If Duncan's dad dying is what is hurting his game, why didn't it affect him in Seattle Game 5, the first game back when he tore the Sonics a new one. Could it possibly be that he's facing a very tough defensive team in LA? Duncan was horrible in games 3 and 4 against LA in the playoffs last year when the media began referring to him as Timid Duncan. If the Spurs are ever going to get past LA, Duncan has to dominate and start hitting some of his good looks. To be fair, the series isn't near over yet, but if Duncan keeps shooting at an Iversonesque clip it will be soon. Now his chance.
Duncan isnt no lock to stay. I'm sure he likes it there, but after getting beaten say 3 years in a row by the Lakers the way his team has, I'm sure hes going to look at Orlando. If Orlando can clear all the cap space needed to sign Duncan, the Magic have a great shot this time. Last time he was pretty much sold on signing with Orlando, some say that if you could have signed contracts in the signing period, that he would have signed. Robinson saved that from happening by making his trip short. Robinson told him he has 4-5 years left(LOL). The Spurs got beat by the Suns in the first round that year, Duncan didnt play at all in the playoffs. The year before they just won the NBA title. Its hard to leave that. After 3 years of getting swept/killed by the Lakers, I think he'll look to Orlando and Miami. I rather play with Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady then Bruce Bowen and Charles Smith. Doc Rivers or Pop? "But Duncan never committed, even though he says he thought hard about leaving San Antonio. "I was in and I was out," Duncan said. "When I went down and saw what they had to offer, it made my decision a lot harder." "-CNNSI
I disagree. There are a few here that do not like the Spurs, obviously, but in general there are plenty who seem to support them....'Texas team' and all that. I remember in particular the last few years, thanks to a disdain for the Lakers and the fact that the Rockets weren't in the postseason, that quite a few posters here were hoping the Spurs would make the Finals. What happened last year probably calmed those feelings down a bit this season. Personally, I don't hate the Spurs. I think a lot of their players are seemingly classy guys, and Duncan (along with Kidd) was a very viable MVP candidate; it's good to see him get it. I just believe the perceptions that 1) they can't handle the pressures of the postseason, and in particular 2) can't handle the Lakers -- do have some weight to them. I do have a problem with some of the fans, though. A lot of them (at least the vocal ones) tend to think they are the cream of the NBA crop and can do no wrong. I've seen enough 'we are the classiest in the NBA!' to last me a lifetime. And some seem to have a problem griping reality that rivals that of Jazz fans. But until the Spurs do something to prove otherwise, the serious Spur haters are going to have plenty of ammunition to throw around - particularly at playoff time.
I agree with Pued, Clarke & Hydra. You switch Oneal and Duncan and the Lakers still win--the problem is Duncan's supporting cast. The Spurs without TD would be the worst team in the league, with him they are somewhere between #3-#6--that is a testament to his game.
Its so damn obvious why they lost. Duncan is the man, but being doubled and tripled with Tony Parker, Anthony Daniels, Smith, Robinson or Bowen being able to hit ANYTHING, how can they win. Smith just looks old. The guy is a monster shooter I don't know what the hell's wrong with him. Hakeem had guys that could at least shoot and show some heart, in this series Duncan has nothing. Do you guys remember how many open easy shots Parker, Daniels and Smith Missed in the 4th Quarter. Duncan had two or three Beautiful passes to an open Robinson that fumbled it out of bounds, or stopped before screwing it up. Duncan, get out while you can! That team is worse than Memphis without you. You could make any team in the league better than the Spurs. Lets Look at the Lottery Teams and Compare them to the Spurs without Duncan: SA Robinson, Bryant Rose, Parks Bowen, Smith Smith, Daniels Parker, Porter Golden State - BETTER! Foyle, Dampier Fortson Jamison Richardson Hughes Chicago - A WASH! Curry Fizer, Chandler Rose Crawford Best Memphis - BETTER! Grant Long Stromile Swift Gasol Battier Williams Houston - BETTER! Cato Griffin Thomas Cuttino Francis Cleveland - BETTER! Zydrunas Mihm Davis ? Andre Miller Jeez.....Get Timmy Some help !! You should have paid Derek Anderson! You probably would be up or tied in this series if you had instead of getting Steve "over the hill at 33" smith
Was money really the sticking point of Anderson's contract, or was it length? I can't imagine SA getting upset at Anderson's contract, when it has to be at least 15% of Anderson's.
