Tim Duncan in the 4th quarter of each playoff game in 2011:
-- Game 1: 0 points (0-1 from floor, 0-2 from line)
-- Game 2: 2 points (1-2 from floor)
-- Game 3: 4 points (1-1 from floor, 2-2 from line)
-- Game 4: 0 points (no shots)
-- Game 5: 0 points (0-1 from floor)
-- Game 5OT: 0 points (no shots)
-- Game 6: 2 points (1-2 from floor)

TOTAL FOR SERIES IN 4TH QTRS (including OT): 8 POINTS, 3-7 from floor, 2-4 from line.

There is no longer a "Big Three" that includes Tim Duncan. It's the brutal truth. The era of Tim serving as an offensive weapon... hell, even an option... in a playoff run is over.

Don't make excuses for him about "bad matchup, blah, blah, blah". It's the playoffs. Time to step up and produce. The Spurs hardly even looked at him in the post with the game on the line in this series. That says it all.

It is theoretically possible for Tim to win another ring, but it will be as a sidekick of a powerful post player... a la David Robinson at the beginning of the Tim Era.

It was great while it lasted, Tim Duncan. Thanks for the Championships.

Haven't seen the Spurs much this year so don't really know what I'm talking about but I was surprised at how little impact Duncan had in the 4th Qs and overall. Also shocked at how little contribution was made by key players in the Spurs rotation like Jefferson, McDyess, and Bonner.

Where have you been? Duncan is NBA old. He is good coming off of rest, good in 1st quarter of most games, then loses steam. Put him up against a couple of young guys that can play foulball for 40 mins and he is going to wear quickly.

He has started in over 1200 games and played almost 45,000 mins.

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Haven't seen the Spurs much this year so don't really know what I'm talking about but I was surprised at how little impact Duncan had in the 4th Qs and overall.

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he's just old, plain and simple. having him defend gasol and randolph all game just isn't going to work for 35 minutes.

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Also shocked at how little contribution was made by key players in the Spurs rotation like Jefferson, McDyess, and Bonner.

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this wasn't the case during the regular season, obviously. jefferson started the season strong and tailed off. mcdyess has been solid all season, but, once again, he had to guard randolph. he got tired, because he is older than most.

bonner was one of the greatest smoke screens in the league. the only thing outsiders see was his 50% mark from three point land. what they didn't see was his constant failures on the defensive side of the ball, his lack of defensive rebounds despite being 6'10'', and his AWFUL drives to the basket when he chickened out of a three. he spread out the floor, and nothing more.

Pop's infatuation with Bonner is one of the most perplexing topics in sports. He plays hard and hits 3s every once in a while but would never be considered a clutch performer.

There was a lineup on the floor last night consisting of Bonner, Splitter, Hill, Parker and Neal. I was keeping track and they gave up a score on either a made shot, offensive rebound putback or free throws on 7 or 8 straight posessions. The old Pop would never had tolerated that. It used to be all about defense. Now I guess its about playing your favorite buddies. The old Pop would have had Blair and Danny Green in there bustin heads. This was the first year where I really missed the old days of Kersey, Willis and Elie.

Oh, and Duncan's days are done as an offensive threat. He just can't finish over big, athletic front court players. He's basically a slightly taller Fabricio Oberto now, which is still pretty good as a role player. I could see him playing another 3 years in a Marcus Camby or Dikembe Mutumbo type role. He can play bigger minutes than DRob could in his last years, but he can't be a goto offensive guy anymore.

[This message has been edited by Ag Natural (edited 4/30/2011 10:54p).]

Most of my old favorite Spurs fans all on one thread! Where is Guitarsoup?

Duncan definitely looked old late in games, and investing in guys like Jefferson and Bonner didn't pay off this post season (although Neal hit a clutch shot to extend the series). However, let's give some credit to the Grizzlies. They are playing with a ridiculous amount of confidence, playing great team defense, getting contributions from everyone, and getting good shots almost every trip down the court. I'm shocked by the good decisions they are consistently making on the offensive end.

I think the days of this San Antonio team competing for championships are probably over just because Duncan was the key piece. I don't expect them to fade away as fast as the Kings or Suns have, but I could see them living in above average land with my Mavs for several years to come.

Duncan was pretty effective when he had the ball. They just weren't looking for him in 4th quarter situations.

Pounding the paint just isn't what the Spurs do anymore.

Also it is interesting to me that what Zach Randloph did in the 4th quarter of those games is what Duncan USED TO DO to opposing teams.

After game 4, it never entered my mind again that the Spurs had a chance in hell to win that series (okay, maybe for 5 seconds after game 5, but otherwise I had conceded the loss). That must be how Spurs opponents felt in the early/mid 2000's.

It is always easy to tell when your team is inferior to its opponent. It is always harder to tell when your team is superior.

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Duncan was pretty effective when he had the ball. They just weren't looking for him in 4th quarter situations.

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I disagree. I thought Duncan was amazingly ineffective in trying to score against Gasol.

48% against Memphis' interior defense ain't that bad.

My only qualms about going to Duncan in the 4th quarter are that it seems like his FT shooting is getting even worse.