Duncan at the rim

[SenorSpur]

I'm about to do the unthinkable. I'm about to criticize our future hall-of-famer and franchise icon, Tim Duncan.

Sure he struggled offensively versus the Fakers. He had an off night. We all saw that. That's perfectly understandable. However, there is absolutely NO excuse for him putting up that weak around the rim. Kobe Bryant and Rony Turiaf should NEVER be able to block a Duncan shot.

Even if his outside shots are off or if he's getting doubled in the post. Just FINISH STRONG AT THE RIM! A dunk, any dunk, will usually energize himself and the team.

For years, D-Rob was labeled soft. Say what you want about Big Dave, but he ALMOST ALWAYS finished his shots at or near the rim with a two-hand jam.

My rant is over now.

[E20]

Tim isn't that athletic enough any more to finish strong at the rim anymore against big guys like Turiaf and freak athletes like Kobe. If Tim plays it smart and can work guys like Turiaf, which he is fully capable of, then he could land himself a trip to the FT line.

Tim is not a freak of an athelete by nature compared to other PF's/C's; the atheleticism he had, has deteoriated with age and his knee/ankle/PF injuries.

Sort of like Kareem, Tim needs to stop going to the power moves which require atheleticism and use more of his fundamentals, footwork, pump fakes and BBall IQ when at the rim.

[TDMVPDPOY]

tim has become a passive biatch

show us teh alpha male in you and go up strong, we dont need a n jam or anything, go hard of go home in the first round

[J.T.]

He is saving his A game for Thursday. Triple double comin' at ya!

[v2freak]

I hope you're right J.T.

[bdictjames]

Hey we won. Duncan knows that. And yall say stats dont count .

[Kamnik]

He is bored about the regular season...

A win or loss to the Lakers means to him.

I cant blame him to be a little passive... His time comes may and june.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Tim isn't that athletic enough any more to finish strong at the rim anymore against big guys like Turiaf and freak athletes like Kobe. If Tim plays it smart and can work guys like Turiaf, which he is fully capable of, then he could land himself a trip to the FT line.

Tim is not a freak of an athelete by nature compared to other PF's/C's; the atheleticism he had, has deteoriated with age and his knee/ankle/PF injuries.

Sort of like Kareem, Tim needs to stop going to the power moves which require atheleticism and use more of his fundamentals, footwork, pump fakes and BBall IQ when at the rim.

Well said.

His footwork used to be far superior to what it is now, I think. He used to have a killer drop-step but hardly ever uses it any more. He had a running baby hook. Where is that? He had a shimmy fake, sorta like the Danny manning up and under step through... but no more.

I was watching 1999 Finals game 1 tonight enjoying the quickness Tim used to have. I still think he's an incredible player, but I want to see offense like he played against the Hornets every night - use your full bag of tricks, Timmy! Oh, and finish strong (doesn't necessarily mean dunk, just take it up hard!).

And yeah, hope you're right JT. Love to see him bring his A game agaainst Dallas and Houston and put those biyatches in their place.

[urunobili]

Chill guys... he is saving it for the playoffs.. give the guy a break and let the team develop before he turns it on...

[101A]

Chill guys... he is saving it for the playoffs.. give the guy a break and let the team develop before he turns it on...

The Playoffs?

It's only November, and we just hung a double digit-pick-your-margin beatdown of a playoff contender playing decent ball!

Go watch tapes of the Phoenix series and chill.

[exstatic]

He's been emulating Horry the last few years, with the lazy game before January. A lot of those blocks were also by the help defenders. That attention to Tim opened up the rest of the offense, and we rained 3 pointers on their asses all second half.

If a team is going to totally take him out of the offense this time of year, he's going to let them, and Manu and Tony will rule the day. That won't be the case in the playoffs.

[DAINTX]

You guys are smoking crack. TD is still one of the elite NBA players and there is not a coach in the league who would not kill to have him. Top ten player minimum; top five in many opinions; and some would opt to start their team with him. He is still capable of dominating on any night and you'll see plenty of that as the season moves on. He didn't have to exert himself last night and, as a vet who understands every situation, why would he?

[J.T.]

You guys are smoking crack. TD is still one of the elite NBA players and there is not a coach in the league who would not kill to have him. Top ten player minimum; top five in many opinions; and some would opt to start their team with him. He is still capable of dominating on any night and you'll see plenty of that as the season moves on. He didn't have to exert himself last night and, as a vet who understands every situation, why would he?

I don't think any coach would kill to have Duncan on their team because they wouldn't be able to coach him from prison.

[bigfan]

I have a gut feeling Timmy will play damn good against the Mavs.

[41times]

In anticipation of Thursday's game i kept checking the score of Spurs game last night. On the surface it looked like a terrific win by the Spurs.

But when i read the box score i noted 3 glaring stats:

1. Bruce Bowen went NUTs from 3 pt.
2. Tim Duncan had a horrible game
3. Spurs shoot 93% from FT line.

As a Mavs fan I follow the Spurs pretty closely because i realize the road to the le goes through San Antonio.

And i will say that all 3 of those things are not normal. Yeah Bruce can make some shots but not 100% and I can't recall a game where Timmy had that bad of a shooting line and the Spurs don't usually shoot above 75-80% free throws.

So Bowen saves the day for a big win. Meanwhile the Mavs managed to pull out a win over the mediocre 76ers. Thereby setting up yet another monumental showdown on Thursday. I expect Duncan's game to wake up on Thursday as usual.

I look for the Big 3 for each team to do what they do best on Thursday. I can't wait.

I buy season tickets for 2 reasons:

1. Playoffs
2. Big games like Thursday

Prediction...........Another great game!

[Mitch Cumsteen]

The box score doesn't tell the story. Bowen was wide open on every one of those threes. He's just sitting in the corner waiting for the ball to come out to him. The Lakers had no answer for Parker's penetration and he just killed them on drive and kicks. It wasn't just Bowen. Bonner was getting wide open looks. Finley was getting wide open looks (even though he missed most of them early). The Lakers decided to pack it in on the Spurs and make them beat them from outside. The Spurs obliged.

I actually like it that Duncan had such a poor effort prior to the Mavs game. He usually responds pretty well after something like this.

[SenorSpur]

You guys are smoking crack. TD is still one of the elite NBA players and there is not a coach in the league who would not kill to have him. Top ten player minimum; top five in many opinions; and some would opt to start their team with him. He is still capable of dominating on any night and you'll see plenty of that as the season moves on. He didn't have to exert himself last night and, as a vet who understands every situation, why would he?

Don't confuse the point. No one is questioning Tim's greatness or his status. The point is he's recently shown a penchant for throwing up some lazy shots that are getting swatted back in his face. I just want to see him punish defenders in the low block in his typical Duncan-like fashion.

I'm not just talking about last night either. It makes no sense for a 7-ft player to be shooting layups when he's near the rim. He needs to finish strong around the rim. Dunk the damn basketball!

[spurscenter]

so funny

TD is tha man

he is all right

team was coasting with manu at the helm and parker

hes cool, relax

we got a solid team

[thispego]

Hey we won. Duncan knows that. And yall say stats dont count .

no !

[thispego]

In anticipation of Thursday's game i kept checking the score of Spurs game last night. On the surface it looked like a terrific win by the Spurs.

But when i read the box score i noted 3 glaring stats:

1. Bruce Bowen went NUTs from 3 pt.
2. Tim Duncan had a horrible game
3. Spurs shoot 93% from FT line.

As a Mavs fan I follow the Spurs pretty closely because i realize the road to the le goes through San Antonio.

And i will say that all 3 of those things are not normal. Yeah Bruce can make some shots but not 100% and I can't recall a game where Timmy had that bad of a shooting line and the Spurs don't usually shoot above 75-80% free throws.

So Bowen saves the day for a big win. Meanwhile the Mavs managed to pull out a win over the mediocre 76ers. Thereby setting up yet another monumental showdown on Thursday. I expect Duncan's game to wake up on Thursday as usual.

I look for the Big 3 for each team to do what they do best on Thursday. I can't wait.

I buy season tickets for 2 reasons:

1. Playoffs
2. Big games like Thursday

Prediction...........Another great game!

lol, who's yall's big three now? please include harris

[howbouthemspurs]

He is simply saving his legs for the playoffs like he always does. he usually makes that kind of shot.. just that in this case Kobe timed it perfect. watch duncan go for 30 and 15 in the next game.

[hitmanyr2k]

He is bored about the regular season...

A win or loss to the Lakers means to him.

I cant blame him to be a little passive... His time comes may and june.

That's a weak excuse. It's beyond weak. If you're not compe ive then what the are you out on the court for? If Duncan is going put in half-hearted effort (ala Shaq) while his teammates are bustin their ass trying to win games then he should sit his bored, disinterested ass on the bench.

[telecomguy]

That's a weak excuse. It's beyond weak. If you're not compe ive then what the are you out on the court for? If Duncan is going put in half-hearted effort (ala Shaq) while his teammates are bustin their ass trying to win games then he should sit his bored, disinterested ass on the bench.

I am sure he was trying but he just had an off day. He played pretty good defence in the first half when they were neck & neck (3 blocks), so despite his awful offensive play, he was still important in the victory. When Duncan was on the floor, the LA bigs (Mihm, Kwame, Bynum) couldn't get much in the paint against TD as I recall. He will be much more active and aggressive against the Mavs and Rockets when the Spurs will really need him.

[samikeyp]

It makes no sense for a 7-ft player to be shooting layups when he's near the rim. He needs to finish strong around the rim. Dunk the damn basketball!

Why? Is a dunk worth more?

I agree about finishing strong but layup, dunk, it doesn't matter...as long as it goes in.

[41times]

lol, who's yall's big three now? please include harris

Typical arrogant Spurs fan response above.

Dallas Big 3 are:

Dirk
Howard
Terry

and they are the 2nd most productive 3 in the league behind Celtics and are averaging:

64.3 PPG
17.0 RPG
11.6 APG
3.5 T/O pg

vs. Spurs Big 3:

Duncan
Ginobli
Parker

who are averaging:

55.4 PPG
17.8 RPG
13.0 APG
6.5 T/O pg

Know your stats before you make a fool of yourself. Now laugh it up funny boy.