Tony Parker to miss 4th consecutive game Friday

Tony Parker's left hamstring strain continues to linger.

The San Antonio Spurs point guard will miss his fourth consecutive game Friday, sitting out the team's showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers. Parker had missed three additional games before returning for an 18-minute appearance on Dec. 12, only to land back on the sidelines.

Parker has played slightly more than a year ago in 19 games, averaging 31 minutes, but that's hardly enough to suggest it's a root cause. He's played as well as last year, too, averaging 16 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the floor. He's also hit at a ridiculous 65.4 percent clip from long range when he's opted to fire from there, which isn't all that often.

Cory Joseph has drawn starts in Parker's place, and his emergence as a capable fill-in speaks volumes about the Spurs' player development. The 29th overall pick in 2011, Joseph has spent ample time in the D-League while shadowing Parker in a minor role. Now, he's averaging 9.2 points and 2.7 assists in 23.3 minutes, allowing the Spurs to take a cautious approach with Parker's health.