How Tony Parker Is Evolving to Give Spurs Just What They Need

[Seventyniner]

What people expect is that Parker doesn't take more shots than Kawhi or the same that LMA in a game, because people already understand that if he has high USG% against elite guards/teams, this team is f*cked.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...01/splits/2016

Parker's USG% against 50+ win opponents last season:

Opponent	Games	USG%	Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3	Gm 4
Golden State	4	17.7	20.8 (L)	16.1 (W)	23.6 (L)	11.9 (L)
Oklahoma City	3	19.3	21.6 (L)	13.7 (W)	21.8 (W)
Cleveland	2	28.7	27.6 (W)	30.3 (L)
LA Clippers	3	22.0	24.6 (W)	26.3 (L)*	13.9 (W)
Toronto	2	16.5	12.3 (L)	21.3 (W)

* Kawhi Leonard DNP

His overall season average was 21.2, lowest since his rookie season. 21.6 in wins and 20.2 in losses.

The numbers are mixed here, there are 2 high usage wins, 3 high usage losses, 2 medium usage wins, 2 medium usage losses, 3 low usage wins, 2 low usage losses. I can't see any real correlation between Parker's USG% and the Spurs' performance against the best teams in the league.

[lefty]

No, he isn't. But he draws the defensive attention way more than Parker, that means there are a lot of good/better opportunities for others with him running it than with Parker.

Anyway, like I've said before, the biggest issue is the way that Kawhi plays with Parker compare to him with Patty/Manu.

When Parker has the ball, he isn't looking for Kawhi because he's a point guard who has fed his whole career a big man like Duncan, now he does the same with LMA/Pau because he doesn't incorporate the two-man game with a wing like Westbrook.

When Patty/Manu have the ball, Kawhi's more aggressive, even if he's not running the offense. But it's likely he also runs it with Patty/Manu on the court.

Folks said in playoffs 'but but why Kawhi isn't more aggressive, why he isn't taking over this game'...It's hard to take over when you doesn't have the ball in your hands and your point-guard is running plays only for him and the bigs, freezing you for long periods of time.

While Parker USG% looks almost identical to Kawhi's, this team won't improve against elite teams.



In fact, Danny said that the only two who were calling plays until this preseason were Pop AND Parker.

Now, he said Kawhi's slowly starting to...But we already saw that only happened when Parker was on the bench.


Sure, only Parker's haters on ST say that he's freezing Kawhi...

Even Michael Wright who covers Spurs for ESPN liked this tweet.

[J_Paco]

Should work on your reading comprehension. I never said anyone on the bench was a better alternative. The Spurs are ed at the PG spot.

Then just say that because none if the four PG's on the roster, although I don't consider Murray a PG, is capable of defending the elite PG's of the NBA.

Like I said earlier, Pop is making the best of what he has and Tony is the most suited to start. Gotta hope that him, Patty and co. can hold it down and play well enough on offense to negate their subpar (or worse) defense.

And I think people are taking this "evolving" thing too literal because he isn't going to magically become Steve Nash, Jason Kidd or Chris Paul. He can facilitate within the offense, get people good looks in their desired spots and chip in on offense a solid 10 - 15 points. I just hope he paces himself better and doesn't have a second half free fall for the 3rd or 4th year in a row.

All the mileage on his legs and more Summer basketball makes that very, very unlikely, though.

[bklynspursfan]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...01/splits/2016

Parker's USG% against 50+ win opponents last season:

Opponent	Games	USG%	Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3	Gm 4
Golden State	4	17.7	20.8 (L)	16.1 (W)	23.6 (L)	11.9 (L)
Oklahoma City	3	19.3	21.6 (L)	13.7 (W)	21.8 (W)
Cleveland	2	28.7	27.6 (W)	30.3 (L)
LA Clippers	3	22.0	24.6 (W)	26.3 (L)*	13.9 (W)
Toronto	2	16.5	12.3 (L)	21.3 (W)

* Kawhi Leonard DNP

His overall season average was 21.2, lowest since his rookie season. 21.6 in wins and 20.2 in losses.

The numbers are mixed here, there are 2 high usage wins, 3 high usage losses, 2 medium usage wins, 2 medium usage losses, 3 low usage wins, 2 low usage losses. I can't see any real correlation between Parker's USG% and the Spurs' performance against the best teams in the league.

Thanks for this... cause there is no real correlation. People will believe what they want and see what they want to fit their agenda

[J_Paco]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...01/splits/2016

Parker's USG% against 50+ win opponents last season:

Opponent	Games	USG%	Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3	Gm 4
Golden State	4	17.7	20.8 (L)	16.1 (W)	23.6 (L)	11.9 (L)
Oklahoma City	3	19.3	21.6 (L)	13.7 (W)	21.8 (W)
Cleveland	2	28.7	27.6 (W)	30.3 (L)
LA Clippers	3	22.0	24.6 (W)	26.3 (L)*	13.9 (W)
Toronto	2	16.5	12.3 (L)	21.3 (W)

* Kawhi Leonard DNP

His overall season average was 21.2, lowest since his rookie season. 21.6 in wins and 20.2 in losses.

The numbers are mixed here, there are 2 high usage wins, 3 high usage losses, 2 medium usage wins, 2 medium usage losses, 3 low usage wins, 2 low usage losses. I can't see any real correlation between Parker's USG% and the Spurs' performance against the best teams in the league.

Most of what these idiots claim can't be proven by empirical data. Yes, his defense is porous and he isn't nearly the offensive player he once was. Yet, almost everything else they suggest about him (selfish, cancer, hates Kawhi, jealous of so and so, etc.) is drivel they've concocted in their own minds.

Does anyone (with common sense) truly believe that Pop would tolerate ANY PLAYER that attempts to sabotage his team or becomes disruptive to Pop's goals/agenda? What happened to Devin Brown (poor work ethic), Stephen Jackson (poor at ued/unwilling to accept lesser role), DeJuan Blair (poor at ude/work ethic), Ron Mercer (poor at ude) and countless other players that didn't bend to Pop's will?

[sananspursfan21]

Most of what these idiots claim can't be proven by empirical data. Yes, his defense is porous and he isn't nearly the offensive player he once was. Yet, almost everything else they suggest about him (selfish, cancer, hates Kawhi, jealous of so and so, etc.) is drivel they've concocted in their own minds.

Does anyone (with common sense) truly believe that Pop would tolerate ANY PLAYER that attempts to sabotage his team or becomes disruptive to Pop's goals/agenda? What happened to Devin Brown (poor work ethic), Stephen Jackson (poor at ued/unwilling to accept lesser role), DeJuan Blair (poor at ude/work ethic), Ron Mercer (poor at ude) and countless other players that didn't bend to Pop's will?

I don't think anyone has much in the way of facts on this whole Parker's ego thing. It's nearly all projected.

[Hoops Czar]

I don't think anyone has much in the way of facts on this whole Parker's ego thing. It's nearly all projected.

It's really just Parker s trying to sound smart and edgy. If you put stats in front of them, they retreat pretty quickly.

[sananspursfan21]

It's really just Parker s trying to sound smart and edgy. If you put stats in front of them, they retreat pretty quickly.

It's always going to be somebody. It's a condition more than it is the individual player. I'm gonna go all psychiatrist up in dis mug. If Parker wasn't on the team they'd be making up something about Kyle Anderson....WAIT A MINUTE

[RD2191]

Can't believe people still fall for this every year from Porker. Before the season begins, it's "I'm evolving to become more unselfish," then the games start and he's right back to the same old hogging and chucking.

Truth bomb

[HarlemHeat37]

Spurs are in an impossible situation with Parker, unfortunately..

Contrary to what many believe, I think he has accepted his role, for the most part..the reality is that TP is virtually useless without the ball, these days, which makes it essential that he's put in a situation where he must have it in his hands..

If you have Parker on the roster, you need to put him in a position to succeed, which requires a high-usage role..part of it is due to the lack of ball-handlers on the roster, and part of it is due to Kawhi being great without the ball + Aldridge's ability to make spot-up jump shots..TP, despite shooting a high % from 3s in the corners, is not a viable off-ball option, thus requiring an on-ball role to maximize his abilities..

For example, a lot of people criticized him for taking the shots down the stretch in game 5 vs. OKC..however, passing them up would have been foolish, as they continued to go under and give him a mile of empty space..ideally, we didn't want to see him taking all the big shots, but it was a no-brainer with the way OKC was playing him..in this offense, with the current personnel, Parker needs the ball in his hands and will need to shoot as many times as the opposing defense leaves him open, unfortunately..

If you want to argue that the Spurs need an upgrade at PG(especially in today's NBA), I completely agree, Tony should not be starting for a team with le aspirations..in the case of the current roster, though, he needs to continue being aggressive with the ball in his hands and take what the defense gives him, otherwise, he will be completely useless as a bystander..

[SASdynasty!]

How is Parker even going to be playable against the Warriors? Now that the Warriors traded in Barnes for Durant, there's no one to hide Parker on. Is he going to go back to guarding Curry? Curry will torch Parker.

Parker held Curry to the worst shooting game of his career.

[Clipper Nation]

If Porker was as unselfish as his fluffers claim he is, he wouldn't have to make a statement before every season that he's "becoming unselfish." You'd think after 15 years as an NBA point guard, he'd have learned by now to stop hogging the ball.

[FkLA]

Can't believe people still fall for this every year from Porker. Before the season begins, it's "I'm evolving to become more unselfish," then the games start and he's right back to the same old hogging and chucking.

He's like a little Kobe Jr tbh.

[Snaq O'Meal]

Parker held Curry to the worst shooting game of his career.

It was Danny Green who harassed Curry, even blocking one of Curry's 3-point attempts.

Parker was destroyed and humiliated by a hobbled Chris Paul. Parker's only contribution is on the offensive end.