Tony Parker is a destroyer of worlds

So my last post was admittedly written with fear of what this week and next would hold for the Spurs. Anytime you lose the best PF of all time things are going to be a lil scary, especially when Manu is already on the shelf. Playing back to back games against the Mavericks and Blazers I'd be lying if I said I 100% expected us to win both. Dropping one wouldn't have surprised me, or even worried me. Little did I know that Tony Parker was going to go supernova the last two days, propelling the Spurs to back to back double digit beatdowns. Just for posterity, here are his lines:
Tues vs Dal: 37 minutes, 37 pts, 12 ast, 5 reb
Wed vs Por: 35 minutes, 39 pts, 9 ast, 5 reb, 1 Whoa Boy

Tony was the leading scorer for both games on either team. Both Matt Bonner and Michael Finley stepped up their games, each getting double digits in the two contests. Kurt Thomas came up big against the Mavs with 10 pts and 15 boards.

Tony isn't just putting up sick #s. His efficiency has been one of the most impressive things. Even without the other big 2, the Spurs got double digit wins against playoff teams. The best part is, Tony didn't have to break 40 minutes in either contest. The fact that Pop isn't being forced to lean unduly on his last healthy star is a huge boost. Not only for this year, but for the future as well. We all know that Tim is near the twilight of his career. Like I said, he is arguably the greatest PF of all time, he was instrumental in making the Spurs franchise what it is today, but he cant go forever. Manu meanwhile has been playing year round for a long time and while he technically may only be 31, his odometer reads more like a 36 year olds. Between international competition and the reckless abandon that makes him the player that he is, Manu has taken a beating and will likely see a decline in his play soon.

Tony however is only 26 years old. He will be the building block for the future of the team. With tools like George Hill, and RMJ already on the squad, and the Austin kids like Malik Harriston, Pops Mensah-Bonsu (clearly Pop reads the blog as he was signed mere hours after I floated the idea) and the immortal fountain of hope for Spurs fans Ian Mahinmi, the team does not have to go the way of the Dodo when Tim decides to hang 'em up. Tony has shown his ability to lead and play without his triomates (just roll with it). Maybe his moving out of his rookie house into a huge complex with his wife is a glowing metaphor for his growing into his own star. At 26 he already has 3 NBA titles and an NBA MVP on his wikipedia page. He could retire today with a career many players only dream of. But at 26, Tony is just now hitting his stride and showing that he is ready to lead. Sure everybody says look at the Lakers future with Kobe and Bynum, or the Blazers wealth of potential, and who could blame them. I'm just saying the day Tim steps up to the press conference to announce his retirement, don't everyone pick up the chisel to put that day on the tombstone for the Spurs just yet.