Tim Duncan News

Duncan: Most important rodeo road trip
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February 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan has been a part of seven previous rodeo road trips, the extended journey that makes tourists of the Spurs while the AT&T Center is filled with the twang of country music and the tang of equine excrement. Not once has the Spurs captain felt a more compelling need for the team to use the trip to turn around its season. And with good reason: Never have the Spurs arrived at embarkation day with a worse record. Aware that no rodeo road trip has produced a losing record and each has been an attendant jump-start to the season-ending push, Duncan agreed that this year's seven-game trip — which begins Wednesday in Sacramento after a six-game homestand produced only two victories — is the ..."
Duncan helps Spurs end slide
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January 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Gregg Popovich left the AT&T Center on Wednesday night with his eyebrows intact. Unlike Mike Woodson, his Atlanta counterpart, he didn't need to shave anything to motivate his team. After the Spurs lost three in a row at home, Popovich didn't do anything special to catch his players' attention. "Besides flipping over tables and cursing us out?" center Antonio McDyess said, in jest (maybe). "No." Whatever Popovich did or did not do, the Spurs responded with one of their finest games of the season, crushing the surging Atlanta Hawks 105-90 to put an emphatic end to a discouraging skid. As has often been the case over the past 12-plus seasons, when the Spurs hit their darkest hour, they ..."
Loss to Rockets mars Duncan's milestone
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January 23
San Antonio Express-News
 
"At a timeout not long after he had logged the 20,000th and 20,001st points of his career Friday night, Tim Duncan celebrated in Tim Duncan fashion. He gave a brief wave to acknowledge the standing AT"
With late surge, Duncan voted All-Star starter
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January 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"He's still one point shy of 20,000 career points, but Tim Duncan was 63,691 votes ahead of recent 20,000-point club inductee Dirk Nowitzki in balloting for a starting forward spot on the Western Conference All-Star team. Duncan will make the 11th consecutive All-Star start of his 13-year career after a late surge in fan voting overcame a lead of 50,000 votes Dallas' Nowitzki held over him when preliminary vote totals were announced two weeks ago. No All-Star Game was played in the lockout season, 1998-99. This year's game will be played Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Denver's Carmelo Anthony, the league's top scorer this season at 29.8 points per game, was the top vote-getter ..."
Iverson voted in; Nash, Duncan get All-Star spots
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January 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Allen Iverson has been voted to start in the All-Star game, while Steve Nash and Tim Duncan made late moves to claim starting spots for the Western Conference. Nash passed the inactive Tracy McGrady as the second guard, while Duncan disappointed Dallas fans hoping to see Dirk Nowitzki start by rallying past the Mavericks forward. LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium, becoming the first player to earn at least 2.5 million votes three times."
Duncan short of milestone in Spurs' loss
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January 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Well before the Spurs took the floor Wednesday night, those in charge of such things decided the celebration of Tim Duncan's impending 20,000-point milestone would be low-key. There would be no pomp and circumstance, no unnecessary stoppage in play, no tear-jerking tribute on the overhead video screen. As it turned out, the moment was low-key all right. So low-key, it will have to wait until Friday. Duncan fouled out with 14 points late in the Spurs' 105-98 loss to Utah at the AT&T Center, leaving the arena stuck on 19,999 for his career, the party postponed 48 hours. His teammates, meanwhile, left the arena more concerned with the numbers on the scoreboard than the numbers in Duncan's box ..."
Spurs' Duncan nears 20,000-point club
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January 20
San Antonio Express-News
 
"If Spurs forward Tim Duncan hits his season average of 20 points per game tonight, he will also hit a notable NBA milestone. Duncan is within 15 points of becoming the 35th player in league history to join the 20,000-point club and the 10th to do it with one franchise. In typical Duncan fashion, he seems less than impressed by the magnitude of his own impending accomplishment. What does 20,000 points mean to him? "It means I've been playing a long time. It means I'm old. It means I'm closer to the end than to the beginning," Duncan said with a chuckle. "It means a lot of things that are negative more than positive." In actuality, Duncan's arrival in the 20,000-point club would solidify a ..."
Duncan supports sensible rest plan
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January 18
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The plan was in place before the Spurs even boarded their charter flight late last Tuesday night. Tim Duncan would need to pack two David Stern-approved outfits in order to sit behind the bench in half of the four games on the upcoming road trip. As part of a new rest and recovery schedule meant to keep his star fresh for longer periods of the season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich aimed to sideline Duncan on the second night of two back-to-backs — Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Saturday in Memphis. Then, the Spurs lost Friday in Charlotte, Antonio McDyess came down with neck spasms, and Duncan arrived in Memphis feeling spry for a 33-year-old. New plan. "I felt good enough to play," said ..."
Spurs see more rest in Duncan's future
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January 14
San Antonio Express-News
 
"In a turn of events about as unexpected as a sunrise, Tim Duncan was asked to bring a sport coat to the Ford Center. After his 33-year-old All-Star forward logged nearly 40 minutes a night earlier in a victory against the Lakers, and with his team in the midst of five games in 61/2 days, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave Duncan the night off in Wednesday's 109-108 overtime win over Oklahoma City. Popovich all but guaranteed it won't be the last time Duncan is inactive this season. "That's just part of rest and recovery," Popovich said. "We're going to make him sit out more back-to-backs than we ever have before, and see if it pays dividends come playoff time." It marked the third missed game ..."
Spurs see more rest in Duncan's future
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January 14
San Antonio Express-News
 
"In a turn of events about as unexpected as a sunrise, Tim Duncan was asked to bring a sport coat to the Ford Center. After his 33-year-old All-Star forward logged nearly 40 minutes a night earlier in a victory against the Lakers, and with his team in the midst of five games in 61/2 days, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave Duncan the night off in Wednesday's 109-108 overtime win over Oklahoma City. Popovich all but guaranteed it won't be the last time Duncan is inactive this season. "That's just part of rest and recovery," Popovich said. "We're going to make him sit out more back-to-backs than we ever have before, and see if it pays dividends come playoff time." It marked the third missed game ..."
Duncan returns to MVP level
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January 5
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Before the Spurs won their fourth straight road game on Saturday in Washington , coach Gregg Popovich spent a few moments marveling at the resurgence of his hottest player. At age 33, Tim Duncan leads Popovich's team in scoring (20.0 points per game), rebounding (10.2) and blocked shots (1.8). Admitting he'd had occasional off-season doubt about Duncan 's ability to return to the sort of nightly dominance that twice made him the Most Valuable Player, Popovich sounded relieved. "I hoped I would (see him back at that level)," he said, "and I have. "He's just been fantastic. He was really wise this summer and took care of himself and was careful with his workouts and didn't overdo it. He's ..."
Foul-line failures foil Spurs' comeback
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January 4
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Few outside the Spurs' inner circle knew quite what to make Sunday of the unprecedented decision to sit team captain Tim Duncan, their leading scorer and rebounder, for the first 14 minutes of the Spurs' 91-86 loss to the Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The exception: Toronto's starting point guard, Jarrett Jack, who played his first three NBA seasons in Portland. There, he said, he saw plenty of coach Gregg Popovich's deviations from basketball orthodoxy. "Coach Popovich is kind of a quirky guy," Jack said. "He might do things just because it's Tuesday." On this bone-chilling Sunday night in Canada, it was Jack who ultimately rendered Popovich's version of rope-a-dope a failed stratagem. ..."
Duncan's excellence endures
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December 27
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Mike Monroe
"As the first decade of the 21st century nears an end, it is entirely fitting that Tim Duncan is having the best season of any Spur, old or new. Just as he did in 2000-01, Duncan leads the Spurs in scoring and rebounding. At 33, and shed of 15 pounds, he looks more like the 23-year-old who entered Y2K than a graying veteran with expectations diminished by the toll of carrying a team to greatness for 10 years. It has been the Decade of Duncan, both in San Antonio and the NBA. The case can be made he was the most dominant player in the league simply because he gave voice to an argument that the Spurs were the Team of the Decade. The Lakers' four titles settle that debate, but they had two ..."
Clippers extend futility in San Antonio with 103-87 loss
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December 22
Los Angeles Times
 
"Just like Utah . . . only with better weather. Replace Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, and the story line of abject failure is nearly the same for the Clippers. The Spurs' 103-87 victory at AT"
Duncan sizzles as Spurs thump wounded Warriors
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December 17
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan has no idea why he's been able to score so readily this season. He just hopes to keep his hot streak going for as long as possible. Duncan logged 27 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks Wednesday night as the Spurs followed their leader to a 103-91 victory over Golden State at Oracle Arena. "I'm feeling healthy right now, and my shot's feeling good," said Duncan, who came into the game averaging a team-best 19.8 points. "I just have to use it while I'm here, and hopefully it will spark something else to happen." Twenty-four hours after scoring a season-high 34 in a loss at Phoenix, his highest total in two seasons, Duncan carried the Spurs again in Oakland. He has now scored at ..."
Popovich vows to limit Duncan's workload
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December 14
San Antonio Express-News
 
"A quarter of the way through the season, Tim Duncan leads the Spurs in scoring, rebounding and blocks. There is one statistical category of Duncan's coach Gregg Popovich is monitoring more than others - minutes played. Duncan entered Sunday night's 115-90 victory over the Clippers averaging 32.2 minutes per game, second on the team behind Richard Jefferson. That number marks the upper limit of playing time Popovich expects to give his 33-year-old All-Star forward on a nightly basis. "We always try to keep him around 32," Popovich said before the game. "That's the way it has to be. If we want him for the playoffs, I can't play him 38, 39 minutes a game. It won't work." Popovich caught a ..."
Spurs relish upcoming road trip
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December 13
San Antonio Express-News
 
"For the first time this season when packing for a road trip, the Spurs finally had to break out their big suitcases. The three-game trip that begins tonight against the Clippers, before taking the Spurs to Phoenix and Golden State, is the Spurs' longest of the season so far. It is their first multi-city road trip since a back-to-back at Utah and Portland on Nov. 5-6. The Spurs have not exactly thrived on the road this season, going 1-5. They have yet to win a game outside the state. Still, players said after Friday's 104-85 victory over Charlotte they are looking forward to their latest trek. With nearly half the roster new to the team this season, the Spurs are hoping to use their first ..."
Spurs overcome sloppy third quarter
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December 12
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Momentum had vanished, the Spurs were giving the ball away like freebies to the first 1,000 fans, and their lead - which once had been as many as 22 points - had dwindled almost as far as it could dwindle. The Charlotte Bobcats, left for roadkill only moments before, were surging. When the going gets tough, the Spurs were reminded Friday night, it's nice to have Tim Duncan as a fallback. Ahead by just one entering the fourth quarter, the Spurs dumped the ball to Duncan on three consecutive possessions. He made three consecutive tough baskets to settle the Spurs and get them pointed toward a 104-85 victory. "It's no surprise," Antonio McDyess said. "When we get in a bind, there's no ..."
Spurs' Duncan not gaining All-Star voters' notice
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December 11
San Antonio Express-News
 
"If Tim Duncan's streak of consecutive All-Star Game starts is to continue, he is going to have to mount a come-from-behind surge in fan voting. Chosen by the league's fans to start in every All-Star Game played since his second season - there was no game in 1999 - Duncan is fourth among Western Conference forwards in the first tabulation of votes released Thursday by the NBA. The Spurs captain has 271,321 votes. He trails Denver's NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony (588,958 votes), Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (366,300) and the Lakers' Pau Gasol (280,758). Except for the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, Duncan has been an All-Star in each of his first 12 seasons. In his rookie season he was ..."
Spurs hit another flat note
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December 8
San Antonio Express-News
 
"After making 10 of his first 13 shots, scoring a career-high 28 points and dragging the Spurs out of a deep, fourth-quarter hole to within one shot of victory, Matt Bonner had the Spurs poised for a dream ending to their Monday night game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Instead, the Spurs will have a few nightmares about their 104-101 loss, their third straight after Bonner's 14th shot, a running hook from 13 feet out on the right side, went around the rim and back out with just over a second remaining in the Jazz victory. Bonner was supposed to be a decoy on the play Spurs coach Gregg Popovich drew up during a timeout with 22 seconds left, his team trailing 102-101 ..."
Spurs lack precision in loss to Celtics
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December 4
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The frustration the Spurs experienced in a 90-83 loss to the Boston Celtics at the AT"
Spurs playing a game of bridge
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December 4
Boston Globe
 
"It's been two seasons since the Spurs dusted the Cavaliers for their fourth NBA title in nine years. The Spurs not only were accustomed to winning, they used their highly effective model of roster building to play deep into June annually. While the 2007-08 version lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals - not a shabby follow-up to an NBA title - last season's Spurs were taken out by the Mavericks in the first round, leading to major uncertainty as to whether the most critical parts of the dynasty were losing steam."
Duncan continues to fuel Spurs' engine
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December 1
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Two months ago, Richard Jefferson arrived for the start of his first Spurs training camp and opened with a joke. Somebody asked about the benefits of playing with a future Hall of Famer like Tim Duncan. Jefferson went straight for the punchline. "His game is pretty much trash now," Jefferson cracked. "I've told him that multiple times, that's why they brought me in here - because of his deteriorating body." Apprised later of Jefferson's ha-ha moment, Duncan smiled - and agreed. "I'm just along for the ride," Duncan said at the time. Funny thing, though: A month into his 13th NBA season, No. 21 is the one driving the bus for the Spurs. Through 15 games, Duncan leads the team in scoring ..."
Rockets worn down by Spurs
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November 28
Houston Chronicle
 
"They might run more, and they certainly score more. But they are still the Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. Some things never change. When they play one another, the games are still low-scoring and decided in the final minutes, and the Spurs are still the team that won four NBA championships that way. After several offensive power failures and a pair of Rockets comebacks, the Spurs held on through the final half-minute Friday night, sending the Rockets to consecutive losses for the first time this season with a 92-84 victory at Toyota Center. "Same Spurs," Rockets guard Kyle Lowry said. "They're a very, very good defensive team. Coach (Gregg) Popovich is a great coach of that. And they have ..."
Spurs look to banish road hex
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November 27
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Though the Spurs have had their share of rocky early road records in the first 12 seasons of the Tim Duncan era, they never have gone through November with fewer than two wins away from their home court. Unless they defeat the Houston Rockets in tonight's game at Toyota Center, however, they will slide into December without a single road victory in five tries. A team that traditionally has used hostile territory as a crucible in which to fire the ingredients of championship contention thus far has found the road icy and treacherous. Players who have been part of the championship history understand the need to begin amassing some road success. "We've been playing well the last couple ..."
Ellis stars, but rest of Warriors fall flat
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November 26
Contra Costa Times
 
"One player stood out most Wednesday night at the AT"
Spurs get back on track
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November 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"In simple calendar time, it had only been 10 days since the Spurs last ended a game with more points than the opposing team. In terms of an NBA season, that is the blink of an eye. It is a hiccup. In Spurs years, however, the winless drought seemed much longer than that. "It felt like a year and a half," Tim Duncan said. A year and a half, a week and a half, it's all moot now. The Spurs squashed their three-game losing streak in resounding fashion Saturday night, thrashing the hapless Washington Wizards 106-84 at the AT"
Wizards are no match for the Spurs
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November 22
Washington Post
 
"Saturday's game was supposed to be a matchup of underachieving teams, grappling with injuries and ever-changing lineups, but before the night was over, the San Antonio Spurs appeared to figure out what may cure their ills -- and it started with the healthy return of Tony Parker. The Washington Wizards, however, remain a dysfunctional unit, unable to do more than one thing well at a time. One night after scoring in bunches but failing to defend against Oklahoma City, the Wizards played better defensively for one half against the Spurs but were unable to put the ball in the basket. They shot a season-low 33.3 percent and lost for the 10th consecutive time in San Antonio, 106-84, at AT&T ..."
Jazz break through against Spurs
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November 20
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Over much of the past week, Richard Jefferson has heard enough about how hard the Spurs have been playing. He's heard enough about how well they have been competing, and how much progress they are making. After yet another narrow defeat - this one a 90-83 loss Thursday to a Utah team that hadn't won in San Antonio since "Friends" was the hottest show on TV - Jefferson was in no mood to talk about another close-but-no-cigar. "It's not about competing," Jefferson said. "It's about winning." The loss was the Spurs' third in a row, and the third in a row to come down to the wire. A night earlier, they lost in overtime in Dallas. Before that, it was a three-point loss at home to Oklahoma City. ..."
Mavs outplay Spurs in OT
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November 19
San Antonio Express-News
 
"An hour before his team was set to tip off a key Southwest Division game at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was talking about the giant chemistry project he'd undertaken. Long story short, there is no pushing fast-forward when it comes to the integration of seven new players. "Over 50 percent of the team is new," Popovich said. "That's a lot of new bodies. Just people-wise, relationship-wise, people understanding the system - it's a real work in progress." What the Spurs have learned over the past week, leading up to Wednesday's 99-94 overtime loss to Dallas, which sunk them below .500: Chemistry projects are even more difficult when some of the most ..."
Mavericks race by Spurs 99-94 in overtime win
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November 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"Dirk Nowitzki made play after play, frustrating the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan as he did. And then he went to the offensive end. Nowitzki had 41 points, including 11 of the Mavericks' 15 points in overtime as he led them to a hard-earned 99-94 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center. But what people wanted to talk about most was his defense on Duncan. Nowitzki was asked to guard the Spurs' low-post master during the final minutes of overtime, and he forced Duncan to miss close-range shots on three consecutive possessions, which allowed the Mavericks to pull away to a 97-91 lead and hang on for their fourth consecutive victory since losing to the Spurs ..."
Duncan, Parker doubtful vs. Mavs
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November 11
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It appears likely the Spurs will face the Dallas Mavericks at the AT&T Center tonight without All-Stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Neither player participated in the Spurs' light Tuesday afternoon practice session and were officially listed as doubtful for tonight's game. Both are nursing left ankle injuries suffered in last Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Parker sprained his left ankle during the second quarter and left the court immediately. X-rays showed no structural damage and the Spurs officially termed the injury a mild sprain, but he has not played since. Duncan jammed his left ankle at some point in the same game but played 35 minutes and 27 seconds the ..."
Swollen left ankle sidelines Spurs' Duncan
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November 10
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs captain Tim Duncan sat out Monday's 131-124 victory over the Raptors with swelling in his left ankle, the result of an injury suffered in a loss at Utah on Thursday. Duncan played 35 minutes and 27 seconds on Friday in Portland. It wasn't until early in the Sunday afternoon practice session that he began to experience discomfort in the ankle, affecting his play. He was sent for X-rays, which showed no damage, but he was a pregame scratch Monday. "It's sore, and he can't play," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before the game. Duncan joined Tony Parker, also suffering with a sore left ankle, on the inactive list. Parker's injury is not serious, and he may suit up for Wednesday's home ..."
Blowouts allowing Duncan more rest
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November 4
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The Spurs' two victories this season, both blowouts, ended with a scene sure to warm Gregg Popovich's heart: Tim Duncan, already sweat-free and already decked in his warm-ups, leaning back in his chair long since done for the night. In the Spurs' 113-96 win over New Orleans and their 113-94 trouncing of Sacramento, Duncan's third-quarter retreat to the bench has been the equivalent of a silver-and-black victory cigar. "Whenever there's a game when you're getting your fanny kicked, or you're kicking someone else's fanny, you can rest some players in the fourth quarter," Popovich said. "That's usually a good thing." When it comes to the 33-year-old Duncan, whose knees betrayed him down the ..."
With upgraded cast, Duncan poised for final act
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October 26
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The second-longest offseason of Tim Duncan's career began with basketball out of sight, if not out of mind. For three months after the Spurs' first-round playoff ouster against Dallas, he stayed away from the court. In an attempt to save some wear on his knees, Duncan returned to his first sporting love, the swimming pool. He worked out on the Spurs' new space-age anti-gravity treadmill. He even took up boxing, sparring regularly with former prizefighting champion "Jesse" James Leija. Instead of readying himself for his 13th NBA season, Duncan appeared to be training for some sort of bizarre triathlon. "He wanted to do some cage fighting," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said jokingly, "but we ..."
With upgraded cast, Duncan poised for final act
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October 25
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The second-longest offseason of Tim Duncan's career began with basketball out of sight, if not out of mind. For three months after the Spurs' first-round playoff ouster against Dallas, he stayed away from the court. In an attempt to save some wear on his knees, Duncan returned to his first sporting love, the swimming pool. He worked out on the Spurs' new space-age anti-gravity treadmill. He even took up boxing, sparring regularly with former prizefighting champion "Jesse" James Leija. Instead of readying himself for his 13th NBA season, Duncan appeared to be training for some sort of bizarre triathlon. "He wanted to do some cage fighting," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said jokingly, "but we ..."
Beasley makes his power play in Heat loss
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October 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"The experiment was put on hold Sunday. Michael Beasley was back at power forward for the Miami Heat, back at the spot where he built his lottery reputation at Kansas State, back where he earned first-team All-Rookie last season. The move certainly wasn't a definitive switch. Nothing can be definitive when Dwyane Wade, Jermaine O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili all are held out of the same game, which was the case with the 95-93 exhibition loss to the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena. But by playing Udonis Haslem off the bench, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra gave himself the chance to look at Plan B, which many considered Plan A when Beasley was taken with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 ..."
Duncan's defense honored again
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May 7
San Antonio Express-News
 
"For the 12th time in his 12 seasons, Spurs forward Tim Duncan found his name listed on one of the NBA's All-Defensive teams Wednesday. In doing so, he etched his name deeper into the league record books. Duncan, an eight-time member of the All-Defensive first team, earned a spot on this year's second team. He is the only player in NBA history to claim a dozen All-Defensive nominations. Duncan had shared the previous mark of 11 with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "He's been our foundation for quite a while now," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He does whatever he can to make things good for everybody else." While Duncan's All-Defensive streak remained intact, Bruce Bowen's did not. Limited mostly ..."
Once again, this will be about Duncan
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April 18
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
"If Mark Cuban had taken a running start, and if he had summoned all of his Dancing-With-the-Stars zeal, he couldn't have hurt Tim Duncan's left knee. That's how massive Duncan's knee brace looked on Friday. Cuban couldn't have dented it, nor could an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test. Custom built, these braces cost about $1,800. When straps and hinges are aligned properly, the brace unloads pressure. For Duncan's left knee, it's the outer area that gets unloaded. But Duncan wears this only in practice. He will take off the brace tonight, maybe opting for a sleeve, and then this first-round series will be decided. If his knees aren't ready - if he can't move and take ..."
Pop saves Duncan for Warriors
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April 13
San Antonio Express-News
 
"When Tim Duncan put together a suitcase for the Spurs' two-game road trip to northern California, he knew to pack a sport coat. He was sure he'd sit out one of the two games on the itinerary. He just didn't know which one. Turns out, Duncan's day off came Sunday against the Kings. Playing the matchup odds, coach Gregg Popovich opted to sit Duncan on the front end of a back-to-back, saving his All-Star forward for today's trip to Golden State. "In the past, he's been a difference-maker against Golden State, so we're going to opt to use him in that game," Popovich said. "We're not going to play him in both. It's just not good for him." The small-ball happy Warriors don't have a player big ..."
Improving Duncan ditches knee braces
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April 12
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan has eschewed the twin knee braces he had been wearing since early February, which could mean only one of two things. Either Duncan is tired of looking like a 1980s throwback, or his sore knees are finally beginning to feel better. Good news for the Spurs: Duncan says it is the latter. In the aftermath of the Spurs' victory over Utah on Friday night, an upbeat Duncan said the tendonosis that has plagued his right knee since the All-Star break is showing signs of dissipating. "I'm getting my right leg back," said Duncan, who will still wear a sleeve on his left knee, which underwent surgery following the 1999-2000 season. "(The pain) is basically gone, so it was good to be out ..."
Duncan says Parker an MVP candidate
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March 27
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Being a two-time winner of the NBA's most coveted individual award gives Spurs captain Tim Duncan a certain gravitas when it comes to evaluating the closest Most Valuable Player race in recent memory. Who does Duncan like in this season's race to the finish for MVP? "I'm staying as far away from that question as I possibly can," Duncan said as he walked toward the bus that would take the Spurs to their charter flight out of Atlanta after one of their best road victories since the All-Star break. Choosing among the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade is fraught with peril for any expert, even one with Duncan's credentials. There is one bit of advice for NBA ..."
Ginobili will play, Duncan will sit for Spurs
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March 25
San Antonio Express-News
 
"For the first time since Feb. 11, Manu Ginobili was in uniform for the Spurs on Wednesday night. For the second time in eight days, Tim Duncan was not, sitting out the second game of the Spurs' back-to-back games against the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made the pronouncement on Ginobili in his pre-game meeting with reporters before the Spurs-Hawks game at Philips Arena here Wednesday. Ginobili has been out with a stress reaction in his right distal fibula. Cleared by the team's medical staff, Ginobili will be on a regimen of limited minutes until his conditioning returns to NBA game level. Popovich, seeking to keep Duncan fresh and healthy for the ..."
Popovich opts to sit, rest Duncan
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March 18
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Acknowledging some concern about Tim Duncan's play since the Spurs All-Star missed three games with a sore right knee, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich forced his two-time Most Valuable Player to skip Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at AT&T Center. “He doesn't love it,” Popovich said about an hour before tipoff of the Spurs' 93-86 victory, “but I just think it's important for him to be fresh and healthy for the end of the season. I think one way to do it is to limit the number of back-to-backs you play in down the stretch. That's what I'm doing.” Kurt Thomas started in Duncan's power forward slot and turned in a solid game, getting 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. The ..."
Duncan starts against Trail Blazers
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March 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs forward Tim Duncan was back in uniform for Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, but he didn't feel much like the real Tim Duncan, not after missing nine of his 15 shots and grabbing only four rebounds in 25 minutes and 36 seconds. "Obviously, I believe I was a little bit rusty," Duncan said. "I liked the shots I got. I've got to believe that on a regular basis I can knock them down. Call it rust, or whatever you want, but it was just a bad night." Duncan said he felt fine physically after sitting out three games last week with tendonosis in his right quadriceps tendon. "I felt a lot better than I did when I went out (of the lineup)," he said. "I had a good rehab week. I ..."
Spurs pushing for Duncan
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March 1
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan won't have to face his head coach on his own if Gregg Popovich even hints that his All-Star forward needs to sit out one more game. Some of his prominent teammates are willing to press Popovich for the return of their teammate tonight at the Rose Garden against the Portland Trail Blazers. After playing three straight games without him, while Duncan rested a right knee aching because of quadriceps tendonosis, they are ready to beg, if necessary. Duncan was cleared to play Friday against Cleveland by the Spurs' medical staff, and he told Popovich he wanted to play. Popovich scratched him from the active list, a unilateral decision he said was "erring on the side of caution." ..."
Duncan again a no-go as Pop plays it safe
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February 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs All-Star forward Tim Duncan wanted to suit up for Friday's game against the Eastern Conference's top team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, at the AT&T Center on Friday night. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't think it was a good idea, and while he often jokes that his two-time MVP is the de facto president of Spurs basketball operations, when it comes to playing with injuries, Popovich rules. Duncan told Popovich on Tuesday that soreness in his right knee would not allow him to play against the Dallas Mavericks. He was diagnosed Wednesday with tendonosis of the right quadriceps tendon, sitting out that night's game against Portland. Cleared to play Friday by team doctors, Duncan lobbied to ..."
Duncan requires rest, not surgery
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February 26
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The good news from the doctors who examined Spurs All-Star Tim Duncan's sore right knee Wednesday morning: no initials. No ACL, MCL, PTL, or any other combination of letters typically used to describe a torn ligament or damaged cartilage. Rather, Duncan has tendonosis in his right quadriceps tendon, a degenerative condition. Technically, the injury could be described as a minor problem with Duncan's RQT, but the diagnosis requires rest, not surgery. For that, the Spurs are grateful. "It's none of those letter things," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's got (tendonosis), so we'll see how he feels on Friday." Asked if Duncan would have been able to suit up had Tuesday's and Wednesday's ..."
Tim Duncan Out Wednesday Vs. Portland
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February 25
NBA.com
 
"Spurs forward Tim Duncan was examined by team medical personnel today where it was determined he has right quad tendonosis. Duncan will not play in tonight’s Spurs-Trail Blazers in San Antonio. He is considered day-to-day. Spurs center/forward Fabricio Oberto suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left thumb during last night’s Spurs-Mavericks game. He will be fitted with a splint and is expected to play in tonight’s game"
Duncan sits with stiff knee
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February 25
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tipoff time for Tuesday's Spurs-Mavericks game at the AT&T Center was approaching, and as veteran power forward Kurt Thomas pulled on his game jersey, he looked across the Spurs' locker room and realized something was amiss. Missing, in fact, was Tim Duncan, bothered by stiffness in his right knee to the point the team's medical staff decided he should sit out the game. “He wasn't in his locker,” Thomas said, “so I figured something was going on.” The Spurs won't know what is really going on inside Duncan's right knee until he visits team doctors today. The two-time MVP and perennial All-Star power forward has been held out of two of the Spurs' last eight games. He also missed the team's ..."