http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/columns/story?columnist=hughes_frank&id=1793101 Frank Huges of ESPN writes: "Speaking of Francis, is he not the most frustrating player in the game right now? I hate to rip him, since he is an ex-Terrapin, but he is beginning to put "Fear the Turtle" to shame. More like "Spear the Turtle." Somebody needs to tell Franchise that before he goes ripping aside his jersey to presumably expose his enlarged heart, he needs to actually hit the game-winning shot, not the one that ties the game with time still left. I wonder why he didn't do anything when he chucked up that airball at the buzzer that led to overtime in Game 5, which the Lakers predictably won. After that 18-foot airball that missed by a foot -- which is the NBA playoffs equivalent of a smart bomb aimed at Baghdad taking out the Eiffel Tower -- maybe Franchise should have ripped aside the right side of his jersey, where he does not have a heart." First of all, ouch. Hater. Second of all, it was game 4, not five. Then the guy goes on to lick Tony Parker's balls. Sigh.
Tony Parker palms the ball on every single dribble, maybe if the refs called a carry a carry, Tony Parker wouldn't be so overrated, but thanks to Michael Jordan, that call hasnt been seen in years on a consistent basis.
well at least he's right about Gary Payton's inevitable ass kicking by Parker. The more I watch the Spurs, the more I'm convinced that by the time Parker is Francis's current age (5 years from now?), he will undoubtedly be the best point guard in the game (if no one better comes along between now and then).
Yes, he is the most frustrating player in the game. And I remember last year when I said I saw enormous skill and potential in Tony Parker, I was almost laughed off the board. When I said I would trade Parker for Francis in a heartbeat I was attacked without mercy. Have a pleasant day.
Well, he got one fact correct. Steve always manages to score a D-. Every year he has just scraped by. Now he has once again given us just enough to doubt our criticism. At a time when many were calling for his trade, he somehow scores a D- by raising his game in the playoffs. Steve was cursed by being the number 2 draft pick, if he were number 10 to 12, can you imagine how our conversations for the past 5 years would be different.
he must really hate watching steve francis AND kobe. because, he only did the exact same thing in game 1.
I don't care much for Parker, but the article was spot on. Parker is a solid PG who is going to give Payton and Fisher a lot of trouble (which was the authors' point IMO). It would not surprise me to see Kobe on Parker before the series is over.
