some_user86
11-11-2007, 05:07 AM
Spurs' Parker carrying heavy load
Web Posted: 11/10/2007 11:01 PM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News
As the Spurs warmed up for a preseason game against the Houston Rockets three weeks ago, one of the many NBA scouts sitting courtside, on hand to steal play calls and defensive sets, watched Tim Duncan make bank shot after bank shot.
The scout shook his head.
"It's amazing," he said. "Tim is the best big man in basketball, but he totally allows the Spurs to run their offense through Tony (Parker) because he sees the evolution of their team and understands that TP's development allows him more freedom. With teams now stopping the ball when Parker has it, Tim is even more effective and efficient in the post."
It was no coincidence, then, that Friday night when Parker took 20 shots and scored 27 points in the Spurs' 97-85 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, Duncan had his best game of the season. Facing Tyson Chandler, one of the NBA's better interior defenders, Duncan made 11 of 14 shots and scored 24 points, his season high.
Parker has played 122 minutes and attempted 54 shots the past three games as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich uses game action to renew Parker's conditioning after holding him out of much of the preseason. Rookie Darius Washington had an efficient 13 minutes, 46 seconds in Friday's game, some of it in tandem with Parker. Nevertheless, Parker figures to get more big chunks of playing time in today's game at the AT&T Center against the Milwaukee Bucks and Tuesday's game against the Lakers.
Jacque Vaughn, who finished the 2006-07 season as Parker's primary backup, may return Thursday or Friday from a training camp calf pull that prevented him from playing in any preseason games or the first six regular-season games. Until he suits up, Parker's workload likely will be heavy.
"That's the plan," Popovich said, "just to get him his rhythm. He feels good. It's just a matter of conditioning, really. We want to get his legs back. Everything else is good."
Popovich stressed the importance of Parker's willingness to shoot from the perimeter when teams go under pick-and-roll sets to keep him from getting to the basket.
"He looked tentative shooting the ball in the Houston game," Popovich said of the Spurs' lone loss. "That's why we're going to play him more minutes and get him shooting the ball. He's got to do that. He has to shoot the ball because guys go under him all the time on pick and rolls.
"If he doesn't shoot that shot, there's no offense, because everyone else is locked up. They don't have to double-team or hedge or do anything. He's got to knock down those 17-footers, and he shot them confidently and well against Miami."
Parker laughs at the notion that opponents will alter their defensive focus to limit his perimeter jumpers.
"Teams are going to go under regardless," he said, "even if I make the shot. They'd rather me make shots than penetrate for layups or dishing to people. So I have to take those shots because they're right there. If I don't take it, it's going to be a bad rhythm and you know we're not going to be in a good flow."
Popovich liked the Spurs' offensive flow against the Hornets. The team's 19 assists were a high for the season. It was a turnaround from a less-than-taut offensive performance in Wednesday's victory over a winless Heat team desperately awaiting the return of Dwyane Wade.
Duncan seemed to find his own offensive rhythm. He even pulled the trigger on a couple of shots from the top of the key, to Parker's delight.
"I think the motion was better," Parker said. "We got him a couple isolations and layups and got his confidence going. The first time I saw him take the outside shot, you saw me scream at him because I got so excited he finally took that shot.
"When Tim hits that outside shot it's so hard to stop him. I told him if you make one or two outside shots, then you can penetrate, use your pump fake, you can use all the moves you need."
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111107.08C.BKNspurs.parker.345cbf2.html
Web Posted: 11/10/2007 11:01 PM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News
As the Spurs warmed up for a preseason game against the Houston Rockets three weeks ago, one of the many NBA scouts sitting courtside, on hand to steal play calls and defensive sets, watched Tim Duncan make bank shot after bank shot.
The scout shook his head.
"It's amazing," he said. "Tim is the best big man in basketball, but he totally allows the Spurs to run their offense through Tony (Parker) because he sees the evolution of their team and understands that TP's development allows him more freedom. With teams now stopping the ball when Parker has it, Tim is even more effective and efficient in the post."
It was no coincidence, then, that Friday night when Parker took 20 shots and scored 27 points in the Spurs' 97-85 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, Duncan had his best game of the season. Facing Tyson Chandler, one of the NBA's better interior defenders, Duncan made 11 of 14 shots and scored 24 points, his season high.
Parker has played 122 minutes and attempted 54 shots the past three games as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich uses game action to renew Parker's conditioning after holding him out of much of the preseason. Rookie Darius Washington had an efficient 13 minutes, 46 seconds in Friday's game, some of it in tandem with Parker. Nevertheless, Parker figures to get more big chunks of playing time in today's game at the AT&T Center against the Milwaukee Bucks and Tuesday's game against the Lakers.
Jacque Vaughn, who finished the 2006-07 season as Parker's primary backup, may return Thursday or Friday from a training camp calf pull that prevented him from playing in any preseason games or the first six regular-season games. Until he suits up, Parker's workload likely will be heavy.
"That's the plan," Popovich said, "just to get him his rhythm. He feels good. It's just a matter of conditioning, really. We want to get his legs back. Everything else is good."
Popovich stressed the importance of Parker's willingness to shoot from the perimeter when teams go under pick-and-roll sets to keep him from getting to the basket.
"He looked tentative shooting the ball in the Houston game," Popovich said of the Spurs' lone loss. "That's why we're going to play him more minutes and get him shooting the ball. He's got to do that. He has to shoot the ball because guys go under him all the time on pick and rolls.
"If he doesn't shoot that shot, there's no offense, because everyone else is locked up. They don't have to double-team or hedge or do anything. He's got to knock down those 17-footers, and he shot them confidently and well against Miami."
Parker laughs at the notion that opponents will alter their defensive focus to limit his perimeter jumpers.
"Teams are going to go under regardless," he said, "even if I make the shot. They'd rather me make shots than penetrate for layups or dishing to people. So I have to take those shots because they're right there. If I don't take it, it's going to be a bad rhythm and you know we're not going to be in a good flow."
Popovich liked the Spurs' offensive flow against the Hornets. The team's 19 assists were a high for the season. It was a turnaround from a less-than-taut offensive performance in Wednesday's victory over a winless Heat team desperately awaiting the return of Dwyane Wade.
Duncan seemed to find his own offensive rhythm. He even pulled the trigger on a couple of shots from the top of the key, to Parker's delight.
"I think the motion was better," Parker said. "We got him a couple isolations and layups and got his confidence going. The first time I saw him take the outside shot, you saw me scream at him because I got so excited he finally took that shot.
"When Tim hits that outside shot it's so hard to stop him. I told him if you make one or two outside shots, then you can penetrate, use your pump fake, you can use all the moves you need."
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111107.08C.BKNspurs.parker.345cbf2.html