A Big Fundamental: Outlet Passing

Note: This was originally posted on my old blog on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

The Big Fundamental. Average fans think he's boring. He doesn't dunk on people and he doesn't break anyone's ankles when he crosses over. But for anyone who can appreciate the minutiae of basketball, Tim Duncan is endlessly fascinating.

Most people know about his bank shot and his great footwork and even his unmatched interior defense. So I won't take the time to talk about those. What I want to talk about is one thing he does better than almost anyone that isn't talked about much.

Let's talk about outlet passing. How hardly anyone has ever mentioned this element of Timmy's game is beyond me. In my opinion he is the best outlet passer in the NBA right now. You know those one-man fast breaks Tony Parker is famous for? Well, it's not magic. Parker doesn't just get the rebound, dribble past everyone, and shoot a layup. No, somebody else usually grabs the rebound and passes the ball to Parker around half court so that he only has to take 2-3 dribbles to get to the basket. And that someone is usually Tim Duncan.

Next time the Spurs are on (like, I don't know, maybe tonight at 7:00 on TNT) make a point to watch Timmy every time he gets a defensive rebound and see what he does with the ball. It's beautiful. There is no wasted motion. There is always a plan. There is always control, yet opportunism. The ball never fails to be on the money. The guard doesn't have to stop, slow down, or change directions. He can focus on where the defense is and where to pass or dribble next because he knows the ball will be delivered to him accurately and on time.

Specifically, Timmy's overhead bounce pass is exquisite. He will grab the rebound above his head, but instead of chinning the ball before throwing a chest pass, he will eliminate any extra motion by keeping the ball above his head and throwing the pass from there. This isn't just any pass though. It is a precision bounce pass that bounces up into the guard’s hands as he runs. The guard practically doesn't even need to look. The ball always seems to bounce right up into his breadbasket.

So in case you're ever stuck in average fan hell watching the Spurs play, make the best of it and watch the Big Fundamental earn his nickname outlet pass after outlet pass.