For the 1259th time in the last year or two it has become painfully obvious that national journalists do not watch the Hornets. They do not know the Hornets. And they simply don’t take the time to research the Hornets. In yesterday’s ESPN Dime, Jalen Rose said the following:
I’m a big Chris Paul fan, and he should definitely be in the argument when talking about best point guards in the game, but to me, [Tony] Parker is the best point guard playing. He plays in a situation where it’s all about the pot of gold at the end. It’s all about the title for him. His statistics might not be 20 and 10 on a nightly basis, but that is because he plays with two other superstars. One thing about being a good teammate is the unselfishness to let others make plays. You have to do that in order for your team to be a championship contender. I’ve always respected that about his game. Paul is the most talented point guard in the game, but Parker is the best point guard.
Is Rose actually implying Paul gets his 20/10 selfishly? What an idiot. Anyone who has watched the Hornets more than once (read not Bill Simmons) knows that Paul is the most selfless player on the floor. What apparently people don’t realize is how often Paul has 2/7 at halftime. Then he puts up 16 the next quarter, while picking up 1 assist, and then goes 2/2 in the final stanza. He is a uniquely talented man, who can score at will. If he was selfish, he’d have 30/10 every night, punctuated by 40 and 50 point games now and then. (As we wondered at atthehive the other week, what would happen if CP just decided to try to score every play? Could he put up 60? 80? 100? Could anyone stop him?) If Paul was going for statistics only, he’d probably have more rebounds and steals too. But as Paul himself said, “Some guys look to score. I look to win.”
Moreover, Jalen Rose claims Tony Parker’s numbers are lower because there are two superstars on his team. Timmy and Manu? Fine. How about those guys called West and Peja in Nola? Besides, did Rose miss the fact that the assist leader is typically the man presumed to be the least selfish and most engaged in getting his teammates going? Not to mention the fact that Paul had more 15+ assist games than anyone last year. Listen, I love Tony Parker. He’s clearly one of the point guards in the game. But CP’s one of the best players in the game. Honestly, if CP had played on the Spurs teams that Tony did, he’d have rings too. Give him a few years to compare to Parker’s. We’ll see what happens.
You could have just said how good Tony was, Jalen. You didn’t have to bring CP into it. Idiot.
It’s like we’ve slipped into a parallel universe “DAMNIT CHRIS PAUL QUIT BEING SO SELFISH AND SHOOT THE BALL HUH, IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SELFISH ASSISTS ISN’T IT!!!!! ISN’T IT!!!!!!” …….if only he’d take the shots himself and be a little more considerate to his team. I mean really instead of sharing by taking the shot and letting his teammates stare at the ball as it goes in and say “oooooh” he has to be all selfish and give them the ball…..that bastard…. okay that’s all the silliness I can cram into this but yeah this is what happens when crappy players are no longer wanted on NBA teams….they tell people their opinion and while I’d gladly listen to good players and legends like C.B. but yeah not rose….sorry noone cares what you think jalen rose.
Sometimes I wish Chris would be more selfish with the ball. He can score at will.
Personally, I see this as a very positive article. When “experts” start picking at little things in your game, and use you as a measuring stick, you’ve officially arrived. Its the same thing that “experts” do with Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. Remember, Tony Parker was not the standard by which the best point guard in the league was measured in this particular article, CP was. One more thing concerning this… I think the Spurs are at their best when Tony is BEING selfish and getting in the lane, but he will never, NEVER, be the passer that Chris Paul is.
P.S… I could win a championship with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginoboli in their prime on my team.
Yeah, that’s pretty silly. Rose himself is rather silly.
I’m a Parker fan myself… love watching him play (I’ve always wondered about people who think the Spurs are boring… Parker and Ginobli are two of the most exciting players in the game), but there’s obviously no contest between the two. Still, I guess Mikey has a point in that it can sort of be considered a positive – CP3 is the measuring stick.
Second thing I’ve read this week that accuses Paul of selfishness. Other one I saw went something like “Paul is so selfish, he demands that every play goes through only him, that’s why he has so many assists.” Yeah dumbass, if you’re far and away the best player on the floor in all 82 games you play, you’d BETTER be demanding the ball every time. That’s how sports work, you retards.
This is the same Jalen Rose that predicted two teams would finish 4th in the Southwest and nobody would finish 3rd.
But seriously, Chris Paul “should definitely be put in the argument for best point guards”??? He should be “put” into this argument? Are we doing this little guy a favor, cause, aw, look he’s only 5′11″ and he’s trying so hard!!! How cute!!! That’s utter disrespect. S/L this idiot.
Is Jalen Rose serious? Not just what he said about CP being selfish, but about Parker being the best point guard. TP is more of what I call a “scoring guard” than a PG. Maybe he’s a Spurs fan and Chris being the best PG in the game is a little upsetting for him
As far as CP having the ball all the time, I think that’s more of coach’s doing than CP “trying to be selfish.” However, I still wish we’d trade for a 2 that can handle the ball so he doesn’t have to handle it so much
How can you measure a player just on the offensive end? Chris paul works harder on defense than ole Frenchie. He gets more steals and more rebounds, how can you be “Selfish” if you play both ends really well. Best point guard doesn’t mean Best at assist or Best at scoring its how you play the game in its entirety. Honestly, Tony is a great point guard, but Chris Paul is just a better overall “Basketball Player” In addition, its a very moot comment to say that he is stingy with the ball when he is the assist leader. He is also, in my opinion, one of the best closers in the game he is always going to be the “go to” guy. As for Parker eh? not so much.
Allen Iverson is a SELFISH PLAYER! Its AI and whatever team he’s on and he sucks playing D.
Mikey must be right about this being a measuring stick. I mean, CP is literally in a no-win situation. If he handles the ball all the time, he’s selfish. If he passes it up or gives others the rock people question him for not being a real point guard. Listen, if Kobe, Lebron, or Iverson, NON-ONE-GUARDS insist on controlling the ball, it is totally different. The point guard is supposed to handle it all the time. Has anyone accused Steve Nash of being selfish? Jason Kidd. Yeah. I thought so.
I remember Gilbert Arenas saying something like this in an interview in Dime. Essentially he said he is a scorer. So for him to do him, is he selfish? Nash is good at passing. Does that make him selfish? Dennis Rodman was good at rebounding. Did that make him selfish? Jalen Rose merely stated what was obvious from track record, that the Spurs are consistently a great team. Yes they have dominated almost every year since 2001-ish, so the Spurs are always a safe pick.
What’s unfortunate (or fortunate), however, is that Chris Paul is our team. That means when he’s not controlling the game (which he does), we falter. 20/10 is incredible, but somewhat disconcerting considering nobody is able to make their own shots. Sure it’s expected that our support merely need to move to get open and CP will find you, but seriously, how often have we complained about the laziness or general bad shot selection by everybody but CP this season? Hopefully our collective team will step up and encourage more ball movement. Then the pick and roll may not be our bread and butter but one of our poisons.
Jalen Rose thinks Tony Parker is a better point guard than CP3….fine , I think Jalen Rose is a washed-up fool who never won anything. It is a free country , and anyone can think whatever they want …even print it , but it doesn’t necessarily make it correct.
Firstly, I’m a fairly new NBA fan and don’t fully understand the intricacies of the game, so i’m bound to come of as an arse at times (i’m learning).
but I have to agree with $nave- Sometimes I wish CP would be a bit more selfish when his teammates are having off nights. It does seem he can score at will. I’ve rarely seen him have a poor shooting percentage.
I remember a few games at the end of the ‘07-’08 season (specifically the Saint Patrick’s day game vs. the Bulls ) where CP “selfishly ” took over and saved the game. I’ve heard straight from Chris’ mouth that he likes to get his teammates involved early, especially Peja and the other shooters, in order to make the offense harder to defend and therefor more dangerous.
As far as Tony Parker is concerned, what I saw of him in the playoff series last year impressed me. He’s good, very good… and quick enough to give Paul fits at times, but CP wins this matchup. Time will show.
i also think gary payton and chris webber are idiots. but thats just me.