Reply With Quote
In the 13 games this season in which Parker has had double-figure assists, his scoring average is 27.3. In the other 44 games he has played, his scoring average is 20.5.
Duncan says Parker an MVP candidate
Mike Monroe
Being a two-time winner of the NBA's most coveted individual award gives Spurs captain Tim Duncan a certain gravitas when it comes to evaluating the closest Most Valuable Player race in recent memory.
Who does Duncan like in this season's race to the finish for MVP?
“I'm staying as far away from that question as I possibly can,” Duncan said as he walked toward the bus that would take the Spurs to their charter flight out of Atlanta after one of their best road victories since the All-Star break.
Choosing among the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade is fraught with peril for any expert, even one with Duncan's credentials.
There is one bit of advice for NBA voters Duncan has no fear of asserting: His teammate, Tony Parker, deserves consideration for a place at the end of every ballot, on which voters are required to list their choices in order, one through five.
“Absolutely,” Duncan said. “Of course, I'm biased, obviously. But with the position that we're in, second in the West, right in the mix, and with the amount of injuries we've dealt with all year, he's kept this team consistent, and he's been the consistent one all year long. He should definitely have an opportunity to be in that top five.”
Parker and the Spurs will be back on the campaign trail tonight, playing the Los Angeles Clippers at the AT&T Center.
Parker has presented a case to voters this season that transcends the need for Duncan to play campaign manager. His 42-point outburst in the Spurs' 102-92 victory over the Hawks at Philips Arena on Wednesday night was his 11th of the season of 30 or more. He is scoring at a career-high clip of 21.9 points. His 20 assists in the Spurs' last two games pushed his season average to 7.0, which puts him on pace for a career high in that key category, too.
The 6-foot-1 point guard is proving his game need not be either-or when it comes to scoring and distributing. Tuesday's and Wednesday's points-assists double-doubles continued a season-long trend: When Parker has at least 10 assists, his scoring also takes a leap.
In the 13 games this season in which Parker has had double-figure assists, his scoring average is 27.3. In the other 44 games he has played, his scoring average is 20.5.
“I didn't know that,” Parker said after his Wednesday night opus in Atlanta. “I think it just means that Pop is doing a great job of calling a bunch of plays for me when Timmy and Manu are out. It's easier for me to get some assists and scoring opportunities with Timmy and Manu out.”
The very fact Parker has carried the burden of keeping the Spurs' offense efficient in the absence of his fellow members of the Spurs' “Big Three” is what Duncan believes makes him worthy of some votes when MVP selectors get past the MVP Big Three of Bryant, James and Wade.
“He's been unbelievable,” Duncan said. “He's been this way for the last 15 games. He's been scoring the ball and making the right decisions. When he's making the right passes, it confuses everybody out there. It confuses every defense possible. You want to go help, and he finds people. You want to not help, and then he's scoring his jumper.
“The way he's going right now, he's a monster.”
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who played Wednesday for the first time since Feb. 11, said the monster game was on a short list of the best he ever had seen from Parker, including his career-high scoring night in Minnesota earlier this season, when he pumped in 55 points in a double-overtime win.
Parker also had 42 in regulation in that game, then added 13 in the extra sessions.
“It's probably one of the best games I've ever seen him play, because he was unstoppable, but at the same time he was really good finding people,” Ginobili said. “There was a stretch where he found Roger (Mason), Fin (Michael Finley) and Matt (Bonner), all in a row. They didn't know what to do. He was impressive.”
Last edited by duncan228; 03-28-2009 at 02:23 PM.
In the 13 games this season in which Parker has had double-figure assists, his scoring average is 27.3. In the other 44 games he has played, his scoring average is 20.5.
Most Valuable Spur
He is most worthy of consideration on the ballot at the very least after his contributions and efforts during all the team injuries this season. Above and beyond
To exclude him would be the biggest travesty. Tim nailed it.
Parker isn't even the 2nd most valuable Spur.
Over the past few years? Maybe.
This season? Given Manu's physical condition, only an idiot would argue that Parker hasn't at least been the second most valuable player on the team.
Parker has no doubt carried the load while Ginobili was out. Just as LO has while Bynum is out.
But come playoff time - whats more likely going to get SA where they need to go? Parker playing well or Ginboili? We already saw the answer to that last year and I see nothing that says this year will be any different.
And if he's not one of the top 2 most critical come winning time, than he ain't close to the team's MVP.
Last edited by 2Cleva; 03-28-2009 at 10:37 AM.
we need Manu playing well because we knew Tony will
Since Tim is propping him for a place on the regular season MVP ballot for 2008-2009, your argument about playoff worth is, well, worthless.
Care to fix that one up?
If someone of the Big 3 is out with injury in a must-win game, who do you want to sit?
For LA, its clearly Bynum. For SA I'm betting its Parker.
Of course Tony Longoria deserves to be a candidate, but the le is gonna go to either Wade or James this season, though neither of them has a bigger chance to win a ring than Tony Longoria does this season.
Given the Spurs' depth chart at PG and at the swingman positions, I'd say you're wrong.
actually, the last 2 postseasons, tony had been better than manu (who wasn't playing to his true level), he carried the spurs in game 7 against NO when tim and manu couldn't score.
Two, three years ago, you might have had a case, but Parker's the one in his prime, not Manu or Tim.
Have to add here Im just a little upset with Pops comments about Tony being one tier lower than Kobe/LBJ/Wade in his wine comparo statement. One of the few times I think Pop is talking out his ass and should back his own guy instead.
three years ago, and before, it wasn't even close. Tony was the weaker of the three in the PO. without a doubt. now, and since 2007, it's really different. he's in his prime and he's our main offensive weapon.
what comment ? link ?
anyway, even if it's true that TP isn't in the KB/LBJ/Wade class, i understand your point. i rather agree.
but if Pop was answering to a straight question ("do you think TP is now at the KB/LBJ/Wade level ?), i can't see how he could have answered yes without looking like a homer and a fool. honestly.
tony is definitely the most valuable spur this season, and he has carried the team through duncan's and manu's struggles with injuries. so yes he should be mentioned in the mvp conversation, but i don't necessarily think he deserves to win it. firstly, in terms of defensive presence, lebron and wade are definitely more imposing figures (for example, look at wade's block numbers this season). secondly, the team could survive tony's absence, whereas the lakers, cavs, and heat would be lottery teams for sure without their respective mvp candidates. the spurs could still be a 5-8 seeded team with duncan and ginobilli. the spurs definitely need tony to win a championship, and i love the way the dude is playing this year, fearless - but mvp, ehh...
thanks
i think it was a straight question. so, once again, i guess there's no one who really think Tony deserves it more than LBJ, KB or Wade right now.
but he should get some votes in as the fifth rank of some votes.
very true. and it's true for every star player who is sharing the ball with others stars, including Tim and Manu.
who is the next star after CP3, LBJ or Wade in their team ? I've got no doubt that TP could average 25 ppg and 8 ass if he was the main man. maybe more.
Manu and Tim at their best could be bad too if they had more the ball.
Tim has done this so many times (2 MVP attesting that).
And Manu was at this level for a long strech last RS. though, health would be an issue for Manu if he was the main man for all the year playing 35 minutes per game. but he has the level to do that in him too.
The spurs share the ball and that make the three stars stats less impressive. but we're a better team this way, and that's all that matters.
deff but I'd rather see him get the finals MVP...again
Why would a Rockets fan want Tony to be Finals MVP?
Troll exposure?
What are the chances of the rockets winning the championship? Exactly.
Lakers? No thanks don't like them too much
Jazz? No thanks don't like them either.
So obviously i have to want one team to win a championship
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
