McDonald: Manu Wants To Play ... Monday

[duncan228]

Jeff McDonald: Manu wants to play ... Monday (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/11/jeff_mcdonald_m_19.html)

If Spurs guard Manu Ginobili gets his wish, he could be just days away from making his season debut.

His recovery from offseason ankle surgery almost complete, Ginobili said after Friday morning's shootaround he should be ready to play as soon as Monday night in Memphis.

"I feel I'm very close," Ginobili said. "I had a good practice yesterday. The ankle is not swelling. We're going to practice tomorrow and the day after. If it goes as well as yesterday, I think I'm ready to go."

Asked if he had a game targeted for a return, Ginobili said, "The next one. I would like to play the next one."

After tonight's home game against the Jazz, the Spurs play Monday at Memphis. Of course, Ginobili has one more hurdle to cross before getting the go-ahead to suit up: He must convince coach Gregg Popovich, typically an injury worry-wart, to play him.

The politicking has already begun.

"I'm ready," Ginobili said. "I don't know if they are going to wait and be extra cautious and see how I develop. But I feel like I can contribute, little by little. I'm not going to play 35 minutes the first game, but I think I'm ready to start helping out."

[duncan228]

Sorry, I should have put this here, you can see the interview.

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110231

[completely deck]

As long as Manu isn't freaking out like the majority of people here on the forums because of our record and jumping the gun, I'll be excited. Don't jump the gun, Manu. The last thing we need is to force anything.

[angelbelow]

wow thats good news but i, like many others, would rather he stay cautious.

[MannyIsGod]

No
No
NO
NO
NONONONONONONONO.

[benefactor]

No worries. Pop is going to be extremely cautious. Manu can politic all he wants, but us seeing him in a Spurs uniform before the beginning of December is highly unlikely.

[SenorSpur]

No way. There's no sense in jumping the gun, at this point.

[xtremesteven33]

With all the west teams struggling it helps pop not to rush into desperation mode just yet. We can win against Jazz tonight and Monday but after that the schedule gets a little tough....hell be back in 7-10 days IMO

[Bruno]

The timetable was 8 to 12 weeks for Manu. Monday, it will make 12 weeks minus one day.
So it's not like someone is rushing Manu. If he is healthy, there is no reason to wait one or two more weeks.

[angelbelow]

The timetable was 8 to 12 weeks for Manu. Monday, it will make 12 weeks minus one day.
So it's not like someone is rushing Manu. If he is healthy, there is no reason to wait one or two more weeks.

thats a great point. if hes 100% let him loose!

[Man In Black]

It's not like he's going to run his full allotment of minutes.

Hell, it's Manu fricken Ginobili, what he could do in 10 minutes of play is more than what most guys spots 6-12 can do in a game.
:lobt2:

[xtremesteven33]

It's not like he's going to run his full allotment of minutes.

Hell, it's Manu fricken Ginobili, what he could do in 10 minutes of play is more than what most guys spots 6-12 can do in a game.
:lobt2:



haha thats the scary part

[byrdman31]

Thats great news:flag:

i think he should wait a few more games, i mean i dont think we need him that bad against memphis, hopefully

[SpursDynasty]

I say if Manu feels he's ready, then let him play. Manu knows better than anyone else when he should come back.

Besides, I'm tired of these BS teams that are ahead of us in the West standings. Time to catch the #2 seed and the #1 seed if the league stops handing the Lakers every game.

[xtremesteven33]

I say if Manu feels he's ready, then let him play. Manu knows better than anyone else when he should come back.

Besides, I'm tired of these BS teams that are ahead of us in the West standings. Time to catch the #2 seed and the #1 seed if the league stops handing the Lakers every game.


Good point.

Manu is pretty honest when it comes to his health. If hes hurt hell admit it more times than not. he wont admit it to make excuses though.

If hes not ready or still kinda doubtful i think he would be the first to admit it.

[MarHill]

[QUOTE=benefactor;2915838]No worries. Pop is going to be extremely cautious. Manu can politic all he wants, but us seeing him in a Spurs uniform before the beginning of December is highly unlikely.[/QUOTE

I hope so.

But a star player can be very persuasive....especially someone as competitive as Manu.

I want him to be completely healed...because they still have a chance to win it all!!!!

:flag::lobt:

[tp2021]

Please Manu, don't rush back.
Hopefully Pop exercises some caution with him, instead of just trusting Manu completely and playing him as soon as Manu feels like it.

[TDMVPDPOY]

pop should tell him to sit teh fuck down....

[MoSpur]

This is good news in a way.

[hater]

Pop is in charge. no worries

[ducks]

Pop is in charge. no worries

pop was in charge he would not have played overseas this summer

[JamStone]

Be extra cautious, Manu. Last thing the Spurs need is for you to rush yourself. Players always feel like they're ready too soon.

[hater]

pop was in charge he would not have played overseas this summer

unlike you, Pop understand what it means to play for your country

[ducks]

unlike you, Pop understand what it means to play for your country

yeah that is why he publically told manu not to go

[Fermixalot]

this is a difficult situation. We all know how anxious Manu gets when he's not playin, he is a born competitor, and not being out there kills him. And while I really want to see him out there again, I hope he isn't letting his anxiousness override his logic.

He's an athlete and he knows his body well, if he thinks he can go, I'll agree with him. But I'm not Pop, and I'm pretty sure Pop is going to do whats best for Manu and the team, whether that's sooner or later, I'm not sure, but I know it'll be at the best time.

[Biernutz]

NO --Don't let him talk you into this Pop. There is no rush for this.

[Spurs Brazil]

That's great news

And like Bruno said we're not going to rush him. He's out for 12 weeks.

I hope we can see him monday

[MaNuMaNiAc]

yeah that is why he publically told manu not to go

ducks I think its about time you get the fuck over it, don't you think?

[Dex]

I want to see Manu play.

But I don't want him coming back until he is completely healthy.

If both of those things can realistically happen on Monday, fan-fucking-tastic! :spin

[timvp]

Even if Manu is ready to go, I'd like him to be out a little bit longer if only to get in more rest. The more rest he gets now, hopefully the fresher he'll be at the end of the season.

Plus, going from out injured to 1-on-1 to 5-on-5 to a live NBA game in about a week is pushing it. I think at minimum Pop should hold him out until next Friday when the Spurs play at home against Memphis.

But it's great news that Manu is feeling good and there's no swelling in the ankle. Can't wait to see him on the court again :hungry:

[Phenomanul]

Even if Manu is ready to go, I'd like him to be out a little bit longer if only to get in more rest. The more rest he gets now, hopefully the fresher he'll be at the end of the season.

Plus, going from out injured to 1-on-1 to 5-on-5 to a live NBA game in about a week is pushing it. I think at minimum Pop should hold him out until next Friday when the Spurs play at home against Memphis.

But it's great news that Manu is feeling good and there's no swelling in the ankle. Can't wait to see him on the court again :hungry:

+1

:tu

[J.T.]

If Manu comes back at 99.9%, it's still too soon.

[completely deck]

I personally think the only person on the roster that the coaching staff and Pop especially would completely trust is TD, because we know how Pop feels about TD.

Everyone else he is very cautious about. Just my opinion.

[temujin]

OK.

Count two weeks from now.

[Das Texan]

so manu will be ready to go in about 10-14 days.


sweet.

[barbacoataco]

From what I know about their injuries, Manu seems to be in better shape for the future than Parker. Ginobili's problem has been corrected, while Parker obviously has an issue that will probably eventually require surgery.

[xcoriate]

Angebelow your sig is classic!!!

[xcoriate]

Oh and the first game manus back we'll be lucky to see him for more than 15mins on the court.

[homer]

Even if Manu is ready to go, I'd like him to be out a little bit longer if only to get in more rest. The more rest he gets now, hopefully the fresher he'll be at the end of the season.

Plus, going from out injured to 1-on-1 to 5-on-5 to a live NBA game in about a week is pushing it. I think at minimum Pop should hold him out until next Friday when the Spurs play at home against Memphis.

But it's great news that Manu is feeling good and there's no swelling in the ankle. Can't wait to see him on the court again :hungry:

:toast
I agree with you completely. It's better for Manu to wait another week and better for the fans for him to make his comeback at home against a so-so team.

[mrspurs]

Heck Id like to see him tonight. If he says he's ready. Then playum.

[MannyIsGod]

No no no no no no nono no onono nonoooooooooooooooooo

[Bruno]

BTW, am I the only one who find the "I had to convince Pop" game quite ridiculous ?

Ginobili isn't a 12 years old rookie. Ginobili, Spurs' medical staff and Pop should be able to quietly decide a coming back date instead of playing this childish game.

[duncan228]

Jeff McDonald: Pop says not so fast (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2008/11/jeff_mcdonald_p_23.html)

Leave it to Gregg Popovich to throw cold water over Manu Ginobili's plans of appearing in an NBA game as early as Monday.

Ginobili, the injured Spurs guard, told the gathered media at Friday morning's shootaround he'd attempt to lobby his head coach in hopes of making Monday's game at Memphis the target date for his return from offseason ankle surgery. However, Popovich doesn't appear to be on the verge of cracking just yet.

Asked before tonight's game against Utah when Ginobili might be ready to see his first action of the season, Popovich's answer was as simple as it was vague.

"When he's ready, that's when he's going to play," Popovich said. "He's not ready yet."

Whether Ginobili will be ready at some point next week remains to be seen. Until then, we'd expect the lobbying to continue.

[John_C]

We have a good record right now, considering the current line up we have. There is no need to rush things with regards to Manu and TP's health at all.

[WildcardManu]

Manuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

[mookie2001]

manu is a twat he can stay out and we can get someone else to choke against the lakers this year

[urunobili]

Pop is in charge. no worries

:tu

[m33p0]

if he is indeed ready to play, Pop will mostly likely bring him in slowly. 10-15 minute spots early on. i won't be surprised if Pop does play him against Memphis just to get his feet wet. but don't expect him to be on the floor at the final 5 minutes of that game.

[m33p0]

oh lord, what a back court the spurs have. :flag: :flag: :flag:

[Manufan909]

manu is a twat he can stay out and we can get someone else to choke against the lakers this year

Hold up, I'm curious, are you as dumb as you sound, or is this your idea of a joke.:ihit