Manu Interview (translation needed)

[Kori Ellis]

Entrevista con Emanuel Ginóbili (San Antonio Spurs)

MIAMI, Florida (18 de Mayo, 2005) – El argentino Emanuel Ginóbili conversó este miércoles sobre la serie semifinal ante los Seattle SuperSonics, el momento de los Spurs y lo que significa su tercera participación consecutiva en los NBA Playoffs, entre otros temas:

¿Cuál es la clave para rematar la serie ante Seattle?
Primero, cometer menos errores. En los juegos 3 y 4 de visitante perdimos muchos balones, tuvimos errores infantiles tanto en ataque como en defensa. En esta instancia y para ganar de visitante se debe ser más puntual con tu juego. Buscar más la perfección. Defensivamente no hay que dejarlos agrandar porque ellos son muy buenos jugadores, tiradores y con el apoyo de su gente como que se agrandan más.

¿Cómo defines el quinto juego frente a los Sonics en el aspecto personal?
Para mí fue un gran juego, se dio todo muy bien desde el primer minuto. Era un partido muy importante para nosotros porque desde ningún punto de vista queríamos enfrentar el juego seis en desventaja. Fue un juego duro, difícil e hicimos las cosas bien. Ahora tenemos un juego de visitante en el que debemos mejorar y tener un partido redondo.

¿Desde el primer instante sentiste que sería una buena noche para ti?
Sí. Me sentía muy bien. No se sabe cuando empieza el juego que anotarás los primeros cuatro triples, pero en cuanto a energía y concentración me sentía tranquilo y listo.

Fue un récord personal en puntos en tu historia de los NBA Playoffs. ¿Cuál es tu opinión de esta nueva marca?
No soy muy fanático de los récords o números. Se que hacer 39 puntos en un juego de Playoff no es fácil y si no los hubiera anotado antes. No es que pienso en mi récord anterior, lo que hago es tratar de colaborar para que mi equipo gane y si por ahí salen 39 o 31 para mí es igual.

Se habla de tu gran liderazgo en el equipo…
Se que en cuanto a energía y contagiar carácter es una de mis funciones en el equipo. Estaba muy mentalizado de levantar al público desde el comienzo y realmente lo necesitábamos. Todo salió bien y fue una noche especial.

En la primera temporada pocos te conocían. Hoy en tu tercera los elogios no paran de llegar, ¿cómo te sientes sobre esta avalancha de cumplidos?
Es muy halagador. Yo no pretendía llegar a la NBA y desde el primer año ganarme un gran respeto y que todos hablen de mí porque es muy raro que pase. Sabía que el respeto me lo ganaría con el tiempo y trabajando mucho, así que estoy muy feliz que todo siga saliendo bien, creo que es más de lo que esperaba.

¿Qué opinas de la serie Dallas-Phoenix?
He visto un poco de esos juegos. No quiero ni pensar en el siguiente rival. Bastante complicada la tenemos ya con Seattle y no se ha dicho la última palabra sobre este duelo. Y lo único que pienso es en el juego del jueves.

¿Hablando nuevamente de ese partido, el secreto será controlar a Ray Allen?
Sí. Aunque no sabemos si Rashard Lewis va a jugar y no es un secreto que Ray es el espíritu del equipo. Antonio Daniels y el resto del grupo vienen haciendo un gran trabajo y no hay por qué faltarles el respeto.

¿Cómo explicas a los aficionados tu situación como suplente?
Realmente no hay tanta diferencia entre ser titular y suplente. Mi promedio de minutos está entre 29 y 32 por partido. Quizás haya excepciones como en el partido de ayer pero no varía mucho. Si soy titular salgo a los seis minutos y si soy suplente entro a los seis del juego, así que no hay mucha diferencia. Quizás soy un jugador que consumo mucha más energía que otros y a veces Popovich se preocupa por manejar los minutos. Salvo en el juego de ayer que me mantuvo más en la cancha, hasta ayer no era una gran diferencia ser suplente.

Ha sido una serie fuerte, con muchos roces, ¿físicamente cómo te encuentras?
Si, muy dura, recibes golpes pero no ha sido peor que antes, como contra Denver. Pero aunque he recibido golpes no hay nada que me impida estar bien físicamente para el partido del jueves.

¿Notas que hay una marcación fuerte contra ti, especialmente de Danny Forston?
No me importa. Se que lo van a hacer y lo han declarado públicamente. Se que van a marcar fuerte cuando nosotros penetramos pero esto es normal. Pero no lo voy a dejar de hacer y es una forma de jugar. No creo que nadie haya muerto en la cancha por una falta. Voy a seguir haciendo mi juego y si no sería nocivo para mi equipo.

Precisamente se ha criticado tu estilo y un ejemplo fueron las declaraciones de George Karl, el técnico de Denver, ¿qué opinas de esto?
No me preocupó. Eso hizo parte de su estrategia para cambiar el ritmo de la serie y crear un ambiente particular alrededor del juego y lo logró. Cada entrenador hace lo posible para sacar ventaja y creo que eso trató de hacer.

El partido lo pasaron en la Argentina por televisión, ¿recibiste hoy muchos mensajes por correo electrónico o en tu página de Internet?
Me desperté muy tarde y no tuve mucho tiempo de revisar. Pero se que el sitio se llenó al momento del partido y ví algunos mensajes. Se que la gente se quedó hasta tarde viendo el partido y esto es motivador.

[diego]

What is the key to close out the series against Seattle?
First, cut down mistakes. In games 3 and 4 we had a lot of turnovers, childish mistakes both on offence and defence. At this stage and playing on the road we must be more precise. Strive for perfection. Defensively we cant let them get confidence because they are good players, shooters and with their crowd support it's like they get hotter.

How do you define game 5 in regards to your personal performance?
For me it was a great game, everything came out right from the start. It was a very important game for us because we didn't want to go to game 6 at a disadvantage. It was a tough, difficult game and we did things right. Now we have an away game in which we must improve and have a good all around game.

Did you feel from the start you were going to have a good game.
Yes. I felt really good. At the start of the game you don't know your first 4 threes are going to go in, but as far as energy and concentration i felt good from the start.

You set a new career high in playoff points. What do you think about that?
I'm not a big fan of records or stats. I know scoring 39 in a playoff game is not easy or I would have done it before. It's just that i dont think of my previous record, what I try to do is help my team win and if I score 39 or 31 its all the same.

There is talk of your leadership role on the team...
i know that as far as setting an example of energy and character it is part of my role on the team. From the start I wanted to get the crowd into it and we really needed it. Everything worked out and it was a special night.

In your first season few people knew you. Now in your third the praise keeps coming, ¿how do you feel about this avalanche of compliments?
Its very flattering. I didn't plan on arriving and gaining respect and the spotlight my first season because that is very rare. I knew I could earn that with work over time, so I'm happy things are going well, much better than I expected

¿What do you think of the Mavs-Suns series?
I've seen a bit of those games. I dont even want to think of the next rival. We've already got our hands full with seattle and nobody has said the last word in this series. The only thing i think about is thursdays game.

¿Speaking of that game, is the key to contain Allen?
Yes. Although we dont know if rashard lewis will play but it is no secret that allen is the soul of the team. Antonio Daniels and the rest of the team have done a good job and there is no need to underestimate them

¿How do you explain your benching to fans?
There is really not much differece to starting or coming from the bench. My avg mins goes from 29 to 32 a game. Maybe there are exceptions like last night but it doesnt vary much. If i start i come out at 6:00 and if not i come in at 6:00, so there isnt much difference. Maybe as a player i spend more energy than others and sometimes Popovich worries about managing my minutes. With the exception of last night, there wasnt much difference between starting and coming off the bench.

It's been a rough series, how do you feel physically?
Yes, very rough, you get hit but it isnt any worse than before, like against Denver. But even though i've been hit there is nothing stopping me from playing my game thursday.

Do you see a strong cover on you, especially from Fortson?
I dont care. I know what they are going to do, theyve declared it publicly. I know they are going to cover us hard when we penetrate but that is normal. I'm not going to stop doing it and it is a style of play. I dont think anyone has died on court from a foul. I'm going to keep playing my style and if i didnt it would be a detriment to my team

Your style has been criticized, for example by Karl, what do you make of that?
It doesnt worry me. It was part of his strategy to change the series and change the environment around the game and he accomplished that. Every coach does what he can to get an advantage and that is what he tried to do.

The game was on TV in argentina, did you get a lot of feedback on your site?
I got up late and didnt have much time to check. But i know the site got full during the game and i saw a few messages. I know people stayed up late to watch the game and that motivates me.

[Kori Ellis]

Thanks very much, diego.

[smeagol]

Smeagol's transaltion:

What’s the key for winning the series against Seattle?
We have to commit fewer mistakes. In games 3 and 4 in Seattle, we lost too many balls. We committed too many childlike mistakes. At this stage of the playoffs, we have to be more focused. We need to seek perfection. On the defensive end, we need to stop them early, not allow them to get going because they have great players and better shooters, and they will feed on their home crowd.

What’s your personal definition of game 5?
I had a great game; everything was falling into place from the first minute of play. It was a key game for us. Under no circumstance we wanted to go back to Seattle facing elimination. It was a tough, difficult game, but we did what we had to do. Now we have one more game away, and we have to play even better if we want to win.

From the get-go, did you think it would be a great night for you?
Yes. I was feeling well. I did not know when the game was starting, I would hit four 3-pointers in a row, but regarding my energy and concentration level, I was feeling relaxed and ready.

It was a personal ppg NBA playoff record for you. What’s your opinion regarding this new record?
I’m not a big fan of stats and records. I know that scoring 39 pts in a playoff game is not an easy thing to do (if it was, I would have done it by now). I never think about records when I play. All I do is try to help SA to win games. If I score 39 or 31 points, for me it’s the same thing.

People are talking about your leadership role.
I know one of my duties is to transmit energy to the rest of the team. I was really focused on getting the crowd started. Everything went well and it was a special night.

In your fist season, you were an unknown. Now, everybody is praising you. How do you cope with the newfound fame?
It very flattering. I did not expect to win everybody’s respect in my first season. I knew I would win the League’s respect working hard. I am happy everything is working out. It’s been better than what I had expected.

What’s your opinion on the Dallas-Phoenix series?
I have seen little of that series. I don’t even want to think about the next series. It’s complicated enough trying to beat Seattle, and we have not accomplished our goal yet. All that’s in my mind right now is Thursday’s game.

Is controlling Allen the key to that game?
Yes. Even though we don’t know if Rashard Lewis is playing or not, it’s no secret Ray is the heart and soul of that team. AD and the rest are doing a great job. We should not disrespect them.

How do you explain to your fans the “coming off the bench” situation?
Seriously, there is not that much difference starting or coming off the bench. My average mpg is between 29 and 32. There might be exceptions, such as last night’s game. If I’m starting, I will go to the bench 6 minutes into the first quarter, if I’m coming off the bench, I will start playing six minutes into the first quarter. Not much of a difference. I’m the kind of player which consumes much more energy, therefore Pop is worried about managing my minutes. Up until yesterday, where I played a little longer than usual, there was no difference between starting and coming off the bench.

This has been a rough series, with lots of contact. How do you find yourself physically?
Yes, it has been a tough series, but nothing out of the ordinary. Very similar to the Denver series. Even though I have received many bumps, there is nothing that will stop me from playing Thursday.

Do you notice a tougher defense on you, especially from Fortson?
I don’t really care. I know that they are going to be tough on me. They have said it in the media. I know they will be tough on me when I penetrate, but this is normal. Nobody has died in a basketball court due to a hard foul. I will continue doing what I do.

Karl has criticized your style. How do you react to his comments?
It does not bother me. This was part of his strategy to change the rhythm of the series and to create a special environment surrounding the games. And he was successful at it. Each coach tries to do as much as they can to take advantage of the situation.

The game was shown live in Argentina. Did you receive many messages in you web site?
I woke up late and had no time to surf the site. But I know that the site was full of users at the time of the game. I know people stayed up late to watch the game and that is an additional incentive for me.

[smeagol]

Late, as usual . . . :depressed

[diego]

well you did a better job of formatting and so on, i was rushing through while at the office... oh wait, I'm still at the office, better get back to work!