I call it Patrick Ewing syndrome. Duncan simply doesn't look like he wants the pressure of being the go-to guy in the clutch. The greats in the game always want the ball in their hands at the end, which is why I think Duncan will eventually be regarded as a very, very good player who didn't quite reach the top.Kwazy said:
NBA Playoffs Thread
- Thread starter the_big_E
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No, I think he is immensely talented, and probably one of the best players in terms of technique that I've seen. His footwork and the way he positions himself on the floor are near flawless. What I think he lacks is the ability to put the dagger in the heart of opponents in crucial series like this. It just doesn't seem to be part of his makeup. If not for this, he should be included with the likes of Magic, Bird, and Jordan. Without it he doesn't rise to that level. I'd like to see him prove me wrong, and show some fire in his attitude in game 7.
Asterix said:
I think you have Timmy mixed up with someone else. He won the his first 2 NBA championships almost single handedly and was the MVP. He's a 2 time MVP of the league. The reason he has been playing bad is b/c he is injured - both of his ankles are in pretty bad shape, he doesn't have the same ability as in previous seasons b/c of his injuries. Timmy is the only NBA player to be first team all NBA for his entire career.
Duncan doesn't have to prove anything to anyone - he's a winner. Period.
Comparing Duncan to Ewing is silly. There is NO comparison (other than the fact that they both play the 5 spot)
Comparing Duncan to Ewing is silly. There is NO comparison (other than the fact that they both play the 5 spot)
homonger said:
David Robinson while great was half the player he used to be - off the top of my head during those 2 title runs Robinson was averaging around 25 to 30 mins per game and 10 to 14 pts per game and maybe 8 to 10 rebounds per game. I think during the second title run he was comming off the bench, I could be mistaken though.
Sorry...I may have started this...
but my point was not whether Tim Duncan is any good.....it just seemed like he has been involved in too many plays(including free throws) that have kept Detroit in this series....
I was just starting to wonder if there was "shades of Pete Rose" here????.
There are many that benefit from a longer series. I guess we'll be able to tell by which Tim Duncan shows up in GAME 7!!
but my point was not whether Tim Duncan is any good.....it just seemed like he has been involved in too many plays(including free throws) that have kept Detroit in this series....
I was just starting to wonder if there was "shades of Pete Rose" here????.
There are many that benefit from a longer series. I guess we'll be able to tell by which Tim Duncan shows up in GAME 7!!
Horry reminds me of Kurt Gibson - a very good player (maybe not Hall of Fame caliber), who has moments of brilliance. Horry is a good bench player - period. I think the Suns a few years back tried to make him a starter - it was a bust. It was one of his poorest years in the NBA.
And like I said, bad ankles or not; Duncan has nothing to prove...but another title won't hurt.
And like I said, bad ankles or not; Duncan has nothing to prove...but another title won't hurt.
The two best teams in the finals. That's how it should be. Timmy was deserving of the MVP award. He was the best player in the biggest game. Manu was great, too.
The Raptors need to model themselves after these two teams. There's the Spurs and Pistons, and then there's everyone else.
The Raptors need to model themselves after these two teams. There's the Spurs and Pistons, and then there's everyone else.
Excellent move Popovich!
putting Bowen on Billups proved to be a huge move.
I think Rasheed dropped the ball the last two games, getting into foul trouble when the Pistons needed big games from him.
I agree that the Raptors should model after both these teams.
Good personalities on the team is important, but more importantly, get LONG ATHLETIC PLAYERS!...Chris Bosh is the only one that fits that bill. Donyell Marshall(great hight/long arms). Jalen Rose is also such a player for his postion(6'8" guard/small forward with skillz)Hopefully Pape Sow has been playing a lot of basketball this offseason.
Swirsky seems to think Chris(birdman) Anderson might fit into a Raptors uniform???....6'10 and athletic????...he'd fit the bill.
From the draft???........pick a tall athletic guard if possible....and look for Defensive players!
putting Bowen on Billups proved to be a huge move.
I think Rasheed dropped the ball the last two games, getting into foul trouble when the Pistons needed big games from him.
I agree that the Raptors should model after both these teams.
Good personalities on the team is important, but more importantly, get LONG ATHLETIC PLAYERS!...Chris Bosh is the only one that fits that bill. Donyell Marshall(great hight/long arms). Jalen Rose is also such a player for his postion(6'8" guard/small forward with skillz)Hopefully Pape Sow has been playing a lot of basketball this offseason.
Swirsky seems to think Chris(birdman) Anderson might fit into a Raptors uniform???....6'10 and athletic????...he'd fit the bill.
From the draft???........pick a tall athletic guard if possible....and look for Defensive players!
Gibson was a bit better than that. He was an all-star and won the regular season MVP in '88 (though Strawberry or Hersheiser probably should have won it). Gibson wasn't a superstar but he was considered a star his early years with the Tigers. Yeah he wasn't a HOF'er but put parallel his and Horry's career is not quite righthealer677 said:
I was kind of disappointed by the Pistons' effort last night. The Spurs just took them apart in the 4th quarter. I had already decided this series was over when SA won Game 5, but Detroit made it interesting by winning Game 6. To win twice in a row on the Spurs' home floor would have been a monumental feat, and it proved to be impossible.
Very disappointing game by Billups, and really, what did Sheed do in the last 2-3 games? Nothing, that's what. Overall, Prince also had a lackluster finals. But despite all this, if not for Robert Horry, Detroit wins this thing.
Back to Duncan, and my point about the Admiral... I have a lot of respect for Duncan, and my belief that he needed Robinson to win those first two titles doesn't take away from that. Maybe the Admiral was only a shadow of his former dominant self by that point, but anyone who thinks Duncan wins those first two titles without Robinson is mistaken, imo.
Very disappointing game by Billups, and really, what did Sheed do in the last 2-3 games? Nothing, that's what. Overall, Prince also had a lackluster finals. But despite all this, if not for Robert Horry, Detroit wins this thing.
Back to Duncan, and my point about the Admiral... I have a lot of respect for Duncan, and my belief that he needed Robinson to win those first two titles doesn't take away from that. Maybe the Admiral was only a shadow of his former dominant self by that point, but anyone who thinks Duncan wins those first two titles without Robinson is mistaken, imo.
The Pistons nemesis all season...
...finally came back to bite them.....scoring droughts....Now I will give the Spurs all the credit, especially Popovich for the defensive adjustments for the 2nd half...but 32 points in the 2nd half???....and you're up by 9 midway through the 3rd quarter??..A couple of costly turnovers when they were up by 9 killed the Pistons...had they been able to run it up to 13-15 points..and keep that run going..instead of those 2 turnovers allowing the Spurs to cut it to 4 ..and then allowing the Spurs to go on a huge run..it might have been different. Still, with all the obstacles in their way all season( and no, officiating was NOT one of the obstacles, Piston fan) they still had a chance until there were about 2 mins left. A tough one to take for sure...but in the end, the team with just a little more talent won it. Both teams tough nosed style and heart were really something to see, even if the play itself was not stellar at times...
N2G
...finally came back to bite them.....scoring droughts....Now I will give the Spurs all the credit, especially Popovich for the defensive adjustments for the 2nd half...but 32 points in the 2nd half???....and you're up by 9 midway through the 3rd quarter??..A couple of costly turnovers when they were up by 9 killed the Pistons...had they been able to run it up to 13-15 points..and keep that run going..instead of those 2 turnovers allowing the Spurs to cut it to 4 ..and then allowing the Spurs to go on a huge run..it might have been different. Still, with all the obstacles in their way all season( and no, officiating was NOT one of the obstacles, Piston fan) they still had a chance until there were about 2 mins left. A tough one to take for sure...but in the end, the team with just a little more talent won it. Both teams tough nosed style and heart were really something to see, even if the play itself was not stellar at times...
N2G
