duncan228
11-24-2008, 11:43 PM
Ginobili makes triumphant return (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Ginobili_makes_triumphant_return.html)
By Jeff McDonald
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In the end, it was the little things that Manu Ginobili missed the most.
The feel of a freshly taped pair of ankles. Browsing through a pregame scouting report. That all-important mid-afternoon nap. All the things that made him feel like a basketball player.
Injured since the Olympics, at times feeling like a ghost in the Spurs' locker room, Ginobili longed for the simple monotony of game day.
“When you are playing,” Ginobili said, “it's a whole different feeling on game day.”
Back in his routine, if not quite his groove, Ginobili made his long-awaited season debut in Monday's 94-81 win over Memphis at the FedEx Forum.
It was vintage, if abbreviated, Ginobili. He scored 12 points in 11 minutes, and kick-started the third-quarter run that helped the Spurs put the game away.
George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. led the way again for the Spurs, who have won six of eight. Hill had 20 points, his third consecutive game with at least that many, while Mason chipped in 18.
Ginobili made his grand entrance at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter, his first game action since injuring his ankle on Aug. 22 in Beijing. The FedEx Forum, half-full to begin with, barely yawned.
One minute and 27 seconds into his initial shift, Ginobili let fly his first field-goal attempt, a deep 3-point heave to beat the shot clock. Naturally, it swished.
Later, for a very brief moment in the third quarter, Ginobili took over.
Memphis had closed what had been a 10-point deficit to 49-46 with 6:39 left in the third. Enter Ginobili, who scored seven of his points in the next 2:39 to ignite a 23-9 quarter-closing run.
By Jeff McDonald
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In the end, it was the little things that Manu Ginobili missed the most.
The feel of a freshly taped pair of ankles. Browsing through a pregame scouting report. That all-important mid-afternoon nap. All the things that made him feel like a basketball player.
Injured since the Olympics, at times feeling like a ghost in the Spurs' locker room, Ginobili longed for the simple monotony of game day.
“When you are playing,” Ginobili said, “it's a whole different feeling on game day.”
Back in his routine, if not quite his groove, Ginobili made his long-awaited season debut in Monday's 94-81 win over Memphis at the FedEx Forum.
It was vintage, if abbreviated, Ginobili. He scored 12 points in 11 minutes, and kick-started the third-quarter run that helped the Spurs put the game away.
George Hill and Roger Mason Jr. led the way again for the Spurs, who have won six of eight. Hill had 20 points, his third consecutive game with at least that many, while Mason chipped in 18.
Ginobili made his grand entrance at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter, his first game action since injuring his ankle on Aug. 22 in Beijing. The FedEx Forum, half-full to begin with, barely yawned.
One minute and 27 seconds into his initial shift, Ginobili let fly his first field-goal attempt, a deep 3-point heave to beat the shot clock. Naturally, it swished.
Later, for a very brief moment in the third quarter, Ginobili took over.
Memphis had closed what had been a 10-point deficit to 49-46 with 6:39 left in the third. Enter Ginobili, who scored seven of his points in the next 2:39 to ignite a 23-9 quarter-closing run.