tinysands
2007-03-25, 05:32 PM
Parker keeps Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) feeling young
SAN ANTONIO -- On Feb. 11, roughly six weeks ago, the San Antonio Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were demolished by the Miami Heat. At that point the foolish wrote them off.
Phoenix and Dallas were captivating everyone's imagination and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were yesterday's news. Since then, they have won 15 of 17 games, including Friday's 90-89 win over the Detroit Pistons, who strolled into the AT&T Center with the Eastern Conference's top record.
It's human nature to expect a team that has been so good for so long to fade. Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) is older, and last year's injuries made it seem like he was going the dinosaur route. Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) costs the team thousands in medical bills and constantly reeks of ointment.
Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry)? Michael Finley? They're still in the league? Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry)? Wasn't it like 20 years ago that he won a slam-dunk contest? Didn't his pop invent the game in the 19th century?
Those seem to be the perceptions.
The truth, which became quite evident against Detroit, is that these guys have found a fountain of youth. His name is Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker), and he's just entering his prime.
The 24-year-old Parker is playing at the highest level of his career, displaying a swagger like never before. In the past he has had to defer, even as the point guard. Now he leads, ignites and inspires.
"I just try to be aggressive. Especially in a game like this that you know is going to be one of those physical, playoff-type games against one of the best teams in the league," said Parker. "I wanted to come out and set the tone that way, just come out as strong as possible."
Chauncey Billups is an elite point guard. Parker destroyed him Friday. Sure, Billups is still suffering through the lingering effects of a strained groin and didn't look 100 percent on the second night of a back-to-back, but Parker smelled blood and went right at him. There was no mercy.
"I have to take responsibility for my play tonight," Billups said. "I just need to take the time to regroup and play better in the next game. I'm trying to find my rhythm."
When Flip Murray was out there in his place, Parker took him to task, too. Defensively, he set the tone. On the other end, he was the offense for the first three quarters, and then set the table for Ginobili and Duncan to help hold off Detroit.
"For every minute he was out there, he was aggressive," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich said, "running the team and really leading the way."
In a league he entered at 19 years old, Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) is now every bit a man. The Man.
He finished with 22 points and seven assists, but those are just numbers. It's the manner in which he's playing that has made the difference and helped lift the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) from the coffin many tried to bury them in. He's got a fire started, and there's very few in this league capable of dousing it.
Parker helped spark the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to a 23-12 lead before Ginobili even checked in, scoring six points and assisting on four other baskets. He made sure his team was ready for the challenge of a 2005 Finals rematch that always serves as a measuring stick for both squads, particularly now with the playoffs just weeks away.
He was so psyched, so in the groove, that when he called his own number for a pull-up jumper to end the third and missed, he strolled back to the San Antonio bench to catch Popovich's glare. Pop mouthed, "Pass the ball." Parker told me after the game that he was so focused he didn't even see it.
Only in the NBA can someone his age be considered a veteran, but the flip side to that is that he's still so young that he's got plenty of room for improvement.
"Definitely, you know, I'm still working on my jump shot," said Parker of his one glaring weakness since he came into the league, but one that has shown marked improvement.
How much stronger is he going to get? At his current rate of progression, there might come a time, real soon in fact, where he might enter the MVP debate. There's a lot of sentiment for giving Steve Nash the MVP again this season, because he's having perhaps the finest season of his career. Parker joins Nash as the only players in the league averaging over 18 points, five assists and shooting over 50 percent from the floor.
When Nash was 24, he was in his second year in the league, still trying to make a name for himself in his first go-round in Phoenix. Parker's already a two-time NBA champion and All-Star.
With his game blossoming steadily, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) and their old band of geezers figure to be a force for at least a few more seasons. That's what those who already counted them out forgot about. Parker, one of the fastest players in the league, has plenty of juice for all of them.
March 23, 2007
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO -- On Feb. 11, roughly six weeks ago, the San Antonio Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were demolished by the Miami Heat. At that point the foolish wrote them off.
Phoenix and Dallas were captivating everyone's imagination and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were yesterday's news. Since then, they have won 15 of 17 games, including Friday's 90-89 win over the Detroit Pistons, who strolled into the AT&T Center with the Eastern Conference's top record.
It's human nature to expect a team that has been so good for so long to fade. Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) is older, and last year's injuries made it seem like he was going the dinosaur route. Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) costs the team thousands in medical bills and constantly reeks of ointment.
Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry)? Michael Finley? They're still in the league? Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry)? Wasn't it like 20 years ago that he won a slam-dunk contest? Didn't his pop invent the game in the 19th century?
Those seem to be the perceptions.
The truth, which became quite evident against Detroit, is that these guys have found a fountain of youth. His name is Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker), and he's just entering his prime.
The 24-year-old Parker is playing at the highest level of his career, displaying a swagger like never before. In the past he has had to defer, even as the point guard. Now he leads, ignites and inspires.
"I just try to be aggressive. Especially in a game like this that you know is going to be one of those physical, playoff-type games against one of the best teams in the league," said Parker. "I wanted to come out and set the tone that way, just come out as strong as possible."
Chauncey Billups is an elite point guard. Parker destroyed him Friday. Sure, Billups is still suffering through the lingering effects of a strained groin and didn't look 100 percent on the second night of a back-to-back, but Parker smelled blood and went right at him. There was no mercy.
"I have to take responsibility for my play tonight," Billups said. "I just need to take the time to regroup and play better in the next game. I'm trying to find my rhythm."
When Flip Murray was out there in his place, Parker took him to task, too. Defensively, he set the tone. On the other end, he was the offense for the first three quarters, and then set the table for Ginobili and Duncan to help hold off Detroit.
"For every minute he was out there, he was aggressive," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich said, "running the team and really leading the way."
In a league he entered at 19 years old, Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) is now every bit a man. The Man.
He finished with 22 points and seven assists, but those are just numbers. It's the manner in which he's playing that has made the difference and helped lift the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) from the coffin many tried to bury them in. He's got a fire started, and there's very few in this league capable of dousing it.
Parker helped spark the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to a 23-12 lead before Ginobili even checked in, scoring six points and assisting on four other baskets. He made sure his team was ready for the challenge of a 2005 Finals rematch that always serves as a measuring stick for both squads, particularly now with the playoffs just weeks away.
He was so psyched, so in the groove, that when he called his own number for a pull-up jumper to end the third and missed, he strolled back to the San Antonio bench to catch Popovich's glare. Pop mouthed, "Pass the ball." Parker told me after the game that he was so focused he didn't even see it.
Only in the NBA can someone his age be considered a veteran, but the flip side to that is that he's still so young that he's got plenty of room for improvement.
"Definitely, you know, I'm still working on my jump shot," said Parker of his one glaring weakness since he came into the league, but one that has shown marked improvement.
How much stronger is he going to get? At his current rate of progression, there might come a time, real soon in fact, where he might enter the MVP debate. There's a lot of sentiment for giving Steve Nash the MVP again this season, because he's having perhaps the finest season of his career. Parker joins Nash as the only players in the league averaging over 18 points, five assists and shooting over 50 percent from the floor.
When Nash was 24, he was in his second year in the league, still trying to make a name for himself in his first go-round in Phoenix. Parker's already a two-time NBA champion and All-Star.
With his game blossoming steadily, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) and their old band of geezers figure to be a force for at least a few more seasons. That's what those who already counted them out forgot about. Parker, one of the fastest players in the league, has plenty of juice for all of them.
March 23, 2007
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer