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Notebook More acclaim in sight for modest DuncanPosted: Saturday June 14, 2003 5:30 PMSAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tim Duncan has a strong distaste for individual honors and the accompanying attention. But if the San Antonio Spurs finish off the NBA Finals on Sunday night, Duncan will be in the spotlight again. With one more victory, Duncan likely will be named the MVP of the finals for the second time in his career, which would put him in exclusive company. Duncan, who also won the award in 1999, would be only the eighth multiple winner of that award, which was first issued in 1969. He would join an elite list of NBA greats: Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Willis Reed. Duncan also could become the 13th player to win the regular season and finals MVP awards, and the 20th player to win a ring in the same season he was MVP. O'Neal did it last season. "That stuff doesn't mean anything to me," Duncan said earlier in the series. "It's a team game." Whether he's shy, humble or just zealously devoted to the team concept, Duncan has refused to draw attention to himself, either during his impressive career or in the finals. His teammates make sure he gets noticed, though. "I think everybody knows we'd have a hard time being here without Tim," Malik Rose said. "He can do things that nobody else in this league can do, but you don't hear about him nearly as much as the other superstars. That's the way he wants it. He really is as humble as he seems to the public. That's the real him."
Twin troublesJason Collins' second trip to the NBA Finals has been nothing to remember. That's what happens when a young center with average mobility gets matched up against Tim Duncan. Collins, the New Jersey Nets' second-year pro from Stanford, has started all five games of the finals -- and all he has to show for it are 18 points and 21 fouls. Collins scored a series-high seven points in Game 5 on Friday night after going scoreless in both of the previous games in New Jersey. He also had five rebounds and five fouls while helping out in the Nets' fruitless attempts to slow Duncan with one-on-one coverage. "He's a tough matchup for anybody in this league. That's why he's the MVP," Collins said. Collins, Dikembe Mutombo and Aaron Williams have played different roles in every game of the series, depending on New Jersey coach Byron Scott's interpretation of the game. Mutombo got just seven minutes in Game 5 -- his shortest stint since Game 1 -- while Williams had 10 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes. "Whatever is working is what we're going to do," Williams said. "If [Collins] is getting it done, he'll be there. If Deke is doing it, he'll be there. We're just trying to compete with their middle." The Nets still have high hopes for Collins, who has the body of a topflight center, but not enough grace and skill. After Todd MacCulloch was traded and Mutombo got injured this season, Collins stepped into the starting lineup for the final 66 games of the regular season, averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Even after losing two of three at home in the finals, Collins still believes the Nets can solve Duncan in San Antonio. "Definitely, we're a very confident ballclub," Collins said. "Even though we weren't able to get the job done [in Game 5], we have another opportunity to get the job done Sunday night."
Retro KerrSteve Kerr is warming to his role as the San Antonio Spurs' designated hero. Kerr, a 15-year veteran who might retire after the season, came up big again for the Spurs in Game 5. Playing just nine minutes, he scored six points during a key stretch of the fourth quarter as San Antonio pulled away. It's nothing new for Kerr, who hit four 3-pointers late in San Antonio's series-clinching victory over Dallas in the Western Conference finals. "I've got the greatest job on earth," Kerr said with a smile. "I come in, I play like six minutes, I make a couple of shots and then I come do interviews in the interview room. It's awesome." Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been reluctant to use Kerr for long stretches in the series, fearing his 37-year-old legs won't allow him to keep up on defense. Popovich has responded to pestering from the media with sarcasm -- but in Game 5, Popovich thought the game called for Kerr. "Steve Kerr has just been incredible," Duncan said. "He's the definition of a veteran. The guy is always ready to go.He doesn't play for games in a row, and then his number is called, and he's always ready. "I love to see him on the floor. Every time I throw it out to him, I hope he shoots it, because I really do believe it's going in every time." Kerr already has four championship rings, and a fifth might propel him into retirement. His contract with the Spurs is up at the end of the season. |
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