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Duncan sparks Spurs to quick start
He hasn?t made a profanity-laced rap album, he doesn?t have any outrageously visible tattoos, he hasn?t been in trouble with the law, and he doesn?t have multiple children with different mothers.
On the basketball court, he?s all business, leading his team to winning seasons and NBA championships. He?s not outspoken or controversial and he?s not a flashy player, but he consistently gets the job done.
Because of these laudable traits, San Antonio Spurs F-C Tim Duncan is often referred to as boring, both on and off the court. It?s an unfortunate characterization for a player who is among the NBA?s classiest.
The attention Duncan gets, or lack thereof, is symbolic of our ongoing obsession with drama, controversy, sex and violence involving professional athletes.
Why do we find these athletes more interesting?
I don?t know. Maybe it?s because they give us comfort knowing that, despite all their fame and fortune, these superstar athletes are still human beings like the rest of us, warts and all.
Regardless, Duncan is once again doing what he does best ? scoring and winning. With Duncan leading the team in points and rebounds, the defending NBA champion Spurs are off to a 10-3 start (6-6-1 ATS) and lead the Southwest (prior to Tuesday night).
Duncan is averaging a double-double netting more than 21 ppg (14th in the league) and nearly 12 rebounds (5th in the league). He?s also averaging 2.7 blocks (4th overall).
The man regularly getting Duncan the ball has been PG Tony Parker, who leads the team in assists (5.7 apg). He also leads the team in field goal percentage (56.3), and is second on the team in scoring 21.2.
While offensively they?ve been solid (9th overall), a big part of San Antonio?s success has been its characteristically strong defense. The Spurs are allowing less than 91 points per game (5th overall).
Coming off their home date with the Lakers, the Spurs face a big test Thursday when they visit division rival Dallas in the first game of a Thursday night double-header on TNT (8 p.m. ET).
The 10-3 Mavericks shared the division lead with San Antonio prior to Tuesday, and they whipped the Spurs 103-84 in their first meeting on Nov. 5. The Spurs were favored by 2.5 in that game.
Although the Mavs have gone 8-2 straight up since that game, they have not been kind to backers going 3-7 against the spread (ATS). They are currently 5-8 ATS on the season.
Leading the way on the Mavs? offensive attack has been Dirk Nowitzki, who?s draining more than 25 points per game (6th overall).
Yet, the Mavs haven?t quite had the high-flying offense that put them among the top three teams in scoring the past three years. Currently, they?re averaging less than 100 points per game.
On the flipside, they?ve improved noticeably on defense and are allowing less than 94 ppg (11th overall).
In a recent game against the Raptors, the Mavs, trailing by six with two minutes remaining, held Toronto to just two points and won 93-91 on a buzzer-beater by Jason Terry. Granted, the Raps have a terrible record, but they have the talent to score.
Although the Mavs are scoring less and allowing fewer points, their games are still topping posted totals: Dallas is currently 9-4 on the OVER/UNDER.
The Spurs, who are similarly strong on defense, are also seeing their games go over. San Antonio was 7-4-2 on the OVER/UNDER prior to Tuesday.
L.A. Lakers at Utah Jazz (10:30 p.m. ET)
Sure it?s still early in the season, but it looks like the Zen Master may not be able to lift the Lakers back to the upper echelons of the NBA any time soon.
The Lakers were 5-7 SU and sat in the basement of the Pacific Division prior to Tuesday?s game in San Antonio. After a semi-promising start when they won three of their first four games, the Lakers have dropped six of their last eight.
Other than Kobe Bryant, who leads the league in scoring (34.2 ppg), the Lakers appear bereft of talent.
Fortunately for them, their opponents on Thursday are not much better. The Jazz were 6-8 SU prior to their game in Indiana on Tuesday.
With Utah?s leading scorer, Mehmet Okur, netting less than 19 ppg, the Jazz are among the league?s bottom-feeders in terms of team scoring (88.6 ppg).
The loyal backers who have yet to acknowledge that the Lakers stink this year have been getting spanked at the pay window - LA is 4-8 ATS so far.
Meanwhile, the handful Jazz supporters out there should be mildly pleased - Utah is 8-6 ATS.
Together, these two poor scoring teams are 10-15-1 on the OVER/UNDER.
BetWWTS.com
Duncan sparks Spurs to quick start
He hasn?t made a profanity-laced rap album, he doesn?t have any outrageously visible tattoos, he hasn?t been in trouble with the law, and he doesn?t have multiple children with different mothers.
On the basketball court, he?s all business, leading his team to winning seasons and NBA championships. He?s not outspoken or controversial and he?s not a flashy player, but he consistently gets the job done.
Because of these laudable traits, San Antonio Spurs F-C Tim Duncan is often referred to as boring, both on and off the court. It?s an unfortunate characterization for a player who is among the NBA?s classiest.
The attention Duncan gets, or lack thereof, is symbolic of our ongoing obsession with drama, controversy, sex and violence involving professional athletes.
Why do we find these athletes more interesting?
I don?t know. Maybe it?s because they give us comfort knowing that, despite all their fame and fortune, these superstar athletes are still human beings like the rest of us, warts and all.
Regardless, Duncan is once again doing what he does best ? scoring and winning. With Duncan leading the team in points and rebounds, the defending NBA champion Spurs are off to a 10-3 start (6-6-1 ATS) and lead the Southwest (prior to Tuesday night).
Duncan is averaging a double-double netting more than 21 ppg (14th in the league) and nearly 12 rebounds (5th in the league). He?s also averaging 2.7 blocks (4th overall).
The man regularly getting Duncan the ball has been PG Tony Parker, who leads the team in assists (5.7 apg). He also leads the team in field goal percentage (56.3), and is second on the team in scoring 21.2.
While offensively they?ve been solid (9th overall), a big part of San Antonio?s success has been its characteristically strong defense. The Spurs are allowing less than 91 points per game (5th overall).
Coming off their home date with the Lakers, the Spurs face a big test Thursday when they visit division rival Dallas in the first game of a Thursday night double-header on TNT (8 p.m. ET).
The 10-3 Mavericks shared the division lead with San Antonio prior to Tuesday, and they whipped the Spurs 103-84 in their first meeting on Nov. 5. The Spurs were favored by 2.5 in that game.
Although the Mavs have gone 8-2 straight up since that game, they have not been kind to backers going 3-7 against the spread (ATS). They are currently 5-8 ATS on the season.
Leading the way on the Mavs? offensive attack has been Dirk Nowitzki, who?s draining more than 25 points per game (6th overall).
Yet, the Mavs haven?t quite had the high-flying offense that put them among the top three teams in scoring the past three years. Currently, they?re averaging less than 100 points per game.
On the flipside, they?ve improved noticeably on defense and are allowing less than 94 ppg (11th overall).
In a recent game against the Raptors, the Mavs, trailing by six with two minutes remaining, held Toronto to just two points and won 93-91 on a buzzer-beater by Jason Terry. Granted, the Raps have a terrible record, but they have the talent to score.
Although the Mavs are scoring less and allowing fewer points, their games are still topping posted totals: Dallas is currently 9-4 on the OVER/UNDER.
The Spurs, who are similarly strong on defense, are also seeing their games go over. San Antonio was 7-4-2 on the OVER/UNDER prior to Tuesday.
L.A. Lakers at Utah Jazz (10:30 p.m. ET)
Sure it?s still early in the season, but it looks like the Zen Master may not be able to lift the Lakers back to the upper echelons of the NBA any time soon.
The Lakers were 5-7 SU and sat in the basement of the Pacific Division prior to Tuesday?s game in San Antonio. After a semi-promising start when they won three of their first four games, the Lakers have dropped six of their last eight.
Other than Kobe Bryant, who leads the league in scoring (34.2 ppg), the Lakers appear bereft of talent.
Fortunately for them, their opponents on Thursday are not much better. The Jazz were 6-8 SU prior to their game in Indiana on Tuesday.
With Utah?s leading scorer, Mehmet Okur, netting less than 19 ppg, the Jazz are among the league?s bottom-feeders in terms of team scoring (88.6 ppg).
The loyal backers who have yet to acknowledge that the Lakers stink this year have been getting spanked at the pay window - LA is 4-8 ATS so far.
Meanwhile, the handful Jazz supporters out there should be mildly pleased - Utah is 8-6 ATS.
Together, these two poor scoring teams are 10-15-1 on the OVER/UNDER.
