Is It Time For 'The Big Fundamental' to Walk Away.

[HammerDown]

It's time, Timmy. That pick by the Spurs was the best since the Bulls took Jordan, the Lakers took Magic and the Celtics took Cornbread Maxwell.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Nah, he's still good and the Spurs could come back next year and dominate again. Especially if they find a way to get lamarcus Aldridge.

 

[Demonjoe93]

Nah, he's still good and the Spurs could come back next year and dominate again. Especially if they find a way to get lamarcus Aldridge.

A lot of teams will be going after L.A. I'm thinking Atlanta will pursue him hard too.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

A lot of teams will be going after L.A. I'm thinking Atlanta will pursue him hard too.

Yeah, but hasn't aldridge already stated he wants to play in SA? I think it's a pipe dream for any team other than Portland or San Antonio to think they have a shot at Aldridge.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

DUNCAN was awesome this series. They did not lose because of Timmy.

They lost because Parker (whether injured still??) was completely a shell of himself.

Timmy played great all season.

He was an allstar. He finished in the top 10 in DPOY. He will likely make all NBA defensive team.

His skills are fine.

He will only retire if he is simply bored or tired of the grind.

 

[Kold]

I thought Duncan should of gone out on top last year, but after getting put out in the first round, I think he should give it another run next year. He looked good in this series

 

[Tod-Wilkinson]

Duncan is still the best player in the NBA.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah, but hasn't aldridge already stated he wants to play in SA? I think it's a pipe dream for any team other than Portland or San Antonio to think they have a shot at Aldridge.

Haven't heard LA say anything about where he wants to play other than after last season he said he intended to stay in Portland. There is some speculation that he may not be as committed to staying as he was after last season, but I haven't seen anything about his preference if he leaves.

 

[FantasyBelowZero]

Duncan is still the best player in the NBA.

I wouldn't call him the best player in the NBA, but I'd say he has the most longevity of anybody in the NBA. Unlike others, like Kobe, he has managed to stay healthy, partially due to Popyvich's rest time.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Nah, he's still good and the Spurs could come back next year and dominate again. Especially if they find a way to get lamarcus Aldridge.

He's 39 years old and would be 40 by next year and while it's possible to get the right player to help them - I have to think his time is running out. Sooner or later he is going to go down with an injury like Steve Nash did. Father time can't be defeated. If I was Tim Duncan - I would rather go out on a simple loss without a long term injury that would linger and cause pain for the rest of his life. He's had a great career and without question was one of the best all time.

 

[logic]

I don't think he should retire. He still is a major contributor on his team, and that team can compete for a title.
I don't see him walking away after a first round loss unless Pops is hanging it up, which I don't see either. I think they both want another run.

 

[gordontrue]

He was probably the best Spurs player in the series. Which is partly kudos to him and partly an indictment on Parker and Leonard.

 

[Shanemansj13]

He can come back again. He doesnt look any older to me.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Duncan is still the best player in the NBA.

He definitely has not aged unlike other players, but no, he is not the best player in the NBA

 

[belcherboy]

Pop and Duncan will likely exit together. I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the plug in the next few weeks either. What an amazing run they had!

 

[gordontrue]

I think Pop outlasts Duncan. Duncan's abilities to play are in decline and will eventually decline beyond justifying him being on the court (not yet).

Pop on the other hand... is just as capable - if not more - at performing his duties and will be for a long time.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Timmy is a weird study.

IF you look at his raw numbers adjusted per 36 minutes played, there is literally no dropoff from age 23 to age 39.

His offensive numbers seem to be a function of voluntarily reducing minutes sometime around 2009.
But, all of his esoteric defensive metrics (tougher to measure albeit) have increased the last 5 or 6 years

Once he did that, the team became a true elite contender again after a few down years in 2008-2010.

I still think he could easily be 21/11 every night for the next 2 or 3 years if he wanted to do it.
But, he prefers to be 14/9 and focus on being an elite defender which widens the title window.

DUNCAN is going nowhere unless he gets bored.

 

[logic]

I think Pop outlasts Duncan. Duncan's abilities to play are in decline and will eventually decline beyond justifying him being on the court (not yet).

Pop on the other hand... is just as capable - if not more - at performing his duties and will be for a long time.

Sure, Pop isn't on the court and his mind is still sharp, but it is still a grind every season. Does he want to go through the post-Duncan rebuild? Does he want to take the chance that it might not work and leave a mark on his sterling reputation? I wouldn't be surprised at all if he and Duncan left at the same time. But also would not be surprised if Pop stayed and Duncan moved from the court to the bench or office.

 

[69er]

He was probably the best Spurs player in the series. Which is partly kudos to him and partly an indictment on Parker and Leonard.

Not "probably". He WAS the best player in series and was the most consistent in the RS. And ain't nobody want to watch the Spurs when Timmy leaves.

 

[Clayton]

He should stick around until he misses the playoffs as a starter or isnt a starter. I hate it when great players leave great years on the table like MJ did when he tried out baseball