Parker back in San Antonio !!!!

[diego]

I'm really glad Tony plays for the Spurs, and he has brought a lot to the team. But he's gotten a of a lot too. If you're suggesting that Tony doesn't owe the team at least a little consideration, in the area of safeguarding his health, then you. I don't think Tony feels that way, but if he does, then him too. The Spurs have been a class organization, and they have been really good to a lot of players over the years. That counts for something - at least to some people.

I think between the org and the players they have respectful relationships and appreciate what each brings to the table. its the fans that immediately start flinging when the mere possibility of a bad outcome rears up.

the fact is right now the spurs chances to win next year are the same as they were two weeks ago, and france's chances of winning EC took a small hit but arent wiped out either. all we have is parker's translated quotes, with no medical diagnosis of any kind. does it really warrant the heated discussion? i dont think so. we should at least wait till we have more information before saying " parker" or " the spurs".

also, and this is my general opinion relative to all sports, how do you determine when an athlete is 100%? one thing is for them to be healthy, another in shape, another in rhythm. but can anyone really put a number and say? the only one in any position to do that is the athlete, and even they can't be sure. Confidence is very important, and top athletes dont become top athletes without it. I'll always take a confident player willing to take risks over a guy who second guesses himself, and i think pop agrees.

[Solid D]

oh and manu did want to go overseas and play for his country
spurs did not he refushed to listen to them
tp is saying I will come back
manu would have said no.
he did last year
where was your trade manu thread?

Most of this is true, ducks, except you are talking about Parker coming back to the US before the Addional Qualifying Round (Eurobasket 2009) starts Aug. 5th.

If this were the Beijing or London Olympics, I'm pretty sure TP stays - especially if he is supposed to carry in the flag at the opening ceremonies or stay one more game and cheer for his team in the Bronze Medal Game before flying back to the US.

Olympics v. Additional Qualifier for last slot at Eurobasket'09....hmmm.

Looking to the future in 2012, France will need to add some healthy talent or play better team basketball to snag one of the 3 open European slots for the Olympics. TP was scoring 30+ ppg last year and they couldn't beat Turkey so they are STILL trying to qualify for the LAST slot in Eurobasket09.

[Dex]

I'm not sure where the controversy is here. As it stands, most teams let their players choose freely to participate in the Olympic games. The problem is that as international scouting becomes more popular, more and more of the BEST players from around the world are going to trickle into the U.S. These guys are all going to have million dollar contracts, and are still going to be the BEST players for their respective NT.

If I were a GM considering an international pick, I would go ahead and factor their desire to play for their NT as to part of my decision. As these are usually the best players these countries have to offer, unless they are just not patriotically inclined whatsoever, you can be pretty sure they are going to expect to play. What would the nation say if the Cavs told Lebron he is too important to play for the USA?

Yeah, it sucks Tony got injured. The best we can do is hope that it's being treated seriously, and is not a major injury. But as far as questioning Tony's motives, or the Spurs motives...seems like this should be water under the bridge at this point.

[nkdlunch]

Question
is tp paying the price for what happened to manu

not really dummy. Spurs and Holt is risking it all to win this year. They might have let like this go other years. But this year, they are not risking . So they put parker on ice. well done. but no, dummy, this is not Manu's fault.

[Solid D]

not really dummy. Spurs and Holt is risking it all to win this year. They might have let like this go other years. But this year, they are not risking . So they put parker on ice. well done. but no, dummy, this is not Manu's fault.

Actually, I think this decision by Holt is likely supported by what happened with Manu. The old "burned once, lesson learned, burned twice stupid me" concept.

[ElNono]

According to that french report, Tony is pretty pissed off about it...

[DAF86]

If this is just to do a check-up on Parker, why didn't the Spurs doctors fly over to Europe instead of making our star player do it and get even more tired?

[ElNono]

If this is just to do a check-up on Parker, why didn't the Spurs doctors fly over to Europe instead of making our star player do it and get even more tired?

Maybe the insurance co wants to check him up here in the States? Remember it's not just the Spurs involved in this.

[benefactor]

Actually, I think this decision by Holt is likely supported by what happened with Manu. The old "burned once, lesson learned, burned twice stupid me" concept.

Indeed. When you combine that with the check writing that went on over the summer it is hard to be mad at the Spurs for wanting him back here for a look.

[Blackjack]

http://www.48minutesof .com/2009/...-night-of-ugh/

Elsewhere, Tony Parker’s recently injured ankle is enough of a concern to the Spurs that they’ve brought him back to San Antonio for tests. Parker and the French press are playing the injury off as minor, and painting a picture of an unnecessarily cautious Spurs front office. But can you blame the front office for erring on the side of caution? Last season ended before it began when Manu Ginobili injured his ankle during international play.

If Parker’s injury is even remotely serious, he needs to shut himself down. I don’t begrudge guys for playing for their countries. In fact, I love Parker’s leadership as it relates to his national team and aspirations with ASVEL. In a vacuum I not only want Parker to play for his national team, I’ll promise to cheer for him all along the way. Ultimately, such commitments are good for the player and good for basketball. But at some point his debt to country must be counter balanced against an obligation to his employer and, more importantly, teammates. Or, to his teammates and, more importantly, employer. It’s a fine line that divides one form of loyalty from another. I’d say more, but I’m all awash in ambivalence. And I’m more than a little anxious to hear about the test results.

If you’re like me, then your feelings about San Antonio players playing in international compe ion race around like the hormones of a pubescent teen. My guess is that Peter Holt would like to pay tax bills while watching Tony Parker make baskets rather than watching him make eyes at Eva from a seat behind the bench. But it’s difficult for me to fully appreciate the value that playing for one’s country has to internationals. American fans have a difficult time wrapping their mind around the fact that international players value gold medals more than gold trophies.

A thread over at SpursTalk touches on this. If you make your way over, notice the difference of opinion between American and French posters. The Americans approach this question from a best-for-the-team, protect-your-assets standpoint. The French posters see the Spurs’ (over?)zealous concern for Parker as potentially damaging to his relationship with the franchise. What if Parker is really okay and San Antonio’s doctors come to the same conclusions as the French doctors? If France struggles without Parker and fails to qualify for play in September, will Parker hold a grudge against San Antonio for sabotaging the aspirations of his national team?

It’s a complicated debate. It’s complicated by the fact that neither position is arguing something as simple as right and wrong.

[nkdlunch]

this is not for a checkup come on.

Parker is on a leash until further notice.

[urunobili]

If this is just to do a check-up on Parker, why didn't the Spurs doctors fly over to Europe instead of making our star player do it and get even more tired?

One training staff assistant was there... I wonder why he didn't stop the trip if it wasn't serious...

[Solid D]

Hopefully, Holt didn't buy TP's ticket on Priceline riding "coach".

[sonic21]

if everything's ok, tony will come back in france on sunday

[urunobili]

if everything's ok, tony will come back in france on sunday

[sonic21]

it would be too close to the 1st game for him to play though.

[Spursox]

Sorry, but Tony's not going back! Our medics have already been coached and know just what to say...

Good news for us..He'll be ready for the start of the season! HeHeHe

[MB20]

What do you want?
Tony injured for the start of the season but knowing he did everything he could for his NT, or a healthy but unhappy Tony entering the NBA season?

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Since we are talking about the French NT, Nando was the French MVP of Pro A regular season. Are you being picky because French is inferred and not stated?

Two prospects for MVP in France
May 17th, 2008 at 8:44 am by Christophe

Today, the French press announced the MVP trophies of the last season for the ProA and ProB league. And the least one could say is that these votings have been dominated by young prospects.

http://www.europeanprospects.com/198...ance/#more-131

As I Love Basket reports, Nando de Colo has won the MVP trophy of the regular season for the French players in the ProA. The 2nd place in that vote went to Nicolas Batum. De Colo is the youngest player to win this trophy since Antoine Rigaudeau who won this trophy at the tender age of 20 years. And the last winner of this trophy who was 21 like Nando de Colo was Boris Diaw. If these are signs, one could say that Nando will have a bright future. But it also gives credit to the extraordinary season of the young French player from Cholet who won already the MVP of the All-Star Game, MVP of the Semaine des As and now MVP of the regular season. And additionally, he plays the Final of the Coupe de France tonight, so maybe another trophy will be added to his extraordinary run this year. You can watch here some highlights of one of the last games of Nando de Colo.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.basket-ball.com/blog/actu...us-ar3197.html

Actu ProA : Les MVP de la saison 2007-2008 sont connus !
Par François Martinet Le 18.05.2008
Rangé dans: Actu Pro A


Après Christian Monschau et son re de Coach de l’année reçu la semaine dernière et la fin de la saison régulière Nando De Colo est élu MVP Français et Marc Salyers MVP Etranger. Les réactions, la fiche.



MVP Français : Nando De Colo :
Qu’elle est belle la nouvelle génération du basket Français et plus particulièrement avec ce prodige de 20ans qui rafle après celui de la semaine des As (qu’il a d’ailleurs remportée avec Cholet), un deuxième re de MVP : en effet Nando De Colo a été élu meilleur joueur français de la saison régulière 2007/2008, devençant son compatriote Nicolas Batum.

Cette saison, le joueur tricolore a tourné à 15 points, 3 rebonds et 4 passes en 28 minutes de moyenne par match. Ses performances ont, bien entendu, conditionné la réussite du Cholet Basket.

L’arrière du club des Mauges, a réalisé une saison époustouflante qui n’est pas encore terminée, puisqu’il lui reste à jouer les play-offs et la finale de Coupe de France...Vous avez dit Triplé ?! A suivre !

Une chose est sûre, les portes de l’Equipe de France ne sont plus très loin pour De Colo !

Notons également que le jeune Nando a été élu "meilleure progression de l’année"...Etonnant non ?!

You said the MVP of Pro A. He was not the MVP this year. That was in the past.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Most of this is true, ducks, except you are talking about Parker coming back to the US before the Addional Qualifying Round (Eurobasket 2009) starts Aug. 5th.

If this were the Beijing or London Olympics, I'm pretty sure TP stays - especially if he is supposed to carry in the flag at the opening ceremonies or stay one more game and cheer for his team in the Bronze Medal Game before flying back to the US.

Olympics v. Additional Qualifier for last slot at Eurobasket'09....hmmm.

Looking to the future in 2012, France will need to add some healthy talent or play better team basketball to snag one of the 3 open European slots for the Olympics. TP was scoring 30+ ppg last year and they couldn't beat Turkey so they are STILL trying to qualify for the LAST slot in Eurobasket09.

How many exaggerations can you make here?

First of all last year? France did NOT play that the Olympics.

Second if you mean 2007 European championship then you lie. When the did he average over 30 points a game besides from your imagination?

http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid...eamID_282.html

How the is 20.1 points per game = "TP was scoring 30+ ppg"

NBA fans and their absurd nonsense about European game NEVER stops.

[Dr Cox]

parker is def. paying for what happend to manu last year, but i think i would rather have manu out than tp (even thoug i love george hill, hes no tp)

sad for tony parker because of all the national pride they have for their country, but they need to win now!!! go big or go home, we need you healthy tp this year more than ever!!!

[jb4g]

honestly, a solid question. I think manu's recent situation will influence every major spurs' injury woes for a good while, especially concerning NT play.

without question. Im sure they hated the fact he even played to begin with. I kind of understood why Manu wanted to play so bad last summer, he wanted to defend his gold medal and show the world what a badass he was by beating the much vaunted redeem team....and if he had been 100% healthy he might just have done that. But the French team is a long shot to even make the olympics, with or without TP in the lineup. He had to expect even the slightest injury was going to have the Spurs FO freaking out. I for one dont want to see him get back on a plane to France. Let the Spurs look like the bad guys..who cares....they sign the checks and made him the star he is today.

[ShoogarBear]

French doctors are okay if you need an immunization.

[timaios]

How many exaggerations can you make here?

First of all last year? France did NOT play that the Olympics.

Second if you mean 2007 European championship then you lie. When the did he average over 30 points a game besides from your imagination?

http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid...eamID_282.html

How the is 20.1 points per game = "TP was scoring 30+ ppg"

NBA fans and their absurd nonsense about European game NEVER stops.

France played in september 2008 a Qualifying Tournament for EURO 2009.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

France played in september 2008 a Qualifying Tournament for EURO 2009.

And he did not average over 30 in that tournament either.

He averaged 22 there. I guess he is like all other NBA fans that believe their own lies.