Tim Duncan's Legacy

[almostthere]

For the second time in his career, his team lost after holding a 2-0 lead in a seven game series. In both series (vs Lakers in '04, OKC in '12), the Spurs had home court advantage. His team also lost to an 8th seed last year.

Do these things, coupled with the fact that he never led his team to a back-to-back, affect Tim Duncan's legacy? Will people look back on his career and hold him accountable for all these?

[Vanilla_Gorilla]

No. Not at all.

[carshow]

Let's put all those losses in perspective. The 2004 Laker team was composed of four Hall of Famers, and could have gone a different route if not for that miraculous shot by Fisher.

The losses to Thunder and Grizzlies came in the twilight of his career.

In short, it's not as if Duncan lost to the Warriors led by Baron Davis and a bunch of role players. Hopefully you guys get what I mean.

[nick_28]

simpleng banat kay dirk....

[almostthere]

Let's put all those losses in perspective. The 2004 Laker team was composed of four Hall of Famers, and could have gone a different route if not for that miraculous shot by Fisher.

Four HOFers; one was lost in the offensive scheme, one was saddled with injury and two were openly feuding.

[talunan08]

Four HOFers; one was lost in the offensive scheme, one was saddled with injury and two were openly feuding.

Pretty sure there were anti-Heat fans who don't buy that excuse and point out that Miami should be winning more than they do since they have Bosh, Wade & Lebron. Just giving you the logic some guys use.

You guys are overreacting to the loss. A loss to OKC doesn't diminish Tim's legacy. Do we even need to state what his accolades before you dismiss how the unfavorable criticisms (not winning back to back)?

[t_SKY]

2012 lock out season- Kevin Durant, 23 years old, NBA Finals.
1999 lock out season- Tim Duncan, 23 years old, NBA Finals.

Passing the torch mode si Duncan and that's legacy already.

[Jess24]

No. Never. Duncan's legacy has been secured a long time ago. If we are going to nitpick those losses, then we might as well nitpick all the failures and losses of all the other great players, because there's always bound to be one.

[dakilangungaz]

Tim Duncan = one of the best PF


nuff said

[galaxy_ram]

more than anything, the spurs' 2012 season further cemented duncan's legacy. imagine someone who is already on his last legs and still able to LEAD his team to a dominant regular season and a near trip to the NBA finals. props to this man.

[Gooner]

Tony Parker is the leader of the 2012 Spurs. But it's amazing for Duncan to be able to still play with newer big guys despite his age.

[dudelebowski]

Tim Duncan = one of the best PF


nuff said

I honestly cannot think of any other PF to put above Duncan. Malone? Barkley? both ringless. Garnett? Dirk? Definitely pales in comparison to his accolades.

[almostthere]

If we are going to nitpick those losses, then we might as well nitpick all the failures and losses of all the other great players, because there's always bound to be one.

This is basically my point. Why do players like Kobe and LBJ, and before they won their rings, Dirk and KG, get criticized so much every season they fail to win a championship

Don't get me wrong, I like Duncan. I respect all he's done and I think he is a Top 15 player of all time. I just don't get why he isn't held up to the same standard as the players I've mentioned.

[dudelebowski]

This is basically my point. Why do players like Kobe and LBJ, and before they won their rings, Dirk and KG, get criticized so much every season they fail to win a championship

Don't get me wrong, I like Duncan. I respect all he's done and I think he is a Top 15 player of all time. I just don't get why he isn't held up to the same standard as the players I've mentioned.

This is just my theory, but I think part of it has to do with his personality. He's just such a likeable guy that most people find it hard to criticize him. You never hear him saying arrogant/douchey things to the media, you never hear about him cheating on his wife, you never see him taunting smaller players or kicking bicycles.

[talunan08]

This is basically my point. Why do players like Kobe and LBJ, and before they won their rings, Dirk and KG, get criticized so much every season they fail to win a championship

Don't get me wrong, I like Duncan. I respect all he's done and I think he is a Top 15 player of all time. I just don't get why he isn't held up to the same standard as the players I've mentioned.

Kobe was criticized BEFORE because he has not proven to win a championship without Shaq. Dirk has silenced detractors after winning it all last year. Lebron's critics will diminish IF he wins the championship. I haven't seen anyone who actually tries to be reasonable criticize these guys after winning a championship. The legacy of these guys are already secure except for Lebron's.

[dudelebowski]

Also consider: Duncan won a championship the first time he made the finals in his 2ND YEAR. He has also never lost a finals series.

[JeanPhillipe]

nah they don't matter at all. duncan is such a likeable guy that you can't really nitpick him if you wanted to, unlike Kobe.

he will go on the books as the best PF in the NBA ever. One of the top 10 players of all time.

[krdskrm]

It seems that the media is much nicer to the San Antonio Spurs than to anybody else. Bruce Bowen's dirty defense, Manu's antics, and Pop's attitude toward the press weren't hated enough. Tim's mild-mannered personality must be the neutralizing factor. Even Duncan's "boring" style of play is overshadowed by the nickname/euphemism Mr. Fundamental.

[JeanPhillipe]

^ its because the spurs is one the classiest if not the classiest organization in the NBA. i don't think anyone will argue that.

[Pound4Pound]

Definitely not winning back-to-back championships will be the biggest criticism towards him.

That being said, you just look at his individual body of work especially the ones that will standout forever - 3 Final MVP awards, back-to-back MVP awards and also a ROY award, Damn...bilang na bilang ang mga players sa NBA history who were able to win all 3 awards. That should be enough to somewhat mitigate the main criticism(s) against him.

dudelebowski

Well he was caught laughing at a ref (Joey Crawford) though