DieMrBond
03-13-2007, 06:35 PM
Who would you rather have?
Each week, SI.com's Jack McCallum analyzes two players of similar talents and/or on-court tendencies. (Contracts and salary-cap considerations are non-factors.)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jack_mccallum/03/13/choosing.sides.parker.ginobili/index.html
It's difficult enough for opponents of the San Antonio Spurs that point guard Tony Parker is one of the toughest players in the league to check in the closing seconds of a quarter. But the Spurs can also install Manu Ginobili to handle the ball in those one-on-one isolated situations when most teams clear out and let one player do the work.
Pick your poison: If you were Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, would you rather have the right-handed flash Parker or the southpaw bull Ginobili doing the handling? The obvious answer is "either one," but that's not allowed.
Parker is annually among the NBA leaders in points scored in the paint, and it's not because he's posting up and taking turnaround jumpers. He is a master at getting into the paint and releasing his high teardrop shot with uncanny accuracy. He doesn't get many blocked, either. And though the defensive book on Eva Longoria's mate continues to be slough off him and make him shoot from the outside, he can be deadly accurate when he's on.
There's a little more drama when Ginobili gets it outside and prepares to break down the defense. He gathers himself like a tailback ready to hit the hole, and, chances are, he's not going to stop unless there is some kind of contact. He spins, he crosses over or he goes behind his back. He gets knocked down or he knocks somebody down. And, generally, Ginobili somehow makes it to the basket to release some kind of bizarre half-hook or layup.
"You can talk about Parker's quickness all you want, but he's going to beat you off the dribble," says one NBA head coach. "And you can talk about planting yourself in front of Ginobili and taking the contact all you want, but he's going to get off his shot. And the real problem is that, if you do manage to stop them, either one will give it off to [Tim] Duncan for a sure basket if time allows."
Well put. But I'm going to give the edge to GINOBILI, primarily because he is far more likely to get to the line in those break-down-the-defense situations. Despite playing fewer minutes, Ginobili has shot many more free throws than Parker (one every 5.5 minutes compared to Parker's 8.5), and, further, is much more likely to make them, being an 86 percent shooter from the line compared to Parker's 78 percent.
"Of course, the real question is whether or not Manu was actually fouled or whether he stage-acted his way to the line," says the coach, laughing.
That might be. But more often than not, Manu gets the call and that's why, more often than not, he gets the ball.
Each week, SI.com's Jack McCallum analyzes two players of similar talents and/or on-court tendencies. (Contracts and salary-cap considerations are non-factors.)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jack_mccallum/03/13/choosing.sides.parker.ginobili/index.html
It's difficult enough for opponents of the San Antonio Spurs that point guard Tony Parker is one of the toughest players in the league to check in the closing seconds of a quarter. But the Spurs can also install Manu Ginobili to handle the ball in those one-on-one isolated situations when most teams clear out and let one player do the work.
Pick your poison: If you were Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, would you rather have the right-handed flash Parker or the southpaw bull Ginobili doing the handling? The obvious answer is "either one," but that's not allowed.
Parker is annually among the NBA leaders in points scored in the paint, and it's not because he's posting up and taking turnaround jumpers. He is a master at getting into the paint and releasing his high teardrop shot with uncanny accuracy. He doesn't get many blocked, either. And though the defensive book on Eva Longoria's mate continues to be slough off him and make him shoot from the outside, he can be deadly accurate when he's on.
There's a little more drama when Ginobili gets it outside and prepares to break down the defense. He gathers himself like a tailback ready to hit the hole, and, chances are, he's not going to stop unless there is some kind of contact. He spins, he crosses over or he goes behind his back. He gets knocked down or he knocks somebody down. And, generally, Ginobili somehow makes it to the basket to release some kind of bizarre half-hook or layup.
"You can talk about Parker's quickness all you want, but he's going to beat you off the dribble," says one NBA head coach. "And you can talk about planting yourself in front of Ginobili and taking the contact all you want, but he's going to get off his shot. And the real problem is that, if you do manage to stop them, either one will give it off to [Tim] Duncan for a sure basket if time allows."
Well put. But I'm going to give the edge to GINOBILI, primarily because he is far more likely to get to the line in those break-down-the-defense situations. Despite playing fewer minutes, Ginobili has shot many more free throws than Parker (one every 5.5 minutes compared to Parker's 8.5), and, further, is much more likely to make them, being an 86 percent shooter from the line compared to Parker's 78 percent.
"Of course, the real question is whether or not Manu was actually fouled or whether he stage-acted his way to the line," says the coach, laughing.
That might be. But more often than not, Manu gets the call and that's why, more often than not, he gets the ball.