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Timmy thread of appreciation

High Plains Drifter

By High Plains Drifter
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ztejas

ztejas 43555

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One of the greatest winners and pure competitors the world has ever seen. He was nowhere close to the most gifted, most athletic, most rawly talented or even most celebrated not only to ever play but even that played during his time. 

But he was really goddamn good at quite a few things that make you a good basketball player. And he was absolutely ruthless when it came to putting in the effort, will and commitment to winning basketball games. You might never know that or would have guessed it. A lot of people still don't know that or maybe never will. But he bled to win basketball games. Physically, mentally - it's what he did. It was an obsession.

And he won. A lot. More than all but about 3 guys ever. 

He won championships as the best player on his team by a smidge, the best player on his team by a mile, the best player on his team but only after a bit of evaluation or perhaps quite a bit. Like many greats - he won rookie of the year. Unlike many greats he also earned 1st team All-NBA honors in his rookie season.

He won his first championship and FMVP in his 2nd season in the league for a franchise that had historically not only not existed for all that long but been snakebit on the highest stages.

Then - and shortly after - he gave that franchise their 2nd and 3rd MVP trophies and the year after gave them their 2nd NBA championship after playing some of the greatest basketball the sport has ever seen for an entire playoff run. 

He would go on to be the centerpiece of 2 more championship Spurs teams in the next 4 years - picking up a 3rd FMVP along the way (which still to this day makes him one of only 5 players to ever do so - and if everyone's okay with being honest he should actually be the only player with 4 outside of MJ and LeBron).

Seven seasons later - and after many disappointing playoff exits - at 37 years old and no longer a perennial all-star or 20/10 per game forward, Duncan played (in the playoffs) 750 minutes, led all players in defensive and offensive rebounds, scored 16 ppg on 52% FG, was arguably the best player on his team for long stretches at a time, led the Spurs to a 5th championship AND beat (in a series) the 2 greatest players of their not his generation in their prime while doing so. 

Oh shit I forgot - the year before that - at age 36 - Duncan was somewhat inarguably the best player on a Spurs team that came within a dick-hair of winning the Finals - while putting up 18/10/2 and 2.7 stocks in 35 minutes per game on 47 FG% and 81 FT%.

He is bar-none one of the 10 greatest players of all-time if your basic definition of being "good" at basketball is how much you are able to contribute to winning games (and it should be).

We could talk about his numbers. About his career double doubles and rebounds and points and blocks (although his record for total blocks in the NBA playoffs is about as unbreakable as any record in sports) but that's not what he was about. He just showed up and kicked ass and won championships and if that meant grabbing 19 rebounds and scoring 37 points and blocking 4 shots then he did that. 

There will never be another Tim Duncan. There will be better players (there's already been one) and players that play his position at a higher level but no one will ever replicate what he did. He was absolutely iconic and inimitable in almost the quietest and most unnoticeable way possible. 

Edited by ztejas
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ztejas

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9 minutes ago, High Plains Drifter said:

 

Game 6 2003 Finals vs New Jersey:

2 blocks short of a quadruple double. Should have been credited with at least one more, iirc.

One of the greatest finals performances of all times.

 

 

 

 

 

It's debatable whether or not he actually had 10 blocks.

But do you think he gives a fuck? 

Something else from that '03 run that gets ignored because of the "near quad double":

That year against the Mavs in the WCF - in 6 games - Duncan:

- Played 43 minutes per game

- Put up 28p / 17r /6a per game on 57% from the field (in 2003)

- had more stocks (steals + blocks) than turnovers 

 

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You know how people got sick of the Patriots winning all of the time?  That didn't happen with the Spurs.  Tim Duncan was a big reason why.

Easy to root for. Seemed like a hella teammate and just a winner, through and through.

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ztejas

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I forgot about this vid because I think I watched it the other day. But here:

 

From the top comment, I think it's still accurate? (it should be)

Tim Duncan's 2003 playoffs performance are just one of the Greatest, if not the Greatest, of all-time.

His PER 28.4 (League No. 2)

DWS 2.67 (League No.1 All Time No. 3)

VORP 3.15 (League No.1 All Time No. 2)

WS 5.94 (League No.1 All Time No. 1)

"League" meaning that season "All Time" meaning in NBA history. 

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ztejas

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After a bunch of review tonight because it's worth it and because you brought the question OP:

He was just so motherfucking good. If there was an all-time draft and you knew you had to sign that guy to an 18 year contract there is no way he doesn't go in the top 10.

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ztejas

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Also... Kobe was sick as fuck too... I know the basketball contingent here is light but this isn't just TD. Kobe is top 20 all time as well and as much as a piece of shit rival I can hate him as I loved his lifestyle and take on life in general.

Duncan KG and Kobe are all icons and all in my book 3 of the best 20 to play. Let's appreciate them all.

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miguelito

miguelito 11332

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I remember when we got that ping pong ball.  There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Timmy was going to be the first pick (or maybe Keith Van Horn? - the media tried to create some suspense).

The day of his first game, I took the EIT exam (engineer-in-training, precursor to the PE exam) in Austin.  There were two 4-hour segments.  I hauled ass through the afternoon segment so I could get out of there, race down to SA, and my parents and I went to the game.  Timmy was beyond our expectations from the start. 

 

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dingleberryswitzer

dingleberryswitzer 2724

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One of my favorite hazy memories:  I think it was 2014 playoffs against okc or Dallas maybe.  Either a close out game or a pivotal game, going down to the wire.  Spurs go to Timmy on the left block two plays in a row and he delivers.  Keep in mind he is way past his prime and  he’s the been  nowhere near the main option on offense that season

I think this might be it.  Go to 6:00 in the video.  Holy crap then they go to him again two plays later.


 

*also F Kauai

Edited by dingleberryswitzer
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Braff Zacklin

Braff Zacklin 13667

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Just now, Kermit said:

I wish I could give this a million rep points. I ducking love you Tim. Thanks for everything.

Well, you didn't even give it one, you stingy fuck! 😎

I ain't gonna lie, it was a hard watch. In a good way, I guess, but I struggled to get through it, and I did not do so without spilling some saltwater.

WholeNarrowAmurratsnake-size_restricted.

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High Plains Drifter

High Plains Drifter 11054

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Humble. Seems like a genuinely nice guy.

Never talked shit. Never beat his chest. Rarely, if ever, flopped, complained, or whined. Never, ever, acted like a bitch ass.

Studied the game, listened to his coaches, gave it his all, and played good, solid, fundamental, team basketball. Stepped into the leadership role when it was time, became a GOAT, then aged gracefully.

I don't recall his name ever appearing in the news in a negative light, unlike some others (ahem.)

Class act, all around.

 

Shit, I even enjoyed watching him shill for HEB. Which was a lot better than shilling for Nike or McDonalds or insurance companies, again, unlike some others (ahem ahem).

 

 

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dingleberryswitzer

dingleberryswitzer 2724

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3 hours ago, Kermit said:

Watching this dude play basketball was a fucking honor. Also, fuck Kevin Garnett.

An argument could be made that he is the goat.  Might not win that argument , but you could do it.  He never retired twice like Jordan.  Never bitched out in the playoffs and ran off an all start teammate like Kobe.  Never switched teams 3 times and tried to only play with his friends like lebron .   
I’ll stop now

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Kermit

Kermit 3159

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19 minutes ago, dingleberryswitzer said:

An argument could be made that he is the goat.  Might not win that argument , but you could do it.  He never retired twice like Jordan.  Never bitched out in the playoffs and ran off an all start teammate like Kobe.  Never switched teams 3 times and tried to only play with his friends like lebron .   
I’ll stop now

Why don’t you keep going.

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Braff Zacklin

Braff Zacklin 13667

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9 minutes ago, Kermit said:

Why don’t you keep going.

I'll add a couple.

Never has a single sports franchise owed so much to one player. The rings, the dynasty, the legacy, and the hundreds of millions in revenues ... Tim was the catalyst for it all. It's a team game, but Timmy [i]is[/i] the Spurs.

Plus, his personality (e.g., humility, aversion to drawing attention to himself, and his willingness to be coached just as hard as any other player) perfectly fit a small-market franchise like San Antonio. He is one of the most centered celebrities I've ever observed, and possibly the most genuine superstar athlete I've ever seen.

As you stated earlier, we as fans were lucky to have him.

His retirement was not unlike losing a loved one--no matter how much time you spent watching, no matter how many games you cheered him on, you still found yourself wishing you had seen at least one more ... and savored it with the knowledge that something like him would never come this way again.

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immortal13

immortal13 4059

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2 hours ago, High Plains Drifter said:

 

Humble. Seems like a genuinely nice guy.

Never talked shit. Never beat his chest. Rarely, if ever, flopped, complained, or whined. Never, ever, acted like a bitch ass.

Studied the game, listened to his coaches, gave it his all, and played good, solid, fundamental, team basketball. Stepped into the leadership role when it was time, became a GOAT, then aged gracefully.

I don't recall his name ever appearing in the news in a negative light, unlike some others (ahem.)

Class act, all around.

 

Shit, I even enjoyed watching him shill for HEB. Which was a lot better than shilling for Nike or McDonalds or insurance companies, again, unlike some others (ahem ahem).

 

 

Tim Duncan was a bad ass, but rarely flopped? Come on, bro. Lmao

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Patrick Bateman

Patrick Bateman 3933

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So, a lot of folks have seen this.

But this one is better.  This guy got in my head and basically put together a YouTube video of my feelings.  Regardless of who you feel is the GOAT, if I had to pick one player to build a franchise around in basketball history, it would be Tim Duncan for what he was inside the lines and outside.  You don't generally hear about guys being the best player in the league AND the best teammate.  He's the best cornerstone ever taken.  The Culture of Tim hasn't been seen since maybe Bill Russell and I'm not sure when we'll see it again.  He was and maybe still is...... everything to the Spurs.

 

Edited by Patrick Bateman
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Serak The Preparer

Serak The Preparer 3434

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14 hours ago, High Plains Drifter said:

 

Humble. Seems like a genuinely nice guy.

Never talked shit. Never beat his chest. Rarely, if ever, flopped, complained, or whined. Never, ever, acted like a bitch ass.

 

 

Tim is clearly one of the all-time greats, but I was under the impression that even Spurs homered recognized how surprised he was every single time he drew a foul. This is his iconic image to me:

 

6a00d8341c55aa53ef015431f53bec970c-pi

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Kermit

Kermit 3159

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12 hours ago, immortal13 said:

Tim Duncan was a bad ass, but rarely flopped? Come on, bro. Lmao

Tim never had a reputation as a flopper. Now he was a world class ref-worker and serial ref-complainer. Maybe that’s what you’re referring to? He also liked to laugh occasionally, but oftentimes that got him into trouble.

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dingleberryswitzer

dingleberryswitzer 2724

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46 minutes ago, Kermit said:

Tim never had a reputation as a flopper. Now he was a world class ref-worker and serial ref-complainer. Maybe that’s what you’re referring to? He also liked to laugh occasionally, but oftentimes that got him into trouble.

Yea.  Not a flopper but according to Tim he went the entire 20 year career without committing a foul.

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CBT

CBT 1287

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Just caught the HOF ceremony. Not a surprise, great speech by Duncan. I know it doesn’t seem like his MO, but I hope he stays around the game/league. It will be better because of him.

What a legend. Top 10 (arguably top 5) center of all time imo.

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ztejas

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20 hours ago, immortal13 said:

Tim Duncan was a bad ass, but rarely flopped? Come on, bro. Lmao

Timmy did plenty of flopping, complaining and shit talking (in his own way, at least). That comment was ridiculous. 

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  • 5 weeks later...
Hate

Hate 20149

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On 5/15/2021 at 3:44 PM, dingleberryswitzer said:

One of my favorite hazy memories:  I think it was 2014 playoffs against okc or Dallas maybe.  Either a close out game or a pivotal game, going down to the wire.  Spurs go to Timmy on the left block two plays in a row and he delivers.  Keep in mind he is way past his prime and  he’s the been  nowhere near the main option on offense that season

I think this might be it.  Go to 6:00 in the video.  Holy crap then they go to him again two plays later.


 

*also F Kauai

That was Game 6 of the 2014 WCF. IT was my birthday and my wife and I went to SA and partied on the Riverwalk all weekend. We watched that game from Hotel Contessa and then went up to the streets to watch the parade of cars come from every direction.  That 2014 season is probably my favorite season of any of my sports teams.  It's up there with UT 2005 and Cowboys 92.  A lot of people also forget hat he played 4 years of college basketball making him probably the last super star to do so. 

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ztejas

ztejas 43555

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5 hours ago, dingleberryswitzer said:

I assumed you Are like a guy that gets sentimental when drunk and looks at pictures of old girlfriends except instead of girls it’s Spurs players.

For every ex girlfriend there's a Spurs player that I love just as much as I loved her. I'm with Hate here if that's his practice.

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dingleberryswitzer

dingleberryswitzer 2724

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25 minutes ago, ztejas said:

For every ex girlfriend there's a Spurs player that I love just as much as I loved her. I'm with Hate here if that's his practice.

There was always some dude at the end of the bench that always liked and hoped he broke out and became a star.  I’ve totally forgotten most of them.  Only Stephen Jackson actually broke out .  

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