Tim Duncan Can Still Beat The Knicks All By Himself
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Tim Duncan still towers above anyone on the Knicks.
Usually one wouldn't be surprised to see the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks like they did last night, 92-80. That's par for the course when one franchise has been the gold standard for success in the NBA over the past decade, and the other is currently paying Stephon Marbury $22 million dollars to sit on the bench.
But if ever the Knicks were going to beat up on the Spurs, a team they play twice a year, last night should have been the night. They had a few things going for them:
For one, the Spurs are on the downside of their dynastic run. Last year's NBA playoffs showcased a San Antonio team that, while still a legit contender, was beginning to show their age.
For two, the Spurs, who are already sort of thin, were playing without point guard Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
For three, the Knicks are an invigorated bunch, and were coming off a good win over a Jazz team with championship aspirations. They had all the momentum. Even accounting for a talent gap, young and healthy should be expected to prevail over old and injured.
But alas, what D'Antoni and the boys received was a major smack down by the hands of Grandpa Duncan, who basically beat the Knicks by himself.
Statistically, it wasn't even that prolific an effort; 23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists is good, not spectacular. Certainly not by Kobe, Lebron, Amare et. al standards. But Duncan led the team in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and blocks while dominating a game that reeks of reality check for the new regime in New York.
After going two games above mediocre for the first time in a few years, everyone was giddy. Now the fact that Deron Williams didn't play in the Utah Jazz game only casts a darker cloud over a team looking to forge a new identity. Was that win an accidental fluke anomaly, or is can this team think about being competitive with the big boys?
Evidence by The Big Fundamental last night, the Knicks still have a lot more growing up to do.
