Jack McCallum on Tony Parker (Author of 7 Seconds or Less!)

[Man Mountain]

[capek]

He (along with Timmy and Manu) would have gotten SO MUCH hype if they'd played their careers in a big market. So it's always a vindication to see people in the media recognize that fact. Tony deserves HUGE respect from Spurs fans for the leader he as become. How many NBA players actually make the big career steps Tony has made? He had an unreliable jumper. Fixed that. He wouldn't consistently step up and lead this team to wins. He's done that this year, a lot of times without Timmy or Manu on the court. Just phenomenal.

[Spursfan092120]

Tony's always had problems against Deron. Tonight, without Tim and Manu, he completely owned this game. He is this team's leader..he's the go to guy..and I couldn't be happier to be a fan of this team with him as the leader.

[MI21]

It's not often a PG averages 25/10 over a stretch of 20-25 games, espcially with relatively low minutes.

Historical greatness from Parker at the moment.

[HI-FI]

as somewhat of a TP hater at times, it's crazy that a finals MVP is as underrated as he is, but it's true. I'd like to see him get an MVP before it's all done.

[HarlemHeat37]

Parker is much more under appreciated than Duncan, tbh..

Tim is highly appreciated on the Internet..most die-hard NBA fans rank him anywhere from 5-9 on the all-time list, from what I've seen..he doesn't receive any media hype, but this will change in the future, as advanced stats become more prominent in NBA coverage..

Parker doesn't receive hype in either outlet, tbh..this is particularly strange, because PGs tend to be by far the most overhyped players in the NBA..the media loves pushing the "it's a PG league" agenda..

[tmtcsc]

Tony's always had problems against Deron..

I disagree. I think he's owned Williams for years. He's too quick for him to guard and pretty much has had his way with him on the court. He destroyed him in the WCF in 2007.

[timvp]

I think history is going to be kind to these Spurs. Duncan obviously will be remembered as an all-time great. Ginobili's advanced stats, Olympic exploits and winning on every level will always keep him in the conversation as being one of the best and most dynamic shooting guards ever. If Parker keeps it up, it's going to be really difficult to look at his career achievements and not be really impressed. He's unique in that he reached a high level early in his career and then not only sustained it but continuously improved. Most point guards peak early ( , players like Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Derrick Rose may have already peaked and they are all younger than TP). Speedy point guards usually fall off a cliff late in their 20s (look how Devin Harris looks like a washed up scrub already ... and players like Kevin Johnson and Terrell Brandon were basically done at 30). If Parker keeps it up for even this year and next year, his resume is going to look great.

And then we have to factor in that most "great" point guards are unable to win championships. PG-led teams almost never win so Parker's championships are going to stack up well against others.

[superbigtime]

Tony's best attribute is his desire to improve. He has improved every area of his game and he can be counted on to be consistent. He is a true compe or. He is in the top 15 players in the league, no doubt.

[timvp]

^Over the last 20-25 games, Parker is probably top 3 with LeBron and Durant, tbh.

[ace3g]

I like how Pop mentioned that "they wanted to add a bit of John Stockton" to his game over the years - regarding some of his improvements overall

[baseline bum]

Speedy point guards usually fall off a cliff late in their 20s (look how Devin Harris looks like a washed up scrub already ... and players like Kevin Johnson and Terrell Brandon were basically done at 30). If Parker keeps it up for even this year and next year, his resume is going to look great.

Crazy; this is about the age Isiah Thomas started to break down too.

[capek]

^Over the last 20-25 games, Parker is probably top 3 with LeBron and Durant, tbh.

It's amazing that that is an easy, obvious statement to make. Like, who could argue with it at this point (within this span of games of course).

For anybody, like myself, who remembers those tumultuous years where people had good reason to doubt whether Parker would be able to be a consistent leader on the court, it has to feel great to see him progress to this point, where he is legitimately one of the best players in the league.

[MaineSpursFan]

remember when we wanted to get jason kidd and dump parker....

[Solid D]

Paul and Parker are the 2 best point guards in the NBA right now. They both played in New York today and showed why they are the 2 best.
Rankings that include Curry as the #2 PG are a complete fantasy.

[Spur|n|Austin]

[Man In Black]

remember when we wanted to get jason kidd and dump parker....

More like sign Kidd and make TP play the 2 on O and the 1 on D. TP was smart to not agree.

[SpursIndonesia]

remember when we wanted to get jason kidd and dump parker....

More like sign Kidd and make TP play the 2 on O and the 1 on D. TP was smart to not agree.

Considering during the reign of big three, point guard play has never been really the achilles of championship aspiration, i think TP was certainly correct in his own right. "I CAN lead this team as a PG !", still remember those days ......

[boutons_deux]

^Over the last 20-25 games, Parker is probably top 3 with LeBron and Durant, tbh.

Lebron seat a Heat record yesterday:

It was James' fifth straight game with at least 30 points, a franchise record. He also joined Adrian Dantley (1979) and Moses Malone (1982) as the only NBA players to score at least 30 and shoot at least 60 percent in five straight outings.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278473

[will_spurs]

Tony's always had problems against Deron.

Actually Tony always played equal to Deron or better whenever they met, and the same can be said of any of the other elite PGs. For whatever reason Tony struggles more against relative scrubs.

Right now more than the stats it's his ability to take over games that is incredible. He's definitely got that "extra gear" this season. In a way I wouldn't say he's underrated, at least not by everybody. But he's definitely not respected as much as he should be, even (especially?) here.

[cd98]

People under appreciate Tim, but still call him greatest PF of all time. Parker is truly under appreciated.

[temujin]

Crucial issue.
Not that Parker is a superplayer, but that he is perceived as such.
Just look at the difference of the contracts Parker and Rose got from shoes' brands.
Business-wise parker is a fringe superstar.
ouside of the basketball courts.
That's where the REAL championships are being played and won.
NBA is just business, nothing else, and for the Spurs to make it to the Finals again, as their play so far undoubtly deserves, they need a Parker superstar, and perceived as such.
No more flying under the radar.

[exstatic]

I think history is going to be kind to these Spurs. Duncan obviously will be remembered as an all-time great. Ginobili's advanced stats, Olympic exploits and winning on every level will always keep him in the conversation as being one of the best and most dynamic shooting guards ever. If Parker keeps it up, it's going to be really difficult to look at his career achievements and not be really impressed. He's unique in that he reached a high level early in his career and then not only sustained it but continuously improved. Most point guards peak early ( , players like Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Derrick Rose may have already peaked and they are all younger than TP). Speedy point guards usually fall off a cliff late in their 20s (look how Devin Harris looks like a washed up scrub already ... and players like Kevin Johnson and Terrell Brandon were basically done at 30). If Parker keeps it up for even this year and next year, his resume is going to look great.

And then we have to factor in that most "great" point guards are unable to win championships. PG-led teams almost never win so Parker's championships are going to stack up well against others.

The thing that makes TP so lethal is his pick and roll game. Devin Harris is washed up because he never mastered the jumper behind that pick. He still looks like Tony, circa 2004. Chip Englland is one of the best coaching hires in Spurs history.

Tony is so f-ing patient. He'll call for a pick and use it. If he doesn't get the angle he wants, he'll either reset the pick, or use the reverse angle pick, or call for a completely different player to set a different pick. He's Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.

[exstatic]

^Over the last 20-25 games, Parker is probably top 3 with LeBron and Durant, tbh.

This. We're approaching mid February, and I'm not really seeing anyone who would de-throne him as WCPOTM. He might get another one.

[CubanMustGo]

McCallum gave TP a nickname I'd not seen before: "T-Parker".

From there, it's only a tweet or two until you get .... "T Park".