<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> WASHINGTON ? After Gilbert Arenas missed 14 of his 20 shots in the Spurs' victory over Washington last month, Tony Parker quickly downplayed any suggestion he had played a large role in limiting the Wizards point guard to the pedestrian 17-point performance. Parker had reason not to gloat. For one, he still had a pending date with Arenas on his own court, and Arenas, as the Spurs have seen for themselves, is big on payback. But Parker also understood the night-to-night roller-coaster ride that goes along with being a young point guard. Win one battle, and the next night brings only another. Parker will have ample opportunity during the Spurs' five-game trip through the Eastern Conference to measure himself against the best at his position. In addition to tonight's rematch with Arenas, he also has meetings with New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Detroit's Chauncey Billups. With Thursday's loss to Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns already on the books, the only member of this season's quintet of All-Star point guards Parker won't face in the six-game stretch is himself. Western Conference coaches passed over a talented group of forwards that included Dallas' Josh Howard, Denver's Carmelo Anthony and the Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand to name Parker to his second consecutive All-Star team. Parker, however, credits his selection to the one coach he knows didn't vote for him: Gregg Popovich. </div> Source
