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Charlotte at San Antonio


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  • 3 months later...
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San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has challenged Tony Parker to become a franchise player, and the veteran point guard has played like it with Tim Duncan out with a knee injury.

 

Popovich will be back on the sidelines for the first time in four games, but Duncan's return is questionable as the NBA-leading Spurs go for a ninth straight win and 17th in a row at home Wednesday night against the league-worst Charlotte Bobcats.

 

Parker was a crucial part to the Spurs' title runs in 2003, '05 and '07, and was just named an All-Star for the fifth time, but playing next to Duncan for his entire 12-year career has hurt his value in terms of how some outside the organization view him.

 

It's a different story inside San Antonio's locker room.

 

"He is unbelievable," teammate Manu Ginobili said after Parker scored 11 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 108-99 victory over Phoenix. "... He is in that point of his career where he is so confident. He is doing so good that he can relax a little bit in the first half then when we need him, he starts making those jumpers and takes over."

 

Parker, the Western Conference player of the week, has taken over with Duncan out the last three games, shooting 62.7 percent and averaging 26.0 points and 10.0 assists. He's scored 20 or more in six consecutive games for the first time in four seasons.

 

"Over the last few years it is becoming my team and coach Pop is always challenging me to become the franchise player who closes games and makes good decisions with the ball offensively for myself and my teammates," Parker said. "I always take to heart Pop's challenges."

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/preview/NBA_20130130_CHA@SA
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