Tony Parker turned 30 this season, just two days prior to the San Antonio Spurs' 86-84 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Parker drained the game-winning bucket — a wide-open mid-range shot, created by both pristine offensive execution and Russell Westbrook's costly defensive mishap. It was a sign of things to come.
Since then, the Frenchman has produced his finest season to date. Parker averaged 21 points and 7.6 assists per game before spraining his ankle in the Spurs' 28-point win over the Sacramento Kings. He will miss four weeks.
His absence will create a large hole in the rotation. Parker handled 28.2 percent of San Antonio's possessions, according to Basketball Reference. Gregg Popovich's job will be to allocate possessions to ancillary players.
Like Patty Mills. Though he has been limited to towel waving duty thus far, he could be asked to create offense. If his skillet isn't enough — Mills led the Olympics in scoring last summer — he has a new device to play with. In his recent tweet, the Aussie is posing in something resembling a time machine.
Perhaps this is the secret to the Spurs success. I'm just venturing a guess here but a time machine may explain Tim Duncan's resurgence — moreso than careful minutes management.
All kidding aside, this is a new Spurs' medical device and looks pretty cool. No pun intended.
San Antonio could this device and the man inside to survive Parker's absence. Oklahoma City is breathing down their necks.
Now is the time to step up.
(h/t That NBA Lottery Pick)