Parker I would say has become clutch and with him playing better/being healthy I trust him with the ball down the stretch
I define a "Go-To" Finisher as the player who you want to have the ball in the last minutes/seconds of a close game. He's the clutch player you can rely on to either make a shot, get fouled--and make the FTs, or make the sure pass to an open man when double-teamed. Pick almost any team and you know who their 'Go-To' player is.
At one time, that player on the Spurs was clearly TD. Then Pop shifted the role to Manu and then to Parker. However, this year I don't see these guys being as reliable as in the past and Kwahi doesn't appear to be ready to assume that role yet.
So how does this affect our chances in the playoffs where tight games are more likely than in the regular season. Can the passing game continue to work against stepped up defensive schemes in the final moments?
Parker I would say has become clutch and with him playing better/being healthy I trust him with the ball down the stretch
Depends on the matchup. I think the Spurs are confident in any one of Duncan, Parker, Kawhi, or Ginobili to orchestrate or dominate down the stretch.
Diaw. Or if we need a really quick shot, Mills
If we need FTs just give it to Danny
Thought about including Diaw legitimately in my initial response, because he has the ability to take advantage of mismatches and make the right play. Not sure the Spurs see him on the level of the other four, but it seems they should based on his recent play.
If the Spurs lose in the playoffs, that probably won't be the reason.
"Go to" finishers are a double-edged sword. If they're off, you're cooked.
The Spurs depend on defense and ball movement. No "go to" since Manu in '05.
This is the exact same Spurs team that won the championship last year. If those players won it last year they can damn well win it again this year.
... And next year and the year after that?
Quotes in the wrong place. The Spurs lack "a" go-to finisher. Now you can sleep better.
I think the Spurs just have to run those set plays well all the time including clutch situations. Always a hard thing to do but it's possible (see last year). Ginobili will probably be the one running isos in clutch situations when needed. Maybe Parker if he keeps regaining his speed.
Tim outscored Manu that season by 2 points in the RS (& Finals) & by 3 points in the Playoffs. Tony Parker outscored Manu in the RS by 0.6 points that season. 14 rpg in Finals it was ing domination by Tim. Tony has definitely sniffed Manu's scoring #'s from '05.
I've wondered what it is about that season that gets people so randy for Manu. IMO: White dunker, coming off biggest Olympic Bball upset ever. Also, maybe ppl weren't used to having somebody w/in a few points of Tim's scoring average. And it was Manu's best season by far he was certainly great.
Even we who appreciate Tim underrate him. One thing about that season is it's probly the best 2nd option (scoring) we've seen in a Spurs champ squad.
tl;dr: gtfo Tim was the '05 go-to
They didn't have one last year either.
Mills is so ing awful this season
Tim and Manu.
ing casuals.
Team play is always the Spurs's goto, as seen in '13, '14 Finals
They literally have to do it by committee:
-Need someone to hit their FTs? Give it to Green.
-Need a shot? Give it to Parker.
-Need a facilitator? Give it to Manu.
-Need someone to create from the post? Diaw or Duncan.
-Need a defensive stop from the perimeter? Kawhi.
-Need a stop one-on-one? Green for PGs, Splitter for mobile bigs.
-Need a stop in the post? Duncan.
etc., etc.
Over 20 ppg during the postseason run, which bested what the Admiral did during the 99 le run (though when Duncan was hurt the next year, Admiral had to put up 20 shots a game during the sweep).
Parker had four straight postseasons of 20+ while shooting around 50%. But Boobie Gibson was probably guarding him all 55 of those games.
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