Rummpd
01-18-2005, 02:05 PM
Talking underrated? Don't forget Parker
By David DuPree, USA TODAY
Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs is my pick as the most underrated player in the NBA.
Tony Parker is averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 assists for the San Antonio Spurs.
By Eric Gay, AP
Readers, however, in response to last week's question as to who is the most underrated player in the league, were torn between Larry Hughes of the Washington Wizards and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns. Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz, Rashard Lewis of the Seattle SuperSonics, Mo Peterson of the Toronto Raptors, Corey Maggette of the Los Angeles Clippers and Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls also got considerable recognition.
I went with Parker for a number of reasons. Everyone knows the Spurs revolve around Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili is the crowd favorite and Bruce Bowen gets credit for being perhaps the NBA's best perimeter defender.
But Parker runs the show.
He became the starting point guard as a teenager. During the last three seasons the Spurs have won more games than any other team in the league, in large part because of Parker. He makes big shots, runs the screen-and-roll play with Duncan as well as any two players in the league and is a fearless competitor at 6-2 and 175 pounds.
In selecting Marion, Dylan Graham of Phoenix pointed out that Marion is in the top 10 among league leaders in 14 categories.
"With all the attention paid to both Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash this season, Marion has been left out by the national media," Graham said. "His ability to get up and down the floor quickly is an intricate part of the Suns' rapid-paced offense. He has become a great defender who has had to match up with guys much bigger than he is."
Hughes, who is out for four to six weeks with a broken thumb, has been the unsung Wizard behind Washington's success, said Darryl Hardin of Tampa. "He plays hard every night, is a fantasy stud, and you never hear a bad thing about (him)," Hardin said.
In picking Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons, Mike Wolf of Grand Rapids, Mich., said, "He's not afraid to fail and makes plays when it counts most."
George A. Thompson of New York City said he likes Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley's style.
"The guy receives no credit," Thompson said. "He's asked to limit his game so much. He can do a lot more, but he's not allowed the freedom in which to do it and he doesn't seem to mind."
The all-around play of Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller particularly impressed John Halverson of Janesville, Wis. "He scores 15, hits 50% from the field and grabs 10 rebounds a game," Halverson said. "Plus he's the best free throw shooting and passing center in the league. And while he's no great athlete, he leads the Kings in blocked shots, takes up space inside and plays smart and hard
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-01-17-one-on-one_x.htm
If end of year, Parker at 18+ and 6 or 7 and Spurs go to championship round again I will definetely agree.
MadDoc
By David DuPree, USA TODAY
Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs is my pick as the most underrated player in the NBA.
Tony Parker is averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 assists for the San Antonio Spurs.
By Eric Gay, AP
Readers, however, in response to last week's question as to who is the most underrated player in the league, were torn between Larry Hughes of the Washington Wizards and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns. Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz, Rashard Lewis of the Seattle SuperSonics, Mo Peterson of the Toronto Raptors, Corey Maggette of the Los Angeles Clippers and Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls also got considerable recognition.
I went with Parker for a number of reasons. Everyone knows the Spurs revolve around Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili is the crowd favorite and Bruce Bowen gets credit for being perhaps the NBA's best perimeter defender.
But Parker runs the show.
He became the starting point guard as a teenager. During the last three seasons the Spurs have won more games than any other team in the league, in large part because of Parker. He makes big shots, runs the screen-and-roll play with Duncan as well as any two players in the league and is a fearless competitor at 6-2 and 175 pounds.
In selecting Marion, Dylan Graham of Phoenix pointed out that Marion is in the top 10 among league leaders in 14 categories.
"With all the attention paid to both Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash this season, Marion has been left out by the national media," Graham said. "His ability to get up and down the floor quickly is an intricate part of the Suns' rapid-paced offense. He has become a great defender who has had to match up with guys much bigger than he is."
Hughes, who is out for four to six weeks with a broken thumb, has been the unsung Wizard behind Washington's success, said Darryl Hardin of Tampa. "He plays hard every night, is a fantasy stud, and you never hear a bad thing about (him)," Hardin said.
In picking Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons, Mike Wolf of Grand Rapids, Mich., said, "He's not afraid to fail and makes plays when it counts most."
George A. Thompson of New York City said he likes Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley's style.
"The guy receives no credit," Thompson said. "He's asked to limit his game so much. He can do a lot more, but he's not allowed the freedom in which to do it and he doesn't seem to mind."
The all-around play of Sacramento Kings center Brad Miller particularly impressed John Halverson of Janesville, Wis. "He scores 15, hits 50% from the field and grabs 10 rebounds a game," Halverson said. "Plus he's the best free throw shooting and passing center in the league. And while he's no great athlete, he leads the Kings in blocked shots, takes up space inside and plays smart and hard
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-01-17-one-on-one_x.htm
If end of year, Parker at 18+ and 6 or 7 and Spurs go to championship round again I will definetely agree.
MadDoc