spursupporter
11-10-2005, 09:16 AM
Spurs' Parker trying to catch Wizards' Arenas
San Antonio Express-News
You can start a hot debate by declaring the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas the fastest player in the NBA, as I did a little more than a week ago.
The Spurs' Tony Parker, for one, might question your sanity, not to mention the Hornets' Speedy Claxton. And then there is the Bucks' T.J. Ford, whose spinal injury doesn't appear to have affected his quickness even a fraction of a step.
There is not much debate when it comes to the relative shooting merits of Arenas and Parker. Arenas has the clear edge, which explains why he, not Parker, has been to the All-Star Game.
Parker went back to basics this summer in an attempt to correct the flaws that have allowed defenders to play off him on the perimeter. He re-tooled his shot under the tutelage of the Spurs' new "shot doctor," Chip Engelland.
Arenas was able to work this summer on the subtleties of his perimeter game, the "in-between" game, which is defined by Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld as "the two-dribble pull-up." His catch-and-shoot ability from 3-point range already was solid, but he spent lots of time on that, too.
Arenas is the primary reason the Wizards go into their home game against the Clippers as one of only three teams that made it through the first week of the regular season without a loss. His scoring average of 26 points per game ranks ninth in the league. He and Wizards forward Antawn Jamison combine for a scoring average of 50 points per game, one of only three duos in the league at 50 or more. Parker (22.5) and Tim Duncan (20.5), average 43.
Grunfeld knows his team, which advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season before being swept by the Heat, has a chance to be one of East's top four teams if it can survive the first half in decent shape. After making some major roster changes designed to grow both bigger and tougher, the Wizards are still learning about one another. Their new roster also puts them in a group of three Eastern teams just a notch below the East's Big Three, the Pistons, Pacers and Heat. Washington's goal is to beat the Nets and the Cavs to home-court advantage in the first round of this season's playoffs. Arenas' continuing maturation is vital to that end.
To entice Arenas away from the Warriors in the summer of 2004 Grunfeld had to give him a contract worth $64 million over six seasons. At the time, it looked like a contract out of line with what Arenas had done in his short career. Now it looks like a smart deal for both parties.
"He's grown by leaps and bounds," Grunfeld said of Arenas. "He's an elite player in the league now and he's only 23 years old. He has a burning desire to compete and continue to improve. He's not afraid to put in the extra time that it takes to get better."
Arenas' contract also looked like a benchmark deal to Parker, who was taken with the penultimate pick of the first round of the 2001 draft, three spots ahead of Arenas, the second pick of the second round. Parker convinced the Spurs to give him $66 million over six years, largely because of what Grunfeld had given Arenas.
Grunfeld says Arenas and Antawn Jamison are the Wizards' unquestioned leaders; that Arenas has taken on an even greater leadership role already this season. Parker is doing the same thing with the Spurs, though his leadership status is defined less clearly than Arenas' because of the presence of Duncan and Manu Ginobili, both older, both All-Stars already.
Only one member of the draft class of 2001 has been an All-Star: second-rounder Arenas. Thus, there is no debate about one thing: When the Spurs and Wizards hook up Saturday at Washington's MCI Center, Parker will have added motivation to prove that he, like Arenas, belongs in the mid-season showcase of the league's best players.
And if Parker can use his quickness to consistently get past Arenas and into the paint, well, he also can prove that anyone who believes Arenas is faster is a fool. :king :king :king
San Antonio Express-News
You can start a hot debate by declaring the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas the fastest player in the NBA, as I did a little more than a week ago.
The Spurs' Tony Parker, for one, might question your sanity, not to mention the Hornets' Speedy Claxton. And then there is the Bucks' T.J. Ford, whose spinal injury doesn't appear to have affected his quickness even a fraction of a step.
There is not much debate when it comes to the relative shooting merits of Arenas and Parker. Arenas has the clear edge, which explains why he, not Parker, has been to the All-Star Game.
Parker went back to basics this summer in an attempt to correct the flaws that have allowed defenders to play off him on the perimeter. He re-tooled his shot under the tutelage of the Spurs' new "shot doctor," Chip Engelland.
Arenas was able to work this summer on the subtleties of his perimeter game, the "in-between" game, which is defined by Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld as "the two-dribble pull-up." His catch-and-shoot ability from 3-point range already was solid, but he spent lots of time on that, too.
Arenas is the primary reason the Wizards go into their home game against the Clippers as one of only three teams that made it through the first week of the regular season without a loss. His scoring average of 26 points per game ranks ninth in the league. He and Wizards forward Antawn Jamison combine for a scoring average of 50 points per game, one of only three duos in the league at 50 or more. Parker (22.5) and Tim Duncan (20.5), average 43.
Grunfeld knows his team, which advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season before being swept by the Heat, has a chance to be one of East's top four teams if it can survive the first half in decent shape. After making some major roster changes designed to grow both bigger and tougher, the Wizards are still learning about one another. Their new roster also puts them in a group of three Eastern teams just a notch below the East's Big Three, the Pistons, Pacers and Heat. Washington's goal is to beat the Nets and the Cavs to home-court advantage in the first round of this season's playoffs. Arenas' continuing maturation is vital to that end.
To entice Arenas away from the Warriors in the summer of 2004 Grunfeld had to give him a contract worth $64 million over six seasons. At the time, it looked like a contract out of line with what Arenas had done in his short career. Now it looks like a smart deal for both parties.
"He's grown by leaps and bounds," Grunfeld said of Arenas. "He's an elite player in the league now and he's only 23 years old. He has a burning desire to compete and continue to improve. He's not afraid to put in the extra time that it takes to get better."
Arenas' contract also looked like a benchmark deal to Parker, who was taken with the penultimate pick of the first round of the 2001 draft, three spots ahead of Arenas, the second pick of the second round. Parker convinced the Spurs to give him $66 million over six years, largely because of what Grunfeld had given Arenas.
Grunfeld says Arenas and Antawn Jamison are the Wizards' unquestioned leaders; that Arenas has taken on an even greater leadership role already this season. Parker is doing the same thing with the Spurs, though his leadership status is defined less clearly than Arenas' because of the presence of Duncan and Manu Ginobili, both older, both All-Stars already.
Only one member of the draft class of 2001 has been an All-Star: second-rounder Arenas. Thus, there is no debate about one thing: When the Spurs and Wizards hook up Saturday at Washington's MCI Center, Parker will have added motivation to prove that he, like Arenas, belongs in the mid-season showcase of the league's best players.
And if Parker can use his quickness to consistently get past Arenas and into the paint, well, he also can prove that anyone who believes Arenas is faster is a fool. :king :king :king