http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhLX3jkL62WU.RM6hPUM5Mm8vLYF?slug=ap-spurs-popovich Video of pop: http://www.nba.com/spurs/multimedia/100916_pop.html SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Tim Duncan(notes) is no longer getting better with age, but he’s apparently getting slimmer and fitter. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that Duncan returned this summer for his 14th season perhaps in even better shape than a year ago, when the perennial All-Star reported to training camp 15 pounds lighter. “He’s trim and slim. I think he’s even slimmer than he was last year,” Popovich said. “He’s really serious about this. He knows his responsibilities. He wants to win again.” Popovich met with reporters in San Antonio for the first time since Phoenix swept the Spurs from the Western Conference semifinals in May. He’ll open training camp Sept. 27 with Duncan, who turns 35 this season, leading what is a mostly unchanged Spurs roster. San Antonio is still built to go only as far as Duncan can take them. But he’ll get some long-overdue frontcourt help with the addition of 7-footer Tiago Splitter(notes), the marquee signing for the Spurs in an otherwise quiet offseason. Originally drafted by the Spurs in 2007, Splitter is a former MVP and championship winner in the Spanish League. He joins the Spurs amid high expectations—Popovich compared Splitter’s NBA-readiness to Manu Ginobili’s(notes) arrival in 2002. That doesn’t mean Splitter will be a go-to scorer. Popovich said the Brazilian’s biggest impact will instead be rebounding and defense, but those contributions should be immediate. “He’ll come in running, so to speak, and not have a problem,” Popovich said. Popovich didn’t say how much lighter Duncan might have come back. But like last summer, Duncan pushed back and toned down his old preseason regiments in hopes of keeping his body fresher come spring. Duncan got off to a roaring start in the playoffs last year against Dallas though still finished the season averaging 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, both career lows. He has two years left on his contract. Ginobili, 33, is starting a new three-year extension while Tony Parker(notes) isn’t signed past this season. “Fantastic means have an opportunity to win a championship, and that’s what we’re always looking for here,” Popovich said. “There’s no reason why this group can’t do it, but there are also probably 10 teams in the league that feel they have that opportunity.”
That would be great if he had been a fat ass last year...unfortunately what he needs is to be back "even younger" than before.
Dang, the Spurs got Splitter, and now Duncan's losing weight? Give them the championship now, why waste time.
Honestly, as long as the Spurs have Duncan, they will always be in talks of making the playoffs. Not necessarily contending, but playoffs.
Interesting that he mentioned that "10 teams" think they can contend. Who do you think is on that list?
Good for Duncan but this won't help him much. What's funny is if he were 10 years younger folks would say he needed to gain weight.
Meh... Duncan will still be effective, but he'll be less consistent this year. His numbers will dip and continue to dip every year until he retires. The spurs are going to have to start trading players or revert to their old ways, tanking, to be championship contenders again. Until then they're going to be a bunch of old guys that will have a good game now and then, but won't be able to keep up with the younger fellas. No shame though...Duncan was great and will always be remembered as a great player, but his time has come and gone.
It wont make a difference..... the Spurs will still suck. They're done. Duncan has both career LOW stats he finished.
Career low stats cuz he played less minutes per game Per 36 minutes last year, Duncan's performed at his same usual RATE. Almost exactly at his career averages across the board. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html Code: [COLOR=Blue]PER 36 MINUTES[/COLOR] Season ▴ Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS [COLOR=Red][B]2009-10 [/B] [/COLOR] 33 SAS NBA 78 77 2438 8.3 16.0 .518 0.0 0.2 .182 4.0 5.5 .725 3.3 8.4 11.6 3.6 0.7 1.7 2.1 2.2 20.6 [B]Career [/B] NBA 977 975 35577 8.0 15.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .187 4.8 7.0 .687 3.0 8.4 11.5 3.1 0.7 2.3 2.7 2.6 20.9
You all shouldn't take this lightly. I know a guy who swore up AND down that he has lost 2.5 lbs since last season. He didn't poop or anything.
