San Antonio Spurs: What’s Wrong With Tony Parker?

The San Antonio Spurs have slid back to seventh place in the Western Conference after a thorough drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and was a reminder that the Spurs are not quite what they used to be.

It would be unfair to say that the Spurs have played poorly this season. They are still 30-18, which would be good enough for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. However, in the jam-packed Western Conference it does seem disappointing.

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There’s no need to panic, but the slight decline in performance is at least worth noting. There’s one player that also has not been playing up to their normal elite level. That player is starting point guard Tony Parker.

The game against the Clippers was a perfect representation of Parker’s 2014-15 struggles. He shot 2-for-10 on the night, scoring only five points. He did hand out five assists and collect six rebounds, but he also turned the ball over three times.

For the season, Parker is averaging 14.2 points and 4.8 assists per game on 47.6 percent shooting. Most NBA teams would take that from their point guard, but it’s a far cry from Parker’s usual play. His player efficiency rating is a pedestrian 14.88.

It has been Parker’s worst statistical season, in terms of scoring assists and PER, since his rookie season in 2001-02. It would also be his worst shooting percentage since the 2003-04 season.

He’s shooting 51.1 percent from three-point range, but he is only attempting 1.3 threes per game, which accounts for only 10.9 percent of his total shots. His biggest issue this season has been his reliance on mid-range jumpers. He’s taking too many, and he’s just not making them enough.

A whopping 30.6 percent of his shots come from between 16 feet and the three-point line, and Parker is only making 39.7 percent of those shots. He’s still good at the rim, he is shooting 61.6 percent from less than three feet, but he is attempting the lowest percentage of his career from that range at 24 percent.


	% of FGA by Distance	FG% by Distance
Season	0-3	3-10	10-16	16 <3	3P	2P	0-3	3-10	10-16	16 <3	3P
2014-15	.240	.201	.143	.306	.109	.471	.616	.458	.407	.397	.511

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/2/2015.

For whatever reason, it’s clear that Parker is not able to get to the rim as easily as he has in the past. That quick, first step into the lane we have come to expect from him is suddenly fading away. I’m not sure if injuries or age have finally caught up to him, or if he is just in a slump.

I’ve maintained that it will not be time to start worrying about this team until they lose four games in the playoffs, but it may be time to start worrying about Parker. He has generally made a habit of playing better in the postseason than in the regular season, he averages 1.9 more points per game than his career average

Patty Mills and Cory Joseph have proven themselves to be capable NBA starters (though Mills hasn’t been quite himself since his shoulder injury, shooting just 40.1 percent this season), but San Antonio is not the title contender we expect them to be without a healthy and performing Tony Parker. He has about three months to round into form before the concern turns to panic.

I keep convincing myself to think this team is still destined for the Finals, despite their struggles and injury issues. Right now, that narrative is not matching up with the results. Sometimes you have to trust the stats, and the eye-test when something doesn’t seem quite right.

The fact of the matter is, with a vintage Tony Parker putting on a show every night like he has in the past, the Spurs are legitimate Finals contenders. Without him, they may be destined for a first round exit.

Does this Tony Parker still exist?

We will find out soon enough.

Next: Tim Duncan's All-Star Case

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