“Uncool” Miami Heat win games the old-fashion way like “The Big Fundamental” Tim Duncan

The fifth-seeded Miami Heat have made being “uncool” cool again by winning games that matter the most. Jimmy Butler, a native of the Texas, plays basketball on his own terms even if others get upset about his being real.

Basketball legend Tim Duncan, aka “The Big Fundamental”, thrived on not being “cool.”

“Pop says the bank shot practiced by Tim Duncan is an easy shot to master. Why don’t more players do it? Pop: ‘It’s not cool.’”

In A Tribute to Tim Duncan’s ‘Uncool’ Bank Shot author Jack Moore writes, “Tim Duncan is arguably the best power forward to ever play basketball, and there are a host of reasons why. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He’s a great rebounder. He’s always been a smart and solid defender. He led his teams to five NBA Titles. And most notably, he’s always had the best “old man” offensive game in the NBA. There’s a reason his nickname is “The Big Fundamental.” Where other stars of his era were known for high-flying athleticism, Duncan was known for the least sexy of all the shots: the Bank Shot.”

How does a bank shot help the Heat? Once the ball touches the glass it can’t be blocked. Maybe the “old-style” under-the-rim play of Goran Dragic works against elite defenders, like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Rudy Gobert, who thrive on blocking dunk attempts above the basket. Tyler Herro is quickly learning how to use glass properly to frustrate the more athletic defenders at the rim. Even dunker par-excellence Bam Adebayo sometimes gets into the act. How did a 250-lb man do that?

Under-the-basket layups and free throws seem uncool in today’s world of NBA disrespectful dunks, yet both put two points on the board. Meanwhile a Texan from Tomball and Slovanian from Ljublijana play winning basketball like “The Big Fundamental” did, even if he wasn’t cool. Maybe not being trendy isn’t so bad after all.