Spurs Brazil
10-21-2007, 10:36 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA102107.05C.BKNspurs.pistons.gamer.391d162.html
Parker sparks Spurs to win
Web Posted: 10/21/2007 12:07 AM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
Tony Parker returned to active duty Saturday night. Gregg Popovich did not.
With their floor general in the lineup for the first time and their bench general once again backstage, the short-handed Spurs crushed short-handed Detroit 104-80 on Saturday night at the AT&T Center, turning in perhaps their most complete performance of the preseason.
They did it, again, with an incomplete bench.
For the second game in a row, Popovich turned coaching duties over to assistant Mike Budenholzer, choosing instead to monitor the game from his office.
Both teams rested many of their veterans, to the point where the "did not play" list resembled a veritable all-star team: No Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley or Fabricio Oberto for the Spurs; no Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace or Lindsey Hunter for the Pistons.
"We were just trying to mix and match and keep some guys healthy," Budenholzer said.
Of course, the Spurs still had Tim Duncan and perhaps even more notably, Parker. Parker had missed the Spurs' first three preseason outings, resting on Popovich's orders.
The last time he saw the floor in a Spurs uniform, Parker was en route to MVP honors in last season's NBA Finals. He also was unmarried.
In his preseason debut Saturday, the newly wed Parker flashed much the same form that led to his magnificent dash through those playoffs.
See Parker direct a fast break. See Parker knock down a jumper. See Parker completely eviscerate the unfortunate soul sent to guard him on his merry way through the lane.
In a little less than 17 minutes, Parker scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting and passed out four assists.
He even dressed quickly. By the time media arrived in the locker room after the game, Parker was already out the door.
"I think that rest did him good," said center Francisco Elson, who continued what has been a breakout preseason for him with 14 points. "You miss that point guard with experience. With Tony out there, you saw we ran out quickly."
Indeed, the Spurs (3-1) took a nine-point cushion into the half, a margin that ballooned to 21 early in the third quarter before both teams began emptying what was left of their benches.
Duncan ended the night with 13 points, hitting 6 of 9 field goals, while Brent Barry was 7 for 10 from the floor on his way to a team-leading 16 points.
Arron Afflalo, a first-round pick out of UCLA, paced the Pistons (3-4) with 20 points.
Yet the player who generated the most buzz — and the loudest ovation during pregame introductions — was Parker.
After an entire preseason on the bench, he was finally able to shake off some rust and, however briefly, return to form.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]
Parker sparks Spurs to win
Web Posted: 10/21/2007 12:07 AM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
Tony Parker returned to active duty Saturday night. Gregg Popovich did not.
With their floor general in the lineup for the first time and their bench general once again backstage, the short-handed Spurs crushed short-handed Detroit 104-80 on Saturday night at the AT&T Center, turning in perhaps their most complete performance of the preseason.
They did it, again, with an incomplete bench.
For the second game in a row, Popovich turned coaching duties over to assistant Mike Budenholzer, choosing instead to monitor the game from his office.
Both teams rested many of their veterans, to the point where the "did not play" list resembled a veritable all-star team: No Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley or Fabricio Oberto for the Spurs; no Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace or Lindsey Hunter for the Pistons.
"We were just trying to mix and match and keep some guys healthy," Budenholzer said.
Of course, the Spurs still had Tim Duncan and perhaps even more notably, Parker. Parker had missed the Spurs' first three preseason outings, resting on Popovich's orders.
The last time he saw the floor in a Spurs uniform, Parker was en route to MVP honors in last season's NBA Finals. He also was unmarried.
In his preseason debut Saturday, the newly wed Parker flashed much the same form that led to his magnificent dash through those playoffs.
See Parker direct a fast break. See Parker knock down a jumper. See Parker completely eviscerate the unfortunate soul sent to guard him on his merry way through the lane.
In a little less than 17 minutes, Parker scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting and passed out four assists.
He even dressed quickly. By the time media arrived in the locker room after the game, Parker was already out the door.
"I think that rest did him good," said center Francisco Elson, who continued what has been a breakout preseason for him with 14 points. "You miss that point guard with experience. With Tony out there, you saw we ran out quickly."
Indeed, the Spurs (3-1) took a nine-point cushion into the half, a margin that ballooned to 21 early in the third quarter before both teams began emptying what was left of their benches.
Duncan ended the night with 13 points, hitting 6 of 9 field goals, while Brent Barry was 7 for 10 from the floor on his way to a team-leading 16 points.
Arron Afflalo, a first-round pick out of UCLA, paced the Pistons (3-4) with 20 points.
Yet the player who generated the most buzz — and the loudest ovation during pregame introductions — was Parker.
After an entire preseason on the bench, he was finally able to shake off some rust and, however briefly, return to form.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]