This Saturday, french magazine "L'équipe magazine" was fully about Tony Parker with interview of Tim, Manu and Pop about him. For close Spurs fans, there wasn't a lot to learn since we already know the whole story but I find Manu's quote quite interesting:
"It's true that at first Argentina fans didn't like Tony. At the time in Argentina, people wanted to see me becoming the best player in the world and had still that idea of the classical pass first PG. But Tony is a different player. Tony is a scoring PG , and a damn good one!
I don't know if it was jealousy to see that young Frenchman outscoring me but they can't accept his playing style. This old-school mentality, he made it changed. He has silenced them all. Tony can now take over the game whenever he wants and he is likely the best PG in the league."
I'm gotta read the whole magazine tomorrow to see if there are some other interesting quotes worth being translated but I find this one funny for ST.
IIRC, they hated Tony by calling him a ball hog who didn't pass it to Manu.
Manu is not going to say anything that would hurt the teams chemistry, he's not stupid. I understand that he's a scoring PG, but he's always had that hero ball ego that caused the spurs many games and 1 championship. Game recognition is common sense regardless if you're a scoring PG or not. The spurs need a scoring PG, but Parker does overdo things sometimes with hero ball tbh..manu knows it, and he isn't going to say anything about it.
The vast majority of argentinans fans I know don't hate tony. They understand his game tbh..maybe in Argentina they hate him..i don't know.
Manu is not going to say anything that would hurt the teams chemistry, he's not stupid. I understand that he's a scoring PG, but he's always had that hero ball ego that caused the spurs many games and 1 championship. Game recognition is common sense regardless if you're a scoring PG or not. The spurs need a scoring PG, but Parker does overdo things sometimes with hero ball tbh..manu knows it, and he isn't going to say anything about it.
The vast majority of argentinans fans I know don't hate tony. They understand his game tbh..maybe in Argentina they hate him..i don't know.
Most Argentinians who cares about basket hates Porker and his ball hero game who did 6/26 in game 6 and another horrid % in game 7.
Even years before that finals, nobody likes his playing, he s everything about the system.
We like to think Porker and Manu can´t play together because Pork ruins everything, Manu just goes to a corner like a ing role player and at last moment when the clock is almost hitting Pork makes some ty pass to Manu and most times he shoots a brick.
I know Manu ed game 6, because I expected more from him, but Pork is a daredevil when he is good is fine but when he goes hero mode most time everything smells bad.
Not really a stirpot, tbh... but it's true that Argies were not used to the 'scoring-first' PG... you have to think about the PGs back then for Team ARG: Pepe Sanchez, Monteccia, then Prigioni... all pass-first guys. And the success they had beating NBA-laden teams using team-first type of game instead of what was more common in the NBA at the time (one on one, hero ball). They saw the beauty of the game the Spurs play today a few seasons before the Spurs adopted it as their own (motion, etc).This Saturday, french magazine "L'équipe magazine" was fully about Tony Parker with interview of Tim, Manu and Pop about him. For close Spurs fans, there wasn't a lot to learn since we already know the whole story but I find Manu's quote quite interesting:
"It's true that at first Argentina fans didn't like Tony. At the time in Argentina, people wanted to see me becoming the best player in the world and had still that idea of the classical pass first PG. But Tony is a different player. Tony is a scoring PG , and a damn good one!
I don't know if it was jealousy to see that young Frenchman outscoring me but they can't accept his playing style. This old-school mentality, he made it changed. He has silenced them all. Tony can now take over the game whenever he wants and he is likely the best PG in the league."
Credit should go to Pop for embracing that, and also making it work with a scoring-first PG like Tony. Also credit should go to Tony for buying into that system and evolving into a dominant player within such a system.
Manu always has been a gracious guy, and he speaks his mind. I don't suppose this time is any different. Please do share if you find any other nice quotes.
Many were very angry that a guy that couldn't even shoot took more shots than Manu, imho.
Duh, tbh
The old Tony vs Manu discussion has became even older in argentina these days. I think nowadays everyone here knows that Tony is a class-first point guard. Although in his early days he tended to shoot a lot and wasn't so smart on the court. That's what likely was pointed out. Today he's some of my favourite all time players
They meaning some of them are idiots who worry about one player and not a team. I liked both and still do, fake fans get no love from me.
Tony IS the best point guard in the league and no one comes close. Love that quote from Manu tbh
Well said!
Pop honestly, couldn't draw up a better play at the end of game 6? tony parker going 1v1 iso... no picks or screens, no cuts.. literally lebron v. parker... OKAY
Tonight Tony has the chance to once again solidify his rank in the "best PG race" when going against Chris Paul ... I have a good feeling
Lillard is the best PG in the league.
A translation of some other quotes:
Duncan about Spurs:
"I believe that Pop, Manu, Tony and me, all feel it's an honor to be here. It isn't only because we have great living conditions but it's mostly because we all know, that this franchise's creed, is to bring together players and fit them in to remain compe ive season after season. The owner and Pop have truly wanted to develop that family spirit. Today, nobody wants to go elsewhere for a more random situation, even to win more money. You got here bot a comfortable situation and the peace of mind.
First, Spurs are and have always been Pop's team. Saying that, everybody here has the same goald and it doesn't matter whose team it is. Tony is obviously one of the main piece and if you wnat to say it's his team, I have no issue with it."
Pop interview:
About on how harsh he was with him earlier in his career:
I've been very lucky with Tony because I've been very harsh with him since day one. I wanted to know very quickly if he was to able handle the pressure of this league. I pressured him like I did with no one else and he take it without flinching. After that, I've learned that you couldn't work like that with anybody. Tony had a strength, a will to succeed, that was above it. Soemtimes, my criticism weren't even justified but, since it's in his DNA to want to improve, he followed what I was asking him to show me he could do it. He has always been very respectful even when he thought I was wrong. In any case, he made me someone a little more patient now (smile).
How has the relationship evolve between you two?
I think our relationship has changed once he got enough knowledge and self-confidence to coome to me and say "Pop we need to talk , I don't understand why you want me to do that or that!" Then our relationship has reached its maturity and has become more significant and instructing for everybody.
Two years ago, you gave him the team leadership. Before that, he never asked for it?
He has always been respectful of the team hierarchy saying during all his career that he was behind Tim. You know, Tim was the first option. Tim is Tim and he had himself the same at ude before that with David Robinson. When, years ago, Tim saw Tony coming here, it hasn't been obvious for him to accept to take him on his back. When he saw that Tony could repeat great games on a daily basis, he then understand it. Whether it's Kobe, Shaq, Kevin Garnett, Derick Rose, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan or Tony, when you are able to play at a high level every game, you then enter in a distinct category of players. Tony did it. We then start to talk on hwo he should become more of a leader and that he should now be the example to follow.
How would you rank TP among the best PG of the NBA history?
It's a difficult question to answer because there are different kind of PG. There are PGs like Johns Sotckton who weren't scoring but who was reading the game perfectly. There are also extraordinary players like Magic. I don't want to rank players but I put Tony for sure among the best scoring PGs. You also have to give him credit to have learn to play that spot because, if for Stockton or magic, it was natural to make other play, Tony was a scorer and it isn't easy to become a passer. One day, when he was 19 years old, we draw a long line on a paper sheet. At the one end of this line there were a mark for John Stockton and at the other end one for Tony. I told him "You don't know how to pass the ball. I won't make you John Stockton because I will then lose Tony Parker but I want to end here, at the middle of these two marks, that you are good in both areas." To way, for me, he is really very close to the right compromise.
I which areas do you think he can still improve?
He is now able to win games for us on pick and roll and mid range jumpshots in the last minutes of the game. He still must improve his shot selection but it's mostly an improvement in his 3 point shot that could make the game even easier for us.
Parker about San Antonio:
I've never wanted to play in another NBA team. I've so well here in SA. I've got my house, my family, my staff. I don't wan to leave. I love people here. Now, I hope Spurs will take care well of me until the end of my career. It's a businesses. You never know what can happen but I would like to be a Spur for life. I find that so nice in these day to play your whole career for the same team. What we build here with Pop, Manu, Tim and me, it's difficult to explain, it's rare. Manu and me have made sacrifices, we took less money to stay in SA. We are today one of the best quartet of the NBA history. I would change nothing in my career path, even I know well that, if we had played in NY, we would be like living gods, like kings of the world! But I love this small city and the fact that basketball is the first sport here. I rather have all these les and memories here that I will bring with me when I will retire.
Parker about leadership:
I think that I've always had that in me. I was the elder brother and to be PG on the court, push you to be the leader of the team. With FNT, it went quickly and naturally. With the U16, U18 and the seniors, where they gave me the keys to the team in 2003 while I was 21 years old. With Spurs, it was more progressive. I have a huge respect for Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich so I've never asked for it. I've grown by respecting rule at the house and, when I came here, I did the same thing. I wouldn't rebel against them. I'm smart enough to understand who is the boss and that you can't go against him. It is a war that can never win. We got a really good team that was winning with that hierarchy. It was Duncan's team and I had too much respect for him. I wouldn't have started a fight, like, for example, Kobe and Shaq. In 2011, after the Eurobasket, Pop call me in his office: "it is time you do with Spurs what you do with FNT. You can't wait anymore for your turn. You are the one who should have the keys of the team." To carry a team, it's a big pressure but I've prepared myself for this moment my whole career. I wanted that pressure.
At first, I was a scoring PG, someone who needs the ball in his hands. A leading PG must be more complete. I'm now doing both: I score and I pass more the ball. For 3 years, I'm the PG I always wanted to be. When you are younger, you want so much to show people that you are aggressive. I wanted to show people I could play in the NBA and showing it by scoring points. I my first years with Spurs, I was almost scoring all my points in the first 3 quarters and in the 4th quarter, I didn't have the ball and all the systems were for Tim. You can now not see me in the first 3 quarters and Pop will cal all the plays for me in the 4th quarter even if I did nothing before it. I also know that Duncan had a lot of doubts at first about me. He didn't think that a skinny euro PG could battle with the best ones. He didn't talked to me a lot. The first year, he didn't talk to me before the playoffs! It would be also the same with me: The young newcomer will have the earn my respect.
At this day, when Tim is telling me two words, that's better! Nah, I'm kidding. We go to the movies or even eat together.
The rest of this reportage isn't that interesting. They are talking about Parker and his huge house/luxury life. There are Isiah Thomas who compared him to Tom Brady: Parker isn't maybe the best PG of of his generation but he is the one that has win. Batum said how he was impressed by Parker half time talk against Spain at the Eurobasket. If you are french speaking, it's worthwhile for you to get that magazine.
thanks Bruno
manu has said as much since at least 2007, that tony has a different style, that they each do as pop says, and that he is a great player, teammate and friend, so Im not sure whats controversial about the quote.
also parker is a significantly better passer, jump shooter and decision maker now than he was in 03, 04, 05, even 06 or 07. Its one thing to be a shoot first PG, another to have an unreliable J and a tendency to make late passes at people's feet. Parker has improved and improved and improved and now you really have to nitpick if you want to criticize him, I have great respect for the way he has constantly improved.
that said, with all the hate old man manu gets, it will be interesting to see if parker is even playing at 36.
There is so much respect for each other between all these All-Stars and their great coach that the criticisms leveled here on SpursTalk against one or the other of the quartet seems so petty and uninformed.
Not to mention the respect tendered to all of them by knowledgeable peers in the game. You can't find any bull hate and criticism about them from other players or coaches. For example, I thought it was astounding that the great Kareem Abdul Jabbar voted for Pop as the Sportsman of the Year.
This is the Golden Age of Spurs basketball and only fools don't appreciate all four of these guys.
Well put
I speak and read french so I read the article myself. Bruno truly did do a superb job on the translation. What was most interesting to me was the Pop section of the interview, and it reinforced my belief that the critics of Tony's play on this forum so completely misunderstand that it is Pop's team and Tony does what Pop tells him to do. All the conversations about hero-ball are so much crap it makes me tired to read and reread them over and over. It seems to mean nothing to people around here that Tim, Pop and Manu all say what they do about Tony. NoNO seems to imply that Manu is just being diplomatic, and that if he said what he really meant that he would be far more critical of Tony.
People really show their ignorance when they keep talking about his low percentage shooting in game 6 last year, ignoring that with an injured hamstring and giving up 7 inches to the league's premier player who was guarding him in that game, that it was Tony who put the Spurs in the position of actually winning the game with the last five points made on baskets by the spurs. Tim missed a point blank lay-up, Manu misses a free throw that could have put the game away, but all these people can focus on is a low percentage scoring by Tony in the game. I no longer participate in the game threads because the level of discourse has become such low-grade drivel and hatred that it is easier watching the game with my non-athletic spouse than trying to put up with the nonsense of low BB IQ posters.
I still prefer watching Manu to Tony, but that is because Pop has never been able to make Manu do whatever Pop wants him to do. But I value Tony because he does just exactly what Pop tells him to do, when Pop tells him to do it, and he works harder than almost any other pro basketball player every single night in the amount of miles he covers in every game and in the speed with which he covers those miles. I have a huge respect for his hard work.
Remember when that ed game 7 too?
SRS question... I wonder if his family was about to get kidnapped in Mexico again and that's why Manu had to throw Games 6 & 7?
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