Spurs point guard Tony Parker said yesterday he considers Stephon Marbury a tougher matchup for him than Jason Kidd. "He's a scoring point guard, he attacks every time," Parker said of Marbury. "You can't get a rest because he attacks you again. Stephon is my toughest matchup. I have more problems against Marbury than Kidd. Kidd is a tough matchup, too, but I have more problems with Marbury."

The numbers bear it out. Marbury, who was traded to Phoenix for Kidd in a move that resuscitated the Nets' dead franchise, has destroyed Parker in his two years in the league. Marbury averaged 32.5 points and 8.8 assists on 54 percent shooting in the regular season against Parker. Parker scored just nine points in the first two playoff games vs. Phoenix, while Marbury hit the game-winner in Game 1.

Parker has done well against Kidd, outplaying him in their last meeting March 6, scoring 21 points. But scoring is not the issue with the lightning-quick Parker. It's his Marbury mentality of wanting to be a scoring point guard.