Spurs, Ginobili Enter Offseason With Questions

[duncan228]

Basic recap, has some nice words about Manu. And the highlights were fun to watch. :)

Spurs, Ginobili enter offseason with questions (http://www.examiner.com/x-14479-San-Antonio-Spurs-Examiner~y2009m6d19-Spurs-enter-offseason-with-questions)
Michael Chartier

The San Antonio Spurs face a crossroads entering the 2009-2010 NBA offseason. Besides coming off a first-round exit from the NBA playoffs for the first time in the Tim Duncan era (when playing), uncertainty surrounds the status of Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili said he expects to be 100 percent after a right ankle stress fracture caused him to miss the final six games of the regular season and the playoffs. Still, San Antonio has twice shelved contract negotiations with the shooting guard who has only one year left on his current deal. The soon-to-be-32-year-old All-Star recently told the Argentine press that the idea of San Antonio trading him "could happen."

Head coach Gregg Popovich, however, while not ruling it out completely also called it unlikely.

"I can't imagine a scenario where he would be traded," Popovich told reporters.

Despite Duncan turning 33 this past April and some questioning his general health, the two-time league MVP, three-time Finals MVP and four-time NBA Champion was close enough to "playoff Timmy" to suggest that adding a piece or two is all that stands between him and his fifth ring.

While some fans may be hoping for a big free agent splash or draft day blockbuster, the biggest acquisition for the Spurs will be the healthy return of Ginobili. The seven-year NBA veteran doesn't boast the kind of eye-popping career stats of a Kobe and Lebron or even oft-injured stars like Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. But when comparing the best twos and threes in the NBA, who is really more explosive or effective than Manu?

If you need a reminder, here's what they were saying just a few years ago.

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An ESPN article (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090522/part2&sportCat=nba) ranked Ginobili second in career regular season winning percentage among the likes of Bob Cousy, Bill Russell and Shaquille O'Neal, coming in behind only Larry Bird. His playoff winning percentage ranked only below Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

In Spike Lee's movie Kobe Doin' Work, Bryant referred to Ginobili as "a bad boy." In case you don't know, that means the 2009 Finals MVP thinks he's really good.

Ginobili brings intangibles that are hard to measure in statistics alone. And unlike the aforementioned foursome, he's not a volume shooter. He's a deceptively strong, athletic slahser that finishes at the rim, shoots the three and defends at an elite level. His greatest asset, however, may be that he makes the players around him better -- a quality associated with the very best in the game. In the discussion of best wing players this decade, Manu has to be somehwere in the top five.

Despite All-NBA point guard Tony Parker just entering his prime and the presumed good health of Duncan and Ginobili, the Spurs will once again fly under the radar. It may seem like a while to a ravenous fan base and so-called experts, but the Spurs did win the title just two seasons ago.

Granted, San Antonio doesn't enjoy "team to beat" status as they did from 2004 to 2008. But signing a contributing free agent in July or finding a hidden gem in any one of their three second-round draft picks could quickly tilt the discusssion back to the Spurs. But as Popovich ominously foreshadowed before last year's playoffs, San Antonio is going nowhere without Manu.

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[silverblackfan]

Boy that recap sure makes me hungry for the next season. Manu should be a beast and Tony is in his prime. If Timmy can stay healthy, then we still have a good chance.

[mytespurs]

Excellent response to those who want to trade Manu:

Ginobili brings intangibles that are hard to measure in statistics alone. And unlike the aforementioned foursome, he's not a volume shooter. He's a deceptively strong, athletic slahser that finishes at the rim, shoots the three and defends at an elite level. His greatest asset, however, may be that he makes the players around him better -- a quality associated with the very best in the game. In the discussion of best wing players this decade, Manu has to be somehwere in the top five.

I know he's had injuries the past two seasons, he's getting older, he may not have those abilities he once had but I wouldn't bet against this man. He knows that he didn't play up to his capabilities the past two years-if he's 100%, I expect him to play like an all star! :toast

[mytespurs]

Boy that recap sure makes me hungry for the next season. Manu should be a beast and Tony is in his prime. If Timmy can stay healthy, then we still have a good chance.

we can only hope! We need our role players to step it up a notch or start rebuilding a better supporting cast. :king

[HarlemHeat37]

the big 3 isn't the problem at all, everybody knows that..we desperately need younger, better role players, and we aren't winning shit if we don't get them..

[SenorSpur]

the big 3 isn't the problem at all, everybody knows that..we desperately need younger, better role players, and we aren't winning shit if we don't get them..

That's it right there. :toast

Better role players, and the health of the Big Three, are the primary reasons the Spurs have gotten their asses waxed in the playoffs the past 2 seasons.

[elbamba]

In 2008, before the injury at the end of the season, Manu was having his best year ever, including 2005. Manu was unstoppable. If we can get back 60% of that we will compete for a championship.

[robert1886]

good post....without ginobli we go nowhere...but yes we still need a couple of key role players to help...the way i see it is that we will be asking more from tony now that he can shoot a lot better and not so much pressure on ginobli to do so much...tony is a go to player now in the 4th quarter lets not forget that...just dont let him shoot 3s

[TMTTRIO]

Great article. I guess I'm one of the few who still believe in him. Yes he had a really bad year and a half (even though people are saying he's been injured for two years in which he really was having the best season of his career then). Yes he's getting older and probably won't do the all the things that we've enjoyed seeing from him but I still think he has a lot to contribute and offer especially with a whole long summer off to get rested and rehabed.

[ducks]

Boy that recap sure makes me hungry for the next season. Manu should be a beast and Tony is in his prime. If Timmy can stay healthy, then we still have a good chance.

tp has not hit his prime yet

it is not his 8 season

[spurtilldeath]

Great read...Please don't break the Big 3....Manu is one guy that leaves everything on the floor every night. We need him.

[lefty]

the big 3 isn't the problem at all, everybody knows that..we desperately need younger, better role players, and we aren't winning shit if we don't get them..
I agree 200%

Depth is so important

If one of your good players is injured, someone can replace him

With the Spurs, if Manu is 60% healthy, we are fucked

[Capt Bringdown]

While some fans may be hoping for a big free agent splash or draft day blockbuster, the biggest acquisition for the Spurs will be the healthy return of Ginobili.

Another year of standing pat in other words. And almost certainly another first round exit, or worse.

Even with a healthy Manu, which I think is a rather thin hope at best, does anyone truly believe that we can win anything with the likes of Finley, Thomas, Bonner etc?

And last year Pop missed an opportunity to solidy our supporting cast by completely mishandling Mason and Hill. Last year should have been about working these assets into the fold, instead we got panic-fueled experimentation and short-sighted tinkering.

Lost in all these analyses of Manu's prospects is the apparent decline of Pop, who seems to have lost a step. I don't consider myself a Pop-basher, but he made some really weird and lame moves last year that left my confidence in him a little shaken.

[Chieflion]

Is it possible to give Manu the Shaq treatment?