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San Antonio won anyway and over time, thanks in part to Popovich practically forbidding him from taking 3-pointers, Parker has become an expert at utilizing his speed to get around the fact he's still a suspect shooter. It allows him to take games over the way he did in this series opener.
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The Spurs came out of a timeout in the second quarter down 25-22 -- yes it's going to be a low-scoring series -- when Parker took the game over. He got to the lane, scored while getting fouled, missed the free throw, got his own board and knocked down another basket. On the Spurs' next two possessions, he set up dunks for Francisco Elson and Tim Duncan.
In the span of 1:13, Parker took San Antonio from its largest deficit of the game to a six-point lead. Cleveland would never have another advantage.
"Tony gets to the lane when he feels like it and that's no knock on the Cavs," said Duncan, who posted 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. "He gets in there almost at will. People make adjustments and he'll have to make adjustments too, but night in and night out he does it against anybody."
Lumped in with what's perceived to be a boring bunch of geezers, people forget how exciting Parker can be and how dangerous a weapon his speed is. Duncan had a wonderful game Thursday and imposed his will down low, but these will wind up being Parker's Finals.
He's at it again, getting what he wants, when he wants it.
