Parker leading the Spurs’ charge through the NBA.
“He picked up where he left off before the All-Star break. He’s having an unbelievable year. He just keeps doing it,” San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told ESPN on Wednesday night.
The man in question is of course point guard Tony Parker, who continued what has been an incredible season so far with a 30-point and 11-assist game in the 108-102 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Shooting 10-of-20 and going 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, Parker has been in sensational form this season as he picks up more responsibility given the absence of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili through injury.
With both men returning from their respective spells on the sidelines, the Spurs are already at 43-12 for the season, the best record in the NBA, and are seemingly just getting better.
Additionally, they end the season with 17 of their final 24 games at home, thus giving them short odds to top the Western Conference and end the regular season with the best record in the league.
At 30 years of age, many would have tipped Parker to be on a steady decline having reached what appeared to be his peak in the 2008/09 season.
For a guard who relies heavily on his speed and strength to drop in the lay-up, it was a natural assumption to make. However, Parker has made other plans, and continues to defy expectations.
The Frenchman has made driving to the basket to open up the court and finding team-mates for the open-threes his trademark. What makes him even more special is his work in clutch situations, delivering when it really counts on countless occasions.
His vision on the court is matched by few, whether it’s finding Duncan inside the paint to finish up or kicking it out to the likes of Danny Green to drill the three, the Spurs are most definitely safe in the hands of Parker.
“I don’t care about getting my due and stuff like that. I’m in San Antonio, they always forget about me, so I get used to it,” said Parker in a recent interview as quoted by USA Today.
Granted if San Antonio are to win the NBA championship this year they will need a healthy Duncan and Ginobili for their play-off push.
However, If Parker continues to control and carry this Spurs team the way he has done recently, then they are going to be difficult for anyone to beat.
COMMENTS