Tony Parker emerging as a ray of hope for San Antonio Spurs - NBA News
Would Tony Parker singlehandedly be able to get San Antonio Spurs deep into the playoffs?
After Kawhi Leonard’s withdrawal from All-Star weekend due to injury, Tony Parker was the only player who adorned the Spurs colours in the mid season event and guess what he came home with a trophy.
Despite the fact he stood last in previous two NBA’s All Stars skill Challenge events; Parker completely dominated the event this time around. He utilized all his guile and experience, netting 5 of his 6 passing attempts and also
chipped in 2 jumpers to steal the show from the likes of Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams.
"I was calmer”. Parker said after the win. “The first time I did it, it was the first time they did the event and I was with Jason Kidd and Gary Payton and I was nervous,"
Tony was patient and focused during the event and it is going to be this poise that the 2007 NBA Finals MVP requires to take the Spurs to glory for one last time under the Tim Duncan era. He is the chief play maker for San Antonio,
especially after the injury to Manu Ginobili, and the Spurs need their French PG to fire on all cylinders.
Parker, till now, has lived up to the expectations of his team – an average of 19.4 points along with 8.1 assists per game is a testament to that. Off late, he has been taking his responsibility quiet seriously. His shining moment
so far this season came in a game against the league leading Oklahoma City Thunder when he posted 42 points and dished out 9 assists to lead the Spurs to a win and tie the series at 1-all.
The improvement has been there because has shed off the distributing role and is looking to concentrate on creating offense. His high penetration ability means that he draws more and more opposition players toward him leaving the
lethal Spurs sharp shooters with wide open looks at the 3-point range.
All this has meant that the Spurs have silenced all critics who had banished them as a team too old to succeed, especially after the defeat from Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of playoffs last season. They are well on their
way to the road of redemption and entering the All-Star weekend, with a 24-9 record that included an 11-game winning streak, they stood at 2nd position in the Western Conference.
Parker believes in Spurs and has shown his determination to get the title.
"When playing on a team like the San Antonio Spurs, there is no objective other than the title it is in the DNA of this club. We will give everything to try to get a new coronation”.
But the question is that would the Spurs be able to withstand the surge in the long haul. Everyone likes to dream about the championship but would Parker alone be able to overcome the herculean task. There is no doubt that only
time will decide that, but the Frenchman has certainly set the ball rolling.
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