Kori Ellis
04-23-2005, 01:43 AM
The emergence of Parker: He's young, talented and primed for playoffs
Web Posted: 04/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042305.1C.BKNspurs.parker.2044493e0.html
He has a new $66 million contract, a relationship with an A-list actress, and he has scored well on the court, too.
His points, assists and rebounds are up; his coach's conniptions fewer and farther between. In less than a month, he'll turn all of 23.
Life is good for Tony Parker. He won't deny that. But he's also not satisfied.
With the playoffs starting Sunday, he's just never felt more ... free.
"In past years, I felt like I had to step up my game and really show I can play at this level," Parker said. "Now I have nothing to prove. I just want to continue to do the same things I've done all season."
Parker has done more of everything this season, averaging a career-best 16.6 points, 6.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds. Among point guards, only Phoenix's Steve Nash and Dallas' Jason Terry have shot better than his 48.2 percent. His defense also is more consistent.
Two weeks ago, Parker helped the Spurs all but clinch the Southwest Division title with 62 points, 21 assists and 99 minutes in back-to-back double-overtime victories against the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State. He matched Warriors point guard Baron Davis shot for shot, then won the game with a difficult left-handed layup in the closing seconds. His 35 points were a career best.
"Those couple days were unbelievable," said Manu Ginobili, who has teamed with Parker to form the Spurs' highest-scoring backcourt in 15 years. "It's not like it was two games that didn't matter. Dallas was getting closer and we needed those two wins.
"He already knew we really trust him, but that even earned a little more respect from the team."
Parker has had to work to earn that confidence. Until last season, his age sometimes made him unsure of his role on the court and in the locker room.
Coach Gregg Popovich gradually began ceding more control to his point guard last season. A year later, he's calling even fewer plays from the sidelines.
"If it was 70-30 him two years ago," Parker said. "Now it's 70-30 me."
Said Popovich: "This season was a time to let him go and make those decisions on his own and start to feel like he's in charge of what's going on there. He's always worked better that way."
Parker's maturity has extended off the court, as well. Team officials privately had concerns his high-profile relationship with "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria would become a distraction. Parker sensed the tension and told Popovich not to worry.
"People have to understand basketball is the main thing to me," Parker said. "It's No.1. It's what I care the most about. Pop knows that. My teammates know that.
"The way I play every day is the way I'm going to show people that I'm not going to be distracted."
Longoria, Spurs officials said, also has handled the situation "great." After she sat in the stands for Parker's recent performance against the Warriors, some of the Spurs joked they planned to campaign to put her on the team's chartered jet to ensure she attend future games.
Parker insists he's focused for the playoffs, having learned from past mistakes. He also says he has nothing to prove, though his drop-off in production the last two years has raised questions.
After watching the final two games of the 2003 NBA Finals from the bench as Speedy Claxton helped close out the Spurs' second championship, Parker averaged 22.3 points (on 51.5 percent shooting) and 8.0 assists through last season's first six playoff games. The Los Angeles Lakers then slowed him dramatically, running multiple defenders at him and clogging the lane.
The result: In the four consecutive games the Spurs lost, he averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 assists while shooting only 31 percent.
While Parker wasn't alone in his struggles — Hedo Turkoglu, Robert Horry and Bruce Bowen all shot poorly while Tim Duncan also labored at times — team officials did debate his inconsistency last summer when deciding what type of contract extension to offer. Popovich concluded his young point guard was probably just in a rush to do too much.
This season, Popovich has worked with Parker on managing the pace of a game. Should he penetrate, or are the lanes filled? When was the last time Duncan touched the ball? Are there other matchups to be exploited?
"All those things he's starting to calculate," Popovich said. "Before, he was just ablaze with speed."
Parker admits he's not a finished product. His free-throw shooting needs considerable work. He also forced a couple of shots on critical possessions during last week's loss in Utah.
His overall decision-making, however, has steadily improved. During a January victory over the Clippers, he pump-faked a defender out of his way then drove for the winning layup. In previous seasons, he probably would have settled for a 3-pointer.
It was the type of end-of-game situation Parker said he relishes. The pressure only increases Sunday with the talented Denver Nuggets awaiting the Spurs. If Parker gets into the lane one too many times, Kenyon Martin, Nenê or Eduardo Najera probably won't be afraid to club him.
"That's what I play for," Parker said. "I love the challenge."
Injury update: Devin Brown participated in all of Friday's practice, though Popovich didn't want to speculate on when he might be available to play. "He could be ready today or not until the fall," Popovich said. "You just don't know with back injuries."
Rasho Nesterovic also went through most of the workout, but is still having some trouble with his left ankle.
The Spurs will have the 28th pick in the June draft after winning a tie-breaking drawing with Miami on Friday.
Web Posted: 04/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA042305.1C.BKNspurs.parker.2044493e0.html
He has a new $66 million contract, a relationship with an A-list actress, and he has scored well on the court, too.
His points, assists and rebounds are up; his coach's conniptions fewer and farther between. In less than a month, he'll turn all of 23.
Life is good for Tony Parker. He won't deny that. But he's also not satisfied.
With the playoffs starting Sunday, he's just never felt more ... free.
"In past years, I felt like I had to step up my game and really show I can play at this level," Parker said. "Now I have nothing to prove. I just want to continue to do the same things I've done all season."
Parker has done more of everything this season, averaging a career-best 16.6 points, 6.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds. Among point guards, only Phoenix's Steve Nash and Dallas' Jason Terry have shot better than his 48.2 percent. His defense also is more consistent.
Two weeks ago, Parker helped the Spurs all but clinch the Southwest Division title with 62 points, 21 assists and 99 minutes in back-to-back double-overtime victories against the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State. He matched Warriors point guard Baron Davis shot for shot, then won the game with a difficult left-handed layup in the closing seconds. His 35 points were a career best.
"Those couple days were unbelievable," said Manu Ginobili, who has teamed with Parker to form the Spurs' highest-scoring backcourt in 15 years. "It's not like it was two games that didn't matter. Dallas was getting closer and we needed those two wins.
"He already knew we really trust him, but that even earned a little more respect from the team."
Parker has had to work to earn that confidence. Until last season, his age sometimes made him unsure of his role on the court and in the locker room.
Coach Gregg Popovich gradually began ceding more control to his point guard last season. A year later, he's calling even fewer plays from the sidelines.
"If it was 70-30 him two years ago," Parker said. "Now it's 70-30 me."
Said Popovich: "This season was a time to let him go and make those decisions on his own and start to feel like he's in charge of what's going on there. He's always worked better that way."
Parker's maturity has extended off the court, as well. Team officials privately had concerns his high-profile relationship with "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria would become a distraction. Parker sensed the tension and told Popovich not to worry.
"People have to understand basketball is the main thing to me," Parker said. "It's No.1. It's what I care the most about. Pop knows that. My teammates know that.
"The way I play every day is the way I'm going to show people that I'm not going to be distracted."
Longoria, Spurs officials said, also has handled the situation "great." After she sat in the stands for Parker's recent performance against the Warriors, some of the Spurs joked they planned to campaign to put her on the team's chartered jet to ensure she attend future games.
Parker insists he's focused for the playoffs, having learned from past mistakes. He also says he has nothing to prove, though his drop-off in production the last two years has raised questions.
After watching the final two games of the 2003 NBA Finals from the bench as Speedy Claxton helped close out the Spurs' second championship, Parker averaged 22.3 points (on 51.5 percent shooting) and 8.0 assists through last season's first six playoff games. The Los Angeles Lakers then slowed him dramatically, running multiple defenders at him and clogging the lane.
The result: In the four consecutive games the Spurs lost, he averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 assists while shooting only 31 percent.
While Parker wasn't alone in his struggles — Hedo Turkoglu, Robert Horry and Bruce Bowen all shot poorly while Tim Duncan also labored at times — team officials did debate his inconsistency last summer when deciding what type of contract extension to offer. Popovich concluded his young point guard was probably just in a rush to do too much.
This season, Popovich has worked with Parker on managing the pace of a game. Should he penetrate, or are the lanes filled? When was the last time Duncan touched the ball? Are there other matchups to be exploited?
"All those things he's starting to calculate," Popovich said. "Before, he was just ablaze with speed."
Parker admits he's not a finished product. His free-throw shooting needs considerable work. He also forced a couple of shots on critical possessions during last week's loss in Utah.
His overall decision-making, however, has steadily improved. During a January victory over the Clippers, he pump-faked a defender out of his way then drove for the winning layup. In previous seasons, he probably would have settled for a 3-pointer.
It was the type of end-of-game situation Parker said he relishes. The pressure only increases Sunday with the talented Denver Nuggets awaiting the Spurs. If Parker gets into the lane one too many times, Kenyon Martin, Nenê or Eduardo Najera probably won't be afraid to club him.
"That's what I play for," Parker said. "I love the challenge."
Injury update: Devin Brown participated in all of Friday's practice, though Popovich didn't want to speculate on when he might be available to play. "He could be ready today or not until the fall," Popovich said. "You just don't know with back injuries."
Rasho Nesterovic also went through most of the workout, but is still having some trouble with his left ankle.
The Spurs will have the 28th pick in the June draft after winning a tie-breaking drawing with Miami on Friday.