Spurs could've won more titles in the Tim Duncan era.

JJ_PR · Post #1 » by **JJ_PR** » Sat May 26, 2018 2:53 am

This thread isn't intended to undermine what the Spurs achieved during that span - 5 titles is a heck of an accomplishment.

What people fail to mention is that Duncan carried the Spurs his whole career. From the moment he was drafted, the Spurs were instantly contenders.

Something that goes unnoticed is his supporting cast. The second best teammate he ever had was Manu Ginobili! David Robinson was well past his prime.

I understand the argument that they had a goat coach, but Popovich is just that... a coach. He's no magician that can magically help the Spurs get W's. His players need to step it up.

Tony Parker? A decent but not elite athlete, good team defender but not great either.

There's a reason Duncan is on many people's top 10. He was not flashy, but he was so good.

If I had to choose between him and Shaq in their primes, give me Tim Duncan.

He's the most underrated player of his generation, maybe all generations.

Gus Fring · Post #2 » by **Gus Fring** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:00 am

Duncan's peak is definitely underrated. It's always "I'll take X player's peak but Duncan's longevity" when there really isn't many players who peaked higher than Duncan. He doesn't have insane stats, but when you dig deep, especially in the playoffs, he blows other top 20 guys out of the water in terms of impact stats.

Baseline Runner · Post #3 » by **Baseline Runner** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:00 am

Come on man, everyone knows Tim Duncan was great but he also always had an excellent supporting cast. Manu and Tony are two hall of famers. About 6 years ago Tony was even in discussion for MVP talk on these forums. He also had David Robinson and Kwahi Leonard at different points of his career. He wouldn't have won a championship without David or Kwahi on those two teams.

Kabookalu · Post #4 » by **Kabookalu** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:01 am

Agreed overall, but Tony Parker during his prime was the best dribble penetrator I've ever seen. This man's finishing ability was on another level. Manu is better than him but Parker is a fantastic 3rd option.

And he absolutely was an elite athlete. He was one of the fastest players in the league during his team and his body control was up there with the best.

Post #5 » by **Goudelock** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:02 am

Shout out to Derek Fisher for preventing what could've been a 3peat in only 0.4 seconds.

iamworthy · Post #6 » by **iamworthy** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:02 am

I love it when people down play the supporting cast to pump up the super star :roll:

. Also, Im pretty sure Duncan is recognized as the GOAT PF so I don't know how he's underrated.

JJ_PR · Post #7 » by **JJ_PR** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:04 am

iamworthy wrote:I love it when people down play the supporting cast to pump up the super star . Also, Im pretty sure Duncan is recognized as the GOAT PF so I don't know how he's underrated.

Put prime Tony Parker & Manu on other teams. How do they fare? They were a product of the Spurs system, the Tim Duncan system to be precise.

DirtyDez · Post #8 » by **DirtyDez** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:07 am

There’s a better argument they should’ve won less.

MrBigShot · Post #9 » by **MrBigShot** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:08 am

Eh Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili during their primes is a pretty damn nice supporting cast. They were not a product of any system; the Spurs did an excellent job developing them but in their primes they'd be all star caliber players on any team.

Luigi · Post #10 » by **Luigi** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:10 am

They should've defended at least one.

Post #11 » by **Cactus Jack** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:11 am

Should've

JJ_PR · Post #12 » by **JJ_PR** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:13 am

Cactus Jack wrote:Should've

They should've, but Duncan's supporting cast was overrated imo.

goodboy · Post #13 » by **goodboy** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:15 am

AGreed

Dr_Heat · Post #14 » by **Dr_Heat** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:16 am

Timothy Theodore Duncan

Post #15 » by **Cactus Jack** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:17 am

JJ_PR wrote:
Cactus Jack wrote:Should've

They should've, but Duncan's supporting cast was overrated imo.

2004 & 2013 standout.

If Fisher doesn't make that shot (.04), the Spurs are in the Finals that year. I'm not sure they get by Detroit tho.

2013 they should've won.

mischievous · Post #16 » by **mischievous** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:18 am

JJ_PR wrote:What people fail to mention is that Duncan carried the Spurs his whole career.
.

This is total nonsense. Outside of maybe 2-3 seasons it was never a carry job. And his last season he was a role player.

JJ_PR · Post #17 » by **JJ_PR** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:20 am

Cactus Jack wrote:
JJ_PR wrote:
Cactus Jack wrote:Should've

They should've, but Duncan's supporting cast was overrated imo.

2004 & 2013 standout.

If Fisher doesn't make that shot (.04), the Spurs are in the Finals that year. I'm not sure they get by Detroit tho.

2013 was a given.

They beat Detroit just one year later. So yeah, they would've won in '04 pretty easily.

Yoshun · Post #18 » by **Yoshun** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:21 am

I don't see Duncan as underrated at all. Most people consider him the best PF ever and a top 2 to 3 player of his time. That's on the money.

That said, he could have had better teammates, obviously. Pair him up with a top wing player and he definitely gets more rings.

It is important to recognize however, most people consider Manu a HOF. He had great role players like Bowen and Horry. Tony Parker was a very efficient, smart PG. His supporting cast wasn't like Shaq's or MJ's, but it was very good.

In SVG We Trust · Post #19 » by **In SVG We Trust** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:36 am

Duncan is a Top-5 All-Time player if you really have some basketball knowledge

JJ_PR · Post #20 » by **JJ_PR** » Sat May 26, 2018 3:39 am

Yoshun wrote:I don't see Duncan as underrated at all. Most people consider him the best PF ever and a top 2 to 3 player of his time. That's on the money.

That said, he could have had better teammates, obviously. Pair him up with a top wing player and he definitely gets more rings.

It is important to recognize however, most people consider Manu a HOF. He had great role players like Bowen and Horry. Tony Parker was a very efficient, smart PG. His supporting cast wasn't like Shaq's or MJ's, but it was very good.

The best SF he ever played with before Kawhi - Richard Jefferson.

Imagine him paired up with someone like prime Scottie Pippen. That's some 60's Celtics dynasty type of sh*t.

Agree or disagree?