SAN ANTONIO — The next step for the Spurs will be Tony Parker claiming he’s a center trapped in a 6-foot-2 point guard’s body.
The Spurs threw in a few light-hearted moments Saturday during their deadly serious approach to Sunday’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals. One element discussed was the never-ending quest of Tim Duncan, 6-foot-11 center/power forward/future Hall of Famer, to be a point guard.
“I’ve been arguing that point for years now,” Duncan said.
It all began with reference to Duncan’s surreal offensive effectiveness in San Antonio’s 110-95 Game 1 victory Thursday: 10 shots, nine baskets. Does he ever demand the ball more?
“The only thing Timmy has ever demanded is he wants to play the point and he thinks I’ve held him back,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “True story. He thinks he’s a point guard.
“We don’t call his number the way we used to. He just gets it out of flow and we don’t really overdose on anybody as far as calling somebody’s number. Mario Elie is still waiting for me to call a play for him.”
Elie last played for the Spurs in 2000 and retired in 2001.
Parker laughed at the Duncan notion.
“Are we still talking about that?” he asked. “I can’t believe they brought it up in the NBA Finals.”
But Parker conceded Duncan is a great passer. And given all the big man has done in his career for the Spurs, Parker throws him a bone now and then.
“Timmy is a great passer, so every time he takes the ball and brings it up, I have to leave him alone,” Parker said. “At least once every 10 games he can bring it up.”
“After my five turnovers the other night, I think I took a step back from that. I don’t think that I’m going to be able to step up and fill that role for a while,” Duncan said. “But I enjoy getting in the middle of the floor and making decisions and getting the ball to the right place. That’s what a point guard’s got to do.”
After Game 1, the Spurs stressed the importance of getting the ball anywhere but the hands of the Heat. San Antonio survived despite 23 turnovers, leading to 28 Miami points. The Spurs scored 27 points off 18 Heat turnovers.
“My guess is you won’t see that [Sunday] night, turnover‑wise,” Popovich said. “I don’t think either one of us will turn it over as much as we did.”
Unless, of course, Duncan is playing point.
“You see him bring it up once in a while,” Popovich said. “He brings it up with three more dribbles than he needs to. He should throw it ahead to anybody in the same color uniform. But he’ll get three more dribbles in, just to practice in case I do it.”
Popovich also said he is no fan of the 3-point shot, but knows it’s a necessary evil.
“It’s a heck of a weapon,” he said. “I hate it. To me it’s not basketball, but you got to use it. If you don’t use it, you’re in big trouble.”