1. With Manu, Parker Helps Spurs Run Like New
By Jesse Blanchard
ESPN TrueHoop
Not merely swept out of the playoffs by the Phoenix Suns last season, the San Antonio Spurs were made to look old and, quite frankly, done.
So how is it that a Spurs team whose only major free-agent signing (Tiago Splitter) has rarely seen the court, and whose only first-round draft pick (James Anderson) has been injured most of the season, been able to rush out to an NBA-best 22-3 record playing largely the same players who were written off over the summer?
While the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks grabbed most of the headlines for their roster moves, in the Western Conference the acquisition of the summer has been the Spurs quietly adding an All-Star point guard to the solid mix of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
Tony Parker, the All-Star version, is a major upgrade over the plantar fasciitis model that hobbled through most of last season, and it makes the Spurs a completely different team. If Duncan is the solid foundation of the team, and Ginobili its best and most valuable player, Parker is the catalyst.
With the Spurs struggling out of the gate on the wrong end of a back-to-back in Denver, it was Parker who led them back into the contest with an 18-point, seven-assist first half, zipping through a scrambling defense for floaters and layups while creating open looks and driving lanes for his teammates. Keeping the team afloat until Ginobili could win it.
Seemingly left behind in this burgeoning great point guard era during his injured season, Parker is often the forgotten man in the Paul/Rondo/Rose/Williams debate. That's not to say the 2007 Finals MVP is an equal or superior to Chris Paul, but he certainly merits being discussed among his elite peers.
Often critiqued for his "cardinal sin" of not being a traditional "pure" point guard, Parker is chastised by critics for a perceived inability to make his teammates better -- most likely for his historically singular pursuit of efficient scoring.
But just because he lacks the gaudy assist totals does not mean he doesn't raise his teammates' games.
While Ginobili is playing close to MVP levels this season, recognize that it is a healthy Parker relieving him of the burden (and wear and tear) of initiating the offense. Without Parker, Ginobili would have a difficult time sustaining his production for a full season.
Now starting next to Parker full-time, Ginobili is averaging a career high in minutes, points and 3-point attempts. His play is just as dominant as it was near the end of last season, but because defenses can no longer load up on him as the sole playmaker, the extended burn never seems as taxing as when he carried the Spurs through last spring.
And as much as Richard Jefferson struggled last season, it must be pointed out that he was completely miscast as a scorer. Between Jefferson and George Hill, the Spurs have two wings who can put up strong scoring numbers but are more finishers than scorers.
Each is fantastic at capitalizing on driving lanes, but poor at creating them for themselves. Therein lies the true value of Parker. While the Spurs lack the explosive athletes and dynamic scorers of other teams, they have a number of players smart enough to exploit advantages.
So while he might not ever be the do-it-all point guard Paul or Rondo is, by breaking down a defense with his initial penetration Parker offers his teammates everything they need: an opportunity to exploit a scrambling defense and another run at a championship.
Jesse Blanchard's work can be found at 48minutesofhell.com
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