Duncan may be older, but he's a prototypical big man with all of the skills and is playing against a team who has terrible post players. This series is also going to show exactly why a great big man is more important than a great win man or guard.

I don't understand why there aren't any big men like this anymore. It's like no one cares about developing any more. Duncan can play defense, shoot the ball well with either hand, pass, and rebound. Why do the athletic big men now only care about dunking or blocking the ball so far it goes out of bounds?

I look at guys like Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, etc. and see guys who are trying to emulate Shaq and not Duncan or Olajuwon or Robinson. I don't get it. I mean it's not like you have to dunk the ball to get on ESPN highlights, you just need to have good footwork to be able to fake the guy out of his shoes (see Olajuwon's plays against Robinson or Ewing that resulted in layups).

Is there a reason why the big man has died in basketball?

Because its boring...duh!

Hibbert is the exception. That dude is developing and is going to be a beast in a few years if he keeps working hard.

I agree though. Duncan is huge in this series.

The Heat will probably start fronting and how the Spurs handle that will determine this series. I like that they seem to only post Timmy up in spot situations so I'm not all that worried.

Duncan absolutely abused Birdman last night. I'd like to see him go more at Haslem, too. Bosh was the only one playing decent defense on him, and that was only at times.

If Tony goes cold one of these games, I think the Spurs have a decent shot at resting on Duncan for a win.

Duncan will make the difference for the Spurs.

what hibbert needs to do is learn to pass from the post. duncan has a better shot and is light years better passing out of the post

Every time Duncan and the Spurs decided to work the low post, he did it successfully regardless of who was covering him.

The only way they can stop Duncan is to bring a quick double and force the ball back out of the post. Fronting Duncan is extremely risky because his hands are so great. Unless the help beats him to the ball, fronting Duncan is just begging to give up open layups or commit fouls as Duncan throws it down over Ray Allen or whatever hapless defender rotates over. Any time the Heat commit to doubling Duncan the Spurs will use that to generate open shots, Duncan and everyone else move the ball too well. I still think their best bet is to get really aggressive in the open court and play some full court defense to keep the Spurs from ever getting into the half court set, because Duncan/Parker just wreck any half court defensive gameplan.

The Heat also need to figure out a way to score. Outside of a few defensive lapses that will get cleaned up as the series goes on, they couldn't generate quality shots.

[This message has been edited by Ulrich (edited 6/7/2013 2:42p).]

Duncan actually stayed in college and graduated. Too many players are 1 and done out of college without developing their skills. Once they get into the nba it's show time.

Duncan took Andersen to school. Big factor in the game. I thought Joel Anthony played him better. Bosh was okay but the Spurs will let him float out there all game and take 3s.

The biggest non-factors were Battier and Haslem. Spurs will win in 5 if that kind of play from those two continues.

I also thought that Parker, Green, and Ginobili ran Cole, Chalmers, and Wade into the ground. Those 3 had nothing left in the tank in the 4th and it showed quickly and resulted in a San Antonio win.

Great team win and Pop was a chess master with the substitutions.

[This message has been edited by bogustrumper (edited 6/7/2013 2:46p).]