so much for distractions

Did anybody else think Tony Parker's game would digress after his off-season as an A-List celeb? I'm not a frequent reader of People magazine, but his outrageous wedding with Eva was as much a news story as Lindsey Lohan's meltdown or Britney's baby mama drama. Good news for Pop and Spurs fans though...all that offseason drama hasn't effected his game. Parker prodded and penetrated (and no that wasn't a reference to the Zen Master's Brokeback comments, which incurred way too much backlash by the way) his way through the Hawks defense. Parker's ease to the basket was aptly described by Hawks analyst Steve Smith as a "layups drill." That more than makes up for Smith's earlier categorization of Spurs back-up Jacque Vaughn as a "great point guard." Parker is on the verge of becoming, if not already, a great point guard. Jacque? Not so much. Back to Parker. Whether he's a top 5-pg in the league is just semantics. If he isn't in that grouping, with the Nash's and Kidd's, he's damn close. He orchestrates a Spurs offense that is graceful as it gets. And on Tuesday night vs. the Hawks, Parker conduct a perfect symphony. Flashback to the second quarter. Parker straight up took over. Layups on fast breaks, layups on a dribble drive penetrations over J-Chil, pull up jumpers short of the foul line, and three point shots from the corner. The kid (if I can still call him that) came into the league without being able to shoot a lick. Look at him now. Knocking that jumper down with ease. Which has led him to where? Layups son. Layups.

Hawks thoughts:

1. Mario West earned his paycheck. I gotta admit I didn't think this guy was NBA ready when he donned the yellow, gold and black at Georgia Tech. Most players with the talent of a Mario West get drafted by the D-League and stay there. Either that or they go overseas for a paycheck. But West was flying all over the place on Tuesday, and helped spark a mini-rally enabling the Hawks to at least get the lead hovering around 14 (trust me, it was that ugly). Every team needs a guy like West. The Spurs have it with Oberto (can't tell you how many rebounds and tips that guy got his hand on). Here's hoping the guy sticks around.
2. Josh Smith's maddening season continues. After throwing up 38 against the Bucks with inspired play Sat. night, Smith came out flailing Tuesday. It's unreal how the dude can put the team on his back one night, and come back the next game only to cost the team any chance at putting together a rally. J-Smoove just never got it together against the Spurs. He missed some outside shots early on (including an ill-advised three), and then committed some costly turnovers in the third and fourth. On one key possession late in the fourth, when Joe Johnson had helped cut the lead to ten, Smith led a fast break only to throw the ball away straight to Pop on the bench. Smoove tried to blame the pass on a foul...no dice.
   
3. Zaza, where art thou? Big Z is still struggling mightily coming back from the ankle and leg injuries he sustained in the preseason. Zaza looks to be pressing on the court and at times just simply looking to do too much. I can't fault Woody for starting the big fella. He's a vet, and the Hawks can't afford Horford to hit the rookie wall 15 games into the season. But Big Z needs to get it together...fast.
   

Around the League:

• Been watching a ton of basketball thanks to God's gift to mankind, the NBA League Pass. For some reason, I have been watching a ton of Laker games. I think its something about that "stage" effect they try to pull off by darkening the lighting for the crowd. I love their announcing team and Kobe's straight up fun to watch. He plays with that killer instinct all the time. Fault him for being a ball hog; fault him for calling out the GM, the coach, and the rest of the team. But he's a competitor, and is arguably the best player in the league. Phil Jackson has that team clicking, and on Sunday night vs. the Bulls, the triangle offense was clicking on all cylinders. If the bench can continue to keep up the production, the Lakers will make some noise in the West...yes, even in the West.