and foul him, especially with his free-throw problems."

The recent ers have to hate reading this.

[SequSpur]

Duncan is turning into Nowitski.

He needs to stick to his low post game and quit ing around.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Imagine that, an article about Duncan slumping?! Wow, that's blasphemy.

As far as T Park goes- you do remember this is the assclown that was telling us Rasho Nesterovic was the next coming of Wilt Chamberlain two years ago right? Now, he's all about Nazr Mohammed....another gem.

'nuff said

Duncan needs to have a long look in the mirror and find the sack we all know he has, he just misplaces it from time to time.

I expect him to put a hurting on the Bucks tonight.

[GoSpurs21]

Imagine that, an article about Duncan slumping?! Wow, that's blasphemy.

As far as T Park goes- you do remember this is the assclown that was telling us Rasho Nesterovic was the next coming of Wilt Chamberlain two years ago right? Now, he's all about Nazr Mohammed....another gem.

'nuff said

Duncan needs to have a long look in the mirror and find the sack we all know he has, he just misplaces it from time to time.

I expect him to put a hurting on the Bucks tonight.

Duncan is turning into Nowitski.

He needs to stick to his low post game and quit ing around.

that's funny the two biggest pussies on this board complaining about Tim's manhood. Sounds to me like they are really complaining about their own short comings.

[boutons]

Why are the Spurs so fragile mentally, unfocused, and tired?

Everybody came back rested,
we're only 1.5 months into a 6 month season,
and the Spurs already play the fatigue card?

Do other top teams have this fatigue problem?

Just like last season, Pistons starters are averaging 35 MPG.
They didn't run out gas last year. Anybody expect them to run out of gas this year?

[Kip Fanatic]

In that article it says that Tim Duncan looks tired. Of what? Playing video games up until 3am? He didn't play any basketball this off-season. Many were saying that he looked like he was in great shape and had an extra bounce to him. What happend? All of sudden 20+ games later he's tired. That's a joke.

The dude plays basketball for 30+ minutes a game. They play no more than four games a week. I can understand him being a little tired, but come on. Give me a break. He gets paid 10+ millions of dollars a year to do this. Suck it up.

Before starting my own business, I was a plumber's helper making $13.25/hour. I had to work Monday thru Friday from 7am to 4pm and sometimes later than that. I was tired, but I couldn't slack or else I would be out of a job.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Why are the Spurs so fragile mentally, unfocused, and tired?

As usual, you're an idiot.

The Spurs don't get serious until the rodeo road trip. I guess everyone can grasp that fact except clowns like you expecting them to go 82-0.

[ducks]

lets see what the pistons play is like in june

[Kip Fanatic]

Nobody expected them to go 82-0. Its just kind of weird to here everyone in here and a lot of media personalities say that the Spurs would be a lot different this year when it came to rest because only Tony, Beno, and I believe someone else would be playing international ball this summer. Now all of a sudden they're tired??? Tony Parker is the one who seems to be going strong yet he played this summer???? Doesn't make sense to me.

[boutons]

AHF, you less twerp.

The Spurs had a 13-game win streak in Dec 04, while integrating Hedo and Rasho and no backup P/G.

Try again, head. Actually, try a first time.

[Stephen A. Smith]

This is why I picked Miami to win it all. Tim Duncan is not anywhere near the level of the Big Diesel in terms of desire and physical conditioning. Quite frankly, I think the Spurs would be wise to cut their losses. Tim Duncan is just another quitter in the vain of Glenn Robinson. The bottom line is that at the end of the day when all is said and done and the all the cards are on the table that the Spurs should trade Duncan for a true warrior like my boy AI, or Ron Artest.

[T Park]

you do remember this is the assclown that was telling us Rasho Nesterovic was the next coming of Wilt Chamberlain two years ago right

Got a link to that, ASSCLOWN.

Cause I never said that.


But of course typical socialist canadien dumb that you are, your pulling it out of your greasy bacon ass.

AHF, you less twerp.

The Spurs had a 13-game win streak in Dec 04, while integrating Hedo and Rasho and no backup P/G.

Try again, head. Actually, try a first time.

you boutons.

First off, look at what you just said.

Thats the same year they stunk in the playoffs, so want to tell me again, how its so in important that they win 13 in a row in December?

They didn't even win the division that year EITHER.


So you havent even "tried"

Mr "Rockets are winning the conference"

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Awww, I can feel the holiday spirit taking hold here in Spurstalk.

[Walton Buys Off Me]

In that article it says that Tim Duncan looks tired. Of what? Playing video games up until 3am? He didn't play any basketball this off-season. Many were saying that he looked like he was in great shape and had an extra bounce to him. What happend? All of sudden 20+ games later he's tired. That's a joke.

The dude plays basketball for 30+ minutes a game. They play no more than four games a week. I can understand him being a little tired, but come on. Give me a break. He gets paid 10+ millions of dollars a year to do this. Suck it up.

Before starting my own business, I was a plumber's helper making $13.25/hour. I had to work Monday thru Friday from 7am to 4pm and sometimes later than that. I was tired, but I couldn't slack or else I would be out of a job.

I think Kip Fanatic is my new favotrite poster- couldn't have said it better.

Yeah let's all shed a tear for the athlete making 17 million dollars a year to play basketball 30 minutes a night because he's tired........ah the baby's tired, why should he give 100% when he's tired?

But if you're a fan that questions his heart, then you're stupid, don't know the score and are not a fan. You're only a fan of the Spurs if you agree with everything that's done on the court and you smile everytime they play basketball.

[ducks]

look I know when you go back to work after a long time you are more tired right away then your body gets used to it. the spur players will be fine.
maybe they are playign this card because fans think they should only have 2 losses.

pistons almost lost to the lowly mem last night

[boutons]

"Thats the same year they stunk in the playoffs"

Trashing you is shooting fish in a barrel.

You are saying that a 13-game win streak in December caused the Spurs to sweep the Grizz, and then to drop 4 straight to the Lakers?

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

"Thats the same year they stunk in the playoffs"

Trashing you is shooting fish in a barrel.

You are saying that a 13-game win streak in December caused the Spurs to sweep the Grizz, and then to drop 4 straight to the Lakers?

Actually I believe the point he's making is that there isn't exactly a link between play in December and playoff success, so people shouldn't get bent out of shape over it. Believe me, I would love to see the Spurs playing better ball right now as well, but it's one of those things that I've come to just grin and bear about being a Spurs fan. It's a lot easier to stomach this than perenial playoff meltdowns like back in the day.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't think he's tired. I think he's waiting for Manu to get back so he can take a week or two off to rest the foot.

[1Parker1]

"Thats the same year they stunk in the playoffs"

Trashing you is shooting fish in a barrel.

You are saying that a 13-game win streak in December caused the Spurs to sweep the Grizz, and then to drop 4 straight to the Lakers?

Which is proving his point that how they play now, win or lose, really shouldn't affect how they play later on...

[leemajors]

In that article it says that Tim Duncan looks tired. Of what?

ever had an infant, or an infant with colic? it can make you damn tired.

[Kip Fanatic]

Actually I believe the point he's making is that there isn't exactly a link between play in December and playoff success, so people shouldn't get bent out of shape over it. Believe me, I would love to see the Spurs playing better ball right now as well, but it's one of those things that I've come to just grin and bear about being a Spurs fan. It's a lot easier to stomach this than perenial playoff meltdowns like back in the day.

That's a good point. A very good one because I remember the Spurs of the 90's doing a great job in the regular season and disappearing in the playoffs. I understand that. I too would much rather have the Spurs tear it up in April, May, and June than in November, December, and January.

However, what I think that has some of the Spurs fans scratching their heads is that they look tired and out of it. Some of the players on the team don't look like they're into it. Why? Only about three of the players played ball this summer and one of them is leading this team (Tony Parker). A lot of fans thought that Parker would be the one who would be tired yet he is the only one who seems to have some fight in him. Now will he have that in May and June? No one knows.

Its just some Spurs fans including myself can't understand how a multi-millionare who plays basketball for about 30 minutes or so, who receives all kinds of treatment day in and day out can complain about being tired when you have men and WOMEN who have tougher jobs to do five or more days out of the week and get paid less, yet go at it 100%. That's all.

Should the Spurs go 82-0? No. I don't think that will ever happen, but should they be losing to teams like Atlanta, NO/OKC, and the like? I doubt it. You have a MVP, an international star (Manu), a PG stud, and a bench that all teams in the league wouldn't mind having yet they lose because of back to back games? C'mon!

[Kip Fanatic]

ever had an infant, or an infant with colic? it can make you damn tired.

I didn't know Tim Duncan was the only in the world who has an infant that is sick or that keeps him up? Wow. Let's not be so hard on Tim then. Sorry Lee? My bad. Everyone, back off of Tim Duncan because he has a new born child who keeps him up at night.

[pache100]

ever had an infant, or an infant with colic? it can make you damn tired.

Well, apparently, not only that, but if you are rich/make a lot of money, you are exempt/immune to tiredness. Apparently, if you are a professional basketball player, you are not human, so are not vulnerable to the weaknesses that affect all of us. Apparently.

[Extra Stout]

Why are the Spurs so fragile mentally, unfocused, and tired?

le hangover, I suppose.

Look at the Pistons again. Last year they were 23-18 at the halfway point.

Not all of that was because of the brawl.