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You know, maybe the day after Tony puts up 55 points on 61% shooting and 10 assists isn't the day to say he should be shooting less.
But we expect nothing less, Hoopsworld. You did not disappoint
Too Much Pressure on Spurs' Parker
By: Mike Moreau Last Updated: 11/6/08 11:49 AM ET | 836 times read
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10492
You don't have to look any further than last night's 55-point scoring outburst by Tony Parker to see what ails the San Antonio Spurs on offense. Without Manu Ginobili, the Spurs have only one guy who can create offense. And if Parker feels like he has to score 55 every night just to get an overtime win over a very average team, the Spurs will continue to struggle offensively until Ginobili returns.
The Spurs for the last few years have been a three-man offensive team with a group of role players around them who contribute minimally to the offense – making a shot here, getting an offensive rebound there. Those role players have come and gone, but the Big Three of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have remained intact.
With Ginobili out Parker has taken on the role of the Alpha Male Scorer and right now the Spurs need every one of those points.
The difficulty going forward for the Spurs is this prevents the role players from ever developing a role. Parker feels he must shoulder more of the burden because there isn't a single player on that current roster who can do anything remotely resembling offensive creation.
Right now, the players around Parker are not contributing much on the offensive end. And the difference between Parker and guys like Chris Paul and Steve Nash is that Parker is a scoring point guard – he's looking to score, not dish.
So, on his forays to the basket, Parker often over-penetrates, forces some shots, and misses opportunities to kick to his spot-up shooters. Yes, he is putting up impressive scoring numbers, but he draws lots of help and rather than kicking the ball out, he often challenges more than one defender. This does not allow the players around him to contribute as much to the offense.
Consequently, the weight on Parker's shoulders is going to get heavier and heavier the more he goes all the way to the rim possession after possession. The bigger his scoring numbers, the less significant the role players become. They have to contribute, but they have to get the ball.
Parker has proven that he can get to the rim at will against almost any defender in the league. As my colleague David Thorpe has described, it is as if the floor has been tilted and Parker is driving downhill when he goes to the basket. No one accelerates more quickly than Tony Parker.
But, for Parker to lead this team, he has to play more of a selective, decision-making type of role. That means he has to be more discriminating in his drives and pick his spots in which he takes over the scoring role. Against the Wolves, he may have decided he had to do it all by himself the entire game. The bleeding had to be stopped.
In the early stages of games, to keep that offensive weight from becoming overwhelming, Parker has to make a sustained effort get his teammates more involved, get them shots, and build their confidence. In turn, they have to produce. He can't give up on them too soon and just take over at the first missed shot or blown lay-up.
The coaching staff can help Parker with this as well by running sets for shooters and focusing on getting Tim Duncan going early in games. This essentially prevents Parker from doing it all by himself, which will help their offense in the long run.
There are some serious defensive questions facing the Spurs as well, and if Parker feels like the Spurs can't shut teams down as in the past, the pressure for him offensively may continue to mount even with the return of Ginobili.
With five of their next six games against probable non-playoff teams, San Antonio should be able to get the ship back on course. The question will be how tightly Tony Parker will have to keep his hands on the wheel.
You know, maybe the day after Tony puts up 55 points on 61% shooting and 10 assists isn't the day to say he should be shooting less.
But we expect nothing less, Hoopsworld. You did not disappoint
lmao
the irony here is deadly
-Mars
spurs had 4 games
he has had 5, 10, 3 11 assist
2 out of 4 games he has double digits in assist
Trash article.
Parker's ten assists last night debunk the whole basis of the supposed story. He could have had about 15 assists if Finley would have hit his wide open shots and Duncan didn't go through ice cold stages. He's averaging 7+ assists on the season even though three out of the other four starters are massively substandard offensive players at this point.
He's not playing perfectly but he's hardly been part of the problem. And really the entire offense hasn't been the problem. In fact, the offense hasn't looked this good in a long, long time from a statistical perspective.
Defense is far and away the problem right now ... not that Parker is underperforming by only producing 55, 10 and 7.
I'm continually shocked at how many people don't watch defense. It must be a complete mystery to those people why one team wins basketball games and another doesn't. What's really amazing is how many Spurs fans don't seem to pay any attention to defense, despite watching the Spurs for any number of years.
The drive and dish game of Parker's is where he's really stepped it up this year and one of the reasons Roger Mason jr is thriving . Funny how there's no mention of him.So, on his forays to the basket, Parker often over-penetrates, forces some shots, and misses opportunities to kick to his spot-up shooters. Yes, he is putting up impressive scoring numbers, but he draws lots of help and rather than kicking the ball out, he often challenges more than one defender. This does not allow the players around him to contribute as much to the offense.
so they're saying parker should pass the ball to manu?
HoopsWorld needs to be taken off the internet..I'm embarrassed as a basketball fan that they are allowed to write about a sport that I follow..
Translation: "I am just making stuff up, but it sounds good enough to believe."The difficulty going forward for the Spurs is this prevents the role players from ever developing a role. Parker feels he must shoulder more of the burden because there isn't a single player on that current roster who can do anything remotely resembling offensive creation.
Right now, the players around Parker are not contributing much on the offensive end. And the difference between Parker and guys like Chris Paul and Steve Nash is that Parker is a scoring point guard – he's looking to score, not dish.
There is no pressure on Tony. When he gets home, he wears shorts and shoes just like he does at work. No doubt, he drives in with his hummer and changes into shorts. (trust me). He has so many things going on and knows we dont have to win games. His house is behind and he wants it ready by march. Just had his wine cellar finished. Eva decided she needs a 1500 square foot closet added onto the house. Ive seen it all with my own eyes.
Skeletons?
Also they are going to be nights when a guy gets hot. Manu did it last year to this same Timberwolves team by scoring 46 and Spurs won by one point, 100-99.Trash article.
Parker's ten assists last night debunk the whole basis of the supposed story. He could have had about 15 assists if Finley would have hit his wide open shots and Duncan didn't go through ice cold stages. He's averaging 7+ assists on the season even though three out of the other four starters are massively substandard offensive players at this point.
He's not playing perfectly but he's hardly been part of the problem. And really the entire offense hasn't been the problem. In fact, the offense hasn't looked this good in a long, long time from a statistical perspective.
Defense is far and away the problem right now ... not that Parker is underperforming by only producing 55, 10 and 7.
Sometimes, getting the first win is all that you need....because that breeds confidence. Just like a shooter who has been struggling with his shot or a great hitter going through a slump in baseball.
This article didn't mention Roger Mason Jr...who has given the Spurs some scoring punch and the fact they have scored 98, 99, and 129 in their first three of four games and all those games were decided in the last minute of the ball game. Offense hasn't been problem!!
Anyway, we already know the script on the Spurs from the media and the internet. Write they're old early in the season...then around Feb or March write how you can't write this team off and they will be dangerous come playoff time. Then May or June write that they don't want to see the Spurs in the NBA Finals because they are boring!! Sheesh!!
Same old stuff!!!
Maybe if Finley had gone 4-10 instead of 1-20, TP would have more assists.
In other words: Do everything he's already been doing since 2003.But, for Parker to lead this team, he has to play more of a selective, decision-making type of role. That means he has to be more discriminating in his drives and pick his spots in which he takes over the scoring role.
I mean, he plays with Duncan amd Manu Ginobili for cryin out loud.
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