Ludden: Parker has long thrived on matchup with Kidd

[whottt]

That part about Pop being on Parker's ass about proving he was the best PG wasn't just limited to sideline talks....

I remember for a couple of years there just about any time Pop would be asked what he wanted of Parker he'd give answers like...


"I want him to be Isiah Thomas and John Stockton rolled into one."


"He can't do enough"

Or simply...

"Everything"


It worked...

I get a nice warm feeling in this thread that some of hte people that were in favor of that Kidd trade are now ing about the picks we traded away in trying to sign him...makes the pileons in the FSP chatroom that night done to those of us ing about trading that pick, much more funny now...

[ChumpDumper]

Marcus Williams would agree with you.

True, although I think the biggest failure with him was not fully understanding his unwillingness to go overseas for at least one season. This year's draft class on the whole is proving to have been overrated anyway.

[Sigz]

What a ing great read.

[whottt]

And I still say we should have drafted Greek Baby Shaq.

[Holt's Cat]

Yeah, I'm just saying there is no evidence the Spurs would make the plum pick at its draft position every year.

Actually Lee was taken with the Suns' pick in 2005 so scratch that idea. Still, Howard, Scola, and potentially Jack.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Now that Ludden isn't the Spurs' official mouthpiece he's detailing a little more explicitly what everyone new went on. Seems like that was Buford's call on Kidd more than the others. Maybe Duncan's as well but Duncan had to know Kidd meant no Howard.

Somewhere, Kevin O'Keefe weeps.

[ShoogarBear]

Looking back, the Spurs helped improve their two biggest rivals all for the right to insult their own young point guard. Two championships later, Buford can afford to joke that his tombstone won’t be complete if the names “Howard” and “Barbosa” aren’t engraved under his own. At times, Popovich has sounded more than willing to even hammer them onto Buford’s granite himself.

That might be the best thing Ludden's ever written.

[ShoogarBear]

Damn, Ludden drops the hammer now that he can't be reprimanded by the Spurs. That was a nice line.

The stupid thing is the Spurs could have just drafted Howard and if Kidd decided to sign with the Spurs, Buford could have just traded away Howard for a second rounder or whatever. But Buford for some reason hasn't figured out it's easy to trade cheap rookies even after you sign them . . .

Um, the Spurs still disrespect the value of a first-round pick, just in case you haven't noticed.

[T Park]

yeah but this time it was for a damn good player.

Come on.

[Buddy Holly]

Tony playing well so far.

[ShoogarBear]

yeah but this time it was for a damn good player.

Come on.

I'm not talking just about giving up a first-rounder for Thomas. I'm talking about the combination of that plus NOT getting a first-rounder for the S guy.

[timvp]

Um, the Spurs still disrespect the value of a first-round pick, just in case you haven't noticed.

Um, you obviously missed the point of what you quoted.

[SenorSpur]

To free up more salary-cap room to sign Kidd, the Spurs traded their first-round pick that summer. Duncan had urged them to consider drafting a fellow Wake Forest product. When the Spurs sent the pick to Phoenix and Dallas immediately followed by taking Duncan’s preferred choice – the same Josh Howard who will be running alongside Kidd Thursday – Popovich wondered aloud in the draft room whether they had made a mistake. The Suns, meanwhile, used the Spurs’ pick on Leandro Barbosa, who developed into the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

Looking back, the Spurs helped improve their two biggest rivals all for the right to insult their own young point guard. Two championships later, Buford can afford to joke that his tombstone won’t be complete if the names “Howard” and “Barbosa” aren’t engraved under his own. At times, Popovich has sounded more than willing to even hammer them onto Buford’s granite himself.

Since Ludden decided to hammer this again, so will I. I'll never forgive Buford for being such a dumb-ass and bypassing Howard. This blunder is only compounded more because of the following 2 basic reasons:

1. The Spurs had just parted ways with Stephen Jackson
2. The Spurs have been unable to successfully replace that skill set.

Josh Howard would have filled the bill. And we wouldn't keep having this annual conversation about this mythical "swingman".

This was, by far, the biggest blunder of Buford's reign. It's time for him to stop living on the laurels of drafting Parker and Ginobili. I don't care what he's done to date or what he does in the future, Buford "screwed the pooch" on this one - and all for the pursuit of a PG who didnt' have any business being courted in the first place.

[carina_gino20]

And Tony remains undefeated against Kidd since then...

[spursfan09]

Even though Tony made those calls eventually to vent his frusteration. I still admire how well a 21 year old handled the whole situation. Tony you are awesome and way mature for your age. I'm glad the Spurs were "stuck" with you, because it was meant to be.

[Ice009]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...y.1d30ccd.html

Kidd said Parker is en led to his opinion.

"I didn't know about his comments until the media told me about it," Kidd said Thursday morning. "The big thing is, I just go out and do my job. When I look at the best point guards, (John) Stockton and Gary (Payton), those guys, even later in their careers I always respected them because I always felt they were the best until they left the game.

"For that, everybody has a right to their opinion, how they feel. So that's how he feels."

I would have liked this better had Tony not said anything and just thought those comments to himself. TP should know better than that to say stuff like that aloud to the media. I don't think Kidd is too happy about hearing that from TP.

[spursfan09]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...y.1d30ccd.html

Kidd said Parker is en led to his opinion.

"I didn't know about his comments until the media told me about it," Kidd said Thursday morning. "The big thing is, I just go out and do my job. When I look at the best point guards, (John) Stockton and Gary (Payton), those guys, even later in their careers I always respected them because I always felt they were the best until they left the game.

"For that, everybody has a right to their opinion, how they feel. So that's how he feels."

I would have liked this better had Tony not said anything and just though those comments to himself. I don't think Kidd is too happy about hearing that from TP.

Who gives a if he wasn't happy to hear that from Tony? Kidd turned Spurs down. Tony hasn't. Defend Tony not Kidd.

[Ice009]

I agree with what Tony said as I thought the same thing myself, but I just don't think TP should have said it to the media or whoever it was that he said to. You get what I'm saying right? Tony has to back that up now.

It's not about defending anyone. I doubt Pop liked hearing that either.

[Holt's Cat]

No wonder Jumanji was beat down so often.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...y.1d30ccd.html

Kidd said Parker is en led to his opinion.

"I didn't know about his comments until the media told me about it," Kidd said Thursday morning. "The big thing is, I just go out and do my job. When I look at the best point guards, (John) Stockton and Gary (Payton), those guys, even later in their careers I always respected them because I always felt they were the best until they left the game.

"For that, everybody has a right to their opinion, how they feel. So that's how he feels."

I would have liked this better had Tony not said anything and just thought those comments to himself. TP should know better than that to say stuff like that aloud to the media. I don't think Kidd is too happy about hearing that from TP.

It was a brainfart on TP's part, but he was just being matter-a-fact about it. Kidd can't really compete with Parker to take him on individually, but it might add some incentive for Kidd to really want to beat us. He could have helped to try and win it on that last possession, if he was given the chance.

But yeah, it's better not to open your mouth like that. Oh well.

[whottt]

Kidd and the #1 pick he rode out on.

[T Park]

Kidd and if he was disrespected.

We lost out on Josh Howard cause of his OJ Simpson ass.

[spursfan09]

I agree with what Tony said as I thought the same thing myself, but I just don't think TP should have said it to the media or whoever it was that he said to. You get what I'm saying right? Tony has to back that up now.

It's not about defending anyone. I doubt Pop liked hearing that either.

He shouldn't of yes. I can agree with that, but as a 21 year old, he was just trying to save his job I guess. He never said things like that during the reg. season. He had to put up with that the whole year. AT least he waited until after the season and playoffs were done. I'm glad Tony let his voice be heard, but it all worked out I think. All in all I don't see the big deal in his comments. And if Kidd needs to used those words that were said years ago as motivation, well then thats pretty sad on Kidd's part. He has a lot of more reasons to beat the Spurs other than his TP's comments

[Ice009]

He shouldn't of yes. I can agree with that, but as a 21 year old, he was just trying to save his job I guess. He never said things like that during the reg. season. He had to put up with that the whole year. AT least he waited until after the season and playoffs were done. I'm glad Tony let his voice be heard, but it all worked out I think. All in all I don't see the big deal in his comments. And if Kidd needs to used those words that were said years ago as motivation, well then thats pretty sad on Kidd's part. He has a lot of more reasons to beat the Spurs other than his TP's comments

I was talking about what Parker said after Kidd got traded to Dallas, not his comments from years ago.

[timvp]

Kidd and the #1 pick he rode out on.

Kidd and if he was disrespected.

We lost out on Josh Howard cause of his OJ Simpson ass.

Are whottt and T Park the same person?