duncan228
11-04-2008, 11:12 PM
Spurs Mailbag: Ten survival tips for life without Manu (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Mailbag_Ten_survival_tips_for_life_without_M anu.html)
By Jeff McDonald
Depending on when you are reading this, the Spurs are either 0-2 or 1-2 or 0-3.
If the Spurs have learned anything from their first two (or three) games, it's that life without Manu Ginobili is not going to be easy. To bastardize a Counting Crows lyric, without Ginobili, it could be a long November.
But, to ape a lyric from another overrated rock band in the 1990s, nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.
The Spurs should have their leading scorer back from offseason ankle surgery by the middle of next month. In the meantime, Spurs fans, here are some helpful suggestions to aid in passing the time:
1. Assuming Ginobili eventually returns at full strength, write a thank-you note to Dr. Richard Ferkel, the surgeon who operated on Ginobili's ankle.
2. Write hate mail to China if he doesn't.
3. Pick up Tim Duncan or Tony Parker on your fantasy team. Assuming you play in a bizzaro fantasy league in which either of these two guys would actually be on the waiver wire.
4. Four words: Whiskey. Lots of whiskey.
5. Enjoy the rest of the Dallas Cowboys' season (non-Cowboys fans only).
6. Watch your “Best of Manu's Time Warner Commercials” DVD.
7. Do what the Spurs are doing. Experiment with yoga.
8. Help Allen Iverson move.
9. Look into how much money you could save on your car insurance by switching to GEICO.
10. Borrow Brent Barry's flux capacitor. Set it forward to mid-December, when Ginobili should be back. Enjoy.
Now let's peek into the mailbag for the first time this season:
How strong is the team going to be without Manu playing? As well as with Robert Horry now playing for a rival?
— Bobby Winters, Phoenix
Obviously, it's going to be tough for the Spurs to win consistently without Ginobili. They will miss not only his scoring, but his guts. He was their best game-closer last season, the kind of guy who would come in handy when you needed, say, a last-second basket to beat Portland.
The one thing the Spurs have going for them is the November schedule. After Tuesday's game against Dallas, 10 of their next 13 games are against teams that didn't make the playoffs last year.
As for the Horry portion of your question ... you know the Spurs have fallen on hard times when the Houston Northside YMCA is considered a rival.
What happened to James Gist? If he was cut, why? He looked good in the summer leagues, and gave the Spurs much-needed athleticism, and shot-blocking from the power forward position. He seemed to be able to score inside pretty well, too.
— Bill Anderson, Biloxi, Miss.
The Spurs have stashed Gist in Italy, where he is generally subsisting on pepperoni pizza and gelato and building towers that lean (We've never actually been to Italy, we just assume that's what Italians do). For a look at what Gist is really up to in Italy, check out his blog atyardbarker.com/jamesgist.
This is not a question. Just wanted to let Desmon Farmer know that Spurs players do not wear headbands in the games.
— Diane, San Antonio
Thank you, Diane. You can turn in your application to join the NBA's fashion police at the door.
Are the Spurs looking to trade maybe Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner for a good, established big man?
— Brianda, Laredo
In order for the Spurs to trade Vaughn and Bonner, another team would have to want Vaughn and Bonner. Vaughn is more valuable to the Spurs than he would be anywhere else — his greatest asset is his knowledge of the Spurs' system. Bonner, meanwhile, has another season left worth $3.2 million on his contract after this one. That would seem to make him difficult to move.
The Spurs are always exploring options. We're just not sure they'd find takers here.
Darius Miles is still available. Will the Spurs add him to the roster?
— Charwin, Philippines
Darius Miles would be a great addition to any team. Is there any possibility the Spurs might take D-Miles on their roster?
— Jhun-Jhun, Philippines
This just proves our theory: Filipinos love Darius Miles.
Do the Spurs have any plans of getting a marquee player in their lineup?
— DonDon Presillas, Philippines
You mean, like Darius Miles?
What's up with all the roster changes? I mean, I really love the upgrades and everything, but don't you think bringing in all the news guys will kind of mess with the chemistry?
— Isai Mota, San Antonio
For years, Spurs fans complained about the team sticking with the status quo in the face of advancing age. Now, they're making too many roster changes? Guess there's a contrarian in every group.
To answer your question, the new Spurs will have 82 games to work on the chemistry. That ought to be enough time.
By the way, after the sort-of youth movement of the offseason, the Spurs' average age has sunk below the 30-year-old threshold. Next thing you know, Gregg Popovich is going to have to take them all out for ice cream after the game.
Noticed Bruce Bowen didn't play much during the first two games. Have the Spurs lost faith in him?
— Brett, San Antonio
It's true Bowen didn't play more than 22 minutes in either of the Spurs' first two games. With Ginobili out, Popovich has been awarding the bulk of minutes to some of his more offensive-oriented wing players.
However, we'd caution against drawing any sort of conclusions from two games' worth of data. We'd also caution against writing Bowen off too quickly. There were times early last season when Bowen seemed to show his age. By the end of the year, he was the same old Bruce. Let's revisit this in February.
By Jeff McDonald
Depending on when you are reading this, the Spurs are either 0-2 or 1-2 or 0-3.
If the Spurs have learned anything from their first two (or three) games, it's that life without Manu Ginobili is not going to be easy. To bastardize a Counting Crows lyric, without Ginobili, it could be a long November.
But, to ape a lyric from another overrated rock band in the 1990s, nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.
The Spurs should have their leading scorer back from offseason ankle surgery by the middle of next month. In the meantime, Spurs fans, here are some helpful suggestions to aid in passing the time:
1. Assuming Ginobili eventually returns at full strength, write a thank-you note to Dr. Richard Ferkel, the surgeon who operated on Ginobili's ankle.
2. Write hate mail to China if he doesn't.
3. Pick up Tim Duncan or Tony Parker on your fantasy team. Assuming you play in a bizzaro fantasy league in which either of these two guys would actually be on the waiver wire.
4. Four words: Whiskey. Lots of whiskey.
5. Enjoy the rest of the Dallas Cowboys' season (non-Cowboys fans only).
6. Watch your “Best of Manu's Time Warner Commercials” DVD.
7. Do what the Spurs are doing. Experiment with yoga.
8. Help Allen Iverson move.
9. Look into how much money you could save on your car insurance by switching to GEICO.
10. Borrow Brent Barry's flux capacitor. Set it forward to mid-December, when Ginobili should be back. Enjoy.
Now let's peek into the mailbag for the first time this season:
How strong is the team going to be without Manu playing? As well as with Robert Horry now playing for a rival?
— Bobby Winters, Phoenix
Obviously, it's going to be tough for the Spurs to win consistently without Ginobili. They will miss not only his scoring, but his guts. He was their best game-closer last season, the kind of guy who would come in handy when you needed, say, a last-second basket to beat Portland.
The one thing the Spurs have going for them is the November schedule. After Tuesday's game against Dallas, 10 of their next 13 games are against teams that didn't make the playoffs last year.
As for the Horry portion of your question ... you know the Spurs have fallen on hard times when the Houston Northside YMCA is considered a rival.
What happened to James Gist? If he was cut, why? He looked good in the summer leagues, and gave the Spurs much-needed athleticism, and shot-blocking from the power forward position. He seemed to be able to score inside pretty well, too.
— Bill Anderson, Biloxi, Miss.
The Spurs have stashed Gist in Italy, where he is generally subsisting on pepperoni pizza and gelato and building towers that lean (We've never actually been to Italy, we just assume that's what Italians do). For a look at what Gist is really up to in Italy, check out his blog atyardbarker.com/jamesgist.
This is not a question. Just wanted to let Desmon Farmer know that Spurs players do not wear headbands in the games.
— Diane, San Antonio
Thank you, Diane. You can turn in your application to join the NBA's fashion police at the door.
Are the Spurs looking to trade maybe Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner for a good, established big man?
— Brianda, Laredo
In order for the Spurs to trade Vaughn and Bonner, another team would have to want Vaughn and Bonner. Vaughn is more valuable to the Spurs than he would be anywhere else — his greatest asset is his knowledge of the Spurs' system. Bonner, meanwhile, has another season left worth $3.2 million on his contract after this one. That would seem to make him difficult to move.
The Spurs are always exploring options. We're just not sure they'd find takers here.
Darius Miles is still available. Will the Spurs add him to the roster?
— Charwin, Philippines
Darius Miles would be a great addition to any team. Is there any possibility the Spurs might take D-Miles on their roster?
— Jhun-Jhun, Philippines
This just proves our theory: Filipinos love Darius Miles.
Do the Spurs have any plans of getting a marquee player in their lineup?
— DonDon Presillas, Philippines
You mean, like Darius Miles?
What's up with all the roster changes? I mean, I really love the upgrades and everything, but don't you think bringing in all the news guys will kind of mess with the chemistry?
— Isai Mota, San Antonio
For years, Spurs fans complained about the team sticking with the status quo in the face of advancing age. Now, they're making too many roster changes? Guess there's a contrarian in every group.
To answer your question, the new Spurs will have 82 games to work on the chemistry. That ought to be enough time.
By the way, after the sort-of youth movement of the offseason, the Spurs' average age has sunk below the 30-year-old threshold. Next thing you know, Gregg Popovich is going to have to take them all out for ice cream after the game.
Noticed Bruce Bowen didn't play much during the first two games. Have the Spurs lost faith in him?
— Brett, San Antonio
It's true Bowen didn't play more than 22 minutes in either of the Spurs' first two games. With Ginobili out, Popovich has been awarding the bulk of minutes to some of his more offensive-oriented wing players.
However, we'd caution against drawing any sort of conclusions from two games' worth of data. We'd also caution against writing Bowen off too quickly. There were times early last season when Bowen seemed to show his age. By the end of the year, he was the same old Bruce. Let's revisit this in February.