Is Duhon Slumping or Sucking Wind?

by Ben Kopelman on February 28th, 2009 at 11:24 am

It is of this fan’s opinion that Chris Duhon has been nothing short of spectacular this year.  He’s proven himself to be a smart, team-oriented, “true” point gaurd – the type of player that fits perfectly with D’Antoni’s high octane style of offense. Not to mention one hell of a keeper in many fantasy leagues.

But can you really blame him for his recent, let’s say, lackluster play?

Entering this season, his previous season high for minutes-per-game was 29.1.  Going into last night, he is clocking in 38.5.

Entering this season, his previous season high for total minutes played was 2,177.  Going into last night, he had already punched in 2,158.

The numbers are hard to overcome.  The fact is, according to what the player has grown accustomed to over his 4-year career, he has essentially already played a full season.  So it is only natural that he would be hitting a wall at this point.

According to his coach: “He’s in a little bit of slump,. A lot of people in February go through that. He played a lot of minutes early. He’ll come out of it. It’s a normal thing.”

But the truth is, I don’t expect him to find his December legs and return to form for more than half a dozen of the teams final games.  Nor do I blame him.  

I look at Duhon and see a young starting pitcher in August.  Unaccustomed to throwing so many innings in college and the minors, these pitchers almost inevitably hit a wall come the summer months.  Rarely do they find a second wind come September.  Rather, they take their lumps, and come back the following spring with a better understanding of the type of conditioning it takes to play for an entire season.

So as I watch Duhon’s sloppy play continue (and it’s been about 2 full weeks now, in case you haven’t been watching closely) I am hard pressed to scold his HD image.  Rather, I am trusting that he will remember how he is feeling right now when August rolls around, and come this time next year he will have worked that much harder to be prepared for what I anticipate to be another playoff-hopeful stretch run.
  • BiggieSmalls

    i wonder if the ankle injury before the AS break has anything o do with his fall off

  • EQ1217

    Sorry, it sounds like excuses for a limited player. I do understand a player being tired, but this is more along the lines of his weaknesses being exposed

  • Starkstastic

    It could be a factor, but if you look at his play recently, you see most of his poor showing comes from mental mistakes. How many times per game does he make the cardinal sin for a passer and jump in the air before throwing the ball? As the turnovers pile up, I have to believe the problem with Duhon is more in his head than anything else.

  • Mucha

    Duhon should get some rest because he’s really a liability now. He has the right to feel tired both physically and mentally.

    We have two other players with the ability to handle the point – Hughes and Robinson – maybe D’Antoni should give Duhon some rest because playing him is counterproductive right now.

  • Mucha

    By the way – I’m starting to believe that Al Harrington is our MVP. He’s GENERALLY the one who keeps the Knicks in the game. Maybe he’s a liability on defense but so are Lee and Duhon.