Chandler Parsons Deserves Starting Role
I never thought I’d utter these words, but Chandler Parsons deserves to start for the Houston Rockets at small forward. The faux hawk and face dotted with youthful acne gives Parsons, a rookie second round draft pick out of Florida, an appearance that’s more pool boy than NBA baller.
But after three solid performances, including his first NBA start versus Oklahoma City on Saturday night, Parsons has proven that he has the confidence, energy level, and defensive intensity to stick in the NBA. He is more than just a pretty boy with a legion of female bandwagoners. In fact, the hustle and spirit Parsons brings to the Rockets is a surprise highlight of a young season that hasn’t produced much joy for Houston fans.
Most prognosticators did not expect Parsons to stick in the NBA. He was Houston’s final pick in the 2011 draft and signed his contract with the team late in the preseason. The more hyped rookie was 14th overall pick Marcus Morris, the versatile Kansas product with a polished skill-set and sterling resume. But Morris is in the Developmental League starting for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and Parsons is starting for the Rockets. After a very Allen Iverson-like line last night (10-27 shooting from the field on his way to 24 points), Morris appears set to stay there for awhile.
Parsons, however, is proving he belongs by sending incumbent Chase Budinger to the pine. The former Gator scored 11 points last week against the L.A. Clippers and looked like the only Rockets player with a pulse. He even threw down a memorable tip-dunk over All-Star Blake Griffin, and contributed a playful stare-down just for fun. Perhaps the most impressive statistic was his eight rebounds, a feat he would replicate on Saturday night vs. the Thunder.
Budinger, who has an aversion to lateral movement and is currently mired in his yearly three-point shooting slump, was benched in favor of Parsons, a surprise move to those who didn’t even think he would make the team. Parsons may have shot 1-6 from the field on his way to only a pair of points, but his lockdown defense on Kevin Durant, nose for the ball, and versatile floor game impressed even me, one of his staunchest verbal opponents in his college days.
In addition to his eight rebounds, Parsons had a block, three assists, and a trio of steals. He flew to the ball with reckless abandon and stayed in Durant’s shorts all night, forcing him to shoot difficult jump shots over the 6 ft. 9 Parsons’ prodigious length. Durant may have scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to clinch a Thunder win, but he struggled mightily throughout the game and shot less than 40 percent from the field. It was telling that Parsons was in the game for its final three+ minutes. The coaches were obviously pleased with his versatile effort, so look for the “other” rookie to keep getting starter’s minutes.
Perhaps Parsons can fill that elusive role of defensive stopper post-Shane Battier, and with Courtney Lee battling a calf strain. If Terrence Williams continues to stumble around aimlessly and Budinger continues to misfire from deep, look for Parsons to be on the floor even more.
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