McDonald: Ginobili Predicts Complete Recovery

[duncan228]

Ginobili predicts complete recovery (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Ginobili_predicts_complete_recovery.html)
Jeff McDonald

Manu Ginobili boarded a flight to Argentina late Sunday afternoon, headed home for the first time in nearly a year.

This time, he planned to stay awhile, using his vacation to relax with friends and family and do all the things that a wandering son and brother does when he finally gets a chance to return home.

“I’ve got almost everything packed up and ready to go,” Ginobili said from his San Antonio home a few hours before leaving for the airport. “There was a lot to pack.”

Ginobili could be bringing everything but the kitchen sink back with him to Buenos Aires. It still wouldn’t match the baggage he carried the last time he made the trip home.

Last summer, the Spurs guard boarded a similar flight to his homeland to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing, bearing the weight of an entire nation’s expectations on his shoulders. He left behind an employer that had urged him to reconsider his loyalty to country and a Spurs fan base just praying he’d survive the summer in one piece.

Ginobili, the star of Argentina’s Olympic team, came back from Beijing in a boot after reinjuring the left ankle that had given him trouble during the 2008 playoffs. That twist of both ankle and fate led to a series of injuries that wiped out most of Ginobili’s 2008-09 season.

In his first interview since April 5, the day before a stress fracture in his right distal fibula put a premature end to the most tumultuous season of his career, Ginobili said Sunday that he expects to be fully recovered by the opening of training camp in October.

“For the past month or so, I haven’t felt any pain, even to the touch,” Ginobili said. “I don’t have any doubt I’ll be 100 percent before training camp starts.”

Much is riding on Ginobili’s latest recovery effort. Nothing the Spurs accomplish this offseason, either via the draft or free agency, will mean much if Ginobili cannot approach the form that made him the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2007-08.

Injury-plagued from start to finish, Ginobili missed all but 44 games last season, including all of the Spurs’ first-round playoff ouster against Dallas. He averaged 15.5 points, his fewest since 2005-06, while his shooting percentage dipped to 45.5 percent, his lowest since 2003-04.

As Ginobili heads home this summer, again recovering from an ankle injury but this time without an Olympic quest to hijack the healing process, he does so under no marching order other than to get well.

His long-term future in San Antonio could depend on it.

Ginobili, who will turn 32 next month, is entering the final year of a contract scheduled to pay him close to $16.1 million next season.

The Spurs had begun preliminary talks about a contract extension last summer before Ginobili left for China. Those negotiations were shelved when Ginobili re-injured his left ankle at the Olympics, and they have yet to resume.

“They want to see that I am healthy,” Ginobili said.

Ginobili is hopeful he can reach a deal that would allow him to finish his career in San Antonio.

“I have said a thousand times, I would love to stay here,” Ginobili said. “You know how the NBA is, though. There are not a lot of players who get to start and finish in the same place. I love San Antonio. If I have to take another road, you do what you have to do. But it would not be my first option, for sure.”

For the Spurs, who have played with their star guard injured for much of the past 14 months, the preferred option is to have Ginobili healthy.

The news so far this offseason has been encouraging.

An MRI taken Thursday showed the bone in his right leg completely healed. Ginobili expects to return to running and jumping next month, and he should be able to begin basketball work not long after that.

“All the things I have not been allowed to do, I should be allowed to do soon,” he said.

This summer, Ginobili hopes to reinvigorate his career in the same manner it went south last summer.

By boarding a plane to Argentina.

*********************

87 number of regular-season and playoff games the Spurs played during the 2008-09 campaign

44 games Ginobili played during the 2008-09 season, the fewest of his seven-year career

90 average number of regular-season and playoff games per season Ginobili played during his first six seasons

*********************

A painful 14 months

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has spent much of the past 14 months either injured or rehabilitating from injury. Here is a glance at Ginobili’s recent treks to the training room:

April 2008: Ginobili experiences soreness in his left ankle during the Spurs’ first-round playoff series against Phoenix, but he continues to play through the discomfort.

May 2008: The pain in Ginobili’s ankle gets progressively worse. By the Western Conference finals against the Lakers, he is a shell of himself.

Aug. 22, 2008: Playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics, Ginobili re-aggravates the ankle injury. Diagnosed with a ligament impingement, he undergoes arthroscopic surgery two weeks later.

Nov. 24, 2008: Ginobili makes his season debut at Memphis, having missed the first 12 games recovering from surgery.

Feb. 16, 2009: Experiencing soreness in his right ankle that did not subside during the All-Star break, Ginobili does not make the final leg of the Spurs’ rodeo road trip. Doctors diagnose him with a stress reaction in his right distal fibula, which will sideline him for 19 more games.

March 25, 2009: Cleared by the team’s medical staff to return to action, Ginobili plays 14 minutes in a victory at Atlanta.

April 5, 2009: Ginobili again feels discomfort in the right ankle during a loss to Cleveland. He returns to San Antonio to be examined by the team’s medical staff.

April 6, 2009: Doctors determine Ginobili’s stress reaction has become a more ominous stress fracture, and they pronounce him out for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

[DPG21920]

Even though he does not believe in God, I have faith in the man. Get well. Do work. Win.

[Kori Ellis]

I'm not a basher of McDonald but :wtf?


Ginobili, who will turn 32 next month, is entering the final year of a contract scheduled to pay him close to $16.1 million next season.

Ginobili = $10,725,000

[duncan228]

The non-existent fact checking strikes again.

[DPG21920]

I wonder if he is doing it to mess with ST :lol

Kori and 228:
http://www.animalaid.org.uk/images/leaders/front/fishhook.jpg

[duncan228]

:lol

[completely deck]

Oh, McDonald :(

[dbtbandit67]

Ginobili should help himself by adjusting his game so he isnt falling to the floor 3-4 times a game.

[GSH]

I'm not a basher of McDonald but :wtf?



Ginobili = $10,725,000

Okay, that one qualifies as shocking. It's bad enough that he didn't check. (How hard would it be? Thirty seconds and a couple of clicks?) But to write about the game for a living and not have any sort of logic check in place that $16 Million would be a max contract for his number of years? Or that guys like Vince Carter or Pao Gasol are getting paid more than he is?

I'm not one of the bandwagon McDonald bashers, but damn. You would think he would at least sense that $16 Mil sounds a little high.

[timvp]

Props to McDonald for landing the Ginobili interview. That is very Ludden-esque :tu

Great to hear that Ginobili is healing. Hopefully he doesn't suffer any setbacks and can come back and play his customary 70-75 regular season games next year and then be strong for the playoffs. And McDonald's point is true .... whatever the Spurs do this summer won't compare at all to having a healthy Ginobili next year.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

No way McDonald, come on!

[Blackjack]

Props to McDonald for landing the Ginobili interview. That is very Ludden-esque :tu

Great to hear that Ginobili is healing. Hopefully he doesn't suffer any setbacks and can come back and play his customary 70-75 regular season games next year and then be strong for the playoffs. And McDonald's point is true .... whatever the Spurs do this summer won't compare at all to having a healthy Ginobili next year.

+1

As far as McDonald goes, it's not that he's a horrible writer, it just seems he's either too lazy or just flat-out couldn't care less about the Spurs.

It's not too much to ask for a team's beat-writer to know basic facts about someone's salary or be familiar with the team's history, is it?

[montgod]

Ginobili should help himself by adjusting his game so he isnt falling to the floor 3-4 times a game.

If only they allowed knee, elbow, and shoulder pads... he would be set.

[raspsa]

Great news re his injury being completely healed. Best to take it easy in the offseason. Same with Duncan.

[urunobili]

Props to McDonald for landing the Ginobili interview. That is very Ludden-esque :tu.

EDIT: You shouldn't give him props just yet...


I don't think there wasn't any interview at all in this case... that's all taken from Manu's Facebook updates and previous interviews... there is absolutely nothing i repeat NADA new that he hasn't said before elsewhere on this article... the MRI is the only new thing to it and he can get that data from other sources than Manu...

:stirpot:

[ElNono]

Looks like McDonald finally found Manu's facebook page...
And the $16 million figure... I wonder if he just wrote that number and thought "I'll check later", but never did. Sloppy as usual. The MRI I haven't heard about, so that's definitely good news.

[TMTTRIO]

yeah pretty interesting that he posted this right after Manu posted on his Facebook that he was packing up and getting ready to go back to Argentina. Good to hear about his MRI results.

[lefty]

Good news


Janobliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii






If we stay healthy and if Pop wakes the fuck and plays Hill much more often, we have a legitimate shot at returning to the Finals :flag:

[Kori Ellis]

After whottt's accusation that you started the Mc Donald bashing on the Mc Donald sucks thread i like what you're trying to do...

Except timvp wrote than an hour before Whottt's accusation. :lol

[urunobili]

Except timvp wrote than an hour before Whottt's accusation. :lol

oh oh... :depressed I'll edit my post... :Self Owned :(

[DPG21920]

Except timvp wrote than an hour before Whottt's accusation. :lol

Do you call him Timvp at home? I do not know why that makes me laugh when I think about that :lol

[ducks]

did he not saying he had 5 more years left playing in the nba to

hopefully he is right for once though

[Dex]

did he not saying he had 5 more years left playing in the nba to

hopefully he is right for once though

:wow

Did ducks just say something positive about Manu?

[DPG21920]

:wow

Did ducks just say something positive about Manu?

Ducks secretly loves Manu. He said, and I quote:

"Bosh is better than Manu. Not!!!!!"

[Walton Buys Off Me]

Let's say he completely recovers.

What are the chances Manu Ginobili can be a serviceable 2 guard for us next year (including the playoffs)?

I don't think he can play a full season at the level he competes at and then help us win a championship.

Maybe I'm wrong.

[SenorSpur]

Love Manu, as both a player and a person.

Though I now proclaim him officially "injury prone and old",

A lot of tread on those tires of his. Just sayin'.

Still want him as a Spur - for now.

[DPG21920]

What do his religious beliefs have to do with whether or not you have faith in a guy?

I respect him even more (if this is true) to publicly announce he doesn't believe.:toast It takes stones Manu!

It was a joke.

BenJarvus: Check.

[diego]

a few quotes to argie media (www.ole.com.ar):

On the season:
"It was a horrible season, at no point did i play at ease and forget the physical problems. I was always doing rehab and fighting against something. I want to be healthy for what's coming"
On being injured:
"It had never happened to me. It got really tough, it was hard to watch the POs from outside and it hurt to not help my teammates. But this makes me stronger. Tengo un cayo más (not sure the best way to translate this, but it basically means its making him tougher/ skin thicker)".

On rehab:
"I have a progressive plan that starts with 5 minutes of jogging. Afterwards I'll do weights, jumping and shooting. I miss my old routine. travelling with the team and packing travel bags"


on his future:
"In SA they still havent talked to me about re-signing. I've got one more year. I dont know what they will do. I wait and play. Talks have been off since the beijing olympics..."

"I know the owner wasnt happy. But nobody told me anything. Popovich understands my position. He told me he would have done the same. I dont think anything is broken. I prefer to stay in San Antonio the rest of my career. But, if something has to change ill grab my bags and play somewhere else"

[Dex]

a few quotes to argie media (www.ole.com.ar):

On the season:
"It was a horrible season, at no point did i play at ease and forget the physical problems. I was always doing rehab and fighting against something. I want to be healthy for what's coming"
On being injured:
"It had never happened to me. It got really tough, it was hard to watch the POs from outside and it hurt to not help my teammates. But this makes me stronger. Tengo un cayo más (not sure the best way to translate this, but it basically means its making him tougher/ skin thicker)".

On rehab:
"I have a progressive plan that starts with 5 minutes of jogging. Afterwards I'll do weights, jumping and shooting. I miss my old routine. travelling with the team and packing travel bags"


on his future:
"In SA they still havent talked to me about re-signing. I've got one more year. I dont know what they will do. I wait and play. Talks have been off since the beijing olympics..."

"I know the owner wasnt happy. But nobody told me anything. Popovich understands my position. He told me he would have done the same. I dont think anything is broken. I prefer to stay in San Antonio the rest of my career. But, if something has to change ill grab my bags and play somewhere else"

Come back healthy next season, and you'll be a Spur for life, Manu.

As much as I'd absolutely hate to see him go, Spurs can't afford to pay him star money to be a shell of his former self.

[mytespurs]

I am starting to feel the same way, but I am giving him one more season before I officially proclaim him done.


I agree. Let's see how he looks in 2009 before we send him out to pasture or to another team.

Ginobili has heart and is a competitor; I bet he wants to come back 100% to help his team.

[lurker23]

Ginobili = $10,725,000

I know there are times when I'm an optimist to a fault, but I think there's a distinct chance that in the future we will view Manu Ginobili's injuries the past 16 months as a huge blessing in disguise. Follow me here for a second.

Manu Ginobili has been, and perhaps continues to be, one of the greatest bargains in the NBA. Considering his output and his potential to be a game-changing player, to have a guy like that locked up for several years under $11 million per year is quite a steal. After Manu's performance in the regular season of 07-08, he appeared poised to receive an extension approaching the maximum the Spurs could offer him. While the Spurs would be happy to have the Parker/Duncan/Ginobili trio locked up into the next decade, their combined salaries would be very prohibitive in bringing in supplemental pieces.

However, Ginobili's injuries have changed the dynamics of that a bit. While there's still no doubt in my mind that the Spurs intend to give him an extension, and equally little doubt that Ginobili has the potential to return to stardom, the injury worries give the Spurs a legitimate reason to extend an offer to Ginobili at a significantly lower rate than previously expected. Combined with Manu's desire to stay in San Antonio the rest of his career, this could result in the Spurs getting yet another bargain on his contract.

Only time will tell whether it plays out this way, but I feel like Ginobili was poised to sign an extension for 3 years and around $35 million. Now, I feel like the Spurs may be able to negotiate an extension in the realm of 3 years and $23-28 million, giving them considerably more flexibility for the end of Ginobili's and Duncan's careers.

[DPG21920]

I think that is likely not so much from Ginobili's desire to stay with the Spurs, but the market for him.

I highly doubt some other team would offer him 8+ million per year with his injuries and age.

[2Cleva]

Does Ginobili have a trade kicker in his contract?

[DPG21920]

Does Ginobili have a trade kicker in his contract?

No, he is free to be traded with no Kaman-like kicker.

[lurker23]

I think that is likely not so much from Ginobili's desire to stay with the Spurs, but the market for him.

I highly doubt some other team would offer him 8+ million per year with his injuries and age.

If Manu shows the ability to stay healthy (or mostly healthy) for an entire season and averages 16 ppg, 4 rpg, and 3.5 apg, I guarantee you someone will be willing to pay him an average of $10 million per year or more, especially considering all the extra money that will be floating around in the summer of 2010.

[DPG21920]

Possibly, but it is hard to pay guys that much knowing they get injured and that their style of play leads to injury. Especially considering his age and his inability to play long minutes. Not everyone has the Spurs system where they can manage minutes and still win 50+ games every year.

If he has a great year, I could see someone paying a lot for him, but I would be a little surprised considering signing guards who are losing their athleticism to longer contracts is risky.

[ElNono]

Possibly, but it is hard to pay guys that much knowing they get injured and that their style of play leads to injury. Especially considering his age and his inability to play long minutes. Not everyone has the Spurs system where they can manage minutes and still win 50+ games every year.

If he has a great year, I could see someone paying a lot for him, but I would be a little surprised considering signing guards who are losing their athleticism to longer contracts is risky.

There are teams out there that would just need him to be ok for a successful playoff run. Besides the Spurs, teams like Cleveland and Denver I'm fairly sure would pay handsomely for his services, considering he might be the piece that puts them over the top.

[DPG21920]

Maybe and it would not be incredibly shocking. I just wonder how many guys in the league today with comparable age/injuries have gotten long term contracts at age 32 (he is about to turn 32 I think) for over 10M per year.

[2Cleva]

Spoke with the salary cap expert - Ginobilii is $10,728,130 for 09-10. He has a 5% trade kicker.

[loveforthegame]

Good to hear he's fully recovered. And that he'll be resting over the summer.

Let's just see if his body holds up over the course of the season though.

[DPG21920]

Spoke with the salary cap expert - Ginobilii is $10,728,130 for 09-10. He has a 5% trade kicker.

What else did Bruno tell you?

[timvp]

EDIT: You shouldn't give him props just yet...


I don't think there wasn't any interview at all in this case... that's all taken from Manu's Facebook updates and previous interviews... there is absolutely nothing i repeat NADA new that he hasn't said before elsewhere on this article... the MRI is the only new thing to it and he can get that data from other sources than Manu...

:stirpot:Read the article. It says he interviewed him.

[2Cleva]

What else did Bruno tell you?

Who is Bruno?

I asked Larry Coon.

[ducks]

Ducks secretly loves Manu. He said, and I quote:

"Bosh is better than Manu. Not!!!!!"

I told you that was a type o
I was watching tv and my kids

[Mel_13]

Maybe and it would not be incredibly shocking. I just wonder how many guys in the league today with comparable age/injuries have gotten long term contracts at age 32 (he is about to turn 32 I think) for over 10M per year.

If he can play 70+ games and the playoffs at the level at which he performed in Jan, 2009, then there will be at least one team ready to give him at least 2yrs/20M or 3 yrs/25-30M. And it only takes one team to set the market for any one player.

It makes the Manu situation very interesting. If the Spurs were willing to extend him now, they could probably strike a deal at a considerably lower salary. The Spurs would assume the risk that he may not return to health and Manu would risk losing the more lucrative deal that he would be offered after a successful season.

Now if he can't play at all, then it is money down the drain. But what if he evolves into a player that is primarily a 3-pt shooter who can pass and handle the ball and shows very infrequent glimpses of the player he once was? Like an amped up Brent Barry. How much is that player worth?

[urunobili]

Read the article. It says he interviewed him.

and you believed him? :wtf

[timvp]

and you believed him? :wtf

Yes. He's not going to lie about talking to Manu. That could get him fired.

[timvp]

Regarding Manu, I hope Pop takes extra, extra special care of him this upcoming season. Something like 25 minutes per game and not playing him in back-to-backs. The Spurs simply can't risk another playoff run that features an injured Manu.

The last two playoffs Manu has been hurt and even the two playoff runs before that he was banged up.

[urunobili]

In his first interview since April 5, the day before a stress fracture in his right distal fibula put a premature end to the most tumultuous season of his career, Ginobili said Sunday that he expects to be fully recovered by the opening of training camp in October.

In his first Interview with who??? I call BS... and i can dig enough to prove it if indeed it's the case...

[timvp]

In his first Interview with who??? I call BS... and i can dig enough to prove it if indeed it's the case...


“I’ve got almost everything packed up and ready to go,” Ginobili said from his San Antonio home a few hours before leaving for the airport. “There was a lot to pack.”It's pretty clear that McDonald is saying he talked to Manu on Sunday.

[DPG21920]

I told you that was a type o
I was watching tv and my kids

You finally let your heart type and not your brain.

[urunobili]

It's pretty clear that McDonald is saying he talked to Manu on Sunday.

BS... Manu updated that same phrase " a whole lot to pack" himself on Facebook that day...

[Mel_13]

BS... Manu updated that same phrase " a whole lot to pack" himself on Facebook that day...

McDonald was on a local sports radio show (Paul Alexander) a couple of hours ago. The Manu story was the main subject of conversation. He either conducted an actual interview with Manu or is delusional enough to convincingly converse about a fictional event. I'm going with the less sinister scenario.

[Spurs Brazil]

I'm not a basher of McDonald but :wtf?



Ginobili = $10,725,000

He changed it


Ginobili, who will turn 32 next month, is entering the final year of a contract scheduled to pay him close to $10.7 million next season.

As originally published, this story contained an error.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Ginobili_predicts_complete_recovery.html

[timvp]

He changed it

:lol

Kori is 2-for-2 in calling out McDonald and getting him to fix the article.

[Spurs Brazil]

:lol

Kori is 2-for-2 in calling out McDonald and getting him to fix the article.

Kori should replace him

[urunobili]

Kori should replace him

After timvp's description of the Job i don't think he wants her to :lol

[mookie2001]

ive never seen any americans go easier on ginobili than the Ellis'

[robert1886]

lets say ginobli does finish the year healthy...how much do you think the spurs will offer him when free agency hits since he will be 33?

[duncan228]

Emanuel Ginóbili did not confirm his presence in the National team (http://momento24.com/en/2009/06/08/emanuel-ginobili-did-not-confirm-his-presence-in-the-national-team/)

The Argentine player of San Antonio Spurs, Emanuel Ginóbili, avoided to confirm today his presence in the Argentinian National Basketball Team that will take part of the World cup of Turkey 2010.

In a press conference held in Buenos Aires, Ginóbili noticed that “he will decide further on if he takes part” of the contest on having supported that “I usually do not make decisions one year ahead”.

Anyhow, the Argentine player still does not have his presence assured in Turkey 2010, not much less.

To obtain a slot, Argentina will have to finish in the first four positions in the Pre-world cup of Puerto Rico, which will take place next August.

On the other hand, he qualified as “terrible” the last times he lived through after a serious injury he endured.

[urunobili]

Emanuel Ginóbili did not confirm his presence in the National team (http://momento24.com/en/2009/06/08/emanuel-ginobili-did-not-confirm-his-presence-in-the-national-team/)

The Argentine player of San Antonio Spurs, Emanuel Ginóbili, avoided to confirm today his presence in the Argentinian National Basketball Team that will take part of the World cup of Turkey 2010.

In a press conference held in Buenos Aires, Ginóbili noticed that “he will decide further on if he takes part” of the contest on having supported that “I usually do not make decisions one year ahead”.

Anyhow, the Argentine player still does not have his presence assured in Turkey 2010, not much less.

To obtain a slot, Argentina will have to finish in the first four positions in the Pre-world cup of Puerto Rico, which will take place next August.

On the other hand, he qualified as “terrible” the last times he lived through after a serious injury he endured.

OP and Audio of the Press conference upon his arrival to Argentina on here:

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2009/06/08/basquet/01935216.html

there's nothing interesting/ not reported before in the article to bring up therefore a translation is kinda useless...

[smrattler]

McDonald's needs to subcontract a QC guy.

I'm available.

[itzsoweezee]

please manu, don't rush back. wait two months, there's no hurry.

[diego]

there's another interview up on ole, that looks just like the last one but with a few more lines. i'm adding the interesting ones.

link (http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2009/06/09/polideportivo/01935541.html)

"I intend to heal completely and start the season like 2 years ago: healthy, explosive... I want to enjoy it like before and finish winning the last game. Luckily I'm at ease that, what little I did play, I played well. I think that, when my legs and stamina are there, I will play like 2 years ago"

"I had spoken a lot with the coaching staff the need to develop a midrange shot to score without as much strain and not depend only on long range shots and penetration. But this year i was unable to work on it or add much to my game... Its something to keep working on."

"Change in the team is inevitable, but it is not imperative to change everything. I think that, healthy, we can keep contending" "I want the ones that know how to play by my side... I prefer they have experience and a high bball IQ even if they are slower..."