Really? Do you really think that Parker will be just a role player? A role player of the same level and talent as KSmith? Really? Parker is no Drexler, but he will become better than KSmith, Kerr, and Fisher. His role is looked upon as a main factor in games. To take over. To run the offense. It make big shots. This is very different than last year (or his rookie year). Yes, he's a secondary player right behind Duncan. But he's not just a role player. Fisher, George, KSmith, Kerr...more so. Not Parker. Parker is recognized internationally and national as one of the best PG in the NBA. He has all-star qualities that are too good to ignore. These are recognitions that KSmith, Brown, Horry, George would only dream of.
Let me explain some situations regarding leadership, poise, over-all talent and ability... Extraordinary athletic ability and talent is very, very important. These are the guys you want to do the extraordinary things for a team when the shot clock is running down...(TMac/Kobe/Shaq/Duncan, etc...) Those guys carry most of the load. IQ and smarts will enable that player to make quick decisions when the game is on the line. This is what gives a player consistency. His mind. What's he's learned. If you have a low-IQ player, but great athletic ability, what you will have is a situation where the athletic ability will get you only so far. It will get us very close to winning those big games. But never over the hump. And certainly not with any real consistency. The reason is because players have to use their mind in those situations more so. And if that player is mistake prone, and worse, a PG..well, the odds are against him from the start. You might be able to squeak out some wins here or there. But over the long run it's fools gold.
Quote by DavidS Really? Do you really think that Parker will be just a role player? A role player of the same level and talent as KSmith? Really? Parker is no Drexler, but he will become better than KSmith, Kerr, and Fisher. His role is looked upon as a main factor in games. To take over. To run the offense. It make big shots. This is very different than last year (or his rookie year). Yes, he's a secondary player right behind Duncan. But he's not just a role player. Fisher, George, KSmith, Kerr...more so. Not Parker. Parker is recogized international and national as one of the best PG in the leauge. He has all-star qualities that are too hard to ignore. These are recognitions that KSmith, Brown, Horry, George would only dream of. __________________ Yes, I think he is a role player. A very good and very valuable one, who fits his situation well. I do not think he is a top tier talent currently, I may think differently in the future, but he has not given me any reason to believe that will ever occur. I believe that he will always be a second teer player, like KSmith and the like. That does not mean that he won't have a great NBA career. Parker is definately no Drexler, and I do not believe he will ever be, and he may become better than KSmith or any of the others, but I do not believe that based on his professional pedigree to date that he belongs in the same category previously mentioned. I feel pretty certain that he will never be. Not sure I care what the internationals think, come to think of it, I don't give a rats @#* what the internationals think. I do not follow the national media much, as I typically work to much to have time to do so. Not sure I have seen many all-star qualities. Unless feeding the ball to one of the best power forwards in the History of the NBA counts. Again, I believe that he is a very good player and fits SA well, but not an all-star. BTW, just looked at KSmith Career stats, the are actually better than TP in every category, except Blocks per game (1.0 for TP to 0.9 for KS), and points per game (13.1 for TP compared to 12.8 for KS). KS is 3.3% better in FGM%, 7.4% for 3PT%, 11.1 for FT%, and has slightly more assists (0.5 per game), steals, and fewer TO's. Unless TP makes some dramatic improvements, then they are essentially the same, well not really, KS would have an advantage.
That's why it's so hard for fans to include someone in a list of greats *before* the fact. It's seen as "blasphemy." But I remember when people didn't think that AK-47 was very good, and thought he would never be an all-star quality player. To them it was blasphemy to even suggest that he should be included in the top tier list of players. But he proved himself. And when it's all said and done. Parker will, IMO, become a top tier player. Not a Drexler, or Kobe. Not like that. But a lot better career than KSmith. Only time will tell.
Quote by thegary role players don't get double-teamed. ________________ Every player gets double-teamed in his career. Some more than others so your statement is flawed. Neither does TP, at least on a regular basis, and definately way less than SF who most of the anti-SF group believe is a second teer player. One additional thought, seems to me that Yao doesn't get double-teamed on a regular basis either. Hmmm
the point is that the lakers didn't double parker in the first two games and they got smoked. they doubled he and duncan the rest of the series and forced the "role" players to try and beat them. you saw the results.
Quote by thegary you saw the results. _______________________ Actually, I didn't watch a single Spurs / Lakers game. Don't have time to watch games I am not interested in. With my work schedule and family committments, I have to pick and choose my leasure viewing, and I must admit, Lakers/Spurs are not high on the list.
You're gonna spend all this time arguing about Francis versus TP, and then reveal that you havent even been watching the series? It's kind of important to the argument.
You're gonna spend all this time arguing about Francis versus TP, and then reveal that you havent even been watching the series? It's kind of important to the argument. _________________ Not really, since I am looking a a longer period of time to justify my position (i.e., 2003 stats and career to date stats). I do not believe that I have argued anything related to TP's playoff performance against the Lakers, only SF's, which by the way was pretty damn good. You must judge a player on his body of work, not a handful of games.
Quote by newjack So exactly how many of Parkers games have you had the time to watch? ____________________ Not sure exactly, but in the 20+ range, including 2003 playoffs, 2003/2004 regular season, and first round of 2004 playoffs. Change of jobs has cramped my style in 2004
So, just how many championships do Stockton and Jackson have? case closed.. who gives a **** about the past.. We cant sit here and compare our players of the past, present, and future.. anything can happen... lets see what happens this season
And your descriptive adjective for 5 seasons of repetitive bad habits is.....? I've been watching the Steve Francis Rockets on NBALP for his entire career. I bit my tongue the first two seasons like I'm doing now with Yao. If you can't see the obvious differences in the way Yao and Francis play the game, we can agree to disagree. Three seasons from now, Yao won't be making the mistakes you listed for him. Three seasons from now, Francis will be making the ones we've watched for the last 5. Please list just one attribute of Francis's game that has improved since he joined the NBA. Has he learned to FBreak? Does he have a floater shot? Can he run a dynamite PnR? Has he improved his half-court decison making skills? For the times he's played SG with Moochie or MJax, has he learned how to come off a baseline screen and elevate quickly for a shot? What does Francis do when he's not dribbling? Nada. And that's not team ball and unless we deal him we'll be stuck in mediocrity as Francis' primary calling card...athleticsm...ebbs away.
Steve Francis is the better Athlete. Tony Parker is a better basketball player. Steve Francis cannot lead a simple fast break consistently and has terrible basketball instincts.
Reminds me a little of Steve. Very athletic, not a true PG, but definately a dynamic player. Will he make as many mental mistakes year after year as we have seen from Steve? Too early to tell.
