Trading Tony Parker (hypothetical)

[Lady M]

i can't understand how the spurs can break the victories record this year
they only lost the games without the best spur courtvision with Tim

[strangeweather]

Unfortunatedly, court vision is something you're born with, not something you can learn, it can be improved with a lot of training or experience for sure, but not as much as many people think, it's like the IQ you're born with.

Players with great court vision show that skill since being very young, Parker is in NBA for several years, and even in Europe he has always been a ballhog, and in NBA he hasn't improved court vision that much, as it's easy to notice...

Some players, like Jason Kidd, are gifted with court vision early on. Others, like Chauncey Billups, develop it during their career thanks to experience. In last year's playoffs, it sure looked like Antonio Daniels had a whole lot more of it then than he had when he played for the Spurs.

If Antonio Daniels can develop pretty good court vision, I don't see any reason why Parker can't as well.

Besides,the guys who are genuinely gifted are almost never available anyway -- I don't see John Stockton out there on the FA market. Parker has a ton of other extremely valuable skills, and he's still developing as a player. It would be silly to get rid of him now.

[FromWayDowntown]

What court vision do you want Parker to have? I mean, when he can get to the rim -- which he does with incredible consistency -- would you rather that he kick out to a shooter than take the layup or teardrop? All things being equal, I'll take the layup every time over a three-pointer.

Parker doesn't roll up big assist numbers, but that could be as much a product of the Spurs' system as anything else. The Spurs don't play a system that would ever lend itself to gaudy assist numbers. When they're going, they exploit the advantages that Tim Duncan affords and move the ball as a team to find the best shot they can. It's not a point-oriented offense that relies on a specific guard creating shots; it's a team-oriented offense that relies on that ball movement to create shots. They mix in some pick-and-roll, but even that isn't necessarily designed to create assist opportunities for the point guard; for crissakes, they play as much screen-and-roll with Manu as they do with Parker. In any event, it should be clear by now that Parker excels at playing in this system. And he's only getting better.

Add to that the fact that Popovich understands that Tony Parker is an exceptional scorer for his size and an improving jump shooter, and you can understand why Parker doesn't spend much of his offensive energy trying to be a Nash-type. In some ways, those factors make Tony more dangerous than Nash.

In the end, though, so many Spurs fans are ridiculously spoiled and threads like this one prove it. Does Tony Parker have some flaws? Absolutely, every player does. But is Tony Parker a wonderful fit for the San Antonio Spurs? Undoubtedly. You are fans of a team with an explosive scoring point guard who has won 2 les before the age of 25 and is working his ass off every summer to improve some significant facet of his game. And how is he repaid by those fans? They start talking about trying to deal him!! Ridiculous, ridiculous -- a thousand times: ridiculous!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Well said WayDowntown.

Although Parker's vision is not at a Stockton or Magic level, it's still not that bad! Dartheus, you're making out like he can't see the floor at all. If anything, he's slightly above average I would have said.

Remember PG and C are the hardest posns to fill, so I say again, TP is a 24 yo all-star on a very reasonable contract for what he provides and who finally showed consistency this year, and you want to trade him?????

Will never get it, sorry. Agree to disagree at this point.

TD, TP and Manu, playing at the level they are, are untouchable IMHO. They make us perrenial contenders to the end of the decade. What the else do people want?

[Please_dont_ban_me]

After thinking about it...

I've come to my senses. I wouldn't trade TP for Kirk.

[exstatic]

Chris Bosh.

[Dartherus]

What court vision do you want Parker to have?

If you can't recognize POOR court vision, then you need to get real Basketball experience, either as a player or as a coach...

I mean, when he can get to the rim -- which he does with incredible consistency -- would you rather that he kick out to a shooter than take the layup or teardrop? All things being equal, I'll take the layup every time over a three-pointer.

That's fine during regular season, where D isn't that strong, but what playoff did you see? fine 20ppg what at expense of clear teamplay? this happening season after season? and Parker fading in hot moments?

Parker doesn't roll up big assist numbers, but that could be as much a product of the Spurs' system as anything else. The Spurs don't play a system that would ever lend itself to gaudy assist numbers.

Sure, when players like Tim or Manu has near the assist Parker has, it's because Spurs system doesn't let many assists...

When they're going, they exploit the advantages that Tim Duncan affords and move the ball as a team to find the best shot they can. It's not a point-oriented offense that relies on a specific guard creating shots; it's a team-oriented offense that relies on that ball movement to create shots. They mix in some pick-and-roll, but even that isn't necessarily designed to create assist opportunities for the point guard; for crissakes, they play as much screen-and-roll with Manu as they do with Parker. In any event, it should be clear by now that Parker excels at playing in this system. And he's only getting better.

The mavs series showed how he 'excels'...

Add to that the fact that Popovich understands that Tony Parker is an exceptional scorer for his size and an improving jump shooter, and you can understand why Parker doesn't spend much of his offensive energy trying to be a Nash-type. In some ways, those factors make Tony more dangerous than Nash.

That would be PERFECT if he, despite having great speed and dribbling, would ALSO have at least some decent court vision, or even if not having court vision, he'd learn when he has an off night and stopping being so one-dimensional, and learn to take a step aside and try to play more team-oriented....

In the end, though, so many Spurs fans are ridiculously spoiled and threads like this one prove it. Does Tony Parker have some flaws? Absolutely, every player does. But is Tony Parker a wonderful fit for the San Antonio Spurs? Undoubtedly. You are fans of a team with an explosive scoring point guard who has won 2 les

Thanks to him or despite his one-dimensional play?

before the age of 25 and is working his ass off every summer to improve some significant facet of his game. And how is he repaid by those fans? They start talking about trying to deal him!! Ridiculous, ridiculous -- a thousand times: ridiculous!

Seattle is trying to rebuild, don't you think they'd trade a young PG with an AllStar in his back for Rashard Lewis? don't you think that would be a 'ridiculous' trade to suggest? Don't you think that with Lewis, 3 scoring threats would still be available? and then the PG position could be filled by a not as good scorer, but at least less predictable PG?

[SPARKY]

Sure, when players like Tim or Manu has near the assist Parker has, it's because Spurs system doesn't let many assists...

That's because TD, Manu and TP all have the rock in their hands for roughly about the same # of possessions on average in a game. I don't know why Spurs fans expect TP to put up huge assist totals when the offense they run is designed to spread the rock around so as to be unpredictable.

Why are the Spurs trading TP again? Damn. about Pop's offense if you don't like how Parker is utilized but get some perspective.

[strangeweather]

Seattle is trying to rebuild, don't you think they'd trade a young PG with an AllStar in his back for Rashard Lewis? don't you think that would be a 'ridiculous' trade to suggest? Don't you think that with Lewis, 3 scoring threats would still be available? and then the PG position could be filled by a not as good scorer, but at least less predictable PG?

So who is this alternate PG? Beno?