Puncher's Chance

In boxing, they say the last thing to leave a fighter is his punch. Last time he fought, Mike Tyson still had his punch, but that was all he had. As fans have seen in the last few weeks - the San Antonio Spurs can still throw a few punches, too.

Anyone reading this will plainly see that the date on my previous post was in November, and there's a reason why I haven't written about the Silver and Black for almost four and a half months. By San Antonio standards, this has been a piss-poor Spurs season. When the Spurs can't beat playoff teams, and they uncharacteristically get out-classed in the clutch moments they used to stamp with their logo, I really don't have much to say. However, as Tony Parker's hand broke, mine became more nimble. Parker's injury has given me a few things to mention.

The Express News reported last week that Gregg Popovich is satisfied with team chemistry after a long period of adjustment by new players and over twenty different starting lineups. The Spurs gutted out a tough win in Oklahoma City, defeated the Cavaliers by guarding Lebron James as well as any team has this year, and then turned in their best defensive performance of the year in Boston last night. Derek and I said on the show yesterday that the Celtics was the biggest road game of the season, and that we would know the Spurs could make a run based on how they performed last night.

The team responded in a fashion that gave me 1999 and 2005 flashbacks. When Manu's running 3 at the third quarter buzzer hit the glass and went in the net I remembered a stunned Phoenix crowd in '05 when Manu made the same shot and triggered a 42 point fourth quarter. As Kevin Garnett hit the ground I could almost see Larry Johnston falling to the Madison Square Garden hardwood as before. Above all, the Spurs defended like the Spurs. An incredibly talented Celtics team was was suffocated by a team defense the Spurs HAVE NOT PLAYED since 2007. The Celtics scored only 73 points on 37% shooting, and a team with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and now Michael Finley shot only 7.1% from 3 point range. This is the kind of defense the Spurs have used to win championships, and they played it with an intensity like they were literally fighting for their lives.

Why now are the Spurs more focused, more defensive, more passionate, and led by an Argentinian shooting guard who is playing like Michael Jordan? Why is the team chemistry finally jelling and why is Richard Jefferson starting to look like a success? Simple: Tony Parker has not played a game in the last three weeks. Players are getting involved to the point that Pop's plan to rest Tim Duncan is coming to fruition. Duncan played only 26 minutes in Boston, and sat out most of the 4th quarter against the Cavs - and the Spurs won both games. This was the plan back in October, but it took a little longer.

When Tony Parker scores 27 ppg other players don't get in rhythm. Richard Jefferson said it best: He needs to play with Ginobili; when they're on the court together he plays better. Ginobili has averaged 27 points and 6 assists over the last two weeks and the Spurs are finally playing how we thought they would, but they WILL NOT win a title.

If Tony Parker is ready to play in the first round, then Pop will go with him just as an in-form Rafer Alston was cast aside by the Magic at the wrong time last year for Jameer Nelson's comeback. The right thing to do is bring Tony off the bench, but Pop won't do it. Parker's game is suited for the bench because he can score in bunches and hat this level a player does not have to start to be effective. Ginobili has been juggled out of the starting five since 2004 to ease the delicate sensibilities of Hedo Turkoglu, Brent Barry, and Michael Finley; and he will now have to indulge Tony Parker.

Manu Ginobili is the Spurs' MVP this year. For the first time since 2005, he is averaging better numbers after the All-Star break than before, but not starting Parker will be admitting defeat for Popovich. If Pop can admit his experiment failed and stop coddling a selfish, ego maniacal, Belgian, future Laker who has been playing the wrong position since he arrived in our great country - the Spurs have a shot.

However, he will still go with Parker because he knows Manu is a competitor. Ginobili doesn't care about starting because he's worried about finishing. The difference between arrogance and confidence is equal to the difference between Tony and Manu. Hopefully Pop will see the difference before he sees Parker wearing purple. Ginobili still has that punch; it's only a question of whether or not Pop lets him use it.