All-Star Push
Wire Reports - Comtex AP
Thursday, January 12, 2006
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Tony Parker has a future in modeling, a celebrity girlfriend and two title rings.
At 23, what more could he want?
How about some minutes in the All-Star game in Houston on Feb. 19?
Off to his best season yet, Parker is making a strong pitch to join teammate
Tim Duncan at the midseason showcase. He realizes fans likely will make Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash the starting guards for the Western Conference, leaving his chances in the hands of conference coaches who select the reserves.
"I hope so. I'm playing well and the team's playing well, so we'll see what the coaches say," he said, his eyes lighting up when speaking about the topic. "But I'm improving every year and having big games."
Granted more playing time because
Manu Ginobili has been hurt, Parker has taken full advantage.
He's scoring nearly 20 points per game, six more than his career average and in the top five among West guards. His assists are up to a career-best 6.3 per game. And he's making around 53 percent of his shots, tops among all guards.
"He's not the same
Tony Parker any more," said Magic Johnson, who knows a thing or two about point guards. "He knows what to do now: 'I'm going to pull up instead of going all the way. Or, the next time, I may drive it, but I'm not really driving for a shot for me. I'm trying to draw the defense and kick it out."'
The son of a college basketball player,
Tony Parker Sr., who went on to win European league championships, Parker began playing the game as a toddler. He idolized Michael Jordan while growing up in France and played for its junior national team and then its national team in the 2001 European Championships.
Also that year, San Antonio drafted Parker in the first round and, as a 19-year-old rookie, he became a starter. He's steadily improved over his five seasons, yet sometimes is left out when discussing the league's top point guards.
That could change if Parker can make it to Houston next month. After the starting fives are announced Feb. 2, coaches will select seven reserves, including two guards and two at-large players. That announcement will come Feb. 9.
"Nothing against Tony, but there's other guys playing great," teammate
Robert Horry said. "Tracy (McGrady) has to be there. It's in Houston. And then you got Kobe and Ray Allen. He's just got some stiff competition."
Stargazers outside the NBA already have taken notice of Parker. He once made People magazine's list of the 50 most beautiful people and is increasingly seen alongside his actress girlfriend, Eva Longoria, best known for her role on "Desperate Housewives." She's often seen with him, too, sitting courtside at games.
Parker, however, is trying to create talk about his game on the court.
Although he worked on his outside shot during the offseason, he's stretched his game mostly by doing more of what he does best - using blow-by-you speed to get to the rim, sending up his signature floating jumper inside the paint and passing to wide-open teammates. He led the league with 454 points in the paint heading into Thursday night's game against Detroit.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich calls Parker the team's "most consistent player" thus far. The best way to tell is that Popovich is giving Parker far fewer tongue lashings for out-of-control performances.
"It's the coach's job to make judgments and be critical about players," Popovich said. "And Tony has two great attributes: He has an ability to handle criticism, and he's a hell of a competitor."
Former
Spurs star Sean Elliott credits Parker for challenging bigger players with better moves and knowing which shots to take when.
"He's always been able to penetrate, but now he's smarter about it," said Elliott, a team broadcaster. "His footwork is amazing. He stops, pivots and up fakes, and (is) getting shots off guys who have him by 2 to 3 inches."
Opposing teams have thrown their quickest guards at him, asking them to stay in front of Parker or instructing them to double team when he gets into the paint. But Parker often uses his speed or a pick from Duncan to shake loose.
"He's one of the fastest and quickest guys with the ball in this league," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "I've jumped on a couple of my guys for not getting in front of him and making him pass the ball. I told them I haven't seen him miss a lot of layups this year."
Hornets rookie point guard Chris Paul had lunch with Parker before a recent game. During their meal, Paul tried to glean a few tips from Parker on how to guard him later that night.
Parker wouldn't budge, off the court or on it. He scored 16 points in a 27-point win, while helping limit Paul to six points.
"He plays real low to the floor and (is) able to change directions all the time and keep you off balance," Paul said. "The thing that makes him so diverse is he's able to score, but at the same time, he's a pure point guard. He can find his teammates and make the right pass."
