Who Is The Second Option On The Spurs?

[ducks]

I think he could be right?
steve nash past prime
marbarry= good but maybe past prime
sam cassel= age will catch up this year
baron davis= going against west this year and unhappy
kidd= will he even play this year?

[timvp]

I think this player for the Spurs has to be Parker. Put him in a pick-and-roll late in games and he'll deliver. He can get to the basket and create his shots just as well as Manu can. Manu makes it look more flashy, but Parker shoots a higher percentage close to the rim.

And as far as Manu being "much clutcher", I don't buy that. Other than his Olympic shot, I don't remember many times that he had huge fourth quarter shots. Parker, on the other hand, has a number of game winners under his belt already.

[RobinsontoDuncan]

agreed timvp also the fact is that Tony Parker is just the fastest player in the league period. That means that he could make something out of nothing when everyhting is on the line. Manu Ginobilli might have the better three point shot but , we all know that neither are particularly known for their perimiter shooting... give the ball to Berry when we need a three, but otherwise TP is our man.

[Phenomanul]

I would give the ball to Manu. Not only can he get the clutch steal, rebound, block, but he will do anything to get to the basket and I remember a couple of games last season where he took over the game when we were down and led us to a win.

The game last year at Chicago comes to mind.... 4 back to back treys with two amazing layups in the span of about 3 minutes (game time tics)....

[Ginofan]

well i think if you think back to the playoffs tp was very much the better player, if you saw what he did to mephis.......

And then he choked against the Lakers? Manu may have not been big but at least he was consistant.

And as far as Manu being "much clutcher", I don't buy that. Other than his Olympic shot, I don't remember many times that he had huge fourth quarter shots. Parker, on the other hand, has a number of game winners under his belt already.

not game winners but definitely clutchness...
Nov.6 2003 vs Lakers
Feb. 9 2004 vs Houston (remember this one where he went over Yao TWICE)
March 31 2004 vs Sactown
April 9 2004 vs Portland
May 2 2004 vs Lakers

[Nikos]

The two games I remember Manu making some big late game shots were against Houston (against Yao in the last two minutes), and also against the Lakers in Game 2 I beleive, where he made the jumper on the right side.

Other games he has made shots to help put games away early, but I don't remember any last second shots like the one Tony made over Bradley and Dirk in 2003, or the one against Phoenix in 2004.

[whottt]

Manu is the second superstar option. Tony is the second scoring option.

In the final seconds, if forced to choose between the 2, I want the ball in Manu's hands to create, and if we are running a set play to get off a shot I want Tony taking that shot(I'm still comfortable with Horry though, and I'll probably be really comfortable with Barry by seasons end).


Manu's not clutch when we try to use him as a spot up shooter, I've never seen him make one yet...He doesn't like wide open easy shots.

Manu is clutch when all breaks loose and he is freelancing and he has to throw up some form of junk no chance shot. I have seen him make those kinds of shots at least twice for the Spurs, once in the NBA finals and I saw him do it in the Olympics. Really he makes them all the time like that, they just aren't always with the game on the line. Don't expect Manu to make an easy shot, he doesn't seem to like that kind.

When Tony is on, he is just flat out the man, I don't think he's unclutch, he just doesn't have a 100% grip on his game and his confidence yet. I expect that to change this season...

While a lot of people remember Parker being shut down in the final games against LA...I'm willing to bet that Tony remembers, what I remember, that he was the best player on the court in games 1 and 2 and almost looked to be in a class of his own against the other HOF'ers on the floor with him, even Duncan, and Parker impressed me in game 5 as well when he finally seemed to figure out how to handle a double team.

I'll never forget that play where he just goofed Shaq, made him look bad in game 2...kinda like he did to Kidd in the early games of the finals. If Tony has his game and his confidence, he is clutch. I have seen him make tough shots under pressure.

I still rather the ball be in Manu's hands to set up the play though, if we can't use Duncan.

[Phenomanul]

The game last year at Chicago comes to mind.... 4 back to back treys with two amazing layups in the span of about 3 minutes (game time tics)....

What, no one remember's this??? If anything Manu's performance saved face for the Spurs, because how in the world could we lose to an underachieving Bulls team...???

Manu prevented that from happenning. 16 points in a 3 minute span in the fourth is pretty clutch to me considering we were down by 9 and sinking faster than an anvil.

I agree with Whott's post above... Manu is a clutch creator... and Parker is the clutch shooter (just lacking in consistency)... And Duncan... well he's Duncan... the Dunk that was 0.2 seconds too late against the Bucks last year would have been a great addition to his own repertoire of game winners. Last year just wasn't our year though... I feel we needed at least a year of adjustment (from not having Robinson). And that can be explained by the divine intervention that allowed Fisher's shot to go in and in the process nullified Duncan's greatest shot ever.....

[timvp]

Nice point, Whottt. Parker has hit tons of clutch shots ... Manu has made a lot of clutch plays.

Combined ... they are a pretty damn clutch backcourt.

[slayermin]

Gotta go with Ginobili.

If I recall, Manu hit at least one clutch three in each of the 4th Qtrs during the series clinching playoff games in 2003.

His shot against Serbia and Montenegro was a legit 0.4 shot. Fisher was not in 0.4.

[xcoriate]

In light of the discussion I change my opinion...

Either one of them can take the shot as far as I'm concerned. I'm quite content with either taking it and I'd be prepared to have Horry take the shot as well, I mean the man's pedigree. "Big Shot Rob" -- nuff said.

Barry has a made a few game winners in his time too.

[2pac]

Parker's job is to set up Manu or Tim. If TPs man lags and he can have an easy drive or shot, he can take it - easy drive is always the first option. On that drive, if the defense collapses, first option is Timmay.

Parker sets up, but the plays should be for Tim/Manu/Brent/TP/Rasho. However, plays for Tim could work for TP - like the PnR. Basketball is all about good decision making - finding the open man, finding the easy lane, finding the right pass.