Conley: Parker’s playmaking puts defense ‘at its mercy’

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The first two games served as a reminder that the Spurs' offense is a Tony Parker first offense and that when he's aggressive, it's a really good offense.  Game 2 was a prime example of how Parker, despite having a dreadful shooting night, stayed aggressive and found his teammates on his way to 18 assists.  Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, Jr. said after the game that Parker's playmaking has put the Grizzlies defense on their heels.

"Well, on pick-and-rolls, they had such good spacing that it allowed him (Parker) to manipulate and move the ball different ways, get into the paint and draw-and-kick," Conley said. "When you have a guy that's able to create plays like that for other people, it really puts the defense at its mercy."

There's an argument to be made that this was Parker's best playoff game of the last couple of years since the Spurs have gone outside-in with their offense. 

The points weren't there, and often times when the points weren't there, Parker just wasn't as effective and the Spurs offense would falter.  Parker disappearing in a big playoff game used to be a Spring tradition.  But we haven't seen that in this postseason yet.  Against Memphis Parker didn't get discouraged by the poor shooting and forced very little.  Instead, he found his teammates when the double team came or the defense collapsed on him in the paint.

I don't know if the Spurs are going to steal a game in Memphis, but I feel a lot better about their chances with the Parker we've seen in the first two games.  Whether he's the scorer or the facilitator, he's stayed aggressive against one of the league's best defenses and it's kept the Grizzlies guessing.