Gimme 10! Player Profile – Tony Parker
The Spurs Need More of This From Parker!
Do a Google image search for Tony Parker and you will find pictures of his bare butt jumping off a boat (really). You will find snapshots of him from celebrity magazines. And a TON of pictures of his wife. For the record, she is unbelievable, but we care more about his play on the hardwood, not his …. ahem! You get the point.
Two years ago, Tony Parker was NBA Finals MVP and arguably the best young PG in the game. Last year, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Brandon Roy made Parker arguably the fourth best young guard in his conference! With San Antonio’s rapidly aging roster, a dominant season from Parker is neccessary if the team is going to challange again for the title.
Last year, TP was definitely hampered by injuries. The entire Spurs team was. But unlike the rest of the Spurs, he is so young we do not predict more of the same in the future. As good and Duncan and Ginobli are – and they are great - age is going to catch up to them, probably sooner than later. Parker is the only part of San Antonio’s core that has yet to hit his prime.
If Parker is the Spurs future, there are some parts of his game that he must update. Defensively he is quick as a cat, but he must focus on cutting the floor off for opposing penetrating guards or else the like of Paul and Williams will eat him alive. TP must also shoot the ball more and better. Over his career, he has proven himself a reliable scorer, but most of his offense is generated close to the basket. Having a more reliable outside shot (and shooting it) will help him penetrate past defenders (who will have to play him closer), create space for Duncan and Ginobli, and hopefully spare his body some of the pounding it takes constantly going to the rack.
We expect Parker to show a new focus on being the leading man on his aging roster, and good things to follow. TP is the only Gimme 10! guy who is arguably the third best on his own team. That may work to his advantage as he tries establish himself as the new sheriff in Texas.
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