San Antonio Spurs: Can Tony Parker Continue to Dominate In The Playoffs?
Tony Parker has come out on fire. While there are several prolific point guards in the NBA that have proven to be highly versatile (Stephen Curry and Chris Paul), none have established a consistently successful legacy that has resulted in multiple championship titles. However, this sentiment in no way discredits the work ethic and immense talent that up and coming point guards have already displayed empathically. Rather, it is a testament to how Tony Parker has matured not only at his own position but also as an all around player. Under the stewardship of Greg Popovich, Tony Parker has blossomed into a dignified leader who is capable of instigating any innovative play scheme from his vast repertoire. Even when he’s placed in a situation where he can’t methodically dictate a game plan, Parker is capable of being a scrappy scorer who can make a shot in a clutch situation (see game one of the NBA finals against the Miami Heat).
Aside from these obvious intangibles, Parker has statistically improved his scoring abilities along with his attention to detail in terms of finding the open man. During the 2007 playoffs, Parker scored 20.8 points per game and dished out 5.8 assists per game. As a result of this consistency, Tony Parker and the Spurs fought there way to their most recent championship against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sweeping them in the process. Since then, Parker has once again elevated himself to another level by putting up numbers that are much more impressive. In the 2013 NBA playoffs, Parker has put 22.9 points per game along with 7.1 assists making him a dynamically dangerous offensive threat that is capable of making the ideal decisions at the right moment. Even his defensive abilities have proved to be monumental in his team’s success with Parker obtaining at least one steal per game.
Now, in the NBA finals for the first since his last triumphant victory in 2007, Parker’s innate abilities haven’t wavered. In game one against the Miami Heat, Parker put up 21 points (10 in the 4th quarter) shooting 50% from the field against a team that has one of the best defenses in the NBA. While the Finals have only just gotten under way, it can’t be denied that Parker’s veteran leadership and experience have attributed to his teams ability to not only comeback against the best team in the league but to also close out a game when the time comes.
Despite his inflamed Achilles which Parker as been dealing with recently, it appears that the injury hasn’t effected his tenacity or play style in any way. If anything, Parker is playing with a level of youthful exuberance that could easily rival any of his past successful performances. Rather than being in decline after over a decade of playing in the pros, Parker appears to be in his prime now more than ever. For now, Parker has been able to combat any of the physical ailments that have plagued him while simultaneously being able to compete against the best of the best without succumbing to the immense pressures that threaten him. It seems that when all is said and done, Parker only has one train of thought that keeps him chronically focused on a singular goal: to win another NBA championship. Ever since the start of the playoffs, Parker has pushed himself past the limitations that many thought he wouldn’t be able to overcome while demonstrating his desire to win game after game to take his team to the big time to dethrone the reigning champions who were practically unanimous favorites entering the post season.
However, after the Spurs disposed of the crippled Lakers, silenced the youthful and gifted Warriors and casually swept the Grizzlies, the Spurs have established themselves as a balanced and cohesive team with a highly motivated Parker at the helm. As long as Parker continues to make his presence known on the court as a superstar who can pick a team apart in more ways than one it won’t matter how many alterations the Miami Heat make to their game plan. As long as Parker is playing at an unprecedented level, the San Antonio Spurs will once again be recognized as dominant champions.