Tim Duncan's New Role Beneficial for The Spurs Now and in The Future
The San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the league, while averaging a league second best 107.8 points per game. Tim Duncan has taken a backseat averaging 13.8 points and just 29.1 minutes of action in the first 13 games. It appears that we are finally witnessing a much needed change in Duncan's role this season: anchor the defense, pull down rebounds, and score if the opportunity presents itself.
In the first 13 games of the last two seasons Duncan had to shoulder the scoring load. He did not disappoint; Duncan played like an MVP candidate, averaging 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds in 2008 and 21.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in 2009. However, this kind of start eventually doomed the Spurs in the latter half of the regular season and the postseason.
Duncan is only attempting 11.6 shots per game so far this season. In the first 13 games of last season Duncan attempted 13.5 shots per game and in 2008 he attempted 16.8 shots. With a less demanding role on offense in the early part of the season, Duncan's bad knees will not plague him the way that they have in the previous two seasons.
With the improved health of Parker and Ginobili and the improved play of Richard Jefferson, the Spurs offensive philosophy has also changed. In previous years the Spurs executed ball movement in a half court offense, now they prefer to speed up the tempo and shoot three pointers in transition. Popovich seems as if he prefers to have Ginobili and Parker force turnovers in hopes of getting easy fast break points.
This does not mean Duncan has had minimal contributions to the team to start this season. Duncan has made his contributions on the defensive end; the Spurs are currently sixth in the league in defensive efficiency. His blocks, steals and rebound rate are the highest they have been in the last four years.
If Duncan wants to look at a former number one option who eased into more of a defensive role, he should look no further than Kevin Garnett. When Garnett arrived in Boston, he allowed Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to shoulder the scoring load while he anchored the defense.
If Jefferson, Parker, and Ginobili remain healthy, it will allow Duncan to play fewer minutes. This will allow Duncan to have enough in the tank to shoulder the offense come playoff time.
