http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...r.35a019c.html
Spurs' Parker set for preseason debut
Web Posted: 10/19/2007 11:36 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
For the first time since Game 4 of last season's NBA Finals, Tony Parker will pull on his familiar silver-and-black No. 9 jersey tonight.
Whether his Spurs uniform will still fit him is another story entirely.
Though he has spent much of the past two weeks toiling in the weight room, building up his strength and muscle mass on orders from coach Gregg Popovich, Parker remains certain he hasn't outgrown his old clothes.
The Incredible Expanding Point Guard he isn't.
"I'm never going to get like Baron Davis or Stephon Marbury," Parker said, referencing two of the NBA's bulkier point guards. "I'm still going to be skinny."
Muscular or miniscule, the Spurs are happy to have their top point guard back in any form.
Parker, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, is set to make his preseason debut tonight against Detroit at the AT&T Center. Until this week, his training camp regimen had been limited to light shooting, weight lifting and conditioning work — all part of Popovich's prescription to keep Parker fresh after a long summer that included playtime with the French national team.
Parker's triumphant return to the Spurs' lineup promises to be a limited engagement.
Popovich plans to play Parker between 15 to 20 minutes against the Pistons, just enough time to get his heart racing and blood flowing. The goal is to ease him back into playing shape in time for the Oct. 30 season opener against Portland.
No matter how short his shift tonight, Parker's teammates will be glad to see him in shorts instead of a sports coat.
"It's going to be more us," said Manu Ginobili, who started two of the Spurs' three preseason games at point guard in Parker's place. "We're going to have a little bit more of our iden y."
Parker was not the only lead guard to make news at Spurs camp Friday. The team waived one backup point man and Popovich praised yet another.
With Parker eyeing his return, undrafted reserve Anthony Lever-Pedroza became the Spurs' first cut of training camp. His departure narrows the Spurs' roster to 18. They have until Oct. 29 to whittle that number to 15.
Meanwhile, Popovich lauded the play of another undrafted point guard, Darius Washington.
In his first start of the preseason Thursday against Golden State, Washington nearly posted a triple-double — scoring 18 points to go with nine rebounds and eight assists — to help the Spurs to a 116-111 victory.
He practically willed the Spurs over the top in the final minutes, hitting a shot-clock-beating 3-pointer to put them ahead with 5:25 to go, then burying six free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the game.
That most of Washington's time came against Davis, one of the league's most fiercely physical point guards, was not lost on the Spurs coaching staff.
Waxing a bit poetic, Popovich called Washington, "a talented young man who is just beginning to find his way in a new world."
Still, given that the Spurs already have the maximum 15 players under contract, Washington remains a long shot to make the team.
"His future is probably a bright one," Popovich said. "But when he'll be ready to really appreciate what he can do and have it appreciated by another team is another question."
The only thing certain when it comes to the Spurs' point guards: Beginning tonight, Parker will be the starter.
He will be the same point guard in the same old clothes.
"He's starting to get his rhythm back, get his timing back," Popovich said. "It will take a while, but he will be ready by Portland."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]
What Pop has done with Parker is very clever. Parker has played a lot and these two weeks of rest + weight lifting will certainly help Parker to have more energy for the playoffs and lower the risk of an injury.
Pop is great at managing playtime and rest for his players.
good effort tonight
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote