Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  78 responses

Tony Parker Likes the Spurs’ Chances of Winning a Title


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Another NBA season, another unexpectedly dominant showing from the aging San Antonio Spurs. And once again, just about no one expects them to come out of the Western Conference, let alone win the NBA championship.

Except for themselves. Specifically, Tony Parker.

Parker is convinced that San Antonio, which currently has a chokehold on the second seed in the West, is capable of taking out any of their competition in the conference, and winning the whole thing.

From RMC Sport:

“Our goal is to win a championship. Tim Duncan and I haven’t got a lot of time left. The Spurs made the right moves by signing Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw and Patty Mills. We have a complete team now. We know we can beat everybody in the West, we proved it by beating OKC two times already. Winning another title is something we can do this year.

I’m really glad the Spurs signed Boris Diaw. I’m happy to be able to play with him. The first time I saw Boris wearing the Spurs’ jersey, it was kind of a shock for me.”

Last year, the San Antonio Spurs posted the best record in the Western Conference, but injuries and the Memphis Grizzlies spelled their doom in the first round of the postseason. This time around, the Spurs appear to be healthier, and Tony Parker has raised his game considerably.

Continue to doubt the San Antonio Spurs’ title chances at your own peril.

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  • Justin G.

    *sigh* I hate to admit this, because I’ve never liked the Spurs, but if they can stay healthy they have a real shot. Those three additions are going to be huge come playoff time

  • C-Mac

    But this isn’t an odd numbered year Tony!

  • SylvioMac

    This team refuses to have one bad season, even with everyone aging…Its actually astonishing the level of consistency these guys have had over the past 10+ years.

    But I’m still rooting for OKC though. Theyre due for some shine.

  • http://slamonline.com Jones

    The West is wide open this year, with maybe the exception of OKC (though I could see them losing if RW gets too trigger happy again) and the Spurs could get knocked out in the first round or come out of the West based on Matchups.

    I mean, after seeing the Grizz play so well against the Lakers, would the Spurs be worried if the Grizz dropped to the 7th seed? Hollins tanked a few games last year to avoid the Lakers, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it again this year to make sure they got the Spurs. What do you guys think? The Grizz have only gotten better with Rudy Gay + Arenas + Speights while the Spurs still haven’t really got a center to defend Gasol and Z-Bo.

  • AD

    The Spurs are going to go down against the Lakers. Kobe is 4-2 against Timmy in play-off series I believe.

  • AD

    hold up im AD SMH SLAM: Evertime the spurs are in the finals…. they win and the series is super boring.. Its time to see KD VS LBJ Now

  • Justin G.

    What does Kobe’s record against TD in the playoffs have to do with this year’s teams? Those teams the Lakers beat the Suns I believe all had Shaq minus the 2009 year when they got Pau Gasol. It means nothing now

  • RickyRude

    Spurs adding SJax, Diaw and Patty just made them a favorite in my eyes, to come out of West and be able to compete at a grand stage. You’re talking about playoff seasoned veterans who know how to handle pressure and play good team basketball.

  • http://www.slamonline.com spit hot fiyah

    if they stay healthy they have a really good shot at it, maybe their last. the stephen jax and boris diaw pickups where huge (had to)

  • http://espn.go.com/nba/ Paul H

    So do I. They are ROLLING. A potent mix of exp, youth, Pop and Parker will def challenge this year.

  • KidCongo

    Spurs vs Celtics would be a fun finals matchup. Duncan vs Garnett, Parker vs Rondo, Pierce vs Jackson, Allen vs Ginobili… I’d love to see that. Guess we’re not many.

  • FnF

    Hide Yo Wives!!!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Last realistic chance for them to win a title.

  • Mike Mihalow

    @AD: Spurs vs Pistons was boring!?

    co-sign w/ RickyRude

  • Drig

    @Wayno………hasn’t it been the same the last 2 years??? I’d love to see LA vs Spurs one last time before TD becomes too old and the Spurs become mediocre.

  • AD

    The Lakers front court over powers the Spurs. It’s that simple

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    @ Drig – Yeah, it’s seemed that way for a couple year now, although last year’s good season seemed like fools gold and it turned out to be true. Most people didn’t think they’d legitemately contend. This year they’re alot deeper though.

  • http://redoftoothandclaw.ca/ niQ

    That’s an awkward picture of Tony Parker to use…

  • JMM

    Can’t ever sleep on the Spurs. I mean, you can sleep watching them, because they’re dull as shit. But seriously. They win a lot.

  • http://facebook raider50

    I like how everyone thinks the Spurs are boring… I guess if smart basketball and watching Tony and Manu shred defenses is boring then they are right

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I didn’t think they had a shot last season. I think they have an outside shot this year. So that’s fair.

  • Lee Butler

    I agree with Tony. Not only picking up Jackson, Diaw, and Mills, the great play of Green and Leonard has to be taken into consideration. Add the increased scoring and rebounding of Blair, I can’t see anyone in the West beating us in the playoffs.

  • RunNGun

    so do i.

  • DruNyce

    The Spurs will ALWAYS have a shot with Pop as the coach. Now they have a lot of young talent to build towards the future. TP is only 29. If fundamentally sound bball with good defense & guards that can take anybody off the dribble is boring. Sign me up.

  • Rainman

    Let me tell you what, Ginobili is coming around, U See his Dunk the other night? His legs are definitely back, now he’s just continuing the proces, with limited minutes so far (yet to hit 30) . But Manu is the one that has got to be huge in the playoffs, and ofc, Tony cant disappear liek he did last year against Conley. This has got to be a full team effort, and i think they can do it. I still hope they lose tonight against my Suns tho lol

  • lakeshow

    anyone but the lakers, cant stand listening to kobetards

  • BigTex

    I luv it. This team really believes they can win it all again this year. They know the end of the road is near, so they go out & find a way to extend their chances. This years playoffs will be fun to watch. I hope teams do tank games to play them. They have will to win this year along with some attitude(Sjax) to go with it. Timmy looks ready to take these young cats by the ears & teach ‘em a few things. Big props to RC & Pop for going “All In” I have a feeling it’s gonna pay off. Sooner than later…

  • patrick

    Wow, i don’t think they do..but maybe they can at least make the western conference finals since getting jackson and diaw

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I still think they’d have thier hands VERY full with OKC, but other than that, I think they’re good enough to beat anyone in the West.

  • manu

    kobe only beat tim duncan once without shaq….duncans been the superior player throughout their careers

    shaq was the one who beat tim duncan in 2001, 2002, and 2004

  • slamfan4life

    Spurs always got a shot

  • Timberidge

    As a lifelong Spurs fan I can say that we as fans are VERY confident in the roster as as it now stands. S Jack and Diaw were huge acquisitions that were very necessary. In a final possession scenario we have several players that can and will drain the GWinner if called upon. HOWEVER, it would be insane if we went about our days without concern for the likes of Gasol and Bynum. That is a HUGE front court and if we aren’t hitting our shots and spreading the floor its gonna be a monumental accomplishment to overcome that team with this roster. In Pop we trust.

  • ab40

    last year there was no backup to ginobili and I don’t even remember who played on the 3spot. they played three point guards. Now they’ve added some depth. I still think they’re not big enough but the bulls, heat and even the thunder arn’t big teams either. The only big teams are LA and Memphis and maybe Orlando with Dwight playing 45 minutes.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    uhm Gary Neal played for Ginobili. Richard Jefferson was the 3. And they only had Tony Parker & George Hill as their PG’s

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    aren’t they still INCREDIBLY vulnerable inside though? couldn’t memphis, the clippers, the lakers, or even the mavericks pose a huge challenge to them bc of their top flight/all-star big men?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    anyone can probably beat them. But Tiago Splitter is almost like a huge upgrade over last season (even though he was on the roster last year), it seems the guys that are more adapted to the international game take a year to get comfortable with the speed of the NBA. He helps their interior defense quite a bit, him and blair give you a combined 18pts 10rebounds and a block (plus charges from Blair) every night. Last season especially at the end of the year they weren’t getting anything remotely close to that, they were pretty much a perimeter only team w/ a sprinkle of Duncan..

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    i would just like to officially announce that i’m back on the Spurs bandwagon, although they’ve been one of my favorite teams to watch the past decade or so.
    not constantly playing above the rim doesn’t mean they are boring. the team drops plenty of 3′s to be exciting, not to mention TP and Manu who have great handles and incredible ability to finish around the rim.
    now that they added Captain Jack (who makes love to pressure) and diaw (fat but extremely skilled), I actually fail to see how they can be NOT entertaining.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    As long as they avoid Mem, they have a chance.

  • JoeMaMa

    Anytime Tony Parker’s name is in a slamonline heading, there needs to be a picture of Brent Barry crying in a back hallway or something. And he’s right: the Spurs can definitely do it this year. But not having a Bruce Bowen-type will hurt them a lot. I don’t see a hard-nosed wing defender on that team. (Ginobili, enh. Jackson, no. Green, no experience. Diaw, hah. Gary Neal…you get the point) Who guards Kobe, Durant, James/Wade? And lastly: the 2005 NBA finals were AMAZING. Game 5 is one of the best games I’ve ever seen, and Game 7 was in doubt until late in the 4th Q. Awesome.

  • http://www.nba.com Red

    If the Spurs beat the Thunder and go to the finals. Whichever team wins in the East is automatically the Champion.

  • shutup

    I’d rather articles like this not get posted. I think the Spurs play best when they fly under the radar. I’m really excited at their chances this year. If they win it, I think Duncan would retire on top. The team is solid and if all remain healthy they have a real shot.

  • airjazzy

    @ Joe, its going to be the rookie K. Lenard to guard Durant, R. Gay etc..

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Duncan ain’t retiring my dood. Not after this year at-least

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    nbk, I saw Splitter when I was watching USA vs Brazil(right?)2 or 3 years ago now and he was very very good looking. He came to the L last year and was a dud and I was shocked. I am actually surprised he hasn’t been even better this year. Internationally speaking Tiago is thought to be much better than Nikola Pekovic yet it doesn’t look that way in the NBA. Interesting how things change once your in the big leagues.

  • MaxIsNative

    Kawhi Leonard is the new Bruce…

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Well Pekovic is a bulldog out there, and Splitter is more of a border-colley. One physically can dominate in the NBA, the other has to do it with skill. I still think Splitter will end up to be a better pro. He’s got a Pau Gasol type of game internationally speaking.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Fo show.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    i could be completely wrong though, obviously.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    I feel you nbk… and taylor, I just don’t see the difference between them playing memphis and them playing anybody else in the west w/ 2 very very good big men but that’s me.

  • Lydia

    If Manu can stay healthy (I know, big IF), then of course, I love their chances. But without a healthy Manu, I’m still a little skeptical. Manu with one arm played way better (and with more heart) than his teammates did last year against Memphis, especially TP. I’ve never seen a Spurs team give up like that. So I’m still a little reluctant to pin my hopes on TP as this team’s go to leader throughout the playoffs.

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