<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>DOUG SMITHSPORTS REPORTERAnthony Parker is not a man to shirk his responsibilities, which is a good thing since he's going to have a lot of them with the Raptor this season.If there's anything that's become apparent in a handful of scrimmages and one pre-season game ? besides the fact that T.J. Ford is the fastest Raptor ever, Chris Bosh is still evolving into a perennial all-star and Jorge Garbajosa has a chance to become the kind of "glue" guy the team has sorely lacked ? it's that Parker is going to be relied on to anchor the team's perimeter defence.And he's not going to get much help doing it because starting in this season of alleged personal defensive accountability, it's every man for himself and no more is perimeter defence going to be waving at someone driving unimpeded to the basket and looking askance at teammates for assistance."That's a good challenge coming from overseas where it's not like that every night, needless to say," Parker said yesterday. "Almost every night in the NBA, you've got a guy who can go off for 30 or 40 points. It's definitely a challenge and it brings the concentration level up even higher."Parker's initiation began Monday when he got to guard Washington's Caron Butler with little or no help and he did an admirable job, frustrating the bigger, stronger Wizard forward into six misses in his first eight shots.Parker's sure to get some time on Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak of Boston tonight and then gets to see Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson on Sunday afternoon. Nights off ? heck, possessions off ? are going to be few and far between.It's a lot to ask a 31-year-old coming off six seasons overseas, where he could go weeks without seeing anyone close to the talent level of the guys he'll see nightly now."He's strong, he's smart, he's a good athlete," coach Sam Mitchell said of Parker. "He's just been around."Parker provides just the kind of experience the Raptors have been lacking for years. He may not have an extensive NBA background, but he knows how to play. Coaches are already marvelling at his high basketball IQ, knowing when to go where to stop someone, knowing what his teammates are capable of and where he might be needed to help."You've got to have good coaching growing up but it's the experience, being in every situation," said Parker. "It's just a little bit easier to recognize the next time around."While Parker's nightly contribution will be on display for fans and teammates to see, what he does in practice is equally important. The Raptors have a couple of young swingmen who can benefit by simply emulating Parker's work ethic and innate knowledge of the game."That's what we're trying to develop in Joey (Graham)," Mitchell said, pretty much calling out Graham without publicly calling him out. "Try to get Joey, with all his physical attributes, to be a guy like that also.If you can have a couple of guys on your team who can go out and guard a guy and make it tough for him, make him shoot 9-for-20 instead of 14-for-20; if you've got one or two guys on your roster who can do that, then it definitely makes you a better basketball team."But until Graham or P.J. Tucker gets it, or don't get it to the point they find themselves not in the future plans, Parker will be asked to carry a heavy load. If he can do it consistently, the Raptors will be exponentially better defensively this season then they were last.</div>Man, I hope Parker can do a good job defensively. We will definately have better defense next year..
