A quick glance at Tony Paker's final line of Game 6 and it appears the guard played very well. He scored 29 points and dished out 12 assists. But, in reality, Parker's second-half struggles were a major part of the Spurs' collapse.
Tony Parker’s Second Half-Struggles Doomed The Spurs
San Antonio built a 15-point halftime lead largely thanks to Parker’s terrific first half in which he scored 21 points and dished out 10 assists. Parker was also efficient in the first half, making 8-of-14 shots and 4-of-5 free throws.
Unfortunately for Parker and the Spurs, he could not duplicate his strong play in the second half. While Parker attacked the rim relentlessly in the first half, he was forced into more jump shots after halftime. Parker scored eight points with two assists in the second half making just 4-of-13 shots. He didn’t attempt a free throw after halftime.
Parker was at his worst when the Thunder were at their best. While Oklahoma City was cutting the San Antonio lead from 15 to one during the third quarter, Parker struggled mightily. Parker made just 1-of-7 third-quarter shots and scored two points during the quarter.
For more on the Spurs, check out Pounding the Rock. For Thunder news and notes, visit Welcome To Loud City. And for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation’s NBA page.
See More:
