Reply With Quote
is tp the x factor?
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...y.11bead6.html
Web Posted: 02/18/2007 01:41 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
LAS VEGAS — Tony Parker isn't playing a game. He's playing an Elvis role.
Parker shows up as the humble and overlooked racecar driver (insert NBA career). He wins the heart of Ann-Margret (as played by Eva Longoria). He sings (albeit French rap). And in the final scene, he beats the obnoxious rich guy (as played by Mark Cuban) and wins the race (NBA le).
It's a cheesy script, all right, with an unlikely ending. But Parker has always seen his life in Hollywood terms. Even when he arrived from France as a bottom-of-the-first-round teenager, he shrugged and said, sure, he was here to beat the defending champion Lakers.
He believes that things go right for him, as they always did for Elvis in the movies, and it's an at ude that comes in handy for the Spurs once Parker leaves Vegas. After all, if the Spurs are to challenge this season, don't they need Parker to remain in character?
For now, Parker celebrates a game that means almost too much to him. He wouldn't trade another championship for this weekend, but he'd consider it.
Today, he's got his favorite hobby, poker, in the lobby of his hotel. He's got Eva and wedding plans in place, as well as a few 24-hour Vegas chapels down the street in case they get spontaneous. And he's got the stage he's always wanted, which is to be included among the world's best basketball players who make commercials and hang with celebs.
There are times he seems to be preoccupied with the trappings. Last spring during the playoffs, for example, these same elements came together. Then, Eva threw him a birthday poker party.
To some franchises, this would be scarier than Wayne Newton when his facelift unhinges. Too caught up in celebrity, Parker could indeed become Elvis — overweight and lounging in a sequined jumpsuit.
But Parker has eased all fears by working hard, and there are signs of the hours in the gym he's put in with shooting coach Chip Engelland. The European Championships interrupted their classroom that first summer, and a broken finger didn't help last summer. Still, his field-goal percentage has remained remarkably in the mid-50s.
If those numbers are mostly due to the amount of layups he shoots, his free-throw improvement comes without an asterisk. Parker was under 70 percent for his career coming into this season, and now he's close to 80. Given these results, the Spurs don't mind if Parker occasionally walks down the red carpet with Eva.
Now, the Spurs need more, however. Engelland originally said Parker's makeover would take until 2008, and that won't help this spring. If the Spurs are to get past the Mavericks, they need Parker to be better than Jason Terry and Devin Harris.
He is in reputation. Parker is an All-Star for a second consecutive time, and that means the Western Conference coaches think a lot of him. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash still rank higher, but both have also shown age recently.
After that, who is a better point guard? Some might take Chris Paul for his potential or Deron Williams for his pace and instincts. But none in this group is just entering his prime as Parker is.
No Spur is in this same place in his career, either. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili would be pressed to be better than they've been, but Parker has a few levels to go. One was evident in Detroit, the last game before this weekend.
Then, Parker went behind screens, effortless in his ability to get open, and threw in a series of jumpers. When he does this, he's unguardable. And if he could repeat this skill night after night, then teams would have to play him tighter with help in case he drove.
The same Gregg Popovich who has tried to redirect Parker would let him go. An accurate Parker would open up the middle for Duncan and the wings for everyone else, and he would turn a punchless team into what they have been.
Is Parker ready to do that now? Does he have the mental toughness to believe in his shot even in May? Could he be the one who gets both the girl and the prize?
Elvis would.
is tp the x factor?
If Parker can take his game to the next level this playoffs, ala Ginobili in 2005, that's the only way I can see us possibly beating the Mavs or anyone else this postseason with the team we have.
Problem is, he still doesn't have a legit backup, which puts more pressure on him.
yet there are soooo many in this board ready to trade the guy...
what's an x factor?
In the playoffs, this is less of an issue. There are no B2Bs, and the rotation is shortened, with more minutes for the starters. You'd probably only need 8-10 minutes per from the backup, not the 13-15 they give him now, and not all of that would have to be Vaughn. Vaughn actually seems to be playing a bit better with the defined role of backup in his hands.Problem is, he still doesn't have a legit backup, which puts more pressure on him.
I know. Ridiculous.
Yea, but I don't think Vaughn is going to be much help when it comes to playoff type games. And that 8-10 minutes per is huge. If you don't have a legit backup, and lets face it Vaughn is not one...when they play 8-10 minutes and lose leads and aren't productive it puts more pressure on Tony to right the ship as they say when he comes back in.
Vaughn has looked solid ever since being told "youve got the job"
Im interested to see how he continues to perform.
if he can be better than hart, not as good as Claxton, thats all the team needs.
Play defense, dont turn the ball over.but I don't think Vaughn is going to be much help when it comes to playoff type games
he can't do that?
Vaughn can actually bring the ball up the court against pressure, too.In fact, pressure plays to his game, which is penetration and either layup or kickout.
his jumper hasn't looked shabby the last couple games.
Hes no steve Kerr but, one or two a game is all you need.
You don't trade Tony Parker. That's just a no no for the mentality and style of our team. Unlike the rest of the NBA we keep young talent... maybe plant some seeds and grow more of them too.
"we keep young talent"
Besides Tony what other young talents have the Spurs kept, or even had in the last 10 years?
Duncan?
I think they're referring to the OTHER guy other than your obvious star: Jack in 2003, Manu in 2005.
I'm happy with Vaughn's play of late...he completely sucked getting spot minutes but he seems to have settled down now that he's getting regular PT.
I thought Vaughn was pressing alot when he was first called in to play, which I consider uncharacteristic from what I know of him. Now that it looks like he has the job, he seems to be playing more within himself and is just being the competent point guard we all knew him to be. I still want someone else backing up Parker if we can work a deal, but he's doing ok.
Tony's jumper is the x-factor.
Now that is one bad article....
He just needs to make clutch and important shots that's all I ask of him
Good article....
I heard one of the commentators speak to the level of confidence gained once a person has been at the all-star game and proven they belong. I hope Tony continues to develop into the elite playmaker he can be...
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
