Dallas Mavericks respond to Parker
Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:10 pm
Dirk Nowitzki saw the comments made by San Antonio guard Tony Parker.
Read them. Digested them. Then dismissed them like they had come from another Charles Barkley or Bill Walton.
It was Parker who said he was a big fan of the Jason Kidd trade because it meant he wouldn't have to get hassled on defense by Devin Harris anymore, nor would he have to guard one of the few point guards who can match Parker's quickness.
"I saw that," Nowitzki said of Parker's comments. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. We like our chances against anybody. That's how you got to look at it in the West. Everybody's so tough, and it's so tight that you got to be able to beat anybody."
Then Nowitzki couldn't help himself. He had to slip in a little sarcasm about Parker.
"Ultimately, they're still the champions, so whatever he says is going to be right because they've won three or four [titles]," Nowitzki said. "They're still the team to beat.
"It's just speculation. Nobody ever really knows what's going on. All the so-called experts give their opinion, but nobody's ever right. We'll just see what happens."
Kidd said he's not concerned about Parker's thoughts on the trade, but added he could never have envisioned himself in his younger years saying something like that.
"I just go out there and do my job," Kidd said. "When I look at the best point guards, [John] Stockton and Gary [Payton], even later in their careers, I always respected them because I always thought they were the best until they left the game.
"Everyone has the right to their opinion. I guess that is how he feels."
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