Duncan’s Presence No Minor Difference

If Tim Duncan can have this dramatic effect on not one but two teams, maybe he really is the most valuable player in the NBA.

Duncan’s return after a one-game absence to attend his father’s memorial service was the only major difference in the rosters, yet the Spurs’ victory in the decisive Game 5 of the first round was a reversal from Game 4.

San Antonio beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 101-78, and outshot them 46% to 34% Friday night at the Alamodome. Quite a turnaround from Wednesday night in Seattle, when the Spurs shot 33% to Seattle’s 50% and the SuperSonics won, 91-79, to send the series back to San Antonio.

Can one guy make that much of an impact?

“Sure he can,” Spur Coach Gregg Popovich said. “You just saw it. That’s what superstars do for a team. It makes everybody else better on a club when you have your stars. It makes so many different things happen at both ends of the floor. It’s not just that he scores, but on defense, blocking shots or changing shots, limiting teams to one rebound, getting the fastbreak going. And the offense, he’s basically a quarterback for us. He finds a lot of people.”

Duncan finished with 23 points and nine rebounds. He blocked seven shots, deterred several others and attracted so much defensive attention that the Spurs’ jump shooters had all the open looks they wanted.

It’s no wonder the fans chanted “M-V-P” every time he shot free throws.

Can Duncan pull off the truly impressive and lead the Spurs past the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals that start Sunday in Los Angeles?

Following the most admirable performance of these playoffs will require some help from the Admiral.

David Robinson, suffering from a lower back sprain, hasn’t played since a seven-minute stint in Game 1 two weeks ago. He’s getting closer. After skipping the trip to Seattle he went through the team’s shootaround Friday morning and warmed up on the court before Game 5. But he was scratched after a review by the team’s medical staff shortly before the game.

A longer layoff would help Robinson’s back. But the Spurs sounded as if they couldn’t wait to get the chance to avenge last season’s Western Conference finals sweep by the Lakers.

“We want to get these guys,” Duncan said. “Everybody does.”

If Robinson can’t go on Sunday, that means Duncan will be seeing a lot more of Shaquille O’Neal than is recommended. That’s probably the least of his concerns right now, however. His father, William, died on Monday. Duncan flew to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands after hearing the news and returned Thursday night.

He seems like his normal self.

Then again, as teammate and good friend Antonio Daniels said, “He’s so stoic, you really don’t know what he’s feeling inside.”

After the game, Duncan gave a little hint.

“It’ s kind of been a whirlwind,” he said. “It’s been a tough last couple of days. I had some great support from my family, from my friends all over, especially my teammates.

“With everybody’s support, it was great to get back here and get back on the floor and have an opportunity to play again. It’s kind of like a sanctuary out there. You’re out there and you play and it’s basketball and you kind of get away from everything else.”

It didn’t take Duncan too long to get back into NBA playoff mode. At first he looked to pass when he got the ball, and his first shot didn’t draw iron.

But he got on track with two free throws, then he rebounded a Tony Parker miss and scored to get back in the groove. He went around Vladimir Radmanovic for a layup, and about four minutes later he made one of his signature bank shots.

“I didn’t want to come out and force anything,” Duncan said. “I knew my rhythm would be a little bit off to start the game. I just wanted to come out and get a feel for the game, maybe try to get an easy basket and work it from there.”

He had eight points and five rebounds in eight minutes in the first quarter. The SuperSonics had 10 points and six rebounds. The entire team, the entire quarter.

Duncan’s presence energized the Spurs and it must have somehow freaked out the SuperSonics.

That sure beats the other explanation: That the SuperSonics were a bunch of cowards who weren’t up to the challenge of a win-or-get-out game on the road.

They dropped out early, missing 14 of their first 17 shots.

The only one who looked as if he wanted play was Gary Payton, and he had a bad shooting night, making only eight of 26 shots to finish with 23 points. At least he wanted to shoot. Apparently, Brent Barry recused himself from this series and forgot to notify anyone.

That’s one reason Payton had only five assists. That was good enough to lead the SuperSonics this game, as were his nine rebounds.

Yes, Seattle was without Rashard Lewis, the team’s second-leading scorer, who separated his left shoulder in Game 3. But they didn’t seem to miss him in Game 4. And Lewis alone couldn’t have made up that 53-39 rebounding gap.

Mix no hustle with bad shooting and you get a deficit that ballooned to 33 points in the second quarter.

The outcome of this one was decided so early that the crowd of 23,369 at the Alamodome began chanting “Beat L.A.” with 7:21 left in the fourth quarter.

Not likely. But as long as Duncan’s around, at least they can entertain the thought.

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J.A. Adande can be reached at j.a.adande@latimes.com