 After struggling in the first two games, Spurs guard Tony Parker erupted for a playoff career high 29 points on Friday night. (Barry Gossage/NBAE Photos) RELATED CONTENT |
By Dustin Krugel, Suns.com
Posted: April 26, 2003
Stephon Marbury’s stranglehold over Tony Parker is apparently over.
After Monday’s Game 2 loss to the Spurs, one San Antonio reporter implied in a question to the Suns playmaker that he was in the head of the Spurs’ 20-year-old guard. After all, Parker had averaged only 4.5 points and made only 3-of-20 (.150 FG%) shots in the first two postseason games, while Marbury had outscored Parker 32.5 to 10.3 in their four regular season meetings.
At the time, Marbury brushed off the question saying that Parker was a good player and his time would come. Boy, was he right!
Parker rallied for a playoff career-high 29 points Friday in the Spurs’ 99-86 Game 3 win at America West Arena in the Western Conference First Round best-of-seven series. The Spurs now have a 2-1 lead and have regained home court advantage.
“The guy knows how to play,” said Marbury, who was “held” to 25 points in the loss. “That’s (the media) trying to create this guy as being scared or all of that. He knows how to play. He went through two games where he didn’t shoot the ball well. That happens.”
The same shots that were clanging off the rim in Games 1 and 2 were on target Friday. In fact, Parker’s 13 points in the first quarter were more than he had in the previous eight quarters combined (9 pts) against the Suns.
“You know, nobody’s going to hold Tony down too long,” said Spurs center David Robinson, who finished with eight points and eight rebounds after missing Game 2 with a knee injury. “The first two games, he was disappointed with ‘em, but he knew he was going to come back at some point and start really making shots, and being aggressive. He was fantastic tonight.”
After watching Parker go silent against the Suns for most of the season, forward Amaré Stoudemire was stunned by the play of the second-year pro, who was named to the All-Rookie First Team last season.
“We didn’t expect him to score 30 points,” Stoudemire admitted. “That was unexpected, but that’s not an excuse. We should be prepared for that anyways. This is the NBA, anybody can go out and score 30.”
After a couple of bad days at the office, Parker said he didn’t feel anymore pressure than he’s felt all season as the starting point guard for the best team in the NBA in the regular season.
“In San Antonio you’ve always got pressure,” said Parker, who was the Spurs’ second-leading scorer in the regular season with 15.5 points per game. “You know, we want to win the championship, so there’s pressure every time. It’s just like when you have bad days, you just have to focus more and try to work harder in practice, and try to take a couple extra shots. You just need to fight through it.”
After his breakout performance against the Suns’ All-Star guard, Parker sang the praises of Marbury.
“He’s my toughest matchup since I’m in the NBA,” said the 28th overall pick in the 2001 draft. “He’s a tough guard and I know he’ll be back in Game 4 strong. That’s what I like about him and I’ve learned a lot from his attitude. He’s tough mentally and that’s a good example. I hope in two, three years to be like him, like every game you’re there. That’s great.”
“SWEET” DUNK
Stoudemire’s stockpile of highlight film moves grew by one more Friday.
In fact, one reporter in the Suns’ locker room said his pump fake, drive baseline and reverse dunk over Spurs forward Tim Duncan could be his best yet.
“That was pretty sweet,” agreed Stoudemire, who was presented the 2002-03 ‘got milk?’ NBA Rookie of the Year Award prior to the game. “(Duncan) was playing me right the whole time, so I decided fake him right and take him left. It was so open I decided to do a little fancy-dancy, you know what I mean, dunk it (backwards).”
KING REX APPROVES
Former Phoenix guard and current scout Rex Chapman, who hit one of the most remarkable shots in Suns’ postseason history to send Game 4 of the 1997 first-round playoff series against Seattle into overtime, was still talking about Marbury’s game-winner from Game 1 on Friday.
“It was beautiful. I started going crazy,” he said. “(But) it’s a completely different feeling watching something like that than participating in it. Two totally different emotions. I was involved in it in one instance and the other just a spectator. It was a great, great feeling watching it. I just wanted him to be sure and get it off before the horn sounded.”
