tim duncan
Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:08 pm
does tim duncan have any room for improvement statistically? i know he's already a near perfect player if not already perfect, but do you guys think tim duncan's peak season/best statistical season was his 5th season, 2001/2002 wherein he averaged 25.5ppg, 12.7rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.5 bpg?
if you compare duncan and olajuwans first 7 seasons the simularity is scary. olajuwan for his first 7 seasons averaged around 23, 12, 2 apg, 3.5 bpg. duncan: 22.9ppg, 12.4rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.5 bpg as of today. BUT then in his 8th season olajuwan exploded and had his mvp/championship years wherein all his averages save maybe rpg's jumped. duncan has already has mvp/championship years, but do you foresee more mvps, more championships and a jump in statistics ala olajuwan? or do you guys think he's perfect as is and cant be improved?
duncan seems more comparable to olajuwan then robinson which is why i didnt add the admiral to this poll -- david's first 7 seasons were his best seasons.... though he too peaked later on in his career during his 5th and 6th season.
so generally my question is do you think duncan has already peaked or is his peak coming? i myself think he just might show us new heights to his brilliance. i really thought this year would be the year but i think championship fatigue has taken its toll plus injuries -- so maybe next year? who knows, maybe you know better than me
note: for now im not comparing olajuwan and tim duncan as players-- im comparing them statistically, though you can compare them as players if you like
if you compare duncan and olajuwans first 7 seasons the simularity is scary. olajuwan for his first 7 seasons averaged around 23, 12, 2 apg, 3.5 bpg. duncan: 22.9ppg, 12.4rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.5 bpg as of today. BUT then in his 8th season olajuwan exploded and had his mvp/championship years wherein all his averages save maybe rpg's jumped. duncan has already has mvp/championship years, but do you foresee more mvps, more championships and a jump in statistics ala olajuwan? or do you guys think he's perfect as is and cant be improved?
duncan seems more comparable to olajuwan then robinson which is why i didnt add the admiral to this poll -- david's first 7 seasons were his best seasons.... though he too peaked later on in his career during his 5th and 6th season.
so generally my question is do you think duncan has already peaked or is his peak coming? i myself think he just might show us new heights to his brilliance. i really thought this year would be the year but i think championship fatigue has taken its toll plus injuries -- so maybe next year? who knows, maybe you know better than me
note: for now im not comparing olajuwan and tim duncan as players-- im comparing them statistically, though you can compare them as players if you like
Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:47 pm
I feel we haven't seen the best of Duncan yet. Soon he will be the most dominant presents in the middle and if he can get his free throw stroke again like he did last year ( or was it the year before that?), he will definately average more points, and more assists since he will get double teamed.
Thu Mar 18, 2004 3:48 pm
Good topic. It's an interesting question. 
Statistically speaking, I don't think we'll see too much of an improvement. As Amphatoast noted he could improve his free throw shooting, get his percentage back up in the 70s. That would increase his scoring average, probably to around 25 ppg. I think his rebounds will remain fairly static, but might creep up over 13 per game. His assists will depend on his teammates. I don't think his APG will ever increase much past his current career high of 3.9 per game (set last year). His blocks and steals will also likely remain about the same.
The only aspect of his game that could possibly increase dramatically is his scoring, but that depends on his free throw shooting and his supporting cast. I think that he'll remain fairly consistent from now on, perhaps with a season or two with even better numbers across the board, but for the most part he'll be about the same. That isn't too shabby, considering his current numbers.
As far as his game goes, there will probably be further improvements such as an increase in the reliability of his outside jumper, some new post moves and other improvements that might not necessarily affect his statistics noticeably.
All in all, I think any improvements will be subtle. But if I'm Greg Popovich, I can live with that.
Statistically speaking, I don't think we'll see too much of an improvement. As Amphatoast noted he could improve his free throw shooting, get his percentage back up in the 70s. That would increase his scoring average, probably to around 25 ppg. I think his rebounds will remain fairly static, but might creep up over 13 per game. His assists will depend on his teammates. I don't think his APG will ever increase much past his current career high of 3.9 per game (set last year). His blocks and steals will also likely remain about the same.
The only aspect of his game that could possibly increase dramatically is his scoring, but that depends on his free throw shooting and his supporting cast. I think that he'll remain fairly consistent from now on, perhaps with a season or two with even better numbers across the board, but for the most part he'll be about the same. That isn't too shabby, considering his current numbers.
As far as his game goes, there will probably be further improvements such as an increase in the reliability of his outside jumper, some new post moves and other improvements that might not necessarily affect his statistics noticeably.
All in all, I think any improvements will be subtle. But if I'm Greg Popovich, I can live with that.