Kori Ellis
05-19-2005, 12:10 AM
Buck Harvey: A theory: How Parker becomes more reliable
Web Posted: 05/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051905.1C.COL.BKNharvey.289d2bba5.html
SEATTLE I have several theories about Tony Parker, and one is about Eva Longoria.
She has nothing to do with these playoffs.
Another theory? Parker's second-round birthday works against him now. He's been around so long that these celebrations suggest he should be in his prime, especially against young-looking Luke Ridnour, a second-year player, who had just his second 20-point game of the season in this series.
Except that Parker is younger than Ridnour.
My final theory is about what hangs on Parker tonight, and why he alternates between dominating and dominated. This is about a shooting motion that would put him in the woods if this were golf, and why he loses confidence, and why he gets frustrated with the refs and with himself.
Just a theory: No point guard outside of Jason Kidd can be consistent in this league without a reliable jumper.
Knowing Parker and his hit-miss pattern, he'll find his stroke tonight in Seattle. He'll come out as if no one can stop him, and everyone will remember why they praised him just a week ago.
Nate McMillan went beyond praise. He held up Parker as role model. "(The Spurs) went through the same thing that my young players here are going through," McMillan said then. "Tony Parker learned how to become a stud in the playoffs."
Before references to Speedy Claxton surface, understand where McMillan is coming from. Specifically, the playoffs three years ago.
Then, as a rookie, Parker put on a show against Seattle. It signaled both the beginning of his career, as well as the downward spiral of Gary Payton's.
The Sonics weren't surprised. They liked Parker in the 2001 draft but not enough to take him with the 12th overall selection. Their choice then was more than respectable; Vladimir Radmanovic's absence hurts them now.
Other teams weren't as lucky, starting with the Wizards drafting first. After suspending Kwame Brown for the playoffs, think the Wiz would rather have the 28th pick of that draft instead of No. 1?
That same summer, after a few rookie-league games, Parker showed the quickness he uses today. The Sonics were so impressed that the Seattle owner called Peter Holt directly to see if the Spurs would be interested in a swap.
The Sonics' offer? Merely Payton.
One Spurs veteran and a smart veteran then said the deal was a no-brainer. Put Payton next to a couple of 7-footers, and wouldn't the Spurs be title favorites?
They might have been. But this Spurs veteran had never seen Parker play. He was going on what he knew: That Parker was 19, as well as from friggin' France.
The Spurs knew more, as well as salary-cap issues. In order to make the trade work, they would have had to ship nearly everyone but David Robinson and Tim Duncan to Seattle.
Then there was this from a Spurs official at the time wondering about mixing coach Gregg Popovich and Payton. Could a Serbian live with a gangsta?
So the Spurs passed, and what followed helped realign the order of global basketball. This Euro-kid proved talent can come from anywhere, and, a year later, a South American restated that.
But even during the title run of 2003, Parker would first amaze, then prove solvable. Teams adjusted, and the Lakers did last year. Parker finished seasons looking confused.
Why? He's young, of course. But most problems can be traced to a curious shooting motion that mandates Parker cock his head and lean. When he's off, often his decision-making and confidence are, too.
Tuesday was the same. Parker started with a floater for the game's first points, but even that moment was telling. Then Ridnour stepped back, daring Parker to shoot a three, and Parker passed it up.
He would pass up others, too, as if he knew. There are games where everyone including Parker knows. That's why Seattle backed up, and why Parker won't be consistent until his jumper is.
That's also why the theory of pairing Kidd and Parker together always had an inherent glitch. One flawed shooter is enough.
But there's another side to this, and it's possible tonight. What if Parker is on, as he was in the overtime in Denver, and he again looks like the Isiah Thomas of his generation?
This comes with a theory, too.
Then the Spurs win.
Web Posted: 05/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051905.1C.COL.BKNharvey.289d2bba5.html
SEATTLE I have several theories about Tony Parker, and one is about Eva Longoria.
She has nothing to do with these playoffs.
Another theory? Parker's second-round birthday works against him now. He's been around so long that these celebrations suggest he should be in his prime, especially against young-looking Luke Ridnour, a second-year player, who had just his second 20-point game of the season in this series.
Except that Parker is younger than Ridnour.
My final theory is about what hangs on Parker tonight, and why he alternates between dominating and dominated. This is about a shooting motion that would put him in the woods if this were golf, and why he loses confidence, and why he gets frustrated with the refs and with himself.
Just a theory: No point guard outside of Jason Kidd can be consistent in this league without a reliable jumper.
Knowing Parker and his hit-miss pattern, he'll find his stroke tonight in Seattle. He'll come out as if no one can stop him, and everyone will remember why they praised him just a week ago.
Nate McMillan went beyond praise. He held up Parker as role model. "(The Spurs) went through the same thing that my young players here are going through," McMillan said then. "Tony Parker learned how to become a stud in the playoffs."
Before references to Speedy Claxton surface, understand where McMillan is coming from. Specifically, the playoffs three years ago.
Then, as a rookie, Parker put on a show against Seattle. It signaled both the beginning of his career, as well as the downward spiral of Gary Payton's.
The Sonics weren't surprised. They liked Parker in the 2001 draft but not enough to take him with the 12th overall selection. Their choice then was more than respectable; Vladimir Radmanovic's absence hurts them now.
Other teams weren't as lucky, starting with the Wizards drafting first. After suspending Kwame Brown for the playoffs, think the Wiz would rather have the 28th pick of that draft instead of No. 1?
That same summer, after a few rookie-league games, Parker showed the quickness he uses today. The Sonics were so impressed that the Seattle owner called Peter Holt directly to see if the Spurs would be interested in a swap.
The Sonics' offer? Merely Payton.
One Spurs veteran and a smart veteran then said the deal was a no-brainer. Put Payton next to a couple of 7-footers, and wouldn't the Spurs be title favorites?
They might have been. But this Spurs veteran had never seen Parker play. He was going on what he knew: That Parker was 19, as well as from friggin' France.
The Spurs knew more, as well as salary-cap issues. In order to make the trade work, they would have had to ship nearly everyone but David Robinson and Tim Duncan to Seattle.
Then there was this from a Spurs official at the time wondering about mixing coach Gregg Popovich and Payton. Could a Serbian live with a gangsta?
So the Spurs passed, and what followed helped realign the order of global basketball. This Euro-kid proved talent can come from anywhere, and, a year later, a South American restated that.
But even during the title run of 2003, Parker would first amaze, then prove solvable. Teams adjusted, and the Lakers did last year. Parker finished seasons looking confused.
Why? He's young, of course. But most problems can be traced to a curious shooting motion that mandates Parker cock his head and lean. When he's off, often his decision-making and confidence are, too.
Tuesday was the same. Parker started with a floater for the game's first points, but even that moment was telling. Then Ridnour stepped back, daring Parker to shoot a three, and Parker passed it up.
He would pass up others, too, as if he knew. There are games where everyone including Parker knows. That's why Seattle backed up, and why Parker won't be consistent until his jumper is.
That's also why the theory of pairing Kidd and Parker together always had an inherent glitch. One flawed shooter is enough.
But there's another side to this, and it's possible tonight. What if Parker is on, as he was in the overtime in Denver, and he again looks like the Isiah Thomas of his generation?
This comes with a theory, too.
Then the Spurs win.