timvp
04-17-2011, 12:11 PM
Although Manu Ginobili didn't lead the Spurs in scoring, Tony Parker did, and didn't lead the Spurs in PER, Tim Duncan did, there's no question that he was the team's biggest difference maker this season. His energy and focus from the first games in October made an unmistakable mark in the stats.
In the 2,425 minutes Ginobili played this season, the Spurs outscored opponents by 537 points. On the other hand, during the 1,531 minutes he was on the bench, the Spurs were outscored by 69 points. In other words, the Spurs played like a 67-game winner when Ginobili was on the court and a 38-game winner when he was off the court.
Why such a huge disparity? It wasn't that Ginobili played like the reincarnation of Wilt Chamberlain individually, it's more that he raise the level of the role players around him. For example, when Matt Bonner played on the court at the same time with Ginobili, the Spurs outscored opponents by an amazing 18.81 points per 48 miutes. However, when Bonner played without Ginobili, the Spurs were outscored by 2.12 points per 48 minutes. Here are the rest of the numbers:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/818/withoutmanu.jpg
So what should the Spurs do now that Ginobili is going to officially miss at least the first game of the 2011 NBA Playoffs against the Mempis Grizzlies? As you can see in the chart, the player least dependent on Ginobili for his success this season was far and away Tim Duncan. When Duncan was on the court and Ginobili was on the bench, the Spurs were still dominant -- outscoring opponents by 8.46 points.
Playing through Duncan and having him log big minutes would appear to be the best gameplan. Pop going with Hill instead of Neal appears to be the right move, statistically speaking. Hill is the only other player outside of Duncan who posted a positive plus/minus with Ginobili on the bench.
A lot of Duncan. A lot of Hill. Tony Parker will also be a big part of the solution. The stats say the Spurs will have a lot more trouble scoring, however they may be able to return to their roots and win with defense. When Duncan, Hill and Parker were on the court without Ginobili, the Spurs were able to hold opponents to 90 points per 48 minutes.
It's going to be more difficult than most realize for the Spurs to win a playoff game without Ginobili. Let's hope the Spurs can steal a win in Game 1 and then let's hope that their difference maker can return ASAP.
In the 2,425 minutes Ginobili played this season, the Spurs outscored opponents by 537 points. On the other hand, during the 1,531 minutes he was on the bench, the Spurs were outscored by 69 points. In other words, the Spurs played like a 67-game winner when Ginobili was on the court and a 38-game winner when he was off the court.
Why such a huge disparity? It wasn't that Ginobili played like the reincarnation of Wilt Chamberlain individually, it's more that he raise the level of the role players around him. For example, when Matt Bonner played on the court at the same time with Ginobili, the Spurs outscored opponents by an amazing 18.81 points per 48 miutes. However, when Bonner played without Ginobili, the Spurs were outscored by 2.12 points per 48 minutes. Here are the rest of the numbers:
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/818/withoutmanu.jpg
So what should the Spurs do now that Ginobili is going to officially miss at least the first game of the 2011 NBA Playoffs against the Mempis Grizzlies? As you can see in the chart, the player least dependent on Ginobili for his success this season was far and away Tim Duncan. When Duncan was on the court and Ginobili was on the bench, the Spurs were still dominant -- outscoring opponents by 8.46 points.
Playing through Duncan and having him log big minutes would appear to be the best gameplan. Pop going with Hill instead of Neal appears to be the right move, statistically speaking. Hill is the only other player outside of Duncan who posted a positive plus/minus with Ginobili on the bench.
A lot of Duncan. A lot of Hill. Tony Parker will also be a big part of the solution. The stats say the Spurs will have a lot more trouble scoring, however they may be able to return to their roots and win with defense. When Duncan, Hill and Parker were on the court without Ginobili, the Spurs were able to hold opponents to 90 points per 48 minutes.
It's going to be more difficult than most realize for the Spurs to win a playoff game without Ginobili. Let's hope the Spurs can steal a win in Game 1 and then let's hope that their difference maker can return ASAP.