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Tim Duncan News & Rumors

Duncan no All-Star? Don't tell the Hornets
February 3
San Antonio Express-News
 
"When the Spurs played the Hornets in New Orleans on Jan. 23, a well-rested Tim Duncan turned back the clock and authored his best game of the season, a 28-point burst of energy punctuated by a game-winning hook shot. Facing the Hornets again Thursday, this time after a hard win over Houston the night before, Duncan proved he can still dominate a game while weary. In 22 minutes and 28 seconds, he produced an extraordinarily efficient 19 points and nine rebounds, helping the Spurs secure a 93-81 victory. When Duncan wasn't torturing the shorthanded Hornets in the post, backup big man Tiago Splitter was doing the same, making 7 of 9 shots and scoring 16."
Duncan experiences huge flashback
February 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan hit a right-handed hook on Samuel Dalembert. A few minutes later, he opted for the left. Later, he spun Jordan Hill into oblivion on the low block, cleaned up a misconnected alley-oop attempt and dunked home a pass from Gary Neal. By the time Duncan's third-quarter trip through time was finished Wednesday, giving the kind of stretch his younger teammates might have read about in their history books, the Spurs had climbed out of a 19-point hole against Houston, on their way to a 99-91 victory. For Duncan, the most memorable moment of a memorable night happened before the third quarter even began. "I was just happy to be on the floor, honestly," Duncan said."
Russell reborn — Duncan relies on his ground game
February 2
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
""You play differently when you get older," Kevin McHale was saying before the game. You can walk differently, too. Wednesday night, as McHale approached a ref with a complaint, or circled his Rockets for a timeout, he limped on the damaged ankle that sped his retirement as a player. This time McHale, one of the best power forwards in NBA history, was talking about the best. He was saying Tim Duncan plays differently now, and this is the way it's always been. "If not," McHale said, "Bill Russell would still be winning championships.""
Will we see Tim Duncan play Thursday night?
February 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Gregg Popovich has thrown down the gauntlet, telling anyone who would listen that he plans regular rests for Tim Duncan as part of his lockout schedule strategy. The only problem might be that the 35-year-old Duncan still prefers playing a lot more than sitting on the bench and practically vowed to play Thursday night against New Orleans. By looking at the substitution patterns after the Spurs' 99-91 victory over Houston Wednesday night, it appeared that Duncan might be ripe for a night off against the Hornets and Emeka Okafor Thursday night."
Why even TD needs an occasional night off
January 24
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan could joke about wondering about playing into another fourth quarter again. But after watching the Spurs captain take over in a vintage fourth-quarter performance Monday night, he probably shouldn't worry too much. The Spurs still have a lot of work left for their best inside player. Duncan's game-winning 13-foot running hook shot with 1.4 seconds left gave them a tough 104-102 victory over New Orleans. Gregg Popovich made the smart move of benching Duncan in the team's loss at Houston Saturday night. It was a move he had to make to rest Duncan's 35-year-old body."
Duncan, Parker boost Spurs over Hornets
January 24
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan paused before leaving the court at New Orleans Arena, waiting a beat to savor the incredible thing that had just transpired in the Spurs' 104-102 victory over the Hornets. For starters, he was actually on the floor in the fourth quarter. "It was nice to be on the floor, it was nice to make some shots," Duncan said. "It was nice to get a win on the road. All in all, a nice night." Duncan made sure of that, throwing in a running hook shot over Emeka Okafor with 1.4 seconds to go for the winning basket Monday, as the Spurs escaped New Orleans with their second road win of the season. He finished with 28 points for his highest-scoring night in more than a year, while Tony Parker"
Popovich defends Duncan decision
January 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Not one to look a gift DNP in the mouth, Kevin McHale wasn't complaining when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave Tim Duncan a night off Saturday at the Toyota Center. But he also wasn't surprised. "Coach Popovich has such a good feel for those guys," said McHale, the Rockets' first-year coach. "He's been around Timmy his entire career. I think sometimes you sense in players something they don't sense in themselves." Even after the Spurs lost a close one in Houston, 105-103, without Duncan or injured guard Manu Ginobili, Popovich didn't regret to playing with a second All-Star tied behind his back. Truth be told, Popovich had been trying to sit the Duncan for about a week, only to be rebuffed"
Duncan sees much of fourth from bench
January 21
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan started the fourth quarter of Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on the bench, watching a Spurs' lineup that included four reserves whittle away at the lead the Kings had held since the first minute of the game. He stayed there until the final 5.5 seconds of what became an 88-86 loss, the Spurs' first at home this season. Coach Gregg Popovich said it had nothing to do with managing the minutes of his oldest player in a compressed schedule. "No," Popovich said, "the group that was out there was blitzing and doing a great job. They got us back in the game and got us a six-point lead at one point." When Duncan finally returned, after Popovich called a"
Salad days gone, Duncan finds a way to stay young
January 19
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
"Tim Duncan ordered light Tuesday night. He had a Caesar salad. And that made you sick? "Bad eggs, bad dressing," Duncan sighed. "Something bad." So Duncan was up most of the night in his Orlando hotel room. "In and out," he said, when it was mostly out, and he missed the team meeting Wednesday morning. Gregg Popovich didn't want him to play against the Magic, and Duncan's response was to the point. "He told me to go fish," Popovich said."
Duncan's throwback 20-10 game leads Spurs' triumph
January 16
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan once was a perennial 20-point, 10-rebound producer for the Spurs. Those games don't come around as often as they once did, but when they do happen it's a reminder of what a great player he has been for the franchise. Duncan's 24-point, 11-rebound effort that led the Spurs' 102-91 victory over Phoenix Sunday night to lead the Spurs' ninth consecutive home victory this season."
Parker, Duncan provide finishing touch for Spurs
January 12
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Time went by, and the minutes kept coming, then came overtime. By the end of a much-needed 101-95 Spurs victory Wednesday, Tim Duncan was sweating into his 73rd minute in two nights, logging the kind of playing time that, at age 35, had become a faded memory of younger era. Asked afterward if he could give another 35 minutes today, if the schedule required it, Duncan answered with a mix of wry wit and realism. "I think I could," he said. "But my body might think differently." Duncan was never one for gaudy numbers or flashy statistics, and Father Time has robbed him of what little athleticism Mother Nature gave him. Even his signature banker is no longer automatic."
Duncan concerned about Spurs' inside depth
December 24
San Antonio Express-News
 
"With Antonio McDyess officially retired, the Spurs have less inside depth than in any previous season in the Tim Duncan era. Playing behind projected starters Duncan and DeJuan Blair include veterans Tiago Splitter and Matt Bonner and rookies Frank "The Tank" Hassell and Luke Zeller — if the team chooses to go with 15 players on its roster. The compressed season featuring 66 games in 123 days will test the team's depth and its resolve."
Spurs' Duncan too busy to call it a career
December 11
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan spent much of the NBA's five-month lockout in much the same manner one might expect Tim Duncan to spend a five-month lockout. When he wasn't in the gym playing basketball, or on the track working on his conditioning, or in the weight room lifting, he was at home in his living room, playing with his two young children. If the greatest power forward of his generation was supposed to spend the excess downtime soul-searching, reflecting on a career that, at age 35, is steadily steaming toward its end, well, nobody thought to inform Duncan. Retirement? So soon? "I haven't gotten to that bridge," Duncan said, at the dawn of his 15th Spurs training camp. "I don't even see that bridge"
TP says Duncan, Bowen, Ginobili are his favorite teammates
November 11
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tony Parker is a busy man these days, what with running the team operations and playing for ASVEL Villeurbonne in the French League during the lockout. But Parker consented to a brief interview with the fashion website Grungy Gentleman.com. Iin the He talks about his passion for Tissot watches, rap music and hard work. But the most interesting part of the interview came when he was asked who his favorite teammate of all time was."
Parker: Lockout won't hasten Duncan's retirement
October 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It's long been considered the apocalypse scenario in San Antonio: The NBA lockout devours the entire 2011-12 season, and then Tim Duncan retires. Duncan's contact is set to expire after this season. If the NBA labor impasse winds up cancelling the entire schedule, would the Spurs' franchise icon simply retire instead of re-upping for another season in 2012-13, when he will be 36? In May, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich dismissed the notion that Duncan had played his final game in a Spurs uniform. Speaking at a basketball clinic Saturday afternoon in San Antonio, Tony Parker — Duncan's point guard for the past 10 seasons — echoed those doubts. Asked if a wiped-out 2011-12 season would also mean"
Can Herring help Duncan discover Fountain of Youth?
August 19
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It's got to be a strange thing to be Matt Herring today. On the one hand, you've just landed a plum job as the strength and conditioning coach of the Spurs. On the other, there are no players around to strengthen or condition, and won't be until the NBA's labor morass mercifully ends. At this point, we can only imagine what Herring's typical day at work might entail. We half envision him spending his afternoons leading Gregg Popovich in suicide sprints up The Hill behind the Spurs' vacant practice facility. Herring might not arrive in San Antonio with players to coach, but he does arrive with goals. One of them: He hopes to help Tim Duncan add years to the tail end of his career. "You can"
Parker, Duncan revealed among SI.com's top 30 NBA players
August 12
San Antonio Express-News
 
"SI.com's Point Forward blog has been counting down the top 100 players during the last several days. The first two Spurs players were revealed by Zach Lowe in his listings between 30th and 21st with Tony Parker was ranked 26th and Tim Duncan 23rd among the NBA's top players. Parker's ranking is on the mark, slightly ahead of Rajon Rondo at No. 25 and Stephen Curry at 41st. Considering the players who have been revealed with Derrick Rose and Deron Williams both are likely ranking in front of him among others. The rationalization for Parker ahead of Rondo is interesting and correct. Even though Rondo is clearly the better defender, Parker gets a slight nod because he's a better finisher"
TD, Manu listed among notable NBA players who may be ready to retire soon
August 3
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It's a day that Spurs Nation will be bracing for sooner rather than later. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili both have enjoyed remarkable careers for the Spurs. Duncan has developed into perhaps the greatest power forward in NBA history as he led the team to four NBA titles. Ginobili has emerged as one of the top international players in league history as a part of three championship teams. Both players made the All-Star Game last season, but their contributions to the team are waning. They were both listed in the Bleacher Report's list of 16 notable NBA players "who are going to be ready to hang them up.""
Source: Tim Duncan will not opt out
June 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan is not expected to opt out of the final year of his contract, and the Spurs don't plan to offer him an extension before the collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday, according to a source familiar with talks between the team and the franchise icon. As such, Duncan will play out the final year of his existing deal, during which he is scheduled to earn $21.2 million, and remains on track to become a free agent after the 2011-12 campaign. Duncan also faces a Thursday deadline to exercise an early-termination option. His apparent decision not to do so is not surprising in light of the league's unsure labor climate. With a contentious fight broiling between the NBA's owners"
Pop's offseason goal: Discover Duncan's sidekick
May 14
San Antonio Express-News
 
"As he has for 14 years running, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich expects to be able to chisel Tim Duncan's name into his starting lineup for the 2011-12 campaign, whenever it begins. Though Duncan has passed his 35th birthday, he remains under contract for next season, and Popovich sees no reason to doubt the two-time MVP will return for another go-round. "Timmy's given me no indication he's considering retiring, or anything like that," Popovich said. In what has seemed to be an annual offseason ritual ever since David Robinson hung up his Nikes, the search is on for someone to be Duncan's frontcourt running mate. With the playoff wounds inflicted by Zach Randolph and Memphis' bruising"
Duncan's All-NBA streak ends at 13 as Manu picked as third-team choice
May 13
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan's streak of being selected to the NBA's all-star teams was broken Wednesday when the league announced its All-NBA selections. Duncan's 13-season streak of being picked as a first-team, second-team or third-team All-NBA choice ended when he was left off the squad. He was chosen on the All-NBA first team for the first eight seasons of his career and nine of the first 10. Duncan was a second-team choice in 2006, 2008 and 2009 and was a third-teamer in 2010. Manu Ginobili was the only Spurs' player selected as a third-teamer. He also was an All-NBA third-teamer in 2008. Duncan finished in 30th place with 43 points and Tony Parker was 32nd with 27 points as the only other Spurs"
Spurs' 'wonderful season' leads to summer uncertainty for Tim Duncan
May 1
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The old champion sat in the corner locker at the FedEx Forum late Friday night, vanquished and spent. He performed his perfunctory media obligations, answering in a low tone a few questions about one of the most disappointing playoff ousters of his Hall of Fame career. And then, Tim Duncan stood up, walked toward the door and into the most uncertain offseason of his life. On his way to the bus, the Spurs forward recognized a familiar face and paused with one more thought. "Looks like we got an offensive tackle," Duncan said, referring to the NFL draft and his beloved Chicago Bears. "We needed two." With the season finished more quickly than anyone could have surmised, and the possibility"
Manu ranks 10th, Duncan 18th in fan MVP award
April 29
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Manu Ginobili apparently has grabbed some attention of a few fans this season. It helped him earn 10th place in fan balloting on Basketball Prospectus.com for the Most Valuable Player award among 826 balloters. Tim Duncan was 18th and Tony Parker was 25th in the voting, which allowed fans to pick five candidates. The winner was Derrick Rose of Chicago, followed by Dwight Howard of Orlando, LeBron James of Miami, Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Zach Randolph was the only Memphis player to receive fan MVP votes, finishing in 17th place. Both Duncan and Ginobili were chosen for third -team honors on the fans' All-Star team. Parker was the only other Spurs"
Spurs' Tim Duncan coming toward end of fabulous career
April 17
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Whenever Tim Duncan retires, the San Antonio Spurs' power forward will need a wheelbarrow to cart away all of his accomplishments.He just hopes he won't need a wheelchair, too.Bruised and battered this year, Duncan is lumbering through his 14th season in unspectacular fashion.His scoring average (13.4), rebounding average (8.9) and minutes (28.4) are the lowest of his career and are telltale signs that Duncan's splendid career in about to wind to a halt.And what a career it's been for Duncan, who turns 35 on April 25."Tim's been a great ambassador of the sport,'' Dallas Mavericks center Brendan Haywood said. "In my mind he's the greatest power forward of all time. He has the numbers, the"
Duncan in need of good vibes vs. L.A.
April 12
San Antonio Express-News
 
"When the Spurs take on the L.A. Lakers tonight at Staples Center, there are no guarantees Tim Duncan's name will be in the starting lineup. With the Spurs' perch in the Western Conference playoffs locked up, Gregg Popovich could opt to sit his 34-year-old star power forward for one or both of the final two games. If anyone in silver and black could use a positive outcome against the two-time defending champions, however, it is Duncan. Repeatedly flummoxed by the Lakers' twin 7-footers, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, Duncan has scored a total of just 12 points on 5-of-26 shooting in three games against the Lakers this season. "They clog it up inside," Duncan said. "They do a good job"
Healing stars report no problems
April 1
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Physically, all members of the Spurs' "Big Three" had no problems after returning to action Thursday against the Boston Celtics at the AT&T Center. Power forward Tim Duncan, who missed the previous four games with a sprained left ankle, said the injured joint felt good and presented no problems. Point guard Tony Parker, who sat out Monday with a bruised left patella, had no residual pain. Shooting guard Manu Ginobili, who sat Monday with a left thigh contusion, said his leg felt a little weak, but didn't hurt. What did hurt was the team's fifth straight loss, a 107-97 defeat that further eroded the Spurs' lead over the Lakers in the Western Conference standings, and Ginobili struggled to"
Spurs big three may be back against Celtics
March 31
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Early Wednesday afternoon, the doors to the Spurs' practice facility opened to a sight sure to lower the blood pressure of skittish fans throughout the Alamo City. The Big Three, reunited. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, all of whom had missed games recently with various ailments, were consigned to three separate corners of the gym, practicing free throws. Granted, it wasn't the most strenuous basketball activity. But the trio's mere presence, together on any court for the first time in more than a week was the surest sign yet the NBA's leading team might soon be back to whole. "They're getting there," coach Gregg Popovich said after each participated fully in a 90-minute"
Blazers 100, Spurs 92 – Ginobili, Parker, McDyess, Duncan out
March 29
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Portland took advantage of a depleted San Antonio roster missing four starters to charge to an 100-92 victory Monday night at the AT&T Center, extending the Spurs' losing streak to a season-worst four games. The Trail Blazers ran off 13 straight points late in the fourth quarter to claim their seventh victory in the last eight games against San Antonio. Despite missing four starting players, Gregg Popovich's makeshift roster hung in for most of the game before going more than seven minutes without a field goal in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Spurs started only one regular, Richard Jefferson. Usual starters Tim Duncan (sprained left ankle), Manu Ginobili (thigh contusion), Tony"
Duncan to miss "4 or 5 games"
March 24
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Though the Spurs have released no official timetable on Tim Duncan's return from a sprained left ankle, coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday he expects to have the two-time MVP back in time for the start of the playoffs. The initial best guess on Duncan's return, offered by Spurs TV analyst Sean Elliott an hour or so after Duncan sprained the ankle Monday against Golden State, was approximately two weeks. "I'm hoping it won't be that long," Popovich said. "A good four or five games for sure. Beyond that, I won't really know until we get back.""
Duncan will miss upcoming three-game Spurs trip
March 23
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs forward Tim Duncan will miss the team's upcoming three-game road trip as he recovers from a sprained ankle sustained in Monday's game against Golden State. Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said that Duncan's injury is between a grade 1 and 2 ankle sprain. He will miss games at potential Western Conference playoff foes Denver on Wednesday, Portland on Friday and Memphis on Sunday. "He had an MRI this morning that confirmed what the X-rays showed last night. It's structurally looks good," Buford said. "We will have a better idea of what the timeline is over the next 48 hours. But he won't travel on the trip and he'll be receiving daily treatment here." Buford said a prognosis on how"
Tim Duncan suffers left ankle sprain in win over Warriors
March 22
San Antonio Express-News
 
"As Tim Duncan lay sprawled on the AT&T Center floor in the first quarter Monday, clutching his newly sprained left ankle, Antonio McDyess couldn't help but wonder how it all might affect the Spurs' race for the NBA's top overall seed. Tiago Splitter thought it was a pretty crummy way to get the kind of playing time he's been wanting all season. Gregg Popovich declined to divulge the specifics of his internal monologue but admitted "it wasn't flowers and lollipops." The timing of Duncan's injury, suffered early in the Spurs' 111-96 victory over Golden State, could have been better. But it also could have been worse. "We can win without Timmy in the rest of the regular season and get that"
Could Duncan's rest day indicate upcoming breaks for others?
March 20
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan got a chance to wear his sports jacket and watch the game from the bench Saturday night. The only 21 jerseys we saw near or on the court in San Antonio's 109-98 victory over Charlotte were the replica "21? worn by Spurs public address announcer Kevin Brock and Charlotte reserve forward Eduardo Najera. The appearance by Najera in the second quarter sparked some of the loudest boos of the game from the AT&T Center crowd. And the lone appearance of Duncan on the Jumbotron on the Spurs' bench sparked one of the loudest ovations of the evening — which is saying something on Military Appreciation Night. His Spurs teammates and coaches could joke about Duncan's night of rest. Gregg"
Monday's big loss ranks tied for fifth in Duncan era
March 15
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It was one of those nights for the Spurs. The Spurs endured a 110-80 thrashing at the hands of Miami Monday night. It was the Spurs' worst loss in nearly three seasons, dating back to a 101-71 playof loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on May 23, 2008. And it was the Spurs' biggest regular-season loss since April 7, 2005, a 104-68 defeat at Dallas. It came after the Spurs'30 point victory in San Antonio only 10 days ago. "They did a great job tonight," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said about the Heat. "They were very active with good physical play. They shot well and kicked our butts.""
Another career milestone as TD joins elite NBA shot blockers
February 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan added another statistical accolade Sunday night joining the NBA's top 10 in career blocks after notching five against Memphis. Duncan didn't appear that excited when learning of the record after the game. "Oh cool," Duncan said. "It just means I've been playing a long time." Duncan tied Mourning's record with a rejection of Zach Randolph with 3:55 left in the third quarter. Earlier in the game, he blocked Randolph three times during a three-second interval."
Duncan ties Mourning for 10th on NBA blocked shot list
February 28
San Antonio Express-News
 
"With his fifth block of the Spurs' 95-88 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the AT&T Center on Sunday night, Spurs captain Tim Duncan moved into select company among the NBA's all-time interior defenders. Duncan's rejection of Zach Randolph's short jumper with 3:55 remaining in the third period was the 2,356th block of his career, tying him with Alonzo Mourning for 10th place on the NBA's list. Duncan needs only five more to catch former Celtics great Robert Parish for ninth place. "It just means I've been playing a long time," said Duncan, in his 14th NBA season. The perennial member of the NBA's All-Defensive team has a long way to go to catch retired teammate David Robinson for No. 1"
Fitting tribute to Tim Duncan
February 20
Toronto Sun
 
"The Hall of Fame will one day open its doors for Tim Duncan, one of the game's few remaining big men capable of playing with his back to the basket. Duncan is no longer the focal point on his team and many here at all-star weekend have made a point of dissing Duncan's presence in the mid-season showcase, his 13th in a career highlighted by four championship rings. When the East and West teams gathered for a make-shift practice on Saturday, the atmosphere was relaxed, half-court sets featuring the basic pick-and-roll sequence were getting ironed out. With so much talent on display, coaching becomes an afterthought until a late-game situation arises that demands one guy gets the ball in his"
Popovich names Duncan an All-Star starter
February 18
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs coach Gregg Popovich vows he is "not going to coach a lick" once he gets to Los Angeles for Sunday's All-Star Game. On Thursday, he made the one and only significant decision he'll have to make on the Western Conference squad. Given the prerogative of choosing an injury replacement for Houston's Yao Ming as starting center, Popovich has opted to go with a name he's been writing into his starting lineup for 13-plus seasons: Tim Duncan. By earning the nod over L.A. hometown favorite Pau Gasol, Duncan will extend his streak of All-Star starts to 12 consecutive seasons by technicality. "I think it's totally appropriate and obvious he should be the starter," Popovich said before the"
Love surprised that Duncan made the All-Star team
February 9
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Minnesota forward Kevin Love is a little surprised to see Tim Duncan on the West All-Star team. Duncan is averaging 13.5 points per game – lowest of any West All-Star. But the 14-year veteran has provided strong inside play for the Spurs as they've raced to the league's best record. Love, who was added to the team as a replacement for the injured Yao Ming, said he thought that players with more spectacular highlights would be picked to the team."
Westphal says Spurs' Duncan deserves All-Star nod
February 5
Sacramento Bee
 
"The debate over the NBA All-Star rosters is an annual exercise in figuring out who doesn't belong on the team. With the Western Conference loaded with frontcourt players, some of that criticism is aimed at San Antonio big man Tim Duncan, who is averaging career lows in points, rebounds and minutes played. Duncan entered Friday's game averaging 13.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. Still, Duncan was voted a reserve by coaches. And Duncan has the support of Kings coach Paul Westphal. "I don't really announce my picks, but I definitely voted for Duncan," Westphal said Friday before the Kings hosted the Spurs. Duncan is listed as a forward on the fan ballot, but Westphal voted for Duncan as a center."
As pillars go, Duncan will fit as an All-Star
January 30
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Buck Harvey
"Yao Ming didn't play once again. Tim Duncan barely did. Five Spurs scored more, and no one had more turnovers. And about halfway through the third quarter, Duncan did what the elderly do. He went to sleep early. On an inbounds play, Houston's miniature pivot man, Chuck Hayes, fooled Duncan at the rim. Gregg Popovich immediately called time, and, as Duncan passed him heading to the bench, Popovich had a few words for him. Shane Battier watched all of this, and afterward the Rockets forward remained in awe. "He is one of the few pillars in this league," Battier said. So wait a few weeks, when Popovich names Duncan as the starting center in the All-Star Game. And no one within the league"
Blair said he's surprised that Duncan didn't make All-Star starting team
January 29
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Spurs center DeJuan Blair said he was a little surprised that Tim Duncan didn't make the Western Division's All-Star team when starters were announced Thursday night. It will mark the first time that Duncan wasn't picked to start in the All-Star Game, although he could be a starter if NBA commissioner David Stern picks him to replace injured Houston center Yao Ming. Blair said that Duncan really isn't concerned about seeing his streak end. "I don't think he really wants to go," Blair said, laughing. "He's been there and he's a Hall of Famer. I don't think that matters to him." But Blair said he hopes to share the All-Star game experience with his mentor if Duncan is selected and Blair"
Duncan's big scare serves as reminder
January 26
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Tim Duncan tumbled to the floor at Oracle Arena on Monday night, and Antonio McDyess — a man who would know — recognized all the tell-tale signs of catastrophe. Duncan was writhing in pain. He was clutching his knee. He wasn't getting up. "I was scared for him," said McDyess, whose own medical chart bears the scars of career-altering knee injuries. McDyess also was a little scared for himself. "I thought, 'How many minutes am I going to have to play now?'" he said. What at first looked to be something season-threatening for Duncan, and for the Spurs, turned out to be nothing more than a hyperflexed left knee. So uneventful was his injury, in fact, Duncan was cleared to return in the second"
Spurs survive Duncan scare to beat Warriors
January 25
San Antonio Express-News
 
"For the first three months of the season, everything had been coming up golden for the Spurs. They were playing well, they were frighteningly healthy, they had the best record in the NBA. With 4:49 left in the second quarter of Monday's 113-102 victory at Golden State, as Tim Duncan — aka "The Franchise" — writhed on the Oracle Arena floor clutching his left knee, it seemed all the good work the Spurs had done to date was about to be as worthless as Confederate paper. "For a moment," Manu Ginobili said, "we thought it was really bad." Except, it wasn't. Continuing what has been a charmed season for the Spurs, Duncan's injury turned out to be nothing but a hyperflexed left knee. He returned"
Duncan's All-Star streak likely up to coaches
January 9
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Judging by the latest snapshot of fan balloting, Tim Duncan is likely to see his string of 11 consecutive All-Star starts end next month. Whether he earns a spot on the team at all will be left to a vote of Western Conference coaches. Though Spurs coach Gregg Popovich hasn't directly stumped for Duncan, it is clear he believes his starting power forward remains All-Star caliber. "As far as what he means to the team, and what he does, it's all the same," Popovich said. "He's the base of everything we do. Everything starts there, and we fit every?thing around him." The 34-year-old Duncan, who has appeared in every All-Star Game held since he joined the NBA in 1997-98, is averaging career"
Tim Duncan, Spurs a likable bunch
January 5
Boston Herald
 
"The teams with the best records in their respective conferences will meet tonight and, in a stunning blow to those who manufacture bright lights and hype, neither LeBron James nor Kobe Bryant will be in the building. You'll just have to settle for good basketball. Please accept the apologies of the prime-time gods. The Celtics still aren't near full capacity because of injury (two of their starters and a key reserve remain out), but their group approach to problem solving has landed them at 26-7. The Spurs rolled into New York last night with a best-in-league 29-4 record. Putting aside the drama the Lakers or Heat could bring to June, Boston-San Antonio may well be the best pure Finals"
Like it's 1999: Duncan, defense spell Thunder's demise
January 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The ball dropped in Times Square late Friday night. Closer to home, fireworks backlit the Tower of the Americas. The calendar officially read 2011 starting Saturday, but inside the AT"
Spurs' talk of greatness will wait
January 2
San Antonio Express-News
 
"The greatest player in NBA history? The conversation typically includes Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. For Spurs chairman and CEO Peter Holt, the answer is "none of the above." "I've always thought it has to be Bill Russell," said Holt. "He won all those championships (11), and he and Tim (Duncan) are the only star players in league history who won championships with two completely different groups of players. I think that really sets those two apart." It's hardly a surprise that an owner's top criteria for quantifying greatness would begin with championships. Since the Spurs won the 1999 NBA title, the priority every season for Holt and"
Is Duncan evolving into a role player for the Spurs?
December 30
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Lost in a little of the giddiness of the Spurs' convincing victory over the Lakers was the continued evolution of Tim Duncan's role with this team. Duncan matched his career low with two points, hitting only 1-for-7 from the field. It marked the 12th time the nine-time NBA first-team All-Star has failed to produce double figures in scoring this season. Before this season, he failed to produce double figures only 39 times in the regular season and five times in the playoffs in 1,147 games coming into this season. Despite his struggles, the Spurs soundly defeated the Lakers and have seemingly evolved on offense even without much scoring from the player most consider the greatest power"
Duncan, Ginobili weather off-nights
December 29
San Antonio Express-News
 
"It was a weird kind of night for the Spurs. They were able to thump the defending two-time world champion Los Angeles Lakers by 15 points despite Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan combining for 11 points on a miserable 4-for-19 collective shooting night. "You would have never thought if anybody had told you before the game that Tim and Manu would combine for 11 points that the Spurs would beat the Lakers by double digits," Spurs guard Gary Neal said. "They would have looked at you like you were crazy." But the Spurs won easily and didn't need their two key players to be very active. Ginobili was battling a sore throat and hit only 3 of 12 from the field, scoring nine points despite being"