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

[Strategic]

Parker's ability to let the game come to him, while leading others, makes him a rare breed indeed.

[ontheraise]

TP last 5 games 0.600/FG% 0.667/3P% 0.904/FT% 9.2/APG 1.2/SPG 26.4/PP just sayin...

[ontheraise]

Right now, can't stop laughing thinking about jeremy lin hype from last year....

[Samr.]

Imagine how different this would be if Parker was in NY or LA.

I just don't understand why PHX got so much hype for their 7-seconds or less suns, whereas the Spurs are arguably a better offensive team, and a much better defensive team, and they barely get any press for it.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

I just hope Parker rolls like this through out the playoffs. Or he can do this against our more quality opponents coming up on this road trip.

[EVAY]

My take on some of this is that while it is true that Tony has improved several areas of his game over time, he would have been considered more of a star earlier in his career if he had NOT been playing in the Spurs system in his early years, when the entire offense ran through Duncan, and no pg could get many stats because the offense was built around a Power-Guard in the person of Tim. For the first few years that Tony was here, the only role that a pg had was "bring the ball up the court and then give it to Tim". That is what he was supposed to do. So that is what he did. Then Tim would dribble the ball, wait for a double team or not, and then decide whether to kick it out or take a shot himself. That offensive structure, which defined the Spurs for at least the seven of Tim's years here, leaves little or no room for anyone else to be anything other than a role player.

It has only been in the last few years (2 or 3) that the offensive set has changed from "Duncan-point" to "Parker-Point". Since that change has occurred in the offense, Tony has begun to dominate more and more and more.

What has NOT changed is that Tony still does whatever Pop tells him to do. And when Tim and Tony are on the floor together, the other guys don't get as many touches because that is the way Pop is running the offense. It always amazes me that people in this forum are so slow to recognize that Pop is still in charge of this team, and that nobody out there is going to stay out there unless they are doing exactly what Pop wants done.

I dislike reading things like "if he keeps this up". I respectfully suggest that is bull . He is already proven.

When Tim was ascendant, even the point guards were mere 'role players'. Now that Tim has declined somewhat, Pop has changed the offense to Tony and Tim, with everyone else (Manu included) relegated to role players. That includes people like Kawhi and Tiago. When folks get upset that Tony is not including other people in the offense enough, it is because Pop has set it up that way. The problem that this sets up is magnified in the playoffs when shutting down Tony can shut down the team because only Tony and Tim are in positions to drive the rest of the team. That is Pop's doing, not Tony's.

[EVAY]

^^^^Think about how much of a change it has taken for Tim to become a 'catch and shoot' player. That change, moving the ball more quickly and everyone being ready to shoot when they get the ball, has made it far easier for any pg to get better assist totals than before. Tony is great today and is a total team player. He was the one last night who screamed at the team at halftime about improving their defense. And he led them to it.

But Tony was always a team player in that he did what Pop asked within Pop's system. It used to mean he held himself back. Today it means something else. It still means he is playing team ball, per Pop's plans.

[ontheraise]

My take on some of this is that while it is true that Tony has improved several areas of his game over time, he would have been considered more of a star earlier in his career if he had NOT been playing in the Spurs system in his early years, when the entire offense ran through Duncan, and no pg could get many stats because the offense was built around a Power-Guard in the person of Tim. For the first few years that Tony was here, the only role that a pg had was "bring the ball up the court and then give it to Tim". That is what he was supposed to do. So that is what he did. Then Tim would dribble the ball, wait for a double team or not, and then decide whether to kick it out or take a shot himself. That offensive structure, which defined the Spurs for at least the seven of Tim's years here, leaves little or no room for anyone else to be anything other than a role player.

It has only been in the last few years (2 or 3) that the offensive set has changed from "Duncan-point" to "Parker-Point". Since that change has occurred in the offense, Tony has begun to dominate more and more and more.

What has NOT changed is that Tony still does whatever Pop tells him to do. And when Tim and Tony are on the floor together, the other guys don't get as many touches because that is the way Pop is running the offense. It always amazes me that people in this forum are so slow to recognize that Pop is still in charge of this team, and that nobody out there is going to stay out there unless they are doing exactly what Pop wants done.

I dislike reading things like "if he keeps this up". I respectfully suggest that is bull . He is already proven.

When Tim was ascendant, even the point guards were mere 'role players'. Now that Tim has declined somewhat, Pop has changed the offense to Tony and Tim, with everyone else (Manu included) relegated to role players. That includes people like Kawhi and Tiago. When folks get upset that Tony is not including other people in the offense enough, it is because Pop has set it up that way. The problem that this sets up is magnified in the playoffs when shutting down Tony can shut down the team because only Tony and Tim are in positions to drive the rest of the team. That is Pop's doing, not Tony's.

+1

[Man In Black]

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.

Problem with the Spurs is they are too busy setting a gold standard that whatever marketing advantage they had was either wasted or misunderstood by Madison Avenue and the NBA. They never ever learned how to market our International Studs in Parker or Ginobili. It's so easy for Madison Avenue to do ad pitches for an AMERICAN. Not so much for an International, although...because of Tony and Manu and other Internationals, there is some play given to guys like Ricky Rubio.

It's the same kind of short-sightedness that made Bruce Lee bail off to Hong Kong before Hollywood realized what they lost when Enter The Dragon was released.
Dumbasses and why they got a Ben Kingsley to play The Mandarin against Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man in Iron Man 3 is still part of that BS. But I digress. TP is the in man and while no one outside of San Antonio will call him the Best PG in all the land, if they opened their got damn eyes, they'd notice he is the most EFFECTIVE PG for sure.

[jag]

[Brazil]

Amen

[Mel_13]

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

Front page of espn.com:

[KaiRMD1]

Yeah, he might get on my nerves at times but this, what Jack McCallum says, is very true.

[DMC]

TP is one of the most underrated players in the history of the NBA. It's amazing how little respect he gets for what he does.

[DMC]

Hey Pop, how's it going?

[Old School 44]

A completely healthy Manu and Tony are on the floor, 20 seconds left, game tied, with ball on the side in the front court.
Who has the ball at the top, initiating the play? Tbh, for me in the past it has always been Manu, no question. Now, I'd be happy with either. As a Spurs fan what a great luxury to have.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Front page of espn.com:

he has a very strong case for runners up that he has an outside chance even upsetting lebron for that award....lebron hasnt done besides coasting and getting them very effciently, if they gave one to nash for being efficient, then lebron will get his cause the media loves that black

durant has been who hasnt improve any other areas of his game, his basically the same player since day 1

[mercos]

The last two years, Tony Parker has elevated his game to the upper echelon of NBA players. He was playing at an MVP level last year, and I thought he was the MVP of the first half. This year, he is playing like one of the best players in the league period. Right now, I would only put Lebron and Durant ahead of him. He is clearly the best point guard in the NBA at this point. What I find most striking this year is how unstoppable he is consistently. He has shown flashes in the past where he would get hot for short stretches and look invincible, but he is doing it on a nightly basis this year. Parker is the best finisher in the game right now, and he accomplishes this without dunking. He has become so accurate at the rim that I am genuinely surprised when one of his attempts don't go in.

[will_spurs]

Business-wise parker is a fringe superstar.
ouside of the basketball courts.

Just wanted to point out he's definitely a superstar in his own country, which is probably equally as important to him.