duncan228
07-07-2008, 02:49 PM
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9382
Mid-Day Report: Manu Still Hurt
By: Jason Fleming
Ginobili Still Hurting: As discussed in this space last week, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili may still be hurt and could be forced to miss playing for Argentina at the Olympics in Beijing.
"It was worse than [Ginobili] let on," Spurs forward Anthony Bonner recently told the Toronto Star. "When I was watching Ray Allen go right by [Lakers guard] Sasha [Vujacic] every time and lay it in every time, I was like, 'Yeah, it must have been really hurting.' "
Because of the injury it's looking quite likely the Spurs will ask Ginobili not to play. The Spurs as a franchise are one of the few big proponents of their players getting involved with their respective national teams, so asking Ginobili not to play would make it seem they are quite worried.
Bonner's statement raises another issue too, this one for Lakers' restricted free agent Vujacic. He earned quite a bit of praise and presumably made himself some money this summer specifically for his defense on Ginobili. Yet, following that up with the defense played against Boston's Allen made some wonder. Could this be the answer? Vujacic simply looked good because of Ginobili's injury? Manu is probably nodding his head, and it's something the Lakers need to take into account.
The defensive duo of Jordan Farmar and Vujacic works well when the Lakers want to spread the floor and play full court pressure defense, but in a halfcourt set the answer may be Vujacic isn't good enough to stop the better two guards. He's quick, tough and a little bit sneaky, but he's hardly the player to body someone up to stop or alter a drive to the hoop.
There is still little doubt Vujacic re-signs with the Lakers, but it will be interesting to see where the numbers end up and if Vujacic and the Lakers are close as to what the value should be.
Mid-Day Report: Manu Still Hurt
By: Jason Fleming
Ginobili Still Hurting: As discussed in this space last week, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili may still be hurt and could be forced to miss playing for Argentina at the Olympics in Beijing.
"It was worse than [Ginobili] let on," Spurs forward Anthony Bonner recently told the Toronto Star. "When I was watching Ray Allen go right by [Lakers guard] Sasha [Vujacic] every time and lay it in every time, I was like, 'Yeah, it must have been really hurting.' "
Because of the injury it's looking quite likely the Spurs will ask Ginobili not to play. The Spurs as a franchise are one of the few big proponents of their players getting involved with their respective national teams, so asking Ginobili not to play would make it seem they are quite worried.
Bonner's statement raises another issue too, this one for Lakers' restricted free agent Vujacic. He earned quite a bit of praise and presumably made himself some money this summer specifically for his defense on Ginobili. Yet, following that up with the defense played against Boston's Allen made some wonder. Could this be the answer? Vujacic simply looked good because of Ginobili's injury? Manu is probably nodding his head, and it's something the Lakers need to take into account.
The defensive duo of Jordan Farmar and Vujacic works well when the Lakers want to spread the floor and play full court pressure defense, but in a halfcourt set the answer may be Vujacic isn't good enough to stop the better two guards. He's quick, tough and a little bit sneaky, but he's hardly the player to body someone up to stop or alter a drive to the hoop.
There is still little doubt Vujacic re-signs with the Lakers, but it will be interesting to see where the numbers end up and if Vujacic and the Lakers are close as to what the value should be.