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Spurs' Popovich on Parker: 'He's been real slow, not very confident'

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Parker isn't back to being himself quite yet. 

The San Antonio Spurs point guard has struggled in limited minutes over three games since returning from a hamstring strain that cost him five contests. After being hobbled for a large chunk of the season, missing 14 of the team's 38 games, he hasn't displayed the same quickness since returning to the lineup a week ago that the Spurs have become accustomed to in the past. 

"He's been real slow, not very confident," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. "He's out of shape but trying to get back. We're going to keep going slowly. We'd like to win more games, but it's more important for us to be healthy."

Popovich has been cautious with Parker, slowly increasing the six-time All-Star's workload in each game. 

Parker played 13 minutes, followed by 22 and then 25 in San Antonio's 108-93 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. He's averaging 7.3 points, shooting 34.8 percent from the field and turning the ball over 3.3 times per contest. 

With Popovich known to rest his veteran stars, expect Parker to receive some occasional breathers as he works his way back to full strength. 

The Spurs are 16-8 with the point guard in the lineup and 8-8 without him. His injuries have overlapped with time star forward Kawhi Leonard has missed, but that also shows his importance to a banged-up team.

Parker's ailments have allowed fourth-year guard Cory Joseph to get extended run, and he's emerged as a solid rotation piece for San Antonio. Joseph's averaging 10.3 points on 54.3-percent shooting from the field, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 25.8 minutes. 

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