Parker doesn’t score or get credited with assists. He leaves that to the guys up front.
What Parker does instead is win games. He does this not by punctuating the match but by controlling it. He smothers oncoming attacks. He forces opponents off the ball. He orchestrates distribution out of the back, setting in motion a Spurs onslaught that will culminate 60 yards downfield…
…I’ll remember this game for the little things Parker did to win it and Adebayor did to save it. Those things won’t help me in my fantasy league. But in real life, they can help me teach soccer to my son.