Kori Ellis
02-10-2005, 02:46 AM
Arenas, Parker: point-counterpoint
JOHN MARKON
POINT OF VIEW Feb 10, 2005
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780745476
WASHINGTON -- Aside from the fact that one of them grew up in Paris and the other in Oakland, Calif., a case can be made that Gilbert Arenas and Tony Parker started life on even terms.
They were born in the same year (1982) and achieved approximately the same height. Arenas is 6-3 and Parker, the Franco-American, is 6-2. They entered the NBA in the same season and play the same position.
Parker was taken with the 28th pick in the 2001 draft, Arenas heard his name called on the 31st pick.
A scout would note that Arenas is, and always has been, bigger and stronger. Parker is a more natural point guard and seldom plays elsewhere. Even when he's theoretically directing the Washington Wizards' offense, you often can catch Arenas thinking and playing like a shooting guard.
So, if you could only pick one for your mythical NBA roster, which one would you pick?
Based on last night's results at the MCI Center, it's still a tough call. Arenas outscored Parker, 24-22, as the Wizards defeated Parker's San Antonio Spurs, 95-87.
The Spurs, of course, played without injured center Tim Duncan. With Duncan last month, they took a 21-2 lead and laid a 101-73 lump on Washington that Wizards coach Eddie Jordan has taken to calling "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
"In terms of those two players," Jordan said, "watch for perceptions. This is the first year Gilbert's played on a winning team. Tony's already won a championship and has never played on anything but a contending team.
"Some people will perceive them differently. They'll see Tony as a 'winner.' Until this year, they couldn't see Gilbert that way."
Arenas was drafted by a bad team (Warriors) and joined another (last year's Wizards) as a free agent. He's been asked for big minutes and big points since he first displayed the ability to produce them.
He's currently rolling along at 24 points per game, but he's aware his team might be better off if he didn't need to do quite so much.
"Teams where the guards do everything don't go real far in the NBA," Arenas said last week. "As our team develops, our bigs [big men] will grow into larger roles, and the guards will adjust."
Parker's choice was to adjust immediately or seek employment elsewhere. Anyone playing the point for the Spurs starts every play by looking first toward Duncan. Guards who can't get the ball to Duncan when and where he wants it aren't helping the Spurs win.
"Tony still finds ways to let you know how good he is," says Sean Elliott, the former NBA All-Star who's a member of San Antonio's broadcast team. "He's the best in the league at driving into the lane, drawing a defender and making a play. If he needed to score 25 a game, he could do it."
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich joked last night that Parker might feel so liberated by Duncan's absence that, "I'll probably close my eyes on offense while Tony does all those things we know he's not supposed to do because we need him to score."
With the Spurs leading early, Parker sat back and ran the offense as if Duncan were on the court. When the home team rallied, Parker finally deigned to score with 2 minutes left in the first half. He came close to a triple-double with nine assists and eight rebounds and scored 13 fourth-quarter points as he kept San Antonio in the game.
Arenas, of course, fills that role almost every night. Against the Spurs, he was on the court for 44 minutes and, thanks to Parker's defense, needed to hoist 28 shots to put his 24 points in the books.
Arenas was the first to make the NBA All-Star Game. Parker is by far the better defensive player. Arenas has a better 3-point shot, or at least uses it more frequently.
Arenas plays with more responsibilities. Parker plays under more pressure.
"Tony was a starter before I was," Arenas said. "I remember asking him when we were rookies, 'What do I need to do to be where you are? What do I need to learn?'"
Parker didn't really know how to answer.
"We came in together, so it's fair to compare us," Arenas said. "My all-star game doesn't mean a lot, because he's a great player who probably belongs in the game, too. "He's got a title. When I get mine, we'll be even again."
JOHN MARKON
POINT OF VIEW Feb 10, 2005
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780745476
WASHINGTON -- Aside from the fact that one of them grew up in Paris and the other in Oakland, Calif., a case can be made that Gilbert Arenas and Tony Parker started life on even terms.
They were born in the same year (1982) and achieved approximately the same height. Arenas is 6-3 and Parker, the Franco-American, is 6-2. They entered the NBA in the same season and play the same position.
Parker was taken with the 28th pick in the 2001 draft, Arenas heard his name called on the 31st pick.
A scout would note that Arenas is, and always has been, bigger and stronger. Parker is a more natural point guard and seldom plays elsewhere. Even when he's theoretically directing the Washington Wizards' offense, you often can catch Arenas thinking and playing like a shooting guard.
So, if you could only pick one for your mythical NBA roster, which one would you pick?
Based on last night's results at the MCI Center, it's still a tough call. Arenas outscored Parker, 24-22, as the Wizards defeated Parker's San Antonio Spurs, 95-87.
The Spurs, of course, played without injured center Tim Duncan. With Duncan last month, they took a 21-2 lead and laid a 101-73 lump on Washington that Wizards coach Eddie Jordan has taken to calling "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
"In terms of those two players," Jordan said, "watch for perceptions. This is the first year Gilbert's played on a winning team. Tony's already won a championship and has never played on anything but a contending team.
"Some people will perceive them differently. They'll see Tony as a 'winner.' Until this year, they couldn't see Gilbert that way."
Arenas was drafted by a bad team (Warriors) and joined another (last year's Wizards) as a free agent. He's been asked for big minutes and big points since he first displayed the ability to produce them.
He's currently rolling along at 24 points per game, but he's aware his team might be better off if he didn't need to do quite so much.
"Teams where the guards do everything don't go real far in the NBA," Arenas said last week. "As our team develops, our bigs [big men] will grow into larger roles, and the guards will adjust."
Parker's choice was to adjust immediately or seek employment elsewhere. Anyone playing the point for the Spurs starts every play by looking first toward Duncan. Guards who can't get the ball to Duncan when and where he wants it aren't helping the Spurs win.
"Tony still finds ways to let you know how good he is," says Sean Elliott, the former NBA All-Star who's a member of San Antonio's broadcast team. "He's the best in the league at driving into the lane, drawing a defender and making a play. If he needed to score 25 a game, he could do it."
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich joked last night that Parker might feel so liberated by Duncan's absence that, "I'll probably close my eyes on offense while Tony does all those things we know he's not supposed to do because we need him to score."
With the Spurs leading early, Parker sat back and ran the offense as if Duncan were on the court. When the home team rallied, Parker finally deigned to score with 2 minutes left in the first half. He came close to a triple-double with nine assists and eight rebounds and scored 13 fourth-quarter points as he kept San Antonio in the game.
Arenas, of course, fills that role almost every night. Against the Spurs, he was on the court for 44 minutes and, thanks to Parker's defense, needed to hoist 28 shots to put his 24 points in the books.
Arenas was the first to make the NBA All-Star Game. Parker is by far the better defensive player. Arenas has a better 3-point shot, or at least uses it more frequently.
Arenas plays with more responsibilities. Parker plays under more pressure.
"Tony was a starter before I was," Arenas said. "I remember asking him when we were rookies, 'What do I need to do to be where you are? What do I need to learn?'"
Parker didn't really know how to answer.
"We came in together, so it's fair to compare us," Arenas said. "My all-star game doesn't mean a lot, because he's a great player who probably belongs in the game, too. "He's got a title. When I get mine, we'll be even again."