EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, 14 June 2003 — A stinging rebuke of San Antonio guard Tony Parker by teammate David Robinson has shown how fragile the Spurs’ National Basketball Association title hopes have become.
Robinson, a 7-foot center in the final week of a famed NBA career, blasted his 21-year-old French teammate for poor shot selection in a 77-76 loss to New Jersey in Game Four of the NBA Finals, level at 2-2.
“Tony has to do a better job of staying involved in the game and picking and choosing his moments and I don’t think Tony did a very good job of that,” said Robinson.
“He has got to understand he plays a big role for us so he has to come in there and make good things happen. You don’t make good things happen by standing out there and taking ill-advised jump shots.”
Robinson defended his comments Thursday, saying, “It’s the truth. Tony knows that. We talk about that in the locker room. It’s not like I’m calling Tony out. But Tony is a young guy. He has to learn. He has to get better.”
Parker, who made only 1-of-12 from the field, had a terse reply. “I don’t care what he said. I don’t know why he said that,” Parker said. “I shot the same way I always do. Maybe people are starting to get tight. It’s the NBA Finals. Nobody said it would be easy.”
“I just missed shots. I just have to concentrate more on the offensive end, just play the same way, try to stay aggressive. I have pressure all the time. That’s not going to change.”
Parker was already under pressure because the Spurs have shown interest in Nets guard Jason Kidd, a friend of Spurs star forward Tim Duncan who becomes a free agent after the finals and could replace Parker in San Antonio.
Parker admitted feeling picked on and singled out from a Spurs team that won the NBA regular season crown but shot only 29 percent in game four. “I’m the youngest guy,” he said. “Every time we lose it’s my fault and when we win they put me (on a pedastal) with Tim.” Duncan expressed confidence that Parker will bounce back. “Tony is going to bring it,” Duncan said. “I’m not worried about Tony’s enthusiasm. He had a bad game. We’ve all had bad games. He’s going to recover very well. He will be ready to go.
New Jersey’s Kerry Kittles replaced All-Star guard Jason Kidd as Parker’s main defender. The move paid off because the taller, longer-armed Kittles was able to frustrate Parker and ease the load on Kidd.
Kidd predicted Parker would respond to his poor showing with inspired play in Game Five and expected Kittles would again handle the defensive chores.
“Taking me off Parker pretty much most of the time gave me the opportunity to play both ends at a higher level,” Kidd said.
Kittles, celebrating his 29th birthday Thursday, knows that shutting down Parker might turn the series in favor of the underdog Nets.
“It changes the series,” he said. “He’s a guy who can get 15 or 20 points a game. He’s an explosive player. They need him to score points for them to win. Other players aren’t hitting for them. We know it’s important to stop him.
Parker said his poor night was more about his errors than Kittles’ effort. “I just missed shots,” Parker said. “Maybe I’ll try to go to the basket more, not set up for jump shots. It’s my turn to adjust and adapt. I just have to make better decisions I will go to the basket. I have to stay aggressive.
Bryant Released From Hospital
After Shoulder Surgery
In New York, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a damaged right shoulder. Bryant was released from a New York hospital after the procedure which lasted about an hour. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Louis Bigliani, chief of orthopedic surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, removed an inflamed bursa and trimmed Bryant’s frayed labrum. Bryant suffered the injury in game two of the Lakers’ first-round playoff series when he was hit by Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves while driving to the basket.
