Dime: Is Tony Parker a franchise player?

[duncan228]

Is Tony Parker a franchise player?
By Austin Burton


Steal this album...


Not that Tony Parker is sweating a 2010 All-Star snub — I’m guessing he’d rather spend the winter weekend curled up with Eva Longoria instead of getting booed every time he touches the ball in Spurs-hating Dallas — but TP nonetheless issued a late reminder yesterday that he shouldn’t be forgotten in All-Star talk.

On paper, Parker went against nemesis Chris Paul and gave him 25 points while snapping the Hornets’ seven-game home win streak. In reality, CP and TP rarely guarded each other; but no matter who was in front of him, Parker thrived. He scored 16 in the first half as the Spurs built a sizable lead, then added nine in the fourth quarter as his team withstood a late New Orleans rally.

Parker (16.8 ppg, 5.6 apg, 48% FG) isn’t necessarily having a down year — his numbers are right in line with his career averages — but he hasn’t been as explosive as he was last season when he set career-highs in scoring and assists and shot over 50 percent from the floor, either. Couple in that the Spurs (25-15) haven’t been as dominant as some predicted, and TP has gone back to being overlooked in those “Best point guard” arguments: During a recent Hornets/Pacers game, the Indiana broadcast ran a poll asking who is the NBA’s top PG, with Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and CP as the three options. No mention of the guy who has a trophy case all three of them would give a finger for.

But on a night like Monday, when TP is the best player on the floor, we get a look into the future, where Tony Parker is a marquee name and a franchise centerpiece. And where do the Spurs go from there?

Obviously, everything depends on Tim Duncan. Although he’s still putting up 20 points and 10 boards every night, Duncan does turn 34 in April, and the end of the road has to at least be in his vision. Duncan has two more years left on his contract; Parker has one. So when TP becomes a free agent in 2011 — knowing TD could only be in San Antonio for one year after that — would he want to go somewhere else and start fresh (a sign-and-trade to the Clippers for Baron Davis makes sense on multiple levels), or help Duncan go out on top and wait his turn to be The Man in San Antonio?

This might be the new Golden Era of point guards, but so far history shows teams constructed around a point guard don’t win championships. Isiah Thomas pulled it off with Detroit (‘89, ‘90), but since then, le teams have revolved around big men and wings. You could argue Chauncey Billups was the top player on the ‘04 Pistons, but he wasn’t the franchise guy. That team didn’t really have one, and Ben Wallace was the heart and soul. For today’s elite PG’s, the ones who are the focal points of their team find themselves in middle-of-the-pack situations or worse: Deron Williams (Jazz), Derrick Rose (Bulls), Brandon Jennings (Bucks), Chris Paul (Hornets), Tyreke Evans (Kings), and Gilbert Arenas (Wizards) before he found bigger problems to deal with. Nash’s Suns are looking strong this year, but we’ve been down that road before.

Can Tony Parker put up All-Star numbers as the centerpiece of a franchise? Sure. Can a team with Parker as the main guy contend for a ‘chip? As much as I like his game, I’d say no. If Parker is to add another ring to his collection post-Duncan, he’ll have to find another Duncan.

[Bukefal]

Is Tony Parker a franchise player?
By Austin Burton


Steal this album...

Parker (16.8 ppg, 5.6 apg, 48% FG) isn’t necessarily having a down year — his numbers are right in line with his career averages — but he hasn’t been as explosive as he was last season when he set career-highs in scoring and assists and shot over 50 percent from the floor, either. Couple in that the Spurs (25-15) haven’t been as dominant as some predicted, and TP has gone back to being overlooked in those “Best point guard” arguments: During a recent Hornets/Pacers game, the Indiana broadcast ran a poll asking who is the NBA’s top PG, with Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and CP as the three options. No mention of the guy who has a trophy case all three of them would give a finger for.

Well said this part. TP is really one of the best in the league. I think he is better than CP3. But other than that, not to go into that discussion, I think he just deserves more.

But he has always been a focus of criticizing from every angle. He is underrated and hated, even by Spurs own fanbase. He deserves more credit I think. Whatever TP does, good or great or wonderful, he never seems to do 'good enough' for most of the people. Why? I don't know, probably just the 'frenchie' thing.

[Baseline]

Parker can put a lot of pressure on a defense because he can hurt you from a scoring standpoint. He can take over games in spurts, just like Manu can.

However, he's not a franchise player in my opinion. He's a scoring point guard, and isn't the greatest distributor. Don't get me wrong - I like him, and I realize that you can't have it all.

But here's an example -- If Chris Paul and Parker switched places this year, do you think the Hornets would have as many wins with Parker at the point? No, because he's not going to make that weak supporting cast that much better. He'd probably average 23-24 a game, but opponents would let him have it if the other guys did nothing.

I know a lot of people have remarked how great Chris Paul would be on the Spurs, and I agree. However, the value of Paul would making guys like RJ get more touches in a position to score. He could run that alley-oop play with Mahinmi like he used to run with Tyson Chandler. Have we heard anything from Chandler this year? No, and that's because Paul made him significantly better. Parker is good, but he's not the same type of PG that Paul is. Chandler was almost an all-star level center with Chris Paul feeding him bunnies. Now the guy is an afterthought.

[lefty]

No.

[superjames1992]

There is only one franchise player on this team: TIMOTHY DUNCAN.

[Bukefal]

Paul is more dependent on his teammates, he needs the others to set screens while Parker with his quickness can drive by himself past every defender.

[lefty]

Spurs franchise player: Michael Finley when he is not playing

[DAF86]

Paul is more dependent on his teammates, he needs the others to set screens while Parker with his quickness can drive by himself past every defender.

That has to be the stupidest argument I have ever read on ST.

[tp2021]

That has to be the stupidest argument I have ever read on ST.

And thats sayin something!

[Bukefal]

That has to be the stupidest argument I have ever read on ST.

Well, maybe you can vote for me to get a spur now

But I think so, tony is better in penetrating to the bucket and a better ballhandler and scorer. But Paul is a better passer and defender though.


It was not an argument for chris paul or tony parker being a franchise player or not.

I was saying who is better in my eyes and why

[lefty]

That has to be the stupidest argument I have ever read on ST.

I agree

[Xylus]

Tony Parker is not a franchise player, but he is a very good one.

He's a lot like Amare Stoudemire: he might be the highest scorer on many nights, but he's not the most important piece.

[Bukefal]

Well isnt it that paul is the hornets. That all the plays are set up for him? Pick and roll. That's the only way he is solid in ending plays.

While TP does more on his own, he is more independent and better penetration to the basket.

[timaios]

Of course he's not a franchise player.

How many real franchise players are in the league right now ?

Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Dirk Nowitski
Dwight Howard
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Kevin Garnett (when healthy)

Then you have the almost franchise players

Pau Gasol
Brandon Roy
Chris Bosh
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Steve Nash
Deron Williams
Amare Stoudemire
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce

Parker & Ginobili were in that 2nd group when healthy, but absolutely not this year !

[ForeignFan]

Not sure about C Paul yet, his team has not achieved much compared to the teams of the other Franchise Players you mention.

[Bukefal]

Anyway, as for Paul being a franchise player, I dont know, he is the best player on his team, but being a franchise player isnt about being the best on your team, but then again, he is the drive behind it.

And Tony, he can be, but certainly not now.

[BillMc]

Of course he's not a franchise player.

How many real franchise players are in the league right now ?

Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Dirk Nowitski
Dwight Howard
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Kevin Garnett (when healthy)

Then you have the almost franchise players

Pau Gasol
Brandon Roy
Chris Bosh
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Steve Nash
Deron Williams
Amare Stoudemire
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce

Parker & Ginobili were in that 2nd group when healthy, but absolutely not this year !

Well said.

I think Parker is generally under rated and is much more of a team guy than some on this board seems to think. But he's hurting this year.

I'd like him stay after his contract is up. It might depend on how Tim is playing and if he decides to extend. If Tim is still Tim and will be here a while we've a better chance of keeping Tony.

[HarlemHeat37]

I'm not going to argue your opinion that TP is better than Paul, you're en led to your own opinion, but Paul doesn't "need" a screen..that's the style of play he enjoys playing, the Hornets enjoy playing at an extremely slow pace, and Paul generally uses screens with West to set up a mismatch for West and he used to use them with Chandler to set up easy alley-oops, since Chandler was useless offensively outside of that..

[dirk4mvp]

Paul is more dependent on his teammates,

What? Along with everything else Paul does better than Parker, he's also a better scorer.

[androck]

Of course he's not a franchise player.

How many real franchise players are in the league right now ?

Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Dirk Nowitski
Dwight Howard
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Kevin Garnett (when healthy)

Then you have the almost franchise players

Pau Gasol
Brandon Roy
Chris Bosh
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Steve Nash
Deron Williams
Amare Stoudemire
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce

Parker & Ginobili were in that 2nd group when healthy, but absolutely not this year !

I'd move Roy and Durant up to the top group and Pau might be there too, the way he was playing before he was injured.

[Bukefal]

What? Along with everything else Paul does better than Parker, he's also a better scorer.

You all dont really seem to get me. Paul puts up more numbers, because everything is envolving about him. I do think that Paul is a better defender and passer than Tony is, but I think tony is a better scorer and he is better in penetrating in the basket in offense. For Paul it's all pick/screen and roll, plays for him, that's the only way he is solid and dangerous, in that way tp is more independent, creates himself a way to the basket.

[Muser]

I hope not, franchises who have their franchise player at pg suck ass

[dirk4mvp]

You all dont really seem to get me. Paul puts up more numbers, because everything is envolving about him. I do think that Paul is a better defender and passer than Tony is, but I think tony is a better scorer and he is better in penetrating in the basket in offense. For Paul it's all pick/screen and roll, plays for him, that's the only way he is solid and dangerous, in that way tp is more independent, creates himself a way to the basket.

Paul receives way more defensive attention from teams, yet still averages more ppg, while shooting at a higher FG%, and a much higher 3% and FT%.

[stretch]

Parker isnt a franchise player.

of a player, but not franchise

[Dex]

Parker isnt a franchise player.

of a player, but not franchise

this.