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Iverson's spirit, Duncan's dedication spark stars
Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan are worlds apart in style, but what they bring to the US team of NBA talent might be what brings the stars into alignment.
Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan are worlds apart in style, but what they bring to the United States Olympic team of National Basketball Association talent might be what brings the stars into alignment.
The co-captains lead an improved but vulnerable US squad against unbeaten Spain here Thursday in the quarter-finals, which also include Argentina playing Greece, Puerto Rico meeting Italy and unbeaten Lithuania against China.
The Americans are optimistic they can put losses to Lithuania and Puerto Rico behind them. A loss to Spain and they would become the first US team in Olympic history that fails to win a medal.
"I'm really confident," Duncan said. "We've learned a lot coming through this tournament and I think we're in a great position. We're happy where we are at. We feel good going into this. We're pretty excited about our opportunity."
Carrying the biggest responsibility for US success are Iverson and Duncan, the elders of a young team more familiar with solo moves than the team play so vital under international rules.
"Everyone looks to Allen and Tim," US coach Larry Brown said. "Allen is the oldest. He likes this responsibility. All of the kids coming into this league realize what a talented player he is and respect what he has accomplished."
Iverson carries the spirit of the team on his tatooed arms. Known for spats with coaches and brushes with the law as well as backcourt skill, Iverson has set aside flamboyant NBA 1-on-1 moves to be a guiding force on a young team.
"It doesn't matter who we face or when we face them. We just want to beat everybody and get the gold medal," Iverson said. "I definitely think we can. If I didn't, there's no need for me to lace my sneakers up."
Where Iverson is a little man who is outspoken, Duncan is a big man who is softspoken. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player led San Antonio to NBA titles in 1999 and 2003 and carries the entire US load at center most of the time.
"What I do is not exciting. I just try to get it done," Duncan said. "I have to be effective. I don't have to be exciting."
Duncan leads the US squad with 15.6 points and an Olympics-high 11 rebounds a game. He generates one-third of vital offensive rebounds for a team lacking inside size with woeful outside shooting, hitting only 46 percent overall.
"He does it all. He's a great man on and off the court," said guard LeBron James, the NBA's 2004 Rookie of the Year. "I'm proud to be his temamate."
Some mistake silence for weakness, calling Duncan soft and noting that his titles came alongside another talented big man in David Robinson. The yin to Iverson's yang is a guy with quiet consistency in the face of double-teams.
"If they don't get him they're not real fans. They're fantasy fans," James said. "I dunk. But I'm no Tim Duncan. I wish I was."
Iverson, who averages 13.8 points, finds other scoring options when zone defenses shut off Duncan. At 8-for-25 from 3-point range, he is the top long-range threat.
"They are going to zone and they are going to pack it in," Duncan said. "I'm getting two or three guys against me so I have to kick it out and guys are wide open. You have to hit the guy that's open."
Against Spain, Duncan will be matched against NBA rival Pau Gasol, who averages 18.2 points and 7.6 rebounds a game at the Olympics for a team that has one of the best defenses the Americans have yet faced in Athens.
That combination worries US coach Larry Brown.
"They are the best team I've seen I thus far," Brown said. "Gasol is as good of a player as there is in the tournament. They are a veteran team. The fact they have gone through their pool undefeated tells you how good they are."
