Tim Duncan News

"After watching New Orleans forward David West savage the Spurs for 38 points in Game 5, San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich apparently decided enough was enough. Popovich eschewed the overmatched tag team of Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas and saddled All-NBA defender Tim Duncan with the responsibility of slowing West down. West had little trouble locating open shots during Game 5. But West was never able to establish any rhythm against the 7-foot Duncan, scoring just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting before leaving with a back injury. "

"Spurs coach Gregg Popovich credited his team's defensive performance for its ability to even the Western Conference semifinal series against the New Orleans Hornets at two games apiece, so he was gratified Monday when both Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen were named to the league's All-Defensive first team."

"What a difference a change of scenery can make. Defense, rebounds, scoring -- Spurs forward Tim Duncan was back to his typical All-Star self after a nightmarish two-game slump in New Orleans. With 20 points and 15 rebounds through three quarters, he essentially matched in 34 minutes his total output (23 points, 11 boards) in Games 1 and 2. "

"The Spurs hope another two days off between Games 3 and 4 of their Western Conference semifinals series against the New Orleans Hornets will help All-Star power forward Tim Duncan reach full strength for Sunday's game. He's spent most of the past week battling high fever and flu-like symptoms. Duncan was examined by team doctors before tipoff for Thursday's game at AT&T Center. While his fever then was back to normal, several days spent battling the affliction appeared to have affected his play in the first two games, especially in Game 1. "

" The NBA announced its all-NBA team Thursday, and the Spurs’ results were mixed. Tim Duncan, a first-team selection in nine of his first 10 seasons, slipped from first team to second team forward for just the second time in his 11-year career. Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Cleveland’s LeBron James finished ahead of Duncan in voting for first-team forwards. Manu Ginobili, the Spurs guard who won the Sixth Man Award and finished 10th in voting for Most Valuable Player, made one of the three All-NBA teams for the first time in his career. He was voted to the third team. "

" There’s a reason Shaquille O’Neal dubbed Spurs forward Tim Duncan the “Big Fundamental.” From his footwork to his trademark bank shot to his jump hook — with either hand — to his defense and rebounding, Duncan embodies a commitment to the basics of basketball that so many players of his generation lack. Maybe Duncan’s career would have turned out differently if he had grown up in urban America, instead of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. "

"Full names are not required in the NBA's pantheon of legends. To paraphrase singer Paul Simon: I could say Wilt, Russell, Big O, Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Jordan, Shaq and Kobe. And everybody here would know who I was talking about. I mean everybody here would know exactly who I was talking about. Diamonds on the soles of basketball shoes. But there is one whose name is rarely sung in this hallowed company. Tim Duncan. And that's a shame."

" Back when the Phoenix Suns abandoned their wide-open, defense-be-danged philosophy and dug in their heels around the Big Cactus, one motive for their makeover stood above all others. By adding Shaquille O'Neal, they presumably had a defender who had proven himself capable of slowing Tim Duncan. "

" Tim Duncan's 3-pointer ranks among the best ever. In this series. It doesn't compare to Sean Elliott's tiptoeing 3-pointer against Portland on Memorial Day in 1999, or to the cluster of threes that Steve Kerr used to eliminate Dallas in 2003. "

"He wasn't supposed to be involved. Not on that fateful play. Not at the end of Saturday's first overtime at the AT&T Center. But at the last second, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich switched assignments, and Tim Duncan, the play's third option, buried one of the bigger shots of his career."

"Shaquille O’Neal was 2-0 against the San Antonio Spurs in the regular season. But Round 1 of the postseason went to the Spurs and their Hall of Fame big man, Tim Duncan."

"Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan each has four championship rings. Even more impressive, one of the two has played in the past nine NBA Finals. Combined, they have won six Finals MVPs."

" Tim Duncan sat at his locker Wednesday evening, watching a replay of an earlier game against the Jazz, when he saw himself slip on a clumsy pivot move. Still sitting, he rolled his chair, kicking his feet against the floor like a little kid, until he was close enough to grab the remote. Then he replayed the moment, over and over again, until he had seen it 10 times. What followed made it official. Duncan is paying attention now, isn't he? "

" About an hour before tipoff Monday night in Sacramento, Tim Duncan was on the floor at Arco Arena, engaged in a pregame warm-up exercise that demonstrated just how concerned he was about his recent shooting slump."

"Tim Duncan didn't even bother to look at the stat sheet waiting for him at his locker after Sunday's 106-85 loss to the Lakers. He didn't need to see it. He knew it was bad. "

" By the end of Friday night's 95-74 victory over Seattle, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had Tim Duncan right where he wanted him. On the bench. "

" Lightening Duncan's off-day workload has been beneficial this season. Quietly, he is having his best season since he was voted Most Valuable Player in 2003."

" But when Joel Przybilla, the Blazers' 7-foot-1 center, left the Spurs' 72-65 victory after fracturing his right hand with 4:43 left in the second quarter, McMillan had little choice. He called on LaFrentz and told him to guard Tim Duncan. The result was a season-high 21 minutes, 34 seconds for LaFrentz, most of it spent in futile attempt to limit the Spurs' two-time MVP power forward. "

" I'm not sure what has changed for Duncan at the foul line, but I do know how serious he has been about correcting the only serious flaw in a Hall of Fame skill set. In fact, I believe Duncan merits consideration for this season's Most Improved Player Award, for that very reason. "

"Tim Duncan doesn't lead the San Antonio Spurs in scoring anymore. He just leads them."

" Jumping also had little to do with Tim Duncan chasing down 18 rebounds Monday night, which is why he and Thomas go together like gravity and the earth. They get by with long arms and wide hips, and they showed for the first time since the trade was made what can happen in fourth quarters."

"Tim Duncan didn't kill them, a small consolation to Josh Boone and DeSagana Diop in the aftermath of the Nets New Jersey Nets ' 93-83 loss to the Spurs last night."

" Kidd isn't perfect for Dallas, just as Shaquille O'Neal isn't perfect for Phoenix. But as it also is with Shaq, Kidd has something that Duncan respects and understands."

"Spurs All-Star forward Tim Duncan said his goals in every All-Star game are simple: Don't get hurt and win the game. Emerging without so much as a scratch after playing 23 minutes in Sunday's 57th All-Star Game at New Orleans Arena, Duncan was happy, despite his Western Conference team's 134-128 loss. "

"Wearing hip-hop attire, the questioner had a yellow microphone and a breezy patter. In the middle of a Friday afternoon interview session with players selected for today's NBA All-Star Game at New Orleans Arena, he asked Tim Duncan to record a voice mail message for his cell phone. "

"Tim Duncan practiced Saturday inside the New Orleans convention center. He's never had to camp outside of it."

" After the hubbub that erupted when Tim Duncan showed up on the official All-Star ballot listed as a center, rather than a forward, Duncan still knows what he is: a big man."

"Tim Duncan has been the MVP of the NBA Finals three times. He's won two regular-season MVP awards. Later this week, he will make his 10th consecutive appearance in an NBA All-Star Game."

"Even though he was missing his two biggest (size-wise) ingredients - Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain) and Kendrick Perkins (dislocated shoulder) - the Celtics coach did a masterful job of mixing and matching with what he had left at his disposal to handle one of the game’s greatest stars: Tim Duncan."

" What also appears to be a lead-cinch lock: Duncan won’t be bringing any of his silver and black running mates with him to New Orleans on Feb 17."

" One game after officially returning from a sprained right ankle, Duncan was back in full force Monday night, detonating for 36 points and 17 rebounds in what was by far his best game of the season. And still it was not enough to prevent the archrival Suns from escaping San Antonio with a 100-95 victory, in the process dealing the Spurs their first loss in 13 games at the AT&T Center this season. "

"Sometimes, the Spurs are just like the rest of us. They forget the past too quickly, they take a few things for granted, and occasionally, they even overlook the greatest NBA player of the past decade."

"Tim Duncan, the Spurs' two-time MVP power forward, said he expected to play in both games of the team's road trip, which began with a thud at Golden State and continues tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers."

"Tim Duncan's sprained right ankle endured another full practice session without incident Monday, clearing the way for the Spurs' All-Star forward to play tonight at Golden State."

" The Spurs had formally completed practice for at least 20 minutes Thursday and yet Duncan remained hard at work and soaked with sweat, testing the right ankle that had kept him out of his team's victory over Dallas the night before."

"There are no certainties in the sporting world, except for the fact that Tim Duncan will not play tonight, which renders the Mavericks' visit to AT&T Center a lose-lose situation. Lose, and it looks really bad that they can't beat the Spurs without Duncan. "

" A sprained right ankle will keep Tim Duncan out of Wednesday's game against Southwest Division rival Dallas and possibly more. On a Monday afternoon in which Duncan went under an MRI machine to confirm he had not torn knee ligaments, that qualified as good news for the Spurs. "

" So there was Duncan, grabbing his right knee only because it hurt more than his right ankle. Replays suggested the worst, or, in other cities, the best. Would the Mavericks and Suns, among others, look back and remember Dec. 2, 2007, as the day the West changed?"

" For about 10 minutes Sunday afternoon, a group of media types covering the Spurs convened in the press room at the AT&T Center, pondering a question so unspeakable I’m almost loath to repeat it here: What would San Antonio’s favorite NBA team do if it were to be without Tim Duncan the rest of the year? "

" Indeed, the sight of Duncan in a heaving, crumpled pile on the floor during the first half of the Spurs' 100-79 victory over Portland on Sunday was enough to suck the oxygen out of the AT&T Center. The preliminary diagnosis — bruised right knee, sprained right ankle but no apparent ligament damage — should serve as a defibrillator to restart the hearts of Spurs fans everywhere. "

"So we agreed to list some forwards who play center, like Stoudemire, as centers, thus enabling us to place more deserving players on the ballot. It seemed more fair and better for the entire league. Among them was Tim Duncan."

" NBA fans have voted Tim Duncan a starting forward for the Western Conference All-Star team each of the past nine seasons, but Duncan won't be a starting forward in the 2008 game in New Orleans. This year he is one of 12 centers for whom fans can vote for on the official All-Star ballot, which is available at league games or online. "

"Tim Duncan is the prototype of a power forward and introduced before every game with 'at forward ' But he appears on the All-Star ballot as a center."

"The NBA All-Star Game is still a good three months away, but one thing is already a near lock-cinch certainty: Tim Duncan's string of consecutive starts in the midseason classic will likely end at nine."

" In four years, when Duncan is as old as Shaq is now, he will be at the end of the extension he just signed. That's one difference between these men. Shaq has two more years of superstar money after this season."

" When Duncan signed a two-year contract extension Friday that ties him to the Spurs through the 2011-12 season while leaving a richly deserved $11 million on the table, his signature underscored the fact he is the game's ultimate team player."

" Tim Duncan is set to remain a Spur at least through 2012. And it will take less money to keep him here than expected. Citing two sources close to negotiations, Yahoo.com reported late Monday night that Duncan and the Spurs have reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension. "

" Duncan’s agent, Lon Babby, had mentioned this possibility earlier this month, and it has nothing to do with superstition. According to a story posted late Monday on Yahoo!, Duncan has agreed to a two-year, $40 million extension designed to give the Spurs some salary-cap flexibility."

"Say what you will about him. He can be difficult, uncooperative and remote. He can carry a grudge as much as he carries a team. But when the 2007-08 NBA season opens Tuesday night, it's clear if any team had a choice of one player, it would have to be … Tim Duncan."

" There are nights when his knees creak, mornings when his back aches. There are days he'd rather spend slipping into a warm bath instead of slamming into Shaquille O'Neal for two hours. These are the days in which Tim Duncan feels every day of 31 years old. "