The guy seems like he plays with the same chip on his shoulder as Marc did when he got to the NBA. And like Marc Chandler Parsons just gets better and better. If you had 5 Chandler Parsons on your team you'd never lose a game, but coming on in one of the best games of his career and putting up 27 10 and 8, (in his sophomore season, no doubt) is special. You just don't see this a lot. I'm not trying to pit Pasons and Harden against each other, but I could take one guy and put him on the grizzlies, it'd be parsons in a heartbeat.
I appreciate what you are saying, but I honestly don't see a "chip on the shoulder" guy as a description of Parsons. You might be saying that as a description of yourself looking through the eyes of Parsons...I think it's called sublimation. What I see is Parsons loves the game, loves his team and wants to improve every game ... every year. On the scale of 0 to Barkley for guys who do not have a chip on their shoulder ... I'd give Parsons a 9.
I think he is just an example of a massive fail on the part of NBA teams to recognize talent. He was the 2011 SEC Player of the Year, he isn't a scrub.
I think what I mean is coming from being drafted in the 2nd round, a guy that nobody had high expectations for, but they just didn't understand the will to succeed that parsons possesses. It would be the same thing I'd say about Kevin Love. These guys just have something that drives them to be better.
One area where Parsons can improve is finishing in the paint or drawing a foul when there are defenders there. It may seem like he's a great finisher because of some of his highlights, but a lot of time he tries a weak lay up or decides not to continue the drive if a defender is there even if he is not set. If he becomes a more agressive finisher he can be a star.
btw: I won't argue with anyone who says Larry Bird had a chip on his shoulder in college, after leaving his first college. But, what drove him in the NBA was to beat Magic, not some dis by an ******* coach in college. Now, here's a question...did Rashard Lewis play with a chip on his shoulder after being asked to leave the green room. I think so. But Parsons....nah. He LOVED being at the Summer League last year with Morris, Patterson and his new class of teammates. That didn't strike me as having a chip on his shoulder.
I think the "chip on their shoulders" are just byproducts of being second round picks. They have to play hard to get playing time...that's how they were groomed. This is as opposed to say, Tyreke Evans, who was pretty much handed playing time of a silver platter. I like where your head is at comparing the two, but their styles are more just byproducts of not being handed minutes to play.
I'm pretty sure Parsons was Prom King in HS. Look at that suit and tie! Red shirt...little polka dots on the tie surrounded by a shiny jacket. That screams confidence like a gangsta. well, then again, Christopher definitely had a chip on his shoulder.
Chandler Parsons reminds me of Paul George. Only whiter. And not quite as good. I get it, you like Parsons. As do, I. Very much so, in fact. But this is silly talk.
I think Parsons really really loves the big stage. He wants to be the guy who is guarding the other teams best player. He wants to take the big shot. He wants to help the team. He really is willing to do everythign he can to help the team. It's awesome.
Marc Gasol is not white. He is Euro. Euro players have better basketball IQ and more accurate jumpers. White players have higher motor.
He's definitely got a will to win and last game definitely showed that. I think he's starting to realize how much more assertive he has to be for this team to win.
