Parker using NBA Finals to make his point

Jun 8, 2007 - 10:17 PM By Chris Bernucca PA SportsTicker Pro Basketball Editor

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - In 2003, Tony Parker's reward for helping guide the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA championship was a distinct message: We think we can do better.

Jason Kidd was an impending free agent, and neither Kidd nor the Spurs made any secret about their desire to spend the next several years together. That didn't sit well with Parker, who had just capped his second season with a Finals in which he outplayed Kidd at times.

Kidd ultimately re-signed with the Nets, while the Spurs settled on Parker as their point guard for the long-term future. But the native of France admitted that he spent that summer sulking and soul-searching.

"It was just one summer. It was just that summer of '03, and then I forgot about it," Parker said. "Then I was just focusing on trying to improve and get better as a basketball player."

Parker has improved to the point where he now has to be mentioned alongside Kidd, Steve Nash and Chauncey Billups as the top point guards in the NBA. Anyone doubting that premise clearly wasn't watching Game One of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, when he simply was the best player on the court.

Upstaging superstars LeBron James and Tim Duncan, Parker had 27 points and seven assists, totally controlling the game with his ability to get to the rim whenever he wanted. He made 12-of-23 shots, with all but one of his baskets coming in the paint.

It did not matter who defended the 6-2 Parker. He made virtually every player the Cavaliers used look like they were standing still, from the hobbled Larry Hughes to the hale and healthy Daniel Gibson.

"They have arguments all the time about who's the fastest in the NBA," Duncan said. "I don't know if he's the fastest, but he will get around just about anybody and he'll get in that lane."

Parker has always been fast. When he joined the Spurs as a 19-year-old rookie in 2001, his quickness so impressed Gregg Popovich that the coach was forced to change some of his more deliberate offensive sets that showcased Duncan and David Robinson to take advantage of the blur he had in the backcourt.

"I had to let up control," Popovich said. "Where most of us like to be in control, or at least think we're pulling the strings for the most part, I learned quickly that (Parker) had more to offer by being in random situations than I did by trying to control things."

But in loosening the reins, Popovich became tougher on Parker, whose decision-making as a floor general often was negatively impacted by his desire to play at the same breakneck pace.

"I always knew I had a lot of speed," Parker said. "I can go by people and penetrate, try to get some stuff for me and my teammates. But I knew that the key is changing speed. Do it at the right moment. When I first came into the league, coach Pop, we always talked about that - changing speeds and don't go fast all the time. You have to go slow to be able to use your speed."

Parker didn't talk to Popovich as much as he listened while the coach was yelling, trying to get his point guard to work harder, understand the nuances of valuing the basketball and making the right play rather than the flashy one.

"It was a little bit like father and son," Parker admitted. "He was always hard on me. He always screams at me and always tried to push me because I'm a little bit nonchalant sometimes in practice and a little bit lazy. ... Even if I play great, he always thinks I can be perfect."

"He's been through hell and back," Duncan said.

Popovich clearly got through to Parker, who has learned to vary his pace and also has worked with shot guru Chip Engelland on developing a consistent perimeter jumper - which makes him even more dangerous. He won another title in 2005 and became an All-Star for this first time this season.

Now on the game's biggest stage for the third time in his career, Parker no longer plays in the shadow of superstars such as James and Duncan. In fact, it is the quickness of Parker - and not anything James or Duncan may do - that may have the biggest impact on this series.

When asked how he planned on limiting Parker in Game Two, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said, "I'm going to pray a little bit."

It's going to take more than faith to slow down Parker, who is grateful that the Spurs did not sign Kidd and showed faith in him.

"If he came here, I don't think I would be here in San Antonio," he said. "I'm happy that it didn't happen because so far I'm having a great career in San Antonio. I'm very happy to be here."