David Aldridge - nba.com - "Dribbles" (about the tired Tony parker)

[jag]

it's not about injuries here.

It's always about injuries. If it doesn't directly "injure" players, then it wears them down. It leaves them susceptible to injuries. Fans have actually argued that traveling and playing 5+ extra months of basketball every year hasnt contributed to Manu's injuries.

[ElNono]

tony isn't injured, not to talk about a season ending injury like the ones manu had the last two years.

Hey, It's Tony saying he's tired, not me. Obviously he miscalculated how much he could take.

To be honest, I don't see Kobe, Kidd or Lebron being tired or injured and they played for Team USA too. In the case of Kobe and Kidd, they probably have both more mileage than Tony and Manu...

so YMMV...

[kace]

I don't know how binding that is, because he already said earlier this year that he might not play this upcoming summer.

"Moral engagement". no real value.

[jag]

Hey, It's Tony saying he's tired, not me. Obviously he miscalculated how much he could take.

To be honest, I don't see Kobe, Kidd or Lebron being tired or injured and they played for Team USA too. In the case of Kobe and Kidd, they probably have both more mileage than Tony and Manu...

so YMMV...

You're such a clown.Please continue to tell me how much Manu hasn't suffered from international play.

American players don't play/practice the same way that international players do for their respective national teams. It's funny that you keep using that argument.

Go fly your Argentina flag somewhere else.

[DesignatedT]

Through Sunday, Parker was averaging 16.5 points per game, more than five points off of his average last season and his lowest in five seasons. His assists are down by one from last season, and his turnovers are up. It doesn't mean he's still not an elite-level point guard, but it does mean there's been some slippage. And slippage is not a good thing when you have only a year left on your contract.

This absolutely has EVERYTHING to do with him competing in international play.

[Bukefal]

Hey, It's Tony saying he's tired, not me. Obviously he miscalculated how much he could take.

To be honest, I don't see Kobe, Kidd or Lebron being tired or injured and they played for Team USA too. In the case of Kobe and Kidd, they probably have both more mileage than Tony and Manu...

so YMMV...

I think European Basketball schedules are a bit more tougher. More games, more training, more traveling, more tournaments.

[ElNono]

It's always about injuries. If it doesn't directly "injure" players, then it wears them down. It leaves them susceptible to injuries. Fans have actually argued that traveling and playing 5+ extra months of basketball every year hasnt contributed to Manu's injuries.

But he didn't play an extra 5+ months every year... and still got injured.
How about when he won a championship after playing those extra 5+ months?

Maybe players just get injured sometimes. It happens as part of being an athlete playing at a high level.

[kace]

Hey, It's Tony saying he's tired, not me. Obviously he miscalculated how much he could take.

To be honest, I don't see Kobe, Kidd or Lebron being tired or injured and they played for Team USA too. In the case of Kobe and Kidd, they probably have both more mileage than Tony and Manu...

so YMMV...

i have to agree.

on a side, i can understand fatigue.

on the other, it seems to always be an issue for the spurs players more than for the others. so, stop the excuse and play the game.

PS: though, i really would like to know more about products and substances, notonly illegal, taken by NBA players, because i often heard tony saying he never wanted any "drugs" and i don't think manu is the kind of player to use it too (like creatine or even illegal stuff).

[ElNono]

American players don't play/practice the same way that international players do for their respective national teams.

They don't? Please enlighten me how team Argentina practices for international tournaments, please...

What? You don't know? You're talking out of your ass again?

No surprises there...

[Obstructed_View]

I think you are missing the point

No, not really. If what you do on your vacation affects what you do for your job, especially if you're being paid millions of dollars to do that job, then there's not really a difficult decision there for anyone with a brain.

[jag]

International fan thinks that real Spurs fans don't like watching Manu/Parker play for their national teams. That isn't the case. It was nice to see Manu win while representing Argentina...it's added to his legacy. But it's obvious what it does to these guys, and international fans are in such denial that it's practically a joke now.

These guys are even admitting that international play (along with NBA play) is wearing them down... yet international fan continues to say that it's just not true.

[Brazil]

i have to agree.

on a side, i can understand fatigue.

on the other, it seems to always be an issue for the spurs players more than for the others. so, stop the excuse and play the game.

PS: though, i really would like to know more about products and substances, notonly illegal, taken by NBA players, because i often heard tony saying he never wanted any "drugs" and i don't think manu is the kind of player to use it too (like creatine or even illegal stuff).

Kace I think guys like Kobe are just machine, they can play at high level during 20 years with no issues for others it's more difficult to maintain motivation, there is no rule and the money has nothing to do with that. In TP case I think it's more a mental fatigue.

[hater]

Good article. I think any debate about whether national team play hurts players can put to rest this season. Parker has obviously been tired all year and Pau Gasol has stayed gimpy. It's just not humanly possible to play that much basketball. I respect Parker's enthusiasm for playing for his home country -- but as a Spurs fan that enthusiasm lowers the team's chance of winning a championship ... and that's all I really care about.

That said, I don't buy what Parker is saying. He's the master at playing both sides of the pond. He'll tell US reporters that he's thinking of not playing while telling French reporters something totally different. If I had to guess, he'll be suiting up next summer once again.

or maybe NBA should shorten the season from 82 arduous meaningless games?

NBA owner's greed is hurting world basketball and the career of these starts. Not to mention the quality of NBA regular season


would anyone really give a if season is shortened to 65 games? oh yeah, only the owners would

[ElNono]

PS: though, i really would like to know more about products and substances, notonly illegal, taken by NBA players, because i often heard tony saying he never wanted any "drugs" and i don't think manu is the kind of player to use it too (like creatine or even illegal stuff).

I don't think illegal substances has anything to do with it.

The point is that even when not playing international compe ions, Kori has said many times in these very forums that NBA players play all summer long anyways. So there's that.

[jag]

They don't? Please enlighten me how team Argentina practices for international tournaments, please...

What? You don't know? You're talking out of your ass again?

No surprises there...

the fact that Kobe/Carmelo/LeBron can play 30 min one game and then sit for the next game isn't telling? Do you really need this spelled out for you, international fan?

[kace]

No, not really. If what you do on your vacation affects what you do for your job, especially if you're being paid millions of dollars to do that job, then there's not really a difficult decision there for anyone with a brain.

it's not difficult if your brain is full of .

if you have a brain which indeed is used to think, it's all but easy. add a heart, and it's even harder.

i would like you to realize how dumb your post is, but if you could, you probably wouldn't have written it.

[pookenstein]

So much for the 'Tony is young, he won't have Manu's problems' theory...

tony isn't injured, not to talk about a season ending injury like the ones manu had the last two years.

i know this is a little bit offtopic, but i really don't get this tony-bashing by the argentinians/manufans and the manu-bashing by the french/tonyfans.
in my opinion it's all about the spurs.
we don't win 2003, 2005, 2007 without manu and also not without tony.
i can understand that you like tony better than manu if you have that french background or like manu better, if you're from argentina. nothing wrong in being proud of your countryman but in the end one is as important to the spurs success as is the other.
just my 2 cents...

[Brazil]

No, not really. If what you do on your vacation affects what you do for your job, especially if you're being paid millions of dollars to do that job, then there's not really a difficult decision there for anyone with a brain.

This was not the previous point. The previous point was: "you got money, play the game and stfu".
To be tired or weary has nothing to do with your ing paycheck.

I have a very decent salary and sometimes I'm just tired. It happens.

[MaNu4Tres]

If your tired sit out for 3 weeks and let Hill, Manu, Mason run the show.

Parker would come back fresh and ready for another playoff run.

There's no way Parker would do that though because that would hurt any chance he has at making the All-Star team.

[kace]

i know this is a little bit offtopic, but i really don't get this tony-bashing by the argentinians/manufans and the manu-bashing by the french/tonyfans.
in my opinion it's all about the spurs.
we don't win 2003, 2005, 2007 without manu and also not without tony.
i can understand that you like tony better than manu if you have that french background or like manu better, if you're from argentina. nothing wrong in being proud of your countryman but in the end one is as important to the spurs success as is the other.
just my 2 cents...

WTF you're talking about ? can you read ? indeed, if there's a topic where manu and TP fans are clearly on the same side, it's about international play.

[Brazil]

If your tired sit out for 3 weeks and let Hill, Manu, Mason run the show.

Parker would come back fresh and ready for another playoff run.

There's no way Parker would do that though because that would hurt any chance he has at making the All-Star team.

he already has 0 chance to make the All-Star and he knows that.

[MaNu4Tres]

he already has 0 chance to make the All-Star and he knows that.

Then he should rest and stop using the tired excuse for his inconsistency.

[Obstructed_View]

it's not difficult if your brain is full of .

if you have a brain which indeed is used to think, it's all but easy. add a heart, and it's even harder.

i would like you to realize how dumb your post is, but if you could, you probably wouldn't have written it.

Since you're not able to explain why you believe what you believe, I have a feeling you know that there's no logic at all behind your position. Spurs fans pay Tony Parker to play basketball. French fans guilt him into playing for his national team for free by claiming they have "a heart".

[ElNono]

the fact that Kobe/Carmelo/LeBron can play 30 min one game and then sit for the next game isn't telling?

But that did not happen, did it? Because they all played all games, and went through all the Team USA practices pre-tournament.

Again, don't dodge the questions, since you're quick to accuse but when pressed you run away like the scared little you are:

- Did Manu play for the National Team the summer before 2008, when he got injured against Phoenix?

- Did Manu play for the National Team the summer before 2005, when he arguably had his best season as a Spur?

What was Team Argentina preparation to the Japan World Championships?

What was Team Argentina preparation to the Beijing Olympics, and did Manu play any games before the tournament?


Please answer those questions, so we know you're not just flapping your lips, as usual.

[MaNu4Tres]

Pretty confident Hill, Manu, Mason can hold down the fort for the time being.