San Antonio Spurs: Will Tony Parker Impact Game 3?

Update: Tony Parker will play in Game 3 tonight.

The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers have put on quite a show through the first two games of their first round series. The Clippers took Game 1 after unleashing both an offensive and defensive clinic that knocked the Spurs back on their heels.

In Game 2, the Spurs evened the score with a 111-107 overtime victory. They overcame their failed hack-a-DeAndre Jordan strategy that helped the Clippers turn a 10-point deficit into a two-point lead. The Clippers’ big three of Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin each scored over 20 points, but the Los Angeles bench struggled again. Even super sixth man Jamal Crawford struggled, shooting 1-for-7 from three-point range.

But this was not about the Clippers struggling. The Spurs were just better.

San Antonio shot 46.2 percent as a team, and Tim Duncan showed why age is just a number. The soon-to-be 39-year-old torched DeAndre Jordan for 28 points and 11 rebounds. Duncan also added four assists, recorded two steals, and one block for good measure.

He also got a little help from his pal Kawhi Leonard. Leonard poured in 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds while chasing around J.J. Redick, Chris Paul, and even Blake Griffin all night. Leonard’s post-up game was much more potent in Game 2, and he knocked down a pair of three-pointers.

One player that has not had a very good time in this series is Spurs starting point guard Tony Parker. All season I’ve played the guessing game with Parker’s effectiveness. Is he going to be healthy? Is he past is prime? Which Parker is going to show up tonight?

It appears that the injury problems that caused him to play poorly early in the season have once again reared their ugly head. In Wednesday night’s game Parker played 30 minutes, shooting 0-for-6 from the floor and scoring only one point. In Game 1 he wasn’t much better, with two turnovers and a 4-for-11 shooting night led to a -12 plus/minus rating.

In the fourth quarter of Game 2 it was revealed that he would not return to the game due to tightness in his right Achilles. Another injury to add to his growing list of maladies. He seemed to be bothered by something in his lower half most of the night, and that showed itself in his jump shot-heavy shot chart.

Of his six shots, only two came in the paint. Parker settled for deep pull-up jumpers that were unsuccessful. It was the same story in Game 1 with only three shots coming from the paint. A reluctance to drive has seemed to be an indicator that Parker is not feeling 100 percent.

One player’s ineffectiveness is another player’s opportunity. Patty Mills used the extra playing time to get out of Gregg Popovich’s “dog house” and play a huge part in San Antonio’s eventual win. Mills played 19 minutes, going 5-for-9 from the field while scoring 18 points. He went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, and calmly sank a pair of free-throws in the last 10 seconds to send the game to overtime.

April 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) shoots a three point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Just two weeks ago, Mills had been in the midst of a severe shooting slump that made me wonder whether or not he would even be in the playoff rotation. Now he is playing meaningful minutes and making huge plays to help the Spurs avoid going down 2-0 in the series. Thus is the legend of Patty Mills. When he gets hot he is extremely valuable.

Depending on the severity of Parker’s injury Mills could even be inserted into the starting lineup. In that case, Cory Joseph slides into his role as backup and the Spurs machine hopes to keep rolling without missing a beat.

He is expected to play in Game 3 on tonight (listed as questionable), but if Parker is truly hurting then Popovich should replace him with Mills and not think twice. An effective Parker helps the Spurs win, but a gimpy Parker that can’t get into the lane loses what makes him so difficult to defend.

When Parker scores 20 or more points in a game this season, the Spurs are 13-5, but when he scores 10 or fewer they are only 15-12. Playing him just because he’s Tony Parker wouldn’t do Parker or the Spurs any good.

They are better off trying to win with Mills and Joseph than with Parker attempting to play through the pain.

They proved that they can win without him thanks to the outstanding contribution from Patty Mills and Tim Duncan’s dominance. They can win a first round series without Parker, but they can’t win another title with him limping up and down the court.

Now is the time for Popovich to trust his role players and let Parker heal so he can come back completely healthy somewhere down the line.

Next: Tim Duncan: Playoff Legend

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