January 5th...Tony Parker Interview on his site...

[greens]

I don't think this was posted...is a bit late, I guess...it was taken before the Clipper game...Still, I tend to check out Tony's site because his interviews are updated frequently on there...They are available in English/French/Spanish...Here is the English version:

http://www.tp9.net/en/itw.php?id=214

January 5, 2008

« Negative momentum »

Tony, you are going through a difficult period…

It is true and it isn’t easy for us right now. In the past ten games, we’ve lost five times. We must say that we are not free of any injuries. The absences of Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry are a prejudice to us. We are lacking rotation on the wing and it is also a great loss on the outside shooting. We are lacking any solutions but everything should return to normal in days to come. Manu shall be back on the floor tomorrow against the Clippers and Brent will be back in a week. When we look at the month of December, not once did the « big three » (Duncan, Ginobili and Parker) played together. This explains this negative momentum.


Personally you were not at your best yesterday in the win against New York (97-93).

I have had some type of cold for the past couple of days. I was not at my best starting against Denver on Thursday (Spurs’ loss 80-77). I was short breathed and the al ude there did not help. Against New York, I’ve tried to bring the maximum to the team and it was not extraordinary but the most important was there with the win. All I can say is that New York played well. We had the Denver game in our legs while the Knicks were well rested. They took advantage of our state of fatigue to push us in the ropes.


What has happened on Thursday against Denver ?

It is the type of game that we should never loose. After a 16 points deficit in the second quarter we’ve managed to come back in the game to finally lead by 4 with 90 seconds to play in the game. We had done the toughest but Denver played out a perfect ending. They’ve score on every possession while we did not score a single point. Denver defended very well.


You were just elected « 2007 European Basketball Player of the Year» by the Italian newspaper la Gazetta dello Sport. What does this honor represents for you ?

I am extremely happy. I learned this yesterday while I was on the way for the game against the Knicks. It is extremely positive as the jury is made of more than one hundred journalists, coaches and European players. A lot of people were participating in this vote. I find this very gratifying to lead Nowitzki and Kirilenko. I am honored and it shows that the year 2007 was extraordinary for me.

[duncan228]

Thanks for posting this.
I like "hearing" the guys in their own words outside of the usual post game questions.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

You were just elected « 2007 European Basketball Player of the Year» by the Italian newspaper la Gazetta dello Sport. What does this honor represents for you ?

I am extremely happy. I learned this yesterday while I was on the way for the game against the Knicks. It is extremely positive as the jury is made of more than one hundred journalists, coaches and European players. A lot of people were participating in this vote. I find this very gratifying to lead Nowitzki and Kirilenko. I am honored and it shows that the year 2007 was extraordinary for me.

good to hear about that