Tag: San Antonio Spurs

PTI weighs in on Tony Parker’s comments

Tony Parker pronouncement that he thought the Spurs could no longer challenge for a championship with their current roster was big news across the NBA.

Parker’s comments last week to a group of French reporters in Paris even got discussion on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” with Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser.

Here’s a link to the segment at , as well as a transcript of what Wilbon and Kornheiser had to say.

Wilbon: Tony Parker is spending time back home in France and that’s why perhaps he felt comfortable enough to say what he said about the Spurs in a recent interview unearthed by Sports By Brooks. ”I don’t think this current team will  play for the title in the future. We are aging.”

Kornheiser: So are we.

Wilbon:  ”We must be realistic. It was kind of our last chance this season.” Tony, should Tony Parker be saying this, even if he believes it.

Kornheiser: Sure, if he believes it. What he’s saying is the exact same thing that you and I have said. Everybody looked at the Spurs this year and said, “Wow!” Look at them.

Wilbon: Great run.

Kornheiser: We didn’t think they would be that good, so I’m O.K. with that. But what interests me is that I suspect that not only did he say this in France, but that the said it in French. I suspect that he did not think, because he’s in a foreign country that it would be unearthed back in the United States. I don’t think he would have told a San Antonio reporter this exact thing.

Wilbon: Maybe not, but Tony Parker’s been living ontwo continents since he was 15 years old. So I’m thinking … His dad is American so I don’t know. Maybe you have a point, Tony.

Kornheiser: If you were living in Australia and you were interviewed, would you think it would be seen in Kansas City?

Wilbon: Yeah, yeah.

Kornheiser: So you think you are actually that big?

Wilbon: Yeah. I actually know. I travel and you don’t and the world is actually a lot bigger to you than me. It’s small and you know stuff gets around. More importantly, Tony Parker is going to be the guy who gets traded.

Kornheiser: I forgot that I was with Conrad Hilton.

Wilbon: No, you’re with a guy who leaves the house every now then.

Kornheiser: My grid gets smaller.

Wilbon: Tony Parker is going to get traded. He’s the guy. But if Pop says no, but if they are going to get better.

Kornheiser (interrupting): They can’t trade Duncan, he will be 36 …

Wilbon: And Ginobili has some value. But Tony Parker is the guy. I’m surprised you aren’t lobbying for him to be a member of the Knicks. Or can he get there on a barge from San Antonio?

As you can see, Parker and his comments have proven to be so lively that they’ve moved past San Antonio and become a national topic of conversation.

Parker and his future with the Spurs will be talked about all summer — lockout or not — because of the comments he made in France last week.

Blair’s contract hailed as best, RJ’s as worst among Spurs’ players

We likely won’t see much trade action until the looming lockout is settled.

It will be interesting to see how the NBA’s contract unrest impacts the upcoming NBA Draft on June 23.

And it will be particularly intriguing to see if the Spurs are involved in much draft-day dealing.

Jim Mancari of the Bleacher Report had an and their abilities to trade. He looked at the team and ascertained who he thinks has the best and worst contract on the Spurs as far as the team is concerned.

Mancari writes that Blair might have the “best contract in the game.” Blair was paid less than $1 million per year to notch 8.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

And he opines that Richard Jefferson has the worst contract on the team.

“Jefferson used to be the star in New Jersey and Milwaukee but has found himself as more of a role player in San Antonio,” Mancari said. “He’s adjusted well, but his salary of close to $10 million still mirrors that of a major force.”

Blair and Jefferson were the two biggest disappointments for the Spurs in the playoffs. Jefferson struggled through the worst shooting period of his career in the Memphis series and Blair couldn’t even get off the bench against the Grizzlies.

Both players are in the crosshairs for Spurs Nation after the team’s disappointing finish in the playoffs.

I’m curious. Does Spurs Nation expect either Blair or Jefferson to be on the team’s roster when next season begins?

Mavs’ fast early start without Dirk powers them to Game 3 win over OKC

The Dallas Mavericks don’t necessarily need Dirk Nowtizki to be successful.

As their superstar forward weathered a miserable start Saturday night, the Mavericks didn’t miss a beat.

Shawn Marion scored 18 points and Jason Kidd added 13 as the Mavericks overcame a miserable start by Nowtizki and still cruised to a 93-87 victory at Oklahoma City. It gave them a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series.

Nowitzki scored 18 points, but missed 10 of his first 14 shots in a struggling early slump and had seven turnovers.

“He’s our guy,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle  told reporters after the game. “If he misses a few shots, he’s not going to get deterred, he’s not going to get discouraged. He’s got the kind of will, he’s going to keep going at it.”

A bigger story was Dallas’ defense. Oklahoma City missed 15 of its first 19 shots as Dallas cruised to an early 35-12 lead.

Oklahoma City was limited to 36.5 percent from the field and missed their first 16 3-point attempts before Russell Westbrook converted one in the final minute.

“Tonight we played championship-level defense for the first time in the series,” Carlisle said.

As a result, the Mavericks reclaimed homecourt advantage in the series — even when Nowitzki wasn’t really a big part of their performance.

STUDS

Dallas F Shawn Marion: Posted 18 points on 9-for-13 shooting, and added four rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals in a mighty defensive performance in the Mavericks’ 93-87 victory at Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. He also helped limit Kevin Durant to 24 points as the NBA’s leading scorer needed 23 shots to get 24 points and went to the line only three times.  

Dallas G Jason Kidd: Filled the scoresheet with 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds, four steals and was plus-6 in the Mavericks’ victory at the Thunder.

Dallas C Tyson Chandler: Muscled for eight points, 15 rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot and was plus-11 in the Mavericks’ triumph at Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Scored a game-high 30 points, grabbed four rebounds, provided two steals and was plus-5 in the Thunder’s loss  to Dallas.

DUDS

Oklahoma City’s perimeter shooting: The Thunder clanked through a 1-for-17 effort beyond the 3-point arc, missing their first 16 3-pointers and not converting their first from beyond the arc until the final minute.

Oklahoma City’s early offense: Frigid wouldn’t have been a strong enough description for the Thunder’s early struggles. Oklahoma City missed 15 of its first 19 shots and committed eight turnovers while Dallas rushed out to a commanding 35-12 lead in their Saturday loss.