MIAMI -- As Tony Parker arrived at the podium for an interview session Wednesday in Miami, he crossed paths with San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, who was just departing. Popovich made a joke, and Parker laughed. A few years ago, that might not have happened. Several summers ago, the Spurs were trying to sign Jason Kidd, which in some circles was incorrectly perceived as Popovich deciding that he no longer wanted to have Parker around. That couldnt have been more wrong, since what the Spurs were actually thinking was that a veteran like Kidd would have been the perfect mentor for Parker as he was continuing to mature and learn the NBA game. Kidd never joined San Antonio. Parker ended up just fine without him. Even in a year where Tim Duncan was able to turn back the clock and post one of the best seasons in his long career, Parker is probably the biggest reason why the Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the fifth time. And hell be the focal point of the Miami Heat defensive gameplan on Thursday night, when the teams get together for Game 1 of the title series. "It seemed to me that it would be a great move if we could get Jason to help mentor Tony," Popovich said. "My illustrious NBA career ended after a week and a half. So what the hell am I going to teach him about being a point guard? ... Tony did not love that idea at all. But we still tried to do it." Parker -- one of four former Finals MVPs in the series, joining Duncan, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James -- doesnt need much help anymore. Hes averaging 23 points and 7.2 assists in these playoffs, playing at even a higher level than he did during an outstanding regular season, and is coming off a Western Conference finals performance against Memphis in which he shot 26 for 43 and averaged 31.5 points in the Spurs two road wins that finished off a four-game sweep of the Grizzlies. "Against Miami, its the last step," Parker said. "Its going to be the hardest one, because winning a championship is very hard. Especially against a very good team in and LeBron, four-time MVP, its going to be really tough. But its a great opportunity for us to try to beat them." The Spurs love him, and the Heat rave about him, so much so that Miami may offer Parker what they would consider to be the ultimate compliment on Thursday night. They may have James guard him at times. Mario Chalmers will start off against Parker, but if the Heat want a different look or if their starting point guard gets into foul trouble, Miami will not hesitate to give James a chance to guard the Spurs star. After all, Miami calls James "One through five" for a reason, a nod to how he can guard all five positions on the court. "Im looking forward to it a lot," Chalmers said of the assignment against Parker. "Itll be a matchup with one of the great point guards in the game right now and its going to be my job to contain him." But the Spurs will be ready to see James standing in Parkers way. Its not uncommon for teams to try to put someone bigger against Parker; in fact, the majority of the league does so fairly regularly. But its rare that someone 6-foot-8, 250 pounds and possessing the combination of size and speed goes up against a point guard. "No matter what they do, we just have to live with it and play," Popovich said. "At this point in the season were not going to change very much what we do. Theres no time for it. And as far as anticipating what people might do, I try to stay away from that, because you can drive yourself crazy. Thats what the game is for. You make adjustments during the game, hopefully to help your team. But whatever is presented is what has to be dealt with." Parker is not the Spurs only offensive option, of course. At times, Duncan is the key to everything. Other times, Manu Ginobili is the catalyst. But more often than not, how Parker fares in a game pretty much is the right indicator to show if the Spurs won that night or not. The Spurs are 42-8 this season when he scores 20 points. When he plays and doesnt score 20, theyre just 17-13. And Duncan doesnt see any comparison between Parkers game now and the game he had when he was good enough to be Finals MVP in 2007 after San Antonio swept James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I think hes a lot better," Duncan said. "I think hes a lot better player. He is asked to do a lot more. I think he has a lot more responsibility for making our team go than he did then. And I think hes a lot more prepared to do that. So as good as he was then, I think hes even better now." Thats basically because the Spurs demanded he be that way. Parker was issued a challenge two years ago. The Spurs watched what he did with the French national team and were duly impressed. He controlled the games. He was his national teams unquestioned leader. And it didnt take long for Popovich and the rest of the Spurs organization to decide that the time was right for him to assume an similar role in San Antonio. Parker has more than responded. Its no coincidence that the Spurs are back in the finals. "He was the best player in the Western Conference playoffs each game, and were well aware of that," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Every time he stepped on the court, he was the best player, the most impactful player, and he was driving their success. Now, they have obviously Hall-of-Famers and a well-oiled system. ... But hes a great player, an MVP candidate each year." Air Jordan Outlet . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Wholesale Authentic Jordans . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.realjordanshoescheap.com/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Cheap Real Jordans Free Shipping . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Cheap Jordan Shoes Free Shipping . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Rock, paper, scissors, Splyce?Group D has wrapped up for the week, and three teams are deadlocked for first place going into the climax in week two, with Splyce trailing 0-3. Team SoloMid lost to Royal Never Give Up, TSM beat Samsung Galaxy, and to close out Saturday night, Samsung kept its hopes alive by using a gung-ho engage composition to take down the undefeated Chinese side RNG. The only change in the Samsung lineup from Fridays loss to TSM to the victory over RNG was in the support position, former Dignitas AD carry Jo Core JJ Yong-in taking over the starting role from veteran support Kwon Wraith Ji-min. The change worked for the team, and the newfound proactive play from Samsung led them to a must-win victory over RNG.ESPN spoke to Core JJ following the win.I think the impression [Wraith is more defensive, Im more offensive] comes from that Im really proactive about the things I want to try in game, said 22-year-old Core JJ. [I want] to make plays, so thats why people might say Im aggressive.Core JJ began his career in the semi-pro South Korean scene as an AD carry. He played alongside Counter Logic Gaming starting mid laner Choi Huhi Jae-hyun on Bigfile Miracle and was seen as a promising rookie with the potential to break out as the next big marksman in South Korea. After having so-so results in South Korea, he left to join Team Dignitas in the North American League Championship Series where he played until joining a rebuilding Samsung at the start of the 2016 campaign. It wasnt until later in the year when he decided to switch roles full-time and become a support.When I was playing AD carry, I thought to myself Im not going to be the best AD carry in the world, he admitted. So thhats a thought I always had.dddddddddddd But because I have so much experience in the bottom lane, I thought I could transition into a support and actually become the best support in the world. So thats why I decided on a new role.Back on Dignitas, Core JJ was partners with longtime veteran of the North American scene Alan KiWiKiD Nguyen. I asked if his former support had inspired him in any way or taught him anything while trying to switch to his new position.When I made the decision to become a support, he didnt at the time give me advice or tips, Core JJ said. But playing with KiWiKiD was a great experience in itself. Hes just like I am: a really proactive player and likes to make a lot of creative plays. So I watched him and learned from his successes and failures, [and] it was actually a valuable lesson.I [remember] Team Dignitas as a great opportunity for me, he said. I was always going back and forth between pro and semi-pro leagues, and NA LCS was an actual pro league I could play in so it was a great opportunity. Dignitas allowed me to make a lot of great friends with the players and also the staff. So [Dignitas] is a really [positive] memory that I have.Closing the interview, we looked ahead into next week with Samsungs chance to make the quarterfinals at the World Championship after being one of the worst teams in South Korea last year.TSM [is the team I want to play against the most], he said. They beat us once, and I want that revenge. Also, today, I wasnt trying to get solo kills in lane, but come next week playing against TSM, Im ready to do that. ' ' '
