Spurs, Duncan quietly defending title
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine.com Executive Editor
Why is it when people talk about the greatest players of all time, nobody seems to say much about Tim Duncan?
Maybe it's the same reason why people don't seem to notice Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs go through peaks and valleys but never drift too far from the top.
In another one of their elongated road trips, the Spurs won the first five games, stumbled in Cleveland when Duncan had his worst shooting night of the season, then went into Minnesota and tripped up the white-hot Timberwolves.
And Duncan just keeps doing everything well. And elegantly.
"Tim is just Tim," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He just does everything. He's working really hard out there and nobody seems to notice because he does everything so well."
The 7-foot, 260-pound Duncan is ranked in the top seven in 21 categories. In the decisive Game 6 of last year's NBA Finals, he nearly had the first quadruple-double in playoff history with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks, but few even comment about it.
As the Spurs won their second title in five years, Duncan merely averaged 24.2 points, 17 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 5.3 blocks in the Finals, befuddling New Jersey's Kenyon Martin into a 3-for-23 shooting night in Game 6. Those are the kind of numbers that have frustrated Kevin Garnett's attempts at earning the MVP award and thwarted Garnett's T-Wolves, with Duncan winning the past two MVPs.
Maybe this year will be different. But right now, the Spurs are making their move on Minnesota, and Duncan is leading the way.
For them to win it again, it will require more than their always-rugged defense. The young and unproven international quartet of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Hedo Turkoglu and Rasho Nesterovic must raise its level of play on a consistent basis.
As for Duncan ... there he stays, at a level all by himself. In other words, beware.
The Power Rankings as of Feb. 24:
POWER RANKINGS
Current Team Previous
1 San Antonio Spurs 4
While nobody notices, as always, the Spurs are coming off a 6-1 road trip and proving they're not about to concede anything.
2 Minnesota Timberwolves 3
They're still playing great, but might slow down a bit while bringing back Wally Szczerbiak, Troy Hudson and Michael Olowokandi.
3 Sacramento Kings 1
Still without Chris Webber, and Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson now out, it's tough to figure out how Rick Adelman does it. But count on them battling late in the playoffs.
4 Indiana Pacers 2
Without Ron Artest, they aren't as daunting and might not have him for another two months. They could lose the top seed to New Jersey.
5 New Jersey Nets 5
While there is no truth to the rumor the Nets will never lose again, they have reminded everyone they are the two-time defending East champs.
6 Los Angeles Lakers 7
Here they come. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal are the healthiest they have been all season. If Gary Payton can calm down and Karl Malone returns, they're as tough as anyone.
7 Dallas Mavericks 6
They did a belly-flop in Memphis after the break, and this time around they just seem a cut below the upper echelon because they haven't improved.
8 Memphis Grizzlies 10
It's hard to figure just how good they really are, but it is not an exaggeration to say they are very good, getting better and Hubie Brown is a top coach of the year candidate.
9 Detroit Pistons 8
OK, they stole Rasheed Wallace from Atlanta. But there is something fundamentally wrong with their offense. They have been awful for weeks and 'Sheed might not be able to help.
10 Houston Rockets 9
The only thing consistent about the Rockets is their inconsistency. Whether it's Yao Ming or Steve Francis -- their two All-Stars -- nobody gives them consistent productivity.
