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Is this an oxymoron???
Anyways, I hope he develops a sky hook... or at least becomes a threat off the bank shot again....
Healthy McGrady, Parker set to take aim at Mavericks
By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer
September 27, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- Tony Parker is healthy, says Tim Duncan is, too, and is ready to help the San Antonio Spurs reclaim their place atop the Western Conference.
But don't count out Houston. That's the message from Tracy McGrady, who feels great and believes he and Yao Ming can lead the Rockets back from a horrible season to be compe ive with San Antonio and Dallas in a powerful Southwest Division.
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"I think if we continue to be healthy through the complete season, then we're right up there with the best of them, because I like our additions," McGrady said Wednesday. "If the two of us can be healthy, anything is possible."
Parker and McGrady were at the NBA Store to promote NBA Live 07, which shipped to North American stores Wednesday. McGrady is featured on the cover of the game in most places, though Parker shares the cover with Boris Diaw in his native France.
Video games were about the only kind of action McGrady got at times during a frustrating 2005-06 season. Chronic back pain limited him to a career-low 47 games and helped create some emotional pain, too. During All-Star weekend in Houston, he talked of some unspecified personal issues, acknowledging that he had to be persuaded to attend the media session on Friday afternoon.
"I've been dealing with back issues since way back when since my Orlando days," McGrady said. "It's just I've been able to play through it.
"Last year I just had so much stress on me because I was dealing with the team's struggles, dealing with my issues, dealing with the death of my wife's mom and all of that. I think stress goes to the weakest part of the body, and my back is the weakest part and it hit me."
Throw in the foot problems that forced Yao to miss 25 games, and the Rockets went from a team with high preseason expectations to one that ended up in last place with a 34-48 record.
But Yao was terrific in the world championships, McGrady said he is healed up after not playing since March, and the Rockets had a good offseason highlighted by the acquisition of Shane Battier. McGrady thinks all that could be good enough to make Houston a threat next season.
"I just wasn't healthy last year," McGrady said. "I went out the first game of the season and I just had back issues the whole season. But I'm healthy now. I'm just motivated and determined to get back on the basketball court."
Parker feels the same now after he and Duncan had time to recover. Parker was forced to withdraw from France's team on the eve of the world championships because of a broken finger, but said he will play next week when the Spurs train and play a pair of exhibition games in his home country as part of EA Sports' NBA Europe Live tour.
Duncan missed only two games, but was rarely in top form while battling foot pain. He still averaged 18.6 points and 11 rebounds, but Parker expects him to be even better this season.
"He got the whole summer off and he worked very hard on his game," Parker said. "I think he wants to get back on MVP form, so I expect a lot from him this year."
The Spurs will need it if they hope to return to the NBA finals this season. The 2005 champions edged the Mavericks for the best record in their division and conference last season, but Dallas beat San Antonio in a thrilling seven-game series in the second round on its way to the finals.
"Now we're going to use that as motivation," Parker said.
Updated
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns
Is this an oxymoron???
Anyways, I hope he develops a sky hook... or at least becomes a threat off the bank shot again....
sounds like duncan could be the mvp
The only MVP anyone should care about is Finals MVP.
I doubt it, he won't win it the same reason Dirk won't. Dwade or one of ESPN's glorified will win it again.
I like what I'm reading, at least they have the right mentality. I'm hoping that carries over on the court. And I have to agree with Holmes Fans, even if Dirk or Duncan are the real MVP, they'll give it to Wade/Kobe/Lebron.
Spurs' best hope is that Tim is healthy all season, super obvious duh,
which has not been the case for 3 years.
Next Manu, who has more than his share of injuries, ankles and kneee/thigh bruises, none of which would have been prevented by Manu having 30 pounds more muscle.
Tony driving is wonderful, but dammit, he gets knocked on his ass a lot. So far he's been able to get up and keep on truckin. Raising his jump shooting percentage several points and better playmaking would do wonders for his health and stamina.
Are you calling ducks an oxymoron?
One has to wonder if the PF left him leery about going out for that shot. It just seems to me that he played much closer to the basket this last year. When he is on with that shot, it opens the driving lanes much more for Manu and Tony, and hopefully they won't get as much contact this year. Both of them are taking years off their time in the league with their style of play. That bank shot makes all three better players, in my opinion.
Tim's banker has become silly, was it ever necessary?
It been taking him 10 frozen seconds to decide if he's going to take it, and the whole world knows he's going to take it, so what's he waiting for?
If the Spurs need Tim to make 20-ft jump shots, the Spurs are in deep .
Tim needs to speed up his game to where it once was, speed up his ball handling decisions. When the ball comes to Tim, he holds the ball and freezes the offense as the other Spurs defer to watching him, allows the defense to get in position. Maddening and ineffective.
Yes, he does take the shot in super slo-mo, but...
A big with a reliable outside shot? I'm not kicking that out of bed.
To your point about speeding up the shot, it would draw out the other big, opening driving/passing lanes for the plethora of cutters that we have on the team.
I would like to see Timmy spread the floor with an effective 18-footer and give Tony, Manu and Fin a chance to get inside without getting pounded.
Do I want them to have to rely on it for a win? no. But it should stay in the repetoire.
Tim's bank shot isn't a 20 footer, more like 13-15 feet from his money spot. It's the icing on his game, and the difference between 2nd team All NBA Tim and MVP Tim. When he's got it going, opponents MUST respect it, and he can frequently get defenders off their feet with a ball fake, leading to easy drives. They knew he wasn't making it last year because of the PF, so they backed off, and occasionally, he tried one or two ball fakes, which did waste some time. It's also a VERY forgiving shot, with the backboard deadening the ball before it hits the rim. You don't take something that was MONEY for 8 years and throw it out with the bathwater because of an injury.
Tim shoots a bank shot not because it's a higher percentage shot than direct-to-rim shot (I don't think the bank shot is physically easier to make than a direct-to-rim shot), but because he never learned to shoot correctly, doesn't put enough arc on the ball. eg, his goddam FTs, and the embarrassingly horrible results, are the best example.
To Zunni's point, using the glass does create a softer contact with the rim, allowing for more opportunity to stay in the cylinder versus bouncing out.
It may be that he mastered the shot because of poor technique, but he still mastered the shot. Many a player had horrible mechanics and were still effective shooters. For Timmy it just doesn't translate well w/ FT's.
at least the rockets had an excuse for losing to the mavs last season, spurs are same old, same old....which means they'll lose again...although i could see them winning the first game of the season, but that's all
just kidding
Last edited by ponky; 09-27-2006 at 10:31 PM.
Rockets competing?
with the addition of Bonzi Wells ? Definitely...
This is why TD is so much better Than DR and why the Spurs are going to
the Finals.
i wonder what game td was focusin on durin the summer? better not be console games....
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