Tony Parker Puts Spurs On His Back For NBA Finals Trip

May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker speaks at a press conference after game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. The Spurs won 93-86. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Parker was simply amazing on Monday night during the San Antonio Spurs 93 to 86 sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies and being crowned the Western Conference Champions.  At the start of the game it was a point to see that Parker was going to put this team on his back and help make a trip back to the NBA Finals for not only himself, but for Tim Duncan, and even dropped Tracy McGrady’s name to the media as he stepped onto the podium to speak at the teams presser.

“Tracy McGrady is going to the NBA Finals,” he said.

This is McGrady’s first trip ever to the NBA Finals after his career of 0-8 in the post season, all in the first round.  According to USA Today, Parker was grinning from ear to ear when talking about McGrady.  What Parker did in game four was the talk on twitter through-out the night.  What he was doing on the floor, how he controlled the game, how he was being, well Tony Parker.

May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) reacts in the first half of game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Good players come and go in this league, but it’s the precious few who have the ability to determine their own playoff fate like Parker did in the 93-86 Game 4 win. McGrady wasn’t the only one with every reason to be in awe of Parker afterward. Even George Gervin, the Spurs great who was on hand, never had nights like this during his ABA and NBA career in which he never went past the second round of the playoffs.

Parkers’ 37 points on 15 of 21 shooting from the floor are numbers anyone player would die for but it is how he got those that really opens up the eyes of teammates, and others.  Everything Parker did seemed just right, the timing of his jumpers, floaters, back-cuts, and the way he demoralized the Memphis crowd.  Seemed when the Grizzlies were making their run, the crowd into it, Parker quickly silenced.  In the same article from USA Today, McGrady speaks on Parker’s performance.

Greatness,” McGrady said when asked to describe Parker’s outing. “There’s no other way to put it. It was just greatness. Just his will to win. You could see it later on in that game, turning it up, extremely focused, knocking down big shots. It was just his will, man.”

Yes, Parker has been in the MVP talks but he is still overlooked by the younger point guards in the league, the bigger names if you will, the Russell Westbrooks, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul. There is win still standing and he has carried his team back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007.  He is making a name for himself, he will truly be a Hall of Famer when his career is done.  Right now he is proving a point.

He is proving that he is the best point guard in the league.  If you still don’t think so, look back at the playoffs this year and also, this little video that I found from his amazing performance in game four.