SPARKY
02-05-2005, 02:41 PM
Came across the latest issue of The Sporting News and thought this article was interesting, even considering who authored it.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3365254
Original six?
Sean Deveney
The Sporting News
TONY PARKER, PG, SPURS
Then
The thing that impresses three-time NBA champion point guard Dennis Johnson about Tony Parker is that he has the smarts and temperament to be a champion. Oh, and he has the kind of skill that reminds Johnson of Gus Williams, Johnson's teammate with the Sonics: "First off, he is a smart point guard -- running (Gregg) Popovich's offense takes a hell of a lot. And Pop keys on him more than anyone because he is the guy who has to set it all up. But he is such a quick point guard, too, it's almost impossible for players to stay in front of him. Gus Williams played a lot like that, with that kind of quickness, though Gus was a better player in the open court than Tony is. But Tony knows how to use his quickness in the halfcourt, and he has really worked on his jumper."
Now
Parker, 22, is averaging 15.1 points and career bests in assists (6.1), rebounds (3.6) and shooting (49.0 percent), though he still takes the brunt of Popovich's criticism. Along with backcourt mate Manu Ginobili, Parker has helped get the Spurs on the fast break more and boost the team's scoring average to 96.9 points.
Next
The question with Parker remains: Can he do it in the playoffs? He was on a roll through the first six games of the playoffs last year, then flamed out as the Spurs lost four straight to the Lakers. Parker's talent is unquestionable, but he is running a team expected to win a title, which brings a lot of pressure.
And a little something for the forum's fine feathered friend...
LEBRON JAMES, SF, CAVALIERS
Then
Think it's impossible for LeBron James to lead this relatively unknown group of Cavaliers to a championship this season? Don't tell that to Hall of Fame guard Rick Barry, who led the unheralded Warriors to a stunning sweep of the Bullets in 1975. Barry averaged 28.2 points, 6.1 assists and 5.5 rebounds in that postseason, one of the great playoff performances in history. "He's phenomenal," Barry says. "I am just astonished that a young man of his age can see the game, understand the game the way he does. When I was young, Jerry West told me that the best years of my career would be between 28 and 32 because you still have physical ability, but you become a lot smarter. And he was right -- I was 31 when we won the championship. I look at LeBron at age 20, and I can't even imagine where he'll be at 28. I watched him get a triple double against the Warriors, and it was just effortless. That's the difference with him. The only guy you can compare him to is Michael Jordan because that is the talent level we're talking about. But Michael, at this point in his career, was not even close to where LeBron is, physically or mentally. Not even close. The only difference is Michael was a better defender. But Michael forced the game early on in his career. He did not understand how to make it easy on himself and his team until later. LeBron already knows how to let the game come to him."
Now
James has done everything this season for the Cavaliers, averaging 25.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He has addressed questions about his defense and his perimeter shooting -- he is shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 37.3 percent on 3-pointers -- and almost single-handedly has lifted the Cavs into first place in the Central Division.
Next
Cleveland has gotten good performances from Jeff McInnis, Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but this team will go only as far as James can take it. He spent the summer playing in the Olympics, and he ranks fourth in the league in minutes per game, so late-season fatigue is a concern (much as it was for James and the Cavs last year). Cleveland will have a difficult time holding off the defending champion Pistons, as well as the recuperating Pacers, in the Central, but the team has no major road trips left and has a friendly second half schedule. A playoff spot is a near guarantee. If James is to prove he already is ahead of Jordan, as Barry says, he will have to do so in the postseason.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3365254
Original six?
Sean Deveney
The Sporting News
TONY PARKER, PG, SPURS
Then
The thing that impresses three-time NBA champion point guard Dennis Johnson about Tony Parker is that he has the smarts and temperament to be a champion. Oh, and he has the kind of skill that reminds Johnson of Gus Williams, Johnson's teammate with the Sonics: "First off, he is a smart point guard -- running (Gregg) Popovich's offense takes a hell of a lot. And Pop keys on him more than anyone because he is the guy who has to set it all up. But he is such a quick point guard, too, it's almost impossible for players to stay in front of him. Gus Williams played a lot like that, with that kind of quickness, though Gus was a better player in the open court than Tony is. But Tony knows how to use his quickness in the halfcourt, and he has really worked on his jumper."
Now
Parker, 22, is averaging 15.1 points and career bests in assists (6.1), rebounds (3.6) and shooting (49.0 percent), though he still takes the brunt of Popovich's criticism. Along with backcourt mate Manu Ginobili, Parker has helped get the Spurs on the fast break more and boost the team's scoring average to 96.9 points.
Next
The question with Parker remains: Can he do it in the playoffs? He was on a roll through the first six games of the playoffs last year, then flamed out as the Spurs lost four straight to the Lakers. Parker's talent is unquestionable, but he is running a team expected to win a title, which brings a lot of pressure.
And a little something for the forum's fine feathered friend...
LEBRON JAMES, SF, CAVALIERS
Then
Think it's impossible for LeBron James to lead this relatively unknown group of Cavaliers to a championship this season? Don't tell that to Hall of Fame guard Rick Barry, who led the unheralded Warriors to a stunning sweep of the Bullets in 1975. Barry averaged 28.2 points, 6.1 assists and 5.5 rebounds in that postseason, one of the great playoff performances in history. "He's phenomenal," Barry says. "I am just astonished that a young man of his age can see the game, understand the game the way he does. When I was young, Jerry West told me that the best years of my career would be between 28 and 32 because you still have physical ability, but you become a lot smarter. And he was right -- I was 31 when we won the championship. I look at LeBron at age 20, and I can't even imagine where he'll be at 28. I watched him get a triple double against the Warriors, and it was just effortless. That's the difference with him. The only guy you can compare him to is Michael Jordan because that is the talent level we're talking about. But Michael, at this point in his career, was not even close to where LeBron is, physically or mentally. Not even close. The only difference is Michael was a better defender. But Michael forced the game early on in his career. He did not understand how to make it easy on himself and his team until later. LeBron already knows how to let the game come to him."
Now
James has done everything this season for the Cavaliers, averaging 25.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He has addressed questions about his defense and his perimeter shooting -- he is shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 37.3 percent on 3-pointers -- and almost single-handedly has lifted the Cavs into first place in the Central Division.
Next
Cleveland has gotten good performances from Jeff McInnis, Drew Gooden and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but this team will go only as far as James can take it. He spent the summer playing in the Olympics, and he ranks fourth in the league in minutes per game, so late-season fatigue is a concern (much as it was for James and the Cavs last year). Cleveland will have a difficult time holding off the defending champion Pistons, as well as the recuperating Pacers, in the Central, but the team has no major road trips left and has a friendly second half schedule. A playoff spot is a near guarantee. If James is to prove he already is ahead of Jordan, as Barry says, he will have to do so in the postseason.