My Anti-Ode to Tim Duncan

Something needs to be said. I fear a 2005 NBA Finals rematch between Detroit and San Antonio. For fear of jinxing the Pistons, I at the least fear the Spurs making it to the finals this season. And if that happens, I will be forced to watch every game on mute to avoid hearing the announcers constant and (gasp) undeserved praise of Tim Duncan.
There, I said it. Undeserved and Tim Duncan in the same sentence. I realize this sentiment is not nearly as popular as the Tim Duncan: Greatest Power Forward in NBA history is but it is more accurate.
Have these people ever actually watched Tim Duncan play? Ever? Or do they read his stat line and assume he controlled the game?
First of all, I think Tim Duncan is a great player. I really do. But the Greatest Power Forward ever? Not even close.
Alright, he has won three NBA championships. Two of those were with David Robinson by his side, meaning he had to assert zero leadership on those two teams. (and deferred to Robinson in clutch situations). The other was in 2005 against my beloved Pistons. Okay, maybe I am biased because that loss hurt, but when someone really dominates my team, I'll admit it. Duncan did nothing of the sort. He single-handedly lost the Spurs game six in Detroit and looked as if someone had killed his puppy after the game. The leader of your team, even when he DOES blow it, should never ever ever look like someone killed his puppy during the final seconds of a game. (also tends to be a problem with LeBron but that is another topic for another post).
Now we have game seven in San Antonio. Now, if you only watched the highlights after the game, ESPN conveniently edited them to make it appear Duncan took the game over in the fourth quarter. What the conveniently spliced out were his countless missed shots and missed free throws with the game on the line. Sure the Spurs ended up winning but that had little to do with Duncan's alleged fourth quarter dominance.
I refuse to believe that the Greatest Power Forward in NBA history disappears when the game is on the line, can't hit a free throw when it matters, and displays less leadership qualities than I do. What I can't figure out is where all of this praise came from? I mean sure he is good and sure he is a really nice guy but has no one ever watched him play?
In conclusion, I will continue to be aggravated until Duncan finally retires and another overrated power forward comes along, or maybe a power forward will come along who puts up Duncan's numbers and doesn't disappear when it matters. But of course if that happens my aggravation will continue as everyone will compare him to Duncan when it should be obvious that he is Duncan's superior. I suppose I can always just permanently mute my tv.