20-Second Timeout: Bill Schoening Blog

Follow the team all season long with the 20-Second Timeout blog by Bill Schoening, The Radio Voice of the Spurs for the past 10 years. Bill has over 30 years of play-by-play experience including broadcasting Major League Baseball, the NFL and the NBA. *Timeout Archive: October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 |
April 11 | December 11 | January 12

(D. Clarke Evans/Getty Images)

When the Spurs got back to work in December, there was one Spur ready to skip the formalities of training camp and preseason games. Point guard Tony Parker had already been through ten previous training camps, and was eager to play games since he was already in game shape after playing with the French National team and with Villerbaune in the French A league.

At the time, Parker didn't know how much of a load he was going to shoulder. Early January injuries to his longtime backcourt mate Manu Ginobili and his primary backup TJ Ford put more of a burden on Parker, in terms of offensive responsibilities, leadership, and minutes on the floor. Parker has responded with a career high assist average while leading the team in scoring and quarterbacking the club through a potentially turbulent period.

Parker says head coach Gregg Popovich deserves credit as well. "Pop is doing a good job of managing my minutes, and the way I play my minutes, like not playing me for long stretches." says the 11 year vet. "We will have some off days during the rodeo trip so I just have to survive and then hopefully Manu and TJ will come back soon. There is a light at the end of the tunnel." Parker's 42 point, 9 assist performance in a 107-96 win over Oklahoma City Saturday night was special enough, but in the third quarter of that game, Parker surpassed Avery Johnson as the franchise's all time assist leader.

Very good Tony...tres bien!