lurker23
03-03-2009, 03:22 AM
By J.A. Adande | ESPN.com
LOS ANGELES -- Trying to blend the now-you-see-him, now-you-don't Manu Ginobili with his abundance of new teammates is a serious concern to San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. We know this because Popovich even admitted the thought has crossed his mind.
There's a lot of stuff Pop pretends not to care about.
On whether his team will be ready for the playoffs: "I don't give it any thought, because it's a waste of time. They'll either be there or they won't, they'll be healthy or they won't be. We'll be ready or we won't."
On whether Ginobili is recovering well from the stress reaction in his right fibula: "I assume so. I don't pay any attention to him."
On whether it will be hard for the team's newcomers to adjust to Ginobili:
"That's actually something we thought about," Popovich said. "Matt Bonner and George Hill and Roger Mason ... they don't have a great feel for him. It's difficult anyway, because of the way he plays. When he comes back in, I think that's going to be somewhat of an adjustment for us. And I do think about that."
The Spurs have always been about building, oh so slowly, toward a crescendo in time for the playoffs. It's tough to do that in fits and spurts, which is what they've had from Ginobili this season. He missed the first 12 games of the season while recovering from surgery on his left ankle. He's missed the past eight games with the right leg injury. The only update Popovich provided is that Thursday will mark the two-week milestone for a recovery that was projected to be two to three weeks.
Even though Tim Duncan is still good for 20 and 10 on a nightly basis, and Tony Parker is still difficulty to keep out of the lane and Bonner's made almost half of his 3-point attempts and Mason has turned out to be a clutch shooter, they'll still ride or die with Ginobili on the offensive end.
Ginobili "is a player who definitely wins X number of games a year in some way shape or form that no one can anticipate ahead of time," Popovich said. "It may be an offensive board or a steal a three-point play or a drive to the bucket or a variety of things. We don't have that athleticism that he gives us, that wild card."
The Spurs might have more depth if they add Drew Gooden, who was bought out of his contract by the Sacramento Kings Sunday. Gooden would be eligible to be signed by the Spurs after clearing waivers on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-10 Gooden would give the Spurs the additional big man they have sought, in addition to a player who has been consistent double-digit scorer throughout his career. But with only 23 games remaining, he'd have to learn the Spurs' system, they'd have to learn his ways.
And he still wouldn't be the same as having a healthy Ginobili, who's looking like more of a wild card than ever.
J.A. Adande is an ESPN.com senior writer and the author of "The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090303 (#2)
LOS ANGELES -- Trying to blend the now-you-see-him, now-you-don't Manu Ginobili with his abundance of new teammates is a serious concern to San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. We know this because Popovich even admitted the thought has crossed his mind.
There's a lot of stuff Pop pretends not to care about.
On whether his team will be ready for the playoffs: "I don't give it any thought, because it's a waste of time. They'll either be there or they won't, they'll be healthy or they won't be. We'll be ready or we won't."
On whether Ginobili is recovering well from the stress reaction in his right fibula: "I assume so. I don't pay any attention to him."
On whether it will be hard for the team's newcomers to adjust to Ginobili:
"That's actually something we thought about," Popovich said. "Matt Bonner and George Hill and Roger Mason ... they don't have a great feel for him. It's difficult anyway, because of the way he plays. When he comes back in, I think that's going to be somewhat of an adjustment for us. And I do think about that."
The Spurs have always been about building, oh so slowly, toward a crescendo in time for the playoffs. It's tough to do that in fits and spurts, which is what they've had from Ginobili this season. He missed the first 12 games of the season while recovering from surgery on his left ankle. He's missed the past eight games with the right leg injury. The only update Popovich provided is that Thursday will mark the two-week milestone for a recovery that was projected to be two to three weeks.
Even though Tim Duncan is still good for 20 and 10 on a nightly basis, and Tony Parker is still difficulty to keep out of the lane and Bonner's made almost half of his 3-point attempts and Mason has turned out to be a clutch shooter, they'll still ride or die with Ginobili on the offensive end.
Ginobili "is a player who definitely wins X number of games a year in some way shape or form that no one can anticipate ahead of time," Popovich said. "It may be an offensive board or a steal a three-point play or a drive to the bucket or a variety of things. We don't have that athleticism that he gives us, that wild card."
The Spurs might have more depth if they add Drew Gooden, who was bought out of his contract by the Sacramento Kings Sunday. Gooden would be eligible to be signed by the Spurs after clearing waivers on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-10 Gooden would give the Spurs the additional big man they have sought, in addition to a player who has been consistent double-digit scorer throughout his career. But with only 23 games remaining, he'd have to learn the Spurs' system, they'd have to learn his ways.
And he still wouldn't be the same as having a healthy Ginobili, who's looking like more of a wild card than ever.
J.A. Adande is an ESPN.com senior writer and the author of "The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090303 (#2)