Manu is back

[nbaman99]

all the guys who said wtf Manu, r u watching this?

[iilluzioN]

its not over till the fat lady sings.... lets try to get this victory first ok

[nbaman99]

ohhh please, ur next.

[spursfan09]

Manu is a beautiful human being!

[rayray2k8]

That's the Manu we know..

[HarlemHeat37]

*insert bat/rabies shot joke*..

[DPG21920]

Great game by Manu. Stepped up when we needed him to. The real test will be to see if this is something that can be sustained. Seeing flashes of brilliance is all well and good, but the Spurs need Manu to play at a consistent level.

Lets keep our wits about us and hope for the best, because if you ride the Manu roller coaster and expect too much too soon, you will get sick.

[HarlemHeat37]

I love how he was determined to drive to the basket tonight, really opened up his offense..I don't think he took a step-back contested 3 tonight..

[exstatic]

As Kobe said in his film...

"That's a baaad boy"

[easy7]

Ginnnnnnnnnnnobliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[ElNono]

It will take some more time. He got into a groove there at the end, but you can't expect him to make every shot. The good news is that it's only been 6 games and he has ample time to regain his shape.

[VivaPopovich]

yeah, a lot of posters on here have been acting like laker fans as of late

"TONY PARKER HAD A BAD GAME, TRADE TONY PARKER!"
"NO NO BENCH HIM!"
"NO NO TRADE GINOBILI!"
"NO NO THE JEFFERSON TRADE WAS A BUST!"

now you hear "yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!"

Manu is STILL the man. he will retire a Spur.

Anyone else have flashbacks of that game he had against the Malone/Payton Lakers where he took over with Parker/Duncan out?

[Spursfan092120]

lol Sean Elliott... "I don't think he got vaccinated...he's rabid tonight."

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I wouldn't put too much stock on Manu going off on a horrible Raptors defense. How about we wait 'till we play someone that actually plays D.

[phyzik]

I would put too much stock on Manu going off on a horrible Raptors defense. How about we wait 'till we play someone that actually plays D.

+1

I'm excited from what I saw today but I will hold my jubilation in until he does it against a relevant team.

[Danny.Zhu]

Don't be too thrilled yet. If he can keep this up against Mavs on Wednesday, I will be convinced.

[superjames1992]

Manu needs to keep this up! :)

6-8 from three-point land. Manu has been shooting horribly thus far this season from three, so he needed this. Hopefully, he can keep it up!

[Martin R]

allow me to enjoy this :

36 points
8 assists
4 blocks
4 rebounds
1 steal

in 32 minutes.

[TinTin]

More important than how he played or his stats, I am in ecstasy over the fact that he is healthy.

Got a lot of games to get into game shape

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I don't think he is completely back.

He took over the team with Parker and TD out, played the point for some streches (and had only one turnover).

His best aspects were smartly attacking the basket but not that aggressively (16 FTA), looking for the three-pointer out of a pick rather than from a step-back dribble, his defense and leadership.

But he still needs a couple of things to be "back". Of course, he's not going to have that explosiveness of his first years, but he can play even better, specially with RJ, McDyess and Blair.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I do agree that he needs games like this to get his confidence back. This was great in that regard

[pjjrfan]

I just think Manu will only get better and better. I don't expect 30+ points every game but he should get to his old nuisance self before too long.

[mVp]

He looked good tonight, and he blocked 4 shots! how about that?

He didn't catch any bat though lol

[peskypesky]

great game from Batmanu. when he's hot, he's hot. when he's not, not so much.

[Ghjkll]

Well, I think that Manu needed a game like this to improve his confidence. The pathetic D sure helped a lot. Hopefully, it´s the beginning of him looking like his old self.

[angelbelow]

The 4 blocks really impressed me. Showed just how active he was out there.

[Agloco]

lol Sean Elliott... "I don't think he got vaccinated...he's rabid tonight."

:lol

Gotta love Sean......

[Chomag]

all the guys who said wtf Manu, r u watching this?

Now now, calm down. Don't count the chickens before they hatch. Good game by him though.

[phyzik]

Im scared to ask but what was Manu's efficiency rating tonight? It's got to be rediculous...

[FvckMavs]

allow me to enjoy this :

36 points
8 assists
4 blocks
4 rebounds
1 steal
0 bat

in 32 minutes.

Fixed.

[igruex]

Good question. He was perfectly flawless.

No bat tonight though. There's room to improvement.

[exstatic]

Manu scored 36 points on 15 FGA. That's 2.4 points for every FGA. Folks, that's ALL WORLD.

[pku47]

Too soon to say it against a team that affords Matty 18pts...

[Spursfan092120]

Seriously you guys...just fucking enjoy it for tonight...why judge it by who we played? We just beat a team without Tony and Tim...Manu couldn't miss, Bonner looked great, RJ wasn't afraid to run at the basket...we looked good...just enjoy it.

[redzero]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Manu-Ginobli.jpg

[raspsa]

More important than how he played or his stats, I am in ecstasy over the fact that he is healthy.

Got a lot of games to get into game shape

My sentiments too. He had a great game but for him to be consistent, he has to be in game shape.. slowly but surely he's getting there.. so long as he remains healthy.

[mVp]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Manu-Ginobli.jpg

Without Timmy and TP, Manu just had to call for some backup :lol

[DAF86]

+1

I'm excited from what I saw today but I will hold my jubilation in until he does it against a relevant team.

This was a relevant win though. Getting back to .500 without Tim and Tony and against a Raptors team that shot like 80% from the field all night.

[Spursmania]

lol Sean Elliott... "I don't think he got vaccinated...he's rabid tonight."

:lol

[SamoanTD]

its not over till the fat lady sings.... lets try to get this victory first ok
why do you post here your so fuking retarted :lol

[TIMMYD!]

4 blocks were damn impressive.

[SequSpur]

Manu is an allstar.....Pop is holding him back.

[tomtom]

man i wish I could've seen this game

[mytespurs]

I'm glad Manu had a good game-with hopefully more to come!

Wonder if there's something in the vaccine.....I believe he got a rabies shot today.

[lefty]

Fixed.
:lmao

[SA210]

Manu is an allstar.....Pop is holding him back.

Always has.

[VivaPopovich]

I dont get why the people on a thread devoted to Manu Ginobili on a Spurs forum is acting like this game was a fluke.

Manu Ginobili in his prime was one of the best players in the league and pivotal in our run for 3 championsips.

Not only is he back to contributing, he's doing it without taking all the hard falls that he was in the past. He doesn't have to have that super-explosiveness he once had, I just want him to be there. And he sure as hell was there tonight.

:flag:

[jalberto]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3402067369_8636a1552b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3402067369_007001db04_o.jpg)

[urunobili]

I love how he was determined to drive to the basket tonight, really opened up his offense..I don't think he took a step-back contested 3 tonight..

He did take 2 REALLY bad three's after giving up open ones and decided to take contested looks instead... his misses from three were from that range...

[TheManFromAcme]

Yes indeed. That's the Manu we all know. Good win Spurs. Good to see Manu back to form. If he plays like this 6 months from now, the entire WC needs to watch out. Good luck guys. :toast

[41times]

Hell of A Win last night Spurs.

No Parker, No Duncan, so its Manu to the Rescue!

[MB20]

Nice game from Manu. Hope he keeps it up.
I´ll say he is back after a few games like yesterday.
Above all, I hope he stays healthy.

[silverblackfan]

Its easy to forget how good he is. After the last two seasons, I think in my mind we were the big 2 + 1/2. If Manu is back to this kind of form, then there are some good times ahead.

[sonic21]

still the 3rd best SG in the nba :hat

I like our chances.

[Brazil]

this kind of thread is as premature as the Manu is done threads after a bad game.

[duncan228]

Behind the Box Score, where Manu's back! (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Behind-the-Box-Score-where-Manu-s-back-?urn=nba,201334)
By Kelly Dwyer
Ball Don't Lie

San Antonio 131, Toronto 124

We had no idea what to expect heading into this game. San Antonio was without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and while it seems like a slap in the face to expect that Toronto might have a hard time downing a Spurs roster without its top two players, one also has to remember that the Raps are a team with a lot of holes and a lot of issues right now. Perhaps, someday, the Raptors will remember as much.

Somehow, we got the unexpected. A fantastic game, quite entertaining, and one that allowed us a peek at the reemergence of Manu Ginobili, superstar.

Sure, it might only be for a game, Ginobili's body and timing and touch and balance and rhythm still have a long way to go, but the bad boy was just a beast for 32 bench minutes. And San Antonio needed every ounce of Manu's production, and influence.

Not before we got a shootout. That shouldn't surprise, considering Toronto's problems on the defensive end and the presence of Tim Duncan in street clothes. But the sheer totals? This was some knockout stuff.

The Spurs managed 141 points per 100 possessions, the Raptors 133. For comparison's sake, 114 points per 100 possessions led the league last year. Led the league.

It makes sense, for the Raptors.

San Antonio was doughy on the interior even with Duncan around, entering the game 21st in defensive efficiency — a far cry from their title-era runs that saw them routinely top the NBA in that mark. Theo Ratliff got the start at center in both halves, but he played fewer than nine minutes and really didn't make much of an impact. Beyond that, it was a series of more-or-less wing players (Matt Bonner, Richard Jefferson) and undersized power forwards (Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair) holding the fort.

So you can see why Chris Bosh (32 points) and Andrea Bargnani (17 points) had their way. What I can't see why Bargs managed only four rebounds in 32 minutes. Toronto was out-rebounded by 12 to a miserable rebounding team missing its best per game rebounder in Duncan. Blair is, barely, the Spurs' best at rebound rate, but a distant third remains Antonio McDyess. Antonio's 11.1 percent rebound rate falls, league-wise, behind luminaries like Michael Beasley, Kevin Durant, and even Bargnani himself in 2009-10.

Somehow, San Antonio had the edge. Dyess chipped in with 10 caroms. Richard Jefferson was aggressive early, and finished with a fantastic line that included 24 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and just one turnover.

But it all paled, in comparison to the guy with the pale halo on the top of his head.

Ginobili had 36 points on only 15 shots, astounding efficiency. His 16 free throw attempts helped make this a rather bland game in the first half, but his incendiary touch from long range (making six of eight attempts) put the Raptors on the canvas. This guy blocked four shots — four shots! — started breaks, finished them, and found the open man (eight assists) when applicable.

He was a monster. We've seen this fright before, but it's been too, too long for Manu. And whether this is a sign of things to come or just a blip on the radar until he's finally in physical range, I could not care less. For one night, there he was. Manu Ginobili. A bad, bad boy.

[Tp9gospursgo]

Let's just hope he can do something like this against the mavs...and we play better D.

[Tp9gospursgo]

allow me to enjoy this :

36 points
8 assists
4 blocks
4 rebounds
1 steal

in 32 minutes.

The 4 blocks really impressive. Thats a stat stuffer for you lulz

[Mr.Robinson]

lol Sean Elliott... "I don't think he got vaccinated...he's rabid tonight."

Genius.

[alfahdlan]

Last night performance will give batmanu added confidence. Its getting really scary. Spurs are getting their comfort zone and everybody is on attack mode. If only their defense could come up now. Let's see what we have next game.:flag:

[superjames1992]

Manu actually leads the team in points per game this season with 17.5 PPG. He also is now shooting 38% from three-point range after last night's 6/8 shooting night from beyond the arc.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Manu actually leads the team in points per game this season with 17.5 PPG. He also is now shooting 38% from three-point range after last night's 6/8 shooting night from beyond the arc.

what? I'm sure that can't be right... Tony has had a number of 20 point games already, hasn't he? Seriously, I'm asking.

[TMTTRIO]

It seems like Manu's not even impressed with it last night. This is what he said on his facebook today.

Manu Ginobili (http://www.facebook.com/ManuGinobili?ref=nf) Great win, but 124pts? Won't get too far like that. Gotta keep improving! // Lindo partido anoche, pero nos hicieron 124pts! Así muy lejos no vamos a llegar. Hay que seguir trabajando.

[superjames1992]

what? I'm sure that can't be right... Tony has had a number of 20 point games already, hasn't he? Seriously, I'm asking.
I was surprised, as well, but Tony is only averaging 14.8 PPG (third on the team).

Tony has had 17, 8, 24, 21, and 4 points in the games he has played in this year.

RJ is the #2 scorer at 15.3 PPG.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

When Manu is nailing his step-back 15-18fters (along with all the other stuff he does) you know that he's playing at his peak. Personally, it's not a shot I like to see him take because it's such a difficult one, but you know he's at his peak when he starts hitting them consistently.