From Deseret News archives:
Will Williams feast on Spurs, Parker again in Game 2?
The point guard rivals are good friends off the court, and the night before the first game of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, Parker and Williams dined together at a fine French restaurant in San Antonio. Based on Williams' performance in Game 1, Parker will probably be taking Williams to Whataburger the next time they get together for a pre-game meal.
"It's the last time I'm going to bring him to a French restaurant if he's going to score like that," said Parker.
Williams finished with a game-high 34 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the losing cause, while forcing Parker into six turnovers.
Based on the cold shooting performance of teammates Derek Fisher, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur in Game 1, maybe Williams should embrace the superstition and take the whole team out to the same restaurant prior to all games at the AT&T Center.
Parker and Williams got to know each other during Williams' three years at the University of Illinois. Parker's brother TJ Parker played for Northwestern University during the same time frame, and the two just gradually got to know each other.
Considering that Parker is only 24, and Williams doesn't turn 24 until June, the two will likely get to know each other much better in the coming years, both on the court in the Spurs-Jazz rivalry and off the court at random French restaurants around the country.
FACT OR FICTION: When it comes to playoff experience, San Antonio is leaps and bounds ahead of where the youthful Jazz are.
Of the 12 players who suited up for the Spurs in Game 1, they had a combined total of 983 playoff games led by Robert Horry's 221.
Conversely, Utah's combined total is 316, yet it's only 187 not counting Derek Fisher's 129 career playoff games.
Those statistics would seem to indicate that the Spurs have an obvious advantage in the Western Conference Finals, but Spurs coach Greg Popovich believes those stats can be deceiving.
"It can be a factor, but it depends on the opponent also," he said. "At one point the Bulls were a team that didn't have a whole lot of experience, and all of the sudden they were there. Utah could be one of those same teams, they've got fine young talent, they play hard, that can overcome experience. Experience can't become complacent or it doesn't work for you."
WRAPPING IT UP EARLY: Following Sunday's Game 1, the Spurs are now 3-0 in home games against the Utah Jazz this year. The second quarter has been the difference in each game.
