duncan228
04-07-2009, 01:04 PM
Pop: Loss of Ginobili all about attitude (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Popovich_to_Spurs_Loss_of_Ginobili_all_about_attit ude.html)
Mike Monroe
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Spurs must accept the loss of star guard Manu Ginobili for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, as a challenge that must be taken on, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday morning.
As devastated as the Spurs were to learn that Ginobili will not play again this season after renewed discomfort in his right ankle was diagnosed Monday as a stress fracture of the right distal fibula, Popovich is counting on his players' collective character to do what it takes to win games without one of their most important teammates.
“It's about attitude,” Popovich said. “We can do the best possible job we can of believing in each other and put out the effort that's required to win basketball games, or we can feel sorry for ourselves and say, ‘Gosh, without Manu it's going to be really difficult to reach our goals.'”
Popovich expects determination to overcome adversity and to outweigh self pity.
“That's not how the team is built, character-wise, I don't think, so we look at it as a challenge and take it on,” he said after the team's morning practice to prepare for Tuesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center here.
Ginobili was declared out for the season after CT scans and an MRI revealed that the stress reaction in his right distal fibula, one of three bones that make up the ankle joint, had become a stress fracture.
Roger Mason Jr., the player who will take Manu Ginobili's spot in the starting lineup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center here tonight, called Monday's news about Ginobili's injury “devastating,” but said the team's attitude at Tuesday's shootaround was one of determination to do what will be necessary to adjust to his absence.
“We were going to take those last six games to get back adjusted to having him on the floor,” Mason said. “Now, he's back off, and we've got to get adjusted to not having him again. But it was devastating.
“At the same time, it's going to test our will and our character to see how we respond.”
Popovich said he and the rest of the Spurs basketball staff were surprised when Ginobili reported a problem after Sunday's game.
“I was (surprised),” he said. “We had proceeded under the impression he was healed; not getting better, but he was ready to go. At the time, it wasn't a stress fracture. It was a stress reaction. All the indications — all the films, all the things the medical people do — came out positive, with re-growth and no indications whatsoever.
“On top of that, he's taken extra time from when they said he was ready. We held him out longer. On top of that, he's played (six) games, and has felt great after every game and the next day. Then, all of a sudden, he felt what he felt, and that was a surprise.”
Popovich said the medical regimen for Ginobili will be the same as it had been with the stress reaction: Rest and treatment that will stimulate the natural healing process.
“This isn't a surgical deal, as far as I've been told,” Popovich said. “He'll heal and be 100 percent, that kind of thing. Obviously, I wouldn't want to bring him back again (this season).”
Mike Monroe
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Spurs must accept the loss of star guard Manu Ginobili for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, as a challenge that must be taken on, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday morning.
As devastated as the Spurs were to learn that Ginobili will not play again this season after renewed discomfort in his right ankle was diagnosed Monday as a stress fracture of the right distal fibula, Popovich is counting on his players' collective character to do what it takes to win games without one of their most important teammates.
“It's about attitude,” Popovich said. “We can do the best possible job we can of believing in each other and put out the effort that's required to win basketball games, or we can feel sorry for ourselves and say, ‘Gosh, without Manu it's going to be really difficult to reach our goals.'”
Popovich expects determination to overcome adversity and to outweigh self pity.
“That's not how the team is built, character-wise, I don't think, so we look at it as a challenge and take it on,” he said after the team's morning practice to prepare for Tuesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center here.
Ginobili was declared out for the season after CT scans and an MRI revealed that the stress reaction in his right distal fibula, one of three bones that make up the ankle joint, had become a stress fracture.
Roger Mason Jr., the player who will take Manu Ginobili's spot in the starting lineup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center here tonight, called Monday's news about Ginobili's injury “devastating,” but said the team's attitude at Tuesday's shootaround was one of determination to do what will be necessary to adjust to his absence.
“We were going to take those last six games to get back adjusted to having him on the floor,” Mason said. “Now, he's back off, and we've got to get adjusted to not having him again. But it was devastating.
“At the same time, it's going to test our will and our character to see how we respond.”
Popovich said he and the rest of the Spurs basketball staff were surprised when Ginobili reported a problem after Sunday's game.
“I was (surprised),” he said. “We had proceeded under the impression he was healed; not getting better, but he was ready to go. At the time, it wasn't a stress fracture. It was a stress reaction. All the indications — all the films, all the things the medical people do — came out positive, with re-growth and no indications whatsoever.
“On top of that, he's taken extra time from when they said he was ready. We held him out longer. On top of that, he's played (six) games, and has felt great after every game and the next day. Then, all of a sudden, he felt what he felt, and that was a surprise.”
Popovich said the medical regimen for Ginobili will be the same as it had been with the stress reaction: Rest and treatment that will stimulate the natural healing process.
“This isn't a surgical deal, as far as I've been told,” Popovich said. “He'll heal and be 100 percent, that kind of thing. Obviously, I wouldn't want to bring him back again (this season).”