McDonald: Popovich Moving Closer To Worrying About Ginobili

[duncan228]

Popovich moving closer to worrying about Ginobili (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Popovich_moving_closer_to_worrying_about_Ginobili. html)
Jeff McDonald

HOUSTON — Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he isn't yet concerned at the relatively slow nature of Manu Ginobili's rehabilitation from his latest ankle injury.

Popovich, however, does have a timetable for becoming concerned.

“This coming Thursday will be four weeks since he's off the crutches,” Popovich said before Saturday's game against the Rockets. “At that point, we hope that he's on the floor working out. If he's not, we'll be concerned.”

Ginobili, battling a stress reaction in his right ankle, missed his 14th consecutive game Saturday. He watched from behind the bench as the Spurs outlasted Houston 88-85.

Popovich says Ginobili should return “in a week or two.” He is aware that is the same prognosis he gave at this time last week.

“I keep saying a week or two,” Popovich said. “It's like the stimulus package — pretty soon, it's going to start having an effect.”

Ginobili's rehab continued in Houston. He and similarly injury-plagued forward Ian Mahinmi stayed late after Saturday morning's shootaround to test their bad ankles for the team's strength and conditioning staff.

Ginobili's workout included more shooting, with movement, a regimen he began last week.

Gooden, Take 2: Consider Saturday's game Drew Gooden's silver and black coming out party.

After a four-minute cameo in Thursday's loss to the Lakers, Gooden logged 15 minutes, 12 seconds off the bench against the Rockets and scored 13 points. Afterward, he pronounced himself ready for more duty, if needed.

“I think I'm ready,” Gooden said. “I spent about a week on plays — sidelines out of bounds, baseline out of bounds, half-court sets. I think I've got a good grasp of everything.”

One player happy to see Gooden in uniform? Tim Duncan. Gooden's presence gives the Spurs their most potent scoring threat in the post, perhaps since David Robinson retired.

On Saturday, the Spurs used Gooden as a post-up threat while Duncan rested.

“We were in a little bit of a slump there, and he came in and gave us some offense,” Duncan said. “That's something we're going to expect from him. If he can give it to us, he'll be a big boost to us.”

Traveling men: This is the first road trip Ginobili has made since before the All-Star break. It is the first road trip Mahinmi has made since November.

Popovich, however, says one should not read too much into that. He traveled Ginobili because he was afraid for the guard's health.

“I brought Manu so he won't jump off a building,” Popovich joked. “He's going stir crazy.”

As for Mahinmi, who has struggled with ankle issues all season, most recently undergoing surgery for removal of a bone spur in January?

“Ianny is starting work out on the floor a little bit,” Popovich said. “Being with the team is kind of a reward for him.”

[ploto]

Ianny

??:wow

[completely deck]

"Ianny"?

At any rate, I really hope this doesn't turn into what it was last year.

[Andy25]

You know for how well the spurs play I keep forgetting Manu is out... when he comes back..:ihit

[honestfool84]

“I keep saying a week or two,” Popovich said. “It's like the stimulus package — pretty soon, it's going to start having an effect.”


:lmao

stimulus package.

[NewJerSpur]

Don't want to start the Olympic debate up again, but if he could get out there and give it a whirl last summer, he should be able to suit up for the playoffs....unless there is something structurally wrong.

[timvp]

Ianny:lol

Regarding Ginobili, I'm now just hoping he gets to play in the final five games. Anything more would be gravy.

[xtremesteven33]

Spurs fans can be assured he will play come playoff time. Not even Pop will stop him.

[lefty]

“I brought Manu so he won't jump off a building,” Popovich joked. “He's going stir crazy.”

:lmao

[Mr. Body]

Yanni?

[J.T.]

McDonald should hang himself for putting Gooden and Admiral in the same sentence.

[024]

isn't ian's name pronounced "yawn"? so yawny?

[mystargtr34]

I think hes always called him Ianny. Its pronounced Yahn, rather than Ee-an. So i guess 'Ianni' doesnt sound that retarded.

[tomtom]

Ianny sounds so funny. also hope gino gets well soon

[Blackjack]

Ianni, Mattie, Timmy, Tony, Fabie....

I'm sensing a pattern here. (Pop and the boys sure know how to coach and play the game, but no one ever accused them of being marketing geniuses.lol)


Gooden's presence gives the Spurs their most potent scoring threat in the post, perhaps since David Robinson retired.

No perhaps about it.

In fact, I'll even go as far as saying, the best Post-threat he's ever played with.

Granted, there's no contest in terms of Gooden and Big Dave in terms of overall player/dominance, but Dave was never a great back-to-the-basket player offensively.

Whether Gooden puts the Spurs over the top this year or not, he's still one hell of a pickup when you consider he was aquired for nothing. He might just turn out to be the type of player the Pistons had in Williamson, when he came off the bench awhile back to win the 6th Man of the Year award.

[timaios]

Ianny... Brucie... Georgie...
Seriously ?
Toughness at his best !
That team need a new nickname specialist, NOW !

:ihit:ihit:ihit

[HarlemHeat37]

if Manu can come back in the first few days of April, I'll be happy..

[bbarry]

Ian travels with the team? I never knew it. I guess he's that guy that's always suited up sitting next to Ginobili or whomever.

[fyatuk]

Ian travels with the team? I never knew it. I guess he's that guy that's always suited up sitting next to Ginobili or whomever.

"It is the first road trip Mahinmi has made since November."

[Bruno]

I thought that Ian and Manu testing their ankles mean that they were close to return. I was wrong. :depressed

Tim's and Manu's injury are quite worrisome. Tim struggle to play at a high level with his bum knees and Manu recovery is significantly slower than expected.

[polandprzem]

Umm which building?


--------

And yup, this is definatley too long Ginobili has been out of the programme.

Like lj said Gino needs AT LEAST 5 games b4 the playoffs.

shit :cuss: still this team is not very femiliar with playing with Ginobili in the rotation. So even if Gino will come back the team will have to adjust real fast. There is no time for adapting.

[m33p0]

this is the year of the injury. gaddammit!

[raspsa]

Ianny... Brucie... Georgie...
Seriously ?
Toughness at his best !
That team need a new nickname specialist, NOW !

:ihit:ihit:ihit

It only gets worse...
Drewie
Imeie
Jacquie
manuie
Kurtie
Rogie
:lol:lol:lol:lol

[Bender]

will we have Drewy ?

[JWest596]

Let's not stop here, let's take it all the way..

Greggy
Reecey (RC)
Petie (Holt)
Icey (Gervin)
Davey (DROB)
Mikey
Timmy
Rogie, Jr.
Tony
Kurtie
Imy
Brucey
Drew Bob
Georgie
Jackie
Fabby

and Ianny,

meenie, minnie and mo

The fear we will strike into the hearts of the NBA. Let us mutually agree to never speak of such things again.

[Keepin' it real]

I think all of us except the haters hope for the same thing: for Manu to get back into the lineup soon and quickly return to the form that made him an All-Star and later a 6th Man of the Year. That's what we HOPE, but seriously, are you expecting anything other than:

A. An overdue announcement that Manu's out for the year; OR
B. A hobbled Manu who is less effective than the Manu of playoffs '08?

It pains me to say that, but I find it hard to believe that he'll come back and be the effective player the Spurs need him to be. I hope I'm wrong.

[1Parker1]

Anyone else think maybe now with Gooden ready to play, Pop should consider sitting Duncan for a couple of games?

[mookie2001]

manu is a twat and we all saw this coming

big surprise


the question is over/under 20 games played in 09-10

[Ice009]

manu is a twat and we all saw this coming

big surprise


the question is over/under 20 games played in 09-10

Maybe you're the twat. Manu plays hard for both the Spurs and Argentina. Did you want him to sit out of the WCF last season?

[mookie2001]

yes






who cares if you play hard, when youre hurt, you suck and hurt the team

hes not helping us now because hes injured, again

[EricB]

Maybe you're the twat. Manu plays hard for both the Spurs and Argentina. Did you want him to sit out of the WCF last season?


I wanted him to sit out of the goddamn olympics that doesn't pay him 8 fucking million.

[ElNono]

I wanted him to sit out of the goddamn olympics that doesn't pay him 8 fucking million.

He still needed surgery, olympics or not. Whats your point again?

[mookie2001]

^probably that manus hurt a lot

[SpursFanFirst]

Popovich, however, says one should not read too much into that. He traveled Ginobili because he was afraid for the guard's health.

“I brought Manu so he won't jump off a building,” Popovich joked. “He's going stir crazy.”

:lol ... :(


Ianny

:huh

[DPG21920]

Well, this is not the ideal situation with Manu. It does not look like the Spurs are playing games with this situation. This does not seem like an err on the side of caution situation. Hopefully he responds well next week.

[Thomas82]

He still needed surgery, olympics or not. Whats your point again?

He would have had more time to heal if he didn't play in the Olympics.

[SequSpur]

So is this dude coming back or not? Why does he need surgery again?

[completely deck]

He would have had more time to heal if he didn't play in the Olympics.

Wrong. Even :pop: and Manu agreed that him getting hurt in the summer was a blessing in disguise. They figured out he'd need surgery and they did it fast so that it cut as little time in the regular season as possible.

This newest injury is unrelated but just as aggrivating.

[Thomas82]

Wrong. Even :pop: and Manu agreed that him getting hurt in the summer was a blessing in disguise. They figured out he'd need surgery and they did it fast so that it cut as little time in the regular season as possible.

This newest injury is unrelated but just as aggrivating.


I know that it's his right ankle this time.

[ducks]

pop is also thinking what a relief spurs did not extend manu this last offseason

[Spursmania]

Guys-snap the fuck out of it! He has a stress reaction to his fibula. It is completely recoverable. He will be fine. He's a warrior!! He's been out one month. He'll be back soon. This is Manu not some heartless punk. Believe.

[2Cleva]

Being "completely recoverable" means he won't have it forever. Yeah it will heal eventually. But will it be at the level it needs to be for NBA action?

Doubtful without a couple months of rest.

[ChumpDumper]

Being "completely recoverable" means he won't have it forever. Yeah it will heal eventually. But will it be at the level it needs to be for NBA action?

Doubtful without a couple months of rest.Are you a doctor?

[ducks]

Are you a doctor?

are you?

[ChumpDumper]

are you?I'm not the one making claims about Manu's recovery.

RIF.

[Spursmania]

Being "completely recoverable" means he won't have it forever. Yeah it will heal eventually. But will it be at the level it needs to be for NBA action?

Doubtful without a couple months of rest.

Hey dumbass, my spouse is a Dr.
Although it's irrelevant since every dumbass can google it.
It's recoverable 100%. Book it.

[kace]

"manu is obviously hampered and he does his best"
"how much is manu really hurted"
"if we had the real manu......"
"manu was a beast in the last RS, he's just hurt right now"
"we're not the same team without the real manu"
"Hope manu can heal fast"
"Pop needs to manage better manu's minutes"
etc etc ......

i just see these kind of statements all over the PO, just like last year...... it's becoming REALLY annoying.

[ElNono]

pop is also thinking what a relief spurs did not extend manu this last offseason

Any more insights into what Pop is thinking? :rolleyes

[houston spurs fan]

Hey dumbass, my spouse is a Dr.
Although it's irrelevant since every dumbass can google it.
It's recoverable 100%. Book it.

dentists don't count

[Spursmania]

dentists don't count

No shit.:toast

[2Cleva]

Sure its recoverable. Few things aren't - like losing a limb.

But how long it would take, how much rest is needed, and will it be fit for NBA action at a high level this playoffs is a whole 'notha story.

[roycrikside]

"manu is obviously hampered and he does his best"
"how much is manu really hurted"
"if we had the real manu......"
"manu was a beast in the last RS, he's just hurt right now"
"we're not the same team without the real manu"
"Hope manu can heal fast"
"Pop needs to manage better manu's minutes"
etc etc ......

i just see these kind of statements all over the PO, just like last year...... it's becoming REALLY annoying.

What's really annoying is seeing so-called Spurs fans rooting for one of their own to fail, diminishing all of his previous accomplishments and practically pushing him out and saying "Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you." THAT'S REALLY ANNOYING.

It took me a while to realize this, but it's not Tony Parker I dislike at all. Tony Parker is a really good player. It's Tony Parker's fans who need to be traded.

[superbigtime]

dentists don't count

What about podiatrists and DO's ?

[polandprzem]

Anyone else think maybe now with Gooden ready to play, Pop should consider sitting Duncan for a couple of games?

I said that about 3 days ago.

Good move to sit Tim in b2b situations or when his knees are worse then normal.


But damn - we still needs to secure 2nd seed <- not as important as better Timmy though

[duncan228]

So
FUCK MANU hope his injury become gangrenous and his legs fall off,

:wtf

[superbigtime]

Manu has become a chronically. injured player with a gigantic contract OVER THIRTY. To bad...consequently.... he is impossible to MOVE and he ISN'T going to contribute to any future championships...

When you gamble sometimes you loose...

They gambled on a guy who just said FUCK YOU GUYS IM DOING WHAT I WANT...

So
FUCK MANU hope his injury become gangrenous and his legs fall off,

Don't sound so intelligent, you're intimidating everyone.

[Spursfan092120]

What's really annoying is seeing so-called Spurs fans rooting for one of their own to fail, diminishing all of his previous accomplishments and practically pushing him out and saying "Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you." THAT'S REALLY ANNOYING.

It took me a while to realize this, but it's not Tony Parker I dislike at all. Tony Parker is a really good player. It's Tony Parker's fans who need to be traded.
That's what I'm saying.

[SpursFanFirst]

I don't think this needs its own thread, so I'll just toss the question out here...
With Manu being injured, and RMJ serving as Tony's backup, is there a chance Pop will move Hill back to SG to help limit Manu's minutes?

[kace]

What's really annoying is seeing so-called Spurs fans rooting for one of their own to fail, diminishing all of his previous accomplishments and practically pushing him out and saying "Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you." THAT'S REALLY ANNOYING.

It took me a while to realize this, but it's not Tony Parker I dislike at all. Tony Parker is a really good player. It's Tony Parker's fans who need to be traded.

you're too dumb to read well. where am i rooting for manu to fail ?? you're too stupid to read obviously.

i'm happy to hear that it took you a while to realize you don't really dislike TP, which shows how much you're a great fan.

i never disliked manu (read my previous post before trying to bash me) and never will. but his health issues are becoming unbearable, that's all.

[kace]

anyway, i hear a TP's interview last hour on a french radio where TP always speaks very frankly.

and he seemed very quiet and not worried about manu's return. should be a good sign.

[roycrikside]

anyway, i hear a TP's interview last hour on a french radio where TP always speaks very frankly.

and he seemed very quiet and not worried about manu's return. should be a good sign.

Yeah. TP likes and appreciates Manu and understands his value. It'd be nice if his fans would.

[xtremesteven33]

Yeah. TP likes and appreciates Manu and understands his value. It'd be nice if his fans would.



:wow

[roycrikside]

you're too dumb to read well. where am i rooting for manu to fail ?? you're too stupid to read obviously.

i'm happy to hear that it took you a while to realize you don't really dislike TP, which shows how much you're a great fan.

i never disliked manu (read my previous post before trying to bash me) and never will. but his health issues are becoming unbearable, that's all.

your slanted view of the past three playoffs show your feelings about Manu quite well. Only really biased people would think he's played poorly the past three playoffs.

You have no memory of the Hornets series last year, you can't remember how well he played in '07 against the Suns, Jazz and Cavs (and even Games 3 and 4 on the road at Denver in the 1st round), and you don't recall how well he played overall against the Mavs in '06. All you remember is the bad. So yeah, I call shenanigans.

[urunobili]

Manu has become a chronically. injured player with a gigantic contract OVER THIRTY. To bad...consequently.... he is impossible to MOVE and he ISN'T going to contribute to any future championships...

When you gamble sometimes you loose...

They gambled on a guy who just said FUCK YOU GUYS IM DOING WHAT I WANT...

So
FUCK MANU hope his injury become gangrenous and his legs fall off,

:ban:

[xtremesteven33]

Manu has become a chronically. injured player with a gigantic contract OVER THIRTY. To bad...consequently.... he is impossible to MOVE and he ISN'T going to contribute to any future championships...

When you gamble sometimes you loose...

They gambled on a guy who just said FUCK YOU GUYS IM DOING WHAT I WANT...

So
FUCK MANU hope his injury become gangrenous and his legs fall off,


:pop: