Tim Duncan Deserves All Star Nod

Ya, you read that right. Tim Duncan deserves to be playing at the All Star Game in Orlando this year. Though his numbers are down from where they usually are, a second look is needed. Timmy has been playing less than 28 minutes per game, well below the 34 or so he averaged during his prime. You ask, at 13.9 ppg, how does that even constitue an All Star selection? Going back to those 28 minutes, John Hollinger from ESPN uses statistics and good ol’ math to adjust numbers for every single player. The standard is 40 minutes per game. After adjusting Tim’s minutes and points, he is actually averaging 20.2 ppg, which is better than All Star reserve Marc Gasol, and just a basket less than Dirk Nowitzki. The 20.2 is also higher than Western Starter Andrew Bynum. ‘Ok, so he’s only got two beat there. Still, I don’t think he deserves it,’ you reply. Now to the adjusted rebounds. In his 28 minutes, Tim is averaging more rebounds per game than Dirk Nowitzki ...