Tony Parker leads the Spurs
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, December 15
Updated: December 15
10:04 AM ET
Week 7 saw the capture of Sadaam Hussein, the anointing of Howard Dean and Puerto Rican princess Sandra take home a million bucks in Survivor.
But wait, you wanted to talk basketball, right? How about the Spurs' six-game road streak quickly shutting up all of the pundits who had jumped off the San Antonio bandwagon? What about startling evidence coming out of Orlando, Chicago and Phoenix that firing a coach on bad team won't turn it into a good team over night? Or, and I know you've been waiting all season for this, trouble in the paradise known as Golden State?
Insider breaks down the most intriguing story lines from Week 7.
And Tony Parker shall lead them? Wasn't it just two or three weeks ago when the NBA backseat drivers were screaming at the top of their lungs that the Spurs made a wrong turn this offseason?
The team was 9-10, free-agent signees Rasho Nesterovic and Robert Horry looked like busts and Spurs GM R.C. Buford's big trade acquisitions, Hedo Turkoglu and Ron Mercer, stunk. That was enough to spark a mass exodus off the defending champs' bandwagon. Rumors began flying that the Spurs were so desperate for a change that they were considering trading for Rasheed Wallace. Coach Gregg Popovich began cautioning reporters that his new team was radically different than the one that took home the NBA title last June.
Tony Parker
Point Guard
San Antonio Spurs
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
18 13.8 3.1 6.1 .417 .630
Two weeks and a six-game winning streak later, it's just a matter of time before the bandwagon starts filling right back up again. The Spurs are rolling again and they're doing it behind their young point guard, Tony Parker.
What was wrong with the Spurs in November? Tim Duncan was off to another slow start. But that's no different than the past three seasons. After averaging a "disappointing" 21.2 ppg and 11.6 rpg in November, he's been on a tear in December, putting up 23.3 ppg and 13.7 rpg.
Nesterovic was playing awful, but you knew Duncan and Nesterovic needed some time to get used to playing together. Nesterovic was awful in November, averaging just 8.5 ppg and 8.2 on 48 percent shooting. However, for those pining for the good old David Robinson days, those numbers were almost identical to Robinson's 8.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg he put up last year. Nesterovic isn't the defender that Robinson was, but neither was Robinson his last few years in the league.
Fast forward to December, and things look decidedly better. He's averaging 15.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg on 57 percent shooting in the Spurs' last five games -- all wins.
But the biggest difference in the Spurs is at the point, where a healthy Parker is finally taking charge of this team. Parker missed the first seven games of the season with an injury. When he came back, Parker did more scoring than passing, averaging 14.6 ppg in November, but just 4.9 apg.
That fact had Popovich pulling his hair out a bit. With the emergence of Emanuel Ginobili as a legit second scoring threat, as well as Nesterovic on the high post, the Spurs were hoping that this was the season Parker finally became more of the floor leader the team thought he could be.
During the Spurs' six-game streak, Parker is averaging a whopping 9.5 apg. He's had four games during that streak in which he's averaged 10 or more assists. While his scoring is down slightly over the same period, the Spurs couldn't be more thrilled that their point guard is playing like a point guard.
What prompted the change? "We demanded it," Popovich told the San Antonio Express News.
"If he penetrates and there's a wide-open shot, that's one thing," Popovich said. "But if he goes in and there's two big guys standing there, I'm going to let him know that's not good basketball."
"I don't want him to be (John) Stockton because we need him to score," Popovich said. "But I'd like for him to involve other people. Hopefully, as he matures he'll understand the value of it. He has the ability to do it because if he didn't have the ability to pass or find people, I'd say be (selfish) and shoot it all the time."
Popovich's subtle digs at Parker's play highlight why Popovich was pushing for the Spurs to sign Jason Kidd over the summer. For all of Parker's skills, the Spurs still questioned whether Parker had the mentality that he needed to run a championship team. Remember, it was Speedy Claxton, not Parker, on the floor in Game 6 when the Spurs beat the Nets in the NBA Finals.
After the Spurs lost the chance to land Kidd, Buford and company went out of their way to bring in more scoring options so Parker could focus on running the offense. Lately, he's began to embrace the role.
"This is my job now," Parker told the Express News. "It's been perfect because we're winning. . .That's why I haven't been shooting as much. When they need me, I'll still be there."
Popovich believes Parker's unselfishness has keyed the team's big turnaround.
"We still have a long way to go to compete with the best teams in the league, but we're on the right track," Popovich said. "People are beginning to pay attention and play within the system. They're allowing the system -- on both ends of the court -- to help them win instead of trying to do it as individuals."
Celtics no longer making Ainge green: Two weeks ago the Celtics also seemed to be on the verge of imploding, but a five-game winning streak now has them setting a top the Atlantic Division. Given that the Celtics found out that they're losing Raef LaFrentz for the season last week, how are they doing it?
In short, Paul Pierce is finally getting some help on the offensive end.
Mike James
Point Guard
Boston Celtics
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
24 11.5 3.4 5.0 .409 .844
The Celtics also seem to have settled on their point guard. Mike James, a Heat outcast, is averaging 17.7 ppg and six apg during the streak. Considering he averaged just 9.1 ppg and 4.3 apg on 37 percent shooting in November, that's a huge, huge improvement for the Celtics.
The other key has been the insertion of second-year forward Jiri Welsch into the lineup. Welsch is averaging 13.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg and 2.2 spg in 30 mpg during the streak. That's a major up tick over the 3.6 ppg he put up for the Celtics in November.
The additional scoring from those two has given Pierce the freedom he needs to do his thing. The results have been amazing. Pierce is averaging 31.4 ppg, nine rpg and 5.2 apg on 49 percent shooting. Compare that to the 21.9 ppg on 39 percent shooting in November, and Pierce has really come alive.
Put all of that together and the Celtics' offense has exploded. After topping 100 points in just two games before the five-game winning streak, the Celtics have scored more than 100 points in each of their last five games. All of the winning is taking the heat off of head coach Jim O'Brien and Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
"It's just fun to watch them play well," Ainge told the Boston Globe. "Mike James is playing fantastic, Jiri Welsch is playing great, Paul was unbelievable [Saturday] night [at Cleveland]. It's encouraging."
But despite the recent great play, Ainge claims that he's still looking to upgrade his roster. "Of course, we're looking to improve, but part of improving is developing. I'm very happy and satisfied with how we're playing right now. But I feel we need to improve."
Want hope, Heat fans, that there is life after Pat Riley? The Heat got a number of encouraging signs this week that could mean big things for Miami down the road. The team has won three straight, is only three and a half games behind the division-leading Celtics, has a 5-6 record versus the East, a 6-4 home record and is getting back a healthy Caron Butler for the first time this season.
Lamar Odom
Forward
Miami Heat
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
22 16.5 9.1 3.6 .407 .673
Are the Heat good enough to stay inside the Eastern Conference scrum? The answer is a resounding yes if Lamar Odom keeps playing the way he's been playing the past few weeks. During the team's three-game winning streak, Odom is averaging 20.7 ppg and 15.7 rpg. For the month of December, the numbers are 20 ppg, 13.7 rpg and 3.2 apg.
Pair him with rookie Dwyane Wade (18 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.2 apg over the last 5), a revitalized Brian Grant (13 ppg, 10.2 rpg in the last 5), Eddie Jones and the return of Butler and the Heat suddenly look like an offensive juggernaut.
With that said, despite the denials, the Heat are still trying hard to find a home for Jones so that Wade can play full time at the two. To get someone to swallow Jones' contract, the Heat (as first reported on Insider) are still willing to throw in Butler if they get an expiring point guard or a good center or point guard in return. The latest rumor had the Heat talking to the Cavs about a swap that would bring Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Chris Mihm to Miami for Jones and Butler. Both sides have since denied that there are any serious talks going on between them. The trade makes little sense for the Cavs, who already have a glut of swingmen on the roster.
Coaching carousel making players dizzy: Doc Rivers, Bill Cartwright and Frank Johnson have already had their heads lopped off the chopping block, but so far the Magic, Bulls and Suns have little to show for it.
Rivers got the Magic off to a 1-10 start before being axed. His replacement, Johnny Davis, is just 3-10 as the new head coach.
Cartwright posted a 4-11 record for the Bulls before being fired. Since then the Bulls are just 2-5.
And while it's way too early to start judging Mike D'Antoni, who replaced Johnson on Wednesday as the Suns new head coach, Phoenix is 0-3 since he took over, including an embarrassing loss to the Clippers.
I'm not putting the blame on any of the coaches, who have their hands full trying to come into a bad situation and try to motivate and implement a new system -- but clearly firing the head coach isn't the cure all it's often made out to be.
Go back to all the firings this summer and you'll see similar results. While personnel changes have to be factored in, teams like the Wizards, Pistons and Cavs aren't any better off, despite high-profile coaching hires over.
Sometimes a new voice and a new approach can make a difference on a team with talent (see the Pacers, Hornets and Grizzlies), but if the players are broke, the coach probably can't fix them.
Warriors woes? It's about this time of the year that I was planning on writing about the first big blow-up between coach Eric Musselman and Nick Van Exel. Surprise. Surprise. Van Exel has been (for the most part) on his best behavior in Golden State despite the Warriors sitting just about where we thought they'd be with the third worst record in the West.
Jason Richardson
Shooting Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
17 17.7 7.5 2.8 .426 .703
Instead, the feud between Musselman and Jason Richardson appears to be a rekindling. The funny thing is that Richardson, when he's been on, has been the key to the Warriors season. In the Warriors' eight wins, Richardson is averaging 19.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 3.1 apg on 46 percent shooting from the field. In their losses, he's putting up 15.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 2.6 apg on 39 percent shooting.
"We need him to play well in order for us to win. That's just a fact," Musselman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "We need Jason to have a good game -- he doesn't have to have a great game -- for us to win. He's a core piece for us offensively."
The problem is that Richardson has struggled the last couple of games and Musselman has responded by benching him in favor of rookie Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus is a much better defender than Richardson and has created speculation that Richardson is on the trading block ever since the Warriors drafted him in June.
Richardson has issues with Musselman's decision to bench him when he's struggling.
"Personally, I don't think that's fair," Richardson told the Chronicle. "I feel like all the things he's saying about me -- he wants me to be the guy on the team, he wants me to be a leader, he wants me to be vocal -- you have to let me play through things when I'm not playing well. That's the only way I think I will achieve the level I want to achieve as a basketball player. ... That's a negative aspect for me, him not letting me play through things.
"Just hearing him talk about how much they need me and stuff, if they need me, he has to let me play through my mistakes. Just let me go out there and let me learn. I'm still young. ... I want to fight through it and find ways to win the game."
Marion on fire: With Amare Stoudemire out nursing a serious ankle sprain, Shawn Marion seems to have awoken from his early season slumber. Marion is averaging 26.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg and four apg on just over 50 percent shooting per game since Stoudemire went down.
Kidd on fire too: Jason Kidd ripped into his teammates in the locker room after the Nets were destroyed by the Grizzlies 110-63 on Saturday.
According to several newspaper reports, Kidd used a profanity-laced tirade on his teammates that was audible from outside the locker room.
"I'm glad somebody took it personally and cared enough to get upset about it," GM Rod Thorn told the New York Times. "You can't accept that kind of performance. It's one thing to lose and another to lose that way. I'm surprised more guys weren't very, very upset about it."
"We can't let this carry over," said a red-faced Kidd. "For all that we've done, this loss will overshadow that. But we have to stay together. We had a bad performance and we have to fight through it."
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, December 15
Updated: December 15
10:04 AM ET
Week 7 saw the capture of Sadaam Hussein, the anointing of Howard Dean and Puerto Rican princess Sandra take home a million bucks in Survivor.
But wait, you wanted to talk basketball, right? How about the Spurs' six-game road streak quickly shutting up all of the pundits who had jumped off the San Antonio bandwagon? What about startling evidence coming out of Orlando, Chicago and Phoenix that firing a coach on bad team won't turn it into a good team over night? Or, and I know you've been waiting all season for this, trouble in the paradise known as Golden State?
Insider breaks down the most intriguing story lines from Week 7.
And Tony Parker shall lead them? Wasn't it just two or three weeks ago when the NBA backseat drivers were screaming at the top of their lungs that the Spurs made a wrong turn this offseason?
The team was 9-10, free-agent signees Rasho Nesterovic and Robert Horry looked like busts and Spurs GM R.C. Buford's big trade acquisitions, Hedo Turkoglu and Ron Mercer, stunk. That was enough to spark a mass exodus off the defending champs' bandwagon. Rumors began flying that the Spurs were so desperate for a change that they were considering trading for Rasheed Wallace. Coach Gregg Popovich began cautioning reporters that his new team was radically different than the one that took home the NBA title last June.
Tony Parker
Point Guard
San Antonio Spurs
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
18 13.8 3.1 6.1 .417 .630
Two weeks and a six-game winning streak later, it's just a matter of time before the bandwagon starts filling right back up again. The Spurs are rolling again and they're doing it behind their young point guard, Tony Parker.
What was wrong with the Spurs in November? Tim Duncan was off to another slow start. But that's no different than the past three seasons. After averaging a "disappointing" 21.2 ppg and 11.6 rpg in November, he's been on a tear in December, putting up 23.3 ppg and 13.7 rpg.
Nesterovic was playing awful, but you knew Duncan and Nesterovic needed some time to get used to playing together. Nesterovic was awful in November, averaging just 8.5 ppg and 8.2 on 48 percent shooting. However, for those pining for the good old David Robinson days, those numbers were almost identical to Robinson's 8.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg he put up last year. Nesterovic isn't the defender that Robinson was, but neither was Robinson his last few years in the league.
Fast forward to December, and things look decidedly better. He's averaging 15.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg on 57 percent shooting in the Spurs' last five games -- all wins.
But the biggest difference in the Spurs is at the point, where a healthy Parker is finally taking charge of this team. Parker missed the first seven games of the season with an injury. When he came back, Parker did more scoring than passing, averaging 14.6 ppg in November, but just 4.9 apg.
That fact had Popovich pulling his hair out a bit. With the emergence of Emanuel Ginobili as a legit second scoring threat, as well as Nesterovic on the high post, the Spurs were hoping that this was the season Parker finally became more of the floor leader the team thought he could be.
During the Spurs' six-game streak, Parker is averaging a whopping 9.5 apg. He's had four games during that streak in which he's averaged 10 or more assists. While his scoring is down slightly over the same period, the Spurs couldn't be more thrilled that their point guard is playing like a point guard.
What prompted the change? "We demanded it," Popovich told the San Antonio Express News.
"If he penetrates and there's a wide-open shot, that's one thing," Popovich said. "But if he goes in and there's two big guys standing there, I'm going to let him know that's not good basketball."
"I don't want him to be (John) Stockton because we need him to score," Popovich said. "But I'd like for him to involve other people. Hopefully, as he matures he'll understand the value of it. He has the ability to do it because if he didn't have the ability to pass or find people, I'd say be (selfish) and shoot it all the time."
Popovich's subtle digs at Parker's play highlight why Popovich was pushing for the Spurs to sign Jason Kidd over the summer. For all of Parker's skills, the Spurs still questioned whether Parker had the mentality that he needed to run a championship team. Remember, it was Speedy Claxton, not Parker, on the floor in Game 6 when the Spurs beat the Nets in the NBA Finals.
After the Spurs lost the chance to land Kidd, Buford and company went out of their way to bring in more scoring options so Parker could focus on running the offense. Lately, he's began to embrace the role.
"This is my job now," Parker told the Express News. "It's been perfect because we're winning. . .That's why I haven't been shooting as much. When they need me, I'll still be there."
Popovich believes Parker's unselfishness has keyed the team's big turnaround.
"We still have a long way to go to compete with the best teams in the league, but we're on the right track," Popovich said. "People are beginning to pay attention and play within the system. They're allowing the system -- on both ends of the court -- to help them win instead of trying to do it as individuals."
Celtics no longer making Ainge green: Two weeks ago the Celtics also seemed to be on the verge of imploding, but a five-game winning streak now has them setting a top the Atlantic Division. Given that the Celtics found out that they're losing Raef LaFrentz for the season last week, how are they doing it?
In short, Paul Pierce is finally getting some help on the offensive end.
Mike James
Point Guard
Boston Celtics
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
24 11.5 3.4 5.0 .409 .844
The Celtics also seem to have settled on their point guard. Mike James, a Heat outcast, is averaging 17.7 ppg and six apg during the streak. Considering he averaged just 9.1 ppg and 4.3 apg on 37 percent shooting in November, that's a huge, huge improvement for the Celtics.
The other key has been the insertion of second-year forward Jiri Welsch into the lineup. Welsch is averaging 13.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg and 2.2 spg in 30 mpg during the streak. That's a major up tick over the 3.6 ppg he put up for the Celtics in November.
The additional scoring from those two has given Pierce the freedom he needs to do his thing. The results have been amazing. Pierce is averaging 31.4 ppg, nine rpg and 5.2 apg on 49 percent shooting. Compare that to the 21.9 ppg on 39 percent shooting in November, and Pierce has really come alive.
Put all of that together and the Celtics' offense has exploded. After topping 100 points in just two games before the five-game winning streak, the Celtics have scored more than 100 points in each of their last five games. All of the winning is taking the heat off of head coach Jim O'Brien and Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge.
"It's just fun to watch them play well," Ainge told the Boston Globe. "Mike James is playing fantastic, Jiri Welsch is playing great, Paul was unbelievable [Saturday] night [at Cleveland]. It's encouraging."
But despite the recent great play, Ainge claims that he's still looking to upgrade his roster. "Of course, we're looking to improve, but part of improving is developing. I'm very happy and satisfied with how we're playing right now. But I feel we need to improve."
Want hope, Heat fans, that there is life after Pat Riley? The Heat got a number of encouraging signs this week that could mean big things for Miami down the road. The team has won three straight, is only three and a half games behind the division-leading Celtics, has a 5-6 record versus the East, a 6-4 home record and is getting back a healthy Caron Butler for the first time this season.
Lamar Odom
Forward
Miami Heat
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
22 16.5 9.1 3.6 .407 .673
Are the Heat good enough to stay inside the Eastern Conference scrum? The answer is a resounding yes if Lamar Odom keeps playing the way he's been playing the past few weeks. During the team's three-game winning streak, Odom is averaging 20.7 ppg and 15.7 rpg. For the month of December, the numbers are 20 ppg, 13.7 rpg and 3.2 apg.
Pair him with rookie Dwyane Wade (18 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.2 apg over the last 5), a revitalized Brian Grant (13 ppg, 10.2 rpg in the last 5), Eddie Jones and the return of Butler and the Heat suddenly look like an offensive juggernaut.
With that said, despite the denials, the Heat are still trying hard to find a home for Jones so that Wade can play full time at the two. To get someone to swallow Jones' contract, the Heat (as first reported on Insider) are still willing to throw in Butler if they get an expiring point guard or a good center or point guard in return. The latest rumor had the Heat talking to the Cavs about a swap that would bring Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Chris Mihm to Miami for Jones and Butler. Both sides have since denied that there are any serious talks going on between them. The trade makes little sense for the Cavs, who already have a glut of swingmen on the roster.
Coaching carousel making players dizzy: Doc Rivers, Bill Cartwright and Frank Johnson have already had their heads lopped off the chopping block, but so far the Magic, Bulls and Suns have little to show for it.
Rivers got the Magic off to a 1-10 start before being axed. His replacement, Johnny Davis, is just 3-10 as the new head coach.
Cartwright posted a 4-11 record for the Bulls before being fired. Since then the Bulls are just 2-5.
And while it's way too early to start judging Mike D'Antoni, who replaced Johnson on Wednesday as the Suns new head coach, Phoenix is 0-3 since he took over, including an embarrassing loss to the Clippers.
I'm not putting the blame on any of the coaches, who have their hands full trying to come into a bad situation and try to motivate and implement a new system -- but clearly firing the head coach isn't the cure all it's often made out to be.
Go back to all the firings this summer and you'll see similar results. While personnel changes have to be factored in, teams like the Wizards, Pistons and Cavs aren't any better off, despite high-profile coaching hires over.
Sometimes a new voice and a new approach can make a difference on a team with talent (see the Pacers, Hornets and Grizzlies), but if the players are broke, the coach probably can't fix them.
Warriors woes? It's about this time of the year that I was planning on writing about the first big blow-up between coach Eric Musselman and Nick Van Exel. Surprise. Surprise. Van Exel has been (for the most part) on his best behavior in Golden State despite the Warriors sitting just about where we thought they'd be with the third worst record in the West.
Jason Richardson
Shooting Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
17 17.7 7.5 2.8 .426 .703
Instead, the feud between Musselman and Jason Richardson appears to be a rekindling. The funny thing is that Richardson, when he's been on, has been the key to the Warriors season. In the Warriors' eight wins, Richardson is averaging 19.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 3.1 apg on 46 percent shooting from the field. In their losses, he's putting up 15.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 2.6 apg on 39 percent shooting.
"We need him to play well in order for us to win. That's just a fact," Musselman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "We need Jason to have a good game -- he doesn't have to have a great game -- for us to win. He's a core piece for us offensively."
The problem is that Richardson has struggled the last couple of games and Musselman has responded by benching him in favor of rookie Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus is a much better defender than Richardson and has created speculation that Richardson is on the trading block ever since the Warriors drafted him in June.
Richardson has issues with Musselman's decision to bench him when he's struggling.
"Personally, I don't think that's fair," Richardson told the Chronicle. "I feel like all the things he's saying about me -- he wants me to be the guy on the team, he wants me to be a leader, he wants me to be vocal -- you have to let me play through things when I'm not playing well. That's the only way I think I will achieve the level I want to achieve as a basketball player. ... That's a negative aspect for me, him not letting me play through things.
"Just hearing him talk about how much they need me and stuff, if they need me, he has to let me play through my mistakes. Just let me go out there and let me learn. I'm still young. ... I want to fight through it and find ways to win the game."
Marion on fire: With Amare Stoudemire out nursing a serious ankle sprain, Shawn Marion seems to have awoken from his early season slumber. Marion is averaging 26.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg and four apg on just over 50 percent shooting per game since Stoudemire went down.
Kidd on fire too: Jason Kidd ripped into his teammates in the locker room after the Nets were destroyed by the Grizzlies 110-63 on Saturday.
According to several newspaper reports, Kidd used a profanity-laced tirade on his teammates that was audible from outside the locker room.
"I'm glad somebody took it personally and cared enough to get upset about it," GM Rod Thorn told the New York Times. "You can't accept that kind of performance. It's one thing to lose and another to lose that way. I'm surprised more guys weren't very, very upset about it."
"We can't let this carry over," said a red-faced Kidd. "For all that we've done, this loss will overshadow that. But we have to stay together. We had a bad performance and we have to fight through it."
