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Can't believe it was just 3 years ago, that Parker would disappear during the 4th quarters.
Now he's close to being Finals MVP after two games.
By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY
SAN ANTONIO — This was supposed to be LeBron James' coming out party.
Only Tony Parker has crashed it, stealing even teammate Tim Duncan's usual NBA Finals thunder.
PHOTO GALLERY: Take a tour of the NBA Finals
Parker, the San Antonio Spurs' sixth-year point guard, is two wins from a third NBA championship ring and 27 days from another ring — exchanging "I do's" with actress Eva Longoria.
Life is good, merci beaucoup.
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The fearless French leader of the Spurs says his July 7 wedding to the Desperate Housewives star in Paris is a "big day. But for me right now, it's about the Finals."
For Paris-raised but Belgium-born Parker, it's also about getting his due as one of the NBA's elite point guards, with two-time league MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and perennial All-Star Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets.
The Spurs once courted Kidd to replace a then young, inconsistent Parker.
At 25, Parker is still young. But now he's consistently getting results — on and off the court.
"He's living in a dream world," says Buck Harvey, sports columnist for the San Antonio Express-News."It's like an Elvis movie, where you show up, you win the leading lady and you win the race, too."
The Finals resume tonight in Cleveland (9 ET, ABC) with the Cavaliers looking for a win and a way to stop Parker. He has baffled them in the paint with his speed and beaten them outside with his overhauled jump shot. Both skills have produced an MVP-caliber Finals performance. Parker is averaging a series-leading 28.5 points on 25-for-43 shooting (58.1%). Of his 57 points, 41 have come inside, where he makes Longoria cringe and the Cavs pay.
What to do?
"I don't know," says LeBron James, the 6-8 Cavs star who took his turn trying to guard 6-2 Parker with little success in Sunday's 103-92 loss.
"Tony," says Duncan, a three-time Finals MVP and six years older than his point guard, "is driving our team."
'Most mature young guy'
Not long ago, he was driving the team crazy.
Parker joined the Spurs as a 19-year-old and played like one. Often out of control on the court and not driven to work hard off it, he was such an enigma that Duncan barely talked to him his rookie season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spent most of Parker's first three years yelling at him.
"I was 19, so it was a little like father and son," Parker says of Popovich. "He was always hard on me. He always screamed at me and always tried to push me because I'm a little bit nonchalant sometimes in practice and a little bit lazy."
In his second year, Parker won his first ring with the 2002-03 Spurs. But Speedy Claxton spelled him much of the Finals against the Nets and Kidd, whom the Spurs pursued as a free agent that summer. Duncan even drove Kidd around town, but Kidd chose to stay with the Nets.
Parker says the courtship bothered him, but only that summer: "It's a business. It just made me want to improve."
He did. Quickly.
"He's been through and back," says Duncan, who now says Parker is a "gift to my career."
And Popovich? The two watch presidential debates together.
"He's the most mature young guy I've ever been around," says Popovich, who goes beyond basketball to get to know his players. "A lot has happened to him quickly."
Parker won his second ring in 2005. After the season the Spurs brought in Chip Engelland as an assistant coach to work on Parker's shooting. Engelland has even traveled to France in the offseason to work with Parker, who has a U.S. and a French passport, also plays with the French national team in international compe ions.
Parker has responded with back-to-back All-Star nods and top shooting years — 54.8% last season, 52.0% this season.
"He wants to be great," Engelland says.
The Spurs essentially took away the three-point shot from Parker — he averaged 197 his first four seasons but has taken only 74 total the last two — and got him focused on his ability to get to the basket and improving his mid-range jumper.
He's not even allowed to participate in the team's three-point shooting drills, although he did take, and make, one in Game 2.
"It's a mind-set," Parker says, "the way you think and the way you approach the game, the way you forget about misses. I use my penetration, and when they stop it, I use my jump shot."
Both have driven the Cavaliers crazy, especially his ability to score in the paint. "The key," Parker says, "is patience. I have to be patient and run the team."
ESPN Radio analyst Jack Ramsay says nobody in the league is better at getting inside: "He has such balance and body control."
ABC analyst Mark Jackson adds, "He's fearless, he's tough, he's not afraid of the moment and he plays with a chip on his shoulder."
Parker, James says, can finish over big and small players alike. He pays a price, however. Constantly knocked to the floor, Parker doesn't blink — or back off.
"Contact never bothered me," he says. "I keep coming."
Reaching elite level
The physical play bothers Longoria, 32, who cringes every time her fiancé goes inside. Parker, seven years younger and a foot taller than Longoria, comes home with new scratches and bruises every game.
"He has a name for each one," Longoria says. "I'll say, 'Who did that?' and he says, 'That's my Allen Iverson.' He has scratches everywhere."
They're physical proof he has arrived, even though, before these Finals, he was rarely mentioned when talk turned to the elite point guards in the league. Time to include him now, Ramsay says.
"Nash and Kidd might be more spectacular," Ramsay says. "He's not a flashy playmaker, but he makes the appropriate pass."
Parker shrugs and flashes a sly smile when asked about the oversights.
"When there is talk about the best point guards, sometimes they don't talk about me. But that's not my main motivation," Parker says. "They can talk about Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Chris Paul. I still have the most rings."
The one he's about to slip on Longoria's finger has brought attention beyond hoops. The couple is building a home in San Antonio, although Longoria will split time between the Alamo City and Hollywood.
Parker seems as comfortable in his new celebrity setting as he does in the paint, even though he clearly plays second fiddle to his wife-to-be.
In time, teammate Robert Horry says, that will change.
"Now people know him as Eva's fiancé, boyfriend, future husband," Horry says. "Pretty soon, though, they'll be saying, 'That's Eva, Tony Parker's wife. She does something.' "
Parker laughs. These are giddy times for him and Longoria.
"We feel really blessed and extremely grateful for everything that is happening in our lives," Longoria says.
"We're just trying to soak it in, because it doesn't happen too often — a championship and marriage."
Contributing: Roscoe Nance
Can't believe it was just 3 years ago, that Parker would disappear during the 4th quarters.
Now he's close to being Finals MVP after two games.
Parker is growing on me. I love the team but Duncan is my focus.
Parker's play these two games has really caught my attention. I know he's great but damn, he's really turned it on.
I want Duncan to get his fourth Finals MVP so he can get more separation from Shaq. So his legacy is so cemented that the people who call him boring have to take notice of what they've been missing.
But if Parker continues this and ends up with the MVP I'll cheer just as loud for him.
The Championship matters most.
And I hope his marriage is based on love and trust. They seem so happy when you see them together. I could care less if she's a TV star, I just like that you can see their love for each other.
His legacy is cemented nomatter what. Magic has 3 finals mvp's in 5 les. Bird has 2 in 3 les. This series so far has been a cakewalk if the Spurs sweep, really who gets the MVP is an afterthought because it means the Spurs were just so much better than the Cavs.
I know Duncan's legacy is cemented already. My point was to get the non-believers to notice. The ones that call him boring are the same ones who are impressed with stats. Putting Duncan second only to Jordan in Final's MVP's will get noticed. I want him to get his due from everyone he can. (My personal agenda!)
Duncan could retire today and his hall of fame is a lock.
Shaq has been the only name held up with Duncan's as the best of their generation. Separating him from Shaq is icing on the cake!
I do hear what you are saying but you can not let that crap bother you. People who trash Duncan are uneducated fans and he could win 10 les and finals mvp's and they would never give him his due. This is Duncan's Spurs and this is his ERA. Tim finals MVP or not will lead them to the 4th le same as Magic did to the tune of 5 les and Bird for 3. To say he needs the 4th mvp would be almost saying "well Magic won 3 mvps so he only led the Lakers to 3 les and not 5". Which of course is utter nonsense. All i care about is the le, just get it done MVP for Tony that is just fine for me, because Tim's legacy with this le is going through the roof nomatter what.I know Duncan's legacy is cemented already. My point was to get the non-believers to notice. The ones that call him boring are the same ones who are impressed with stats. Putting Duncan second only to Jordan in Final's MVP's will get noticed. I want him to get his due from everyone he can. (My personal agenda!
Duncan could retire today and his hall of fame is a lock.
Shaq has been the only name held up with Duncan's as the best of their generation. Separating him from Shaq is icing on the cake!
notice Parker's rise from his rookie yr-present:Not long ago, he was driving the team crazy.
Parker joined the Spurs as a 19-year-old and played like one. Often out of control on the court and not driven to work hard off it, he was such an enigma that Duncan barely talked to him his rookie season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spent most of Parker's first three years yelling at him.
"I was 19, so it was a little like father and son," Parker says of Popovich. "He was always hard on me. He always screamed at me and always tried to push me because I'm a little bit nonchalant sometimes in practice and a little bit lazy."
In his second year, Parker won his first ring with the 2002-03 Spurs. But Speedy Claxton spelled him much of the Finals against the Nets and Kidd, whom the Spurs pursued as a free agent that summer. Duncan even drove Kidd around town, but Kidd chose to stay with the Nets.
Parker says the courtship bothered him, but only that summer: "It's a business. It just made me want to improve."
He did. Quickly.
PARKER'S FINALS FILE
How San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker has fared in his NBA Finals stats:
Year RPG APG FG% PPG
2003 3.2 4.2 38.6 14.0
2005 2.4 3.4 45.8 13.9
2007 4.0 4.5 58.1 28.5
This gives me the idea that even if Duncan is a silent leader, he shows in his actions if he approves what you do to help the team or not. Parker admitted he was a little bit lazy in his early yr as a Spur. Thus Duncan "barely talked to him". He shld not be surprised. Now we can see how he pats TP's head everytime he scores and made a nice play.
When this team loses in the playoff it's not Parker or Manu's who's going to get the blame. It's Duncan. So if you really want to be a part of his team you work hard and show him you are serious about winning. That's what makes a good leader. Kobe shld take a lesson from that.
an addition to that article:
NOTABLE STATS:
MAKING THEIR POINT
Tony Parker has dominated the NBA Finals. How his numbers in this postseason compare to other notable point guards in the 2007 NBA playoffs:
Player, team
No. of games Point avg. Assists avg. Rebound avg.
Chauncey Billups, Detroit
#of games 16
ppg 18.6
aspg 5.7
rbpg 3.3
Jason Kidd, New Jersey
#of games 12
ppg 14.6
aspg 10.9
rbpg 10.9
Tony Parker, S.A.
#of games 18
ppg 20.8
aspg 6.2
rbpg 3.1
Steve Nash, Phoenix
#of games 11
ppg 18.9
aspg 13.3
rbpg 3.2
Deron Williams, Utah
#of games 17
ppg 19.2
aspg 8.6
rbpg 4.3
Tony has not dominated the finals he has scored well but Duncan has been the man on both ends of the floor. I still think Duncan will win it because as the series goes on the Cavs are going to have to focus on Tony more and more.
I got the feeling Duncan was hoping Manu would get the Finals MVP before his wedding last time. Now I really get the feeling Pop and TD want TP to get it before his wedding. He can do it if he keeps this up. But can he keep it rolling?
that was one part of the article of USAToday.Tony has dominated the finals
IMO, Tony played better in the finals but still the MVP of this team is Duncan.
In as much as I am happy of Tony's much improved stats on PPG & FG% but I rather see him improved his assts.
yo u from realgm aint yah
anyway gino looms
one man, one team, one goal, road to destiny.....
im tim duncan i only trust ftw
Hehe, yeah I've posted there a while now, I lurk here mostly.
To with MVP awards its all about the championship.
When all is said and done, you really think Chauncey Billups could be a HOFer? I think not.
You know Duncan's rooting for Tony to get the MVP. That's what makes this team so special...and inspirational.
GO SPURS GO
congrats to Tony. he is amazing, bonafide top 10 player in the league
I think Magic's awards have limited Tim's.
Who chooses MVPs? The press, right? They didn't want to give Tim 3 reg season MVPs, and they won't want to give Tim 4 Finals MVPs.
But like you said, that's all fine and good. Educated NBA fans know better.
Wow, that is an amazing compliment.....He's been through and back," says Duncan, who now says Parker is a "gift to my career."
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