Jul 14, 2005, 04:56
Battle Blog -- Is Tony Parker Overrated?
By Spurs Fans
SpursTalk.com
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After garnering a six-year, $66 million contract extension last summer, some Spurs fans expect more from 23-year-old point guard Tony Parker than they have seen on the court. Is Parker overrated?
Sense: In his first couple years in the league, Tony Parker was often touted as one of the up-and-coming talents in the league. This perception, however, has seemingly changed recently. During the Spurs’ championship run, whispers around the league were that Parker is overrated.
A big reason for that talk is Parker’s struggles with his free throws and his low three point percentages. Based on those statistics, fans seem to have lost faith in the Spurs’ starting point guard. Without a basic jump shot, they say, it’s impossible for Parker to be a true point guard.
I do not argue this – Tony Parker is not a true point guard. Parker is, however, an overachiever. Despite his lack of size, he changes the game with his speed. Personally, I'll take a point guard who creates fouls and opportunities around the basket over a point guard who'd rather hang around on the perimeter and launch threes.
Parker is and should be considered a top three NBA point guard. Why? Because even though he doesn’t have the world’s best jumper, he's unselfish and does what needs to be done to win. He pushes the ball when need be. He sets up the halfcourt offense when need be. He defers to his teammates when need be. He takes the ball into his own hands and scores when need be.
Unlike every other point so-called “elite” point guard in the league, Parker has two championship rings to prove that his style of play works. Since he’s only 23-years-old, he will only improve as years go by.
Even though Parker isn’t receiving the glitz and glamour associated with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, the way he runs the team cannot be ignored. The two trophies in San Antonio will assure that never happens.
Guru of Nothing: If I have to choose a side, yes, Tony Parker is overrated. By your own argument, he's overrated. Yes, he has two rings, but Avery Johnson and Speedy Claxton have rings too. So does Jud Buechler, that doesn’t mean I'd necessarily want him on my team.
That said, I still think he's a top ten point guard, and if he develops as a reliable outside threat, he will approach top three status. Until that happens, we Spurs fans will continue to be frustrated watching opposing defenses cheat off of him. (Some things never change for a Spurs fan.)
So long as he remains a half-time favorite for quickie Cheryl Miller interviews, while Spurs fans such as myself daydream about his teammates playing a game unfettered by his outside shot (or lack thereof) - YES, he's overrated.
Sense: I did not base it on the fact that he has two rings. Although I believe he still has work to do in mastering the basics, I think he has all the necessary point guard fundamentals.
I've noticed that in most of our losses in the post season, when he goes out and tries to dominate the action, Manu and Tim often struggle. I believe when Tony Parker tries to do too much, it takes away from the rest of the team. So as long as he concentrates on running the team and staying within his capabilities, the team can win and Parker can go down as one of the best point guards in the league. He does what it takes to win. Period.
The fact that he's already been a starter on two championship teams should clue the rest of the league that he’s a top five point guard. He’s obviously done something right, and he’s young enough to continue to improve. I just don’t see how one could say he’s overrated.
Guru of Nothing: I think you are proving my point for me. To say that Tony still needs to work on his basics, and yet also say that he is a top five point guard leads me to conclude he is overrated.
Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Mike Bibby, Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash and Baron Davis (when healthy) are all considered better point guards than Parker. Parker is in a tier below, along with the likes Andre Miller and Kirk Hinrich.
That said, there are only two or three point guards I would trade straight up for Parker, for reasons ranging from salary, to age and health, to team chemistry. Tony Parker is one of the top five point guards best suited to run the Spurs, which is what I think you really meant to say, but didn't.
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