The Manu Uncertainty Factor

[InTheCrust]

In a way, Gregg Popovich holds the key to winning this series by the motion of saying this simple phrase.

"Manu will play on Wednesday night."

Given the lack of experience of the Memphis Grizzlies, throwing a ridiculous variable like Ginobili into the equation can make the Grizz panic. Because the moment you put Manu in the thick of things, he changes the dynamic of EVERYTHING, be it offense OR defense (due to the occasional flop).

If I were Coach Pop, I would wait until the absolute LAST possible moment to announce Manu will give it a go. Memphis goes "OMFG, wtf do we do :wow?", and the shooters go "yes, yes, y'all".

[Reck]

Wut?

[TDMVPDPOY]

more threads?

[InTheCrust]

more threads?
always

[Obstructed_View]

Pop has had similar keys in the past. They've said things such as "Rasho and Nazr are back in the rotation", "Manu starts for Finley", "Bonner is no longer the starter" and "Splitter will get minutes".

It should be called the Popovich Uncertainty Factor. Never has a coach in the NBA had so much control over the fate of his team. Too bad that doesn't mean it the way we'd like.

[LakerHater]

Did he say "If it were the Olympics I would play. But its only one game."

[ALVAREZ6]

Decent thought, but I think it's already pretty establishing that Manu will probably play next game. I'm sure the Grizzlies are aware most of his pain is gone and that he wanted to play, given the fact Pop stated it during the post game press conference. And at the end of the day, it is the playoffs, so resting him anymore comes close to becoming useless.

[DPG21920]

Fml

[duncan228]

Popovich overrules Ginobili, so Manu sits (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/17/popovich-overrules-ginobili-so-manu-sits/)
Mike Monroe

...“I still can’t bend it all the way,” he said, “but it’s getting better.”


...Popovich said Ginobili will be doubtful for Wednesday’s Game 2 “until it changes. What’s next, probable?

“Let’s hope he changes from doubtful to questionable if it’s not probable.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/17/popovich-overrules-ginobili-so-manu-sits/

[4>0rings]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/17/popovich-overrules-ginobili-so-manu-sits/
Everyone hurts during the playoffs, just f'ing play already.

[NewJerSpur]

He'll play, anyone see how hard he was clapping after Bonner hit the second 3 when the guys were coming back to the bench on that Grizz timeout?

[Budkin]

The whole point of not playing him today was so he could rest a full week until Wednesday... if he doesn't play Wednesday, this series is over.

[coachmac87]

The whole point of not playing him today was so he could rest a full week until Wednesday... if he doesn't play Wednesday, this series is over.


Even if we win Game 2 without him???

[eric365]

Even if we win Game 2 without him???

Of course if we win it's not over but do you want to take the risk to be 0-2 with the next 2 on the road for being extra cautious ?

Kobe had an ankle that was sprained a couple of weeks ago and it looked very bad and he didn't missed a game.

Maybe manu would be less effective but at least you try...

[Brazil]

There is more simple stuff like

- Show you care about D and play Tiago
- Let TP running the team
- Let the guys run for easy transition points
- Let bonner on the bench

[Strike]

There is more simple stuff like

- Show you care about D and play Tiago
- Let TP running the team
- Let the guys run for easy transition points
- Let bonner on the bench

Pop's response
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/3861215248_ddfcd262e6.jpg

[ColinB]

Manu playing and making a difference is a nice thought. I'm just not so sure it will be end up so great if he isn't close to 100 percent. He settles for a lot of jumpers and any pain (on either arm) is going to effect that. Maybe he will drive more, but that arm scares me. I mean, he has let a nose silence him in a series.

Also, Pop cares about D. He just doesn't have the right players to implement any thing that is effective. Splitter would help, but it won't solve everything. He's not Dwight Howard, sadly.

[SourCandy]

Pop's response
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/3861215248_ddfcd262e6.jpg

:lmao

[cheguevara]

game 2 is a must win. manu will have to play pain or not.

Even with Manu Spurs will have a tough time taking down the Grizz.

[41times]

If Manu plays Game 2 the Spurs win by 10.
If he does not play in Game 2 then all bets are off.

[duncan228]

Manu update: Seen going one-on-one with James Anderson at end of practice.

[Budkin]

We have to have this game and without Manu it's very likely we won't win as game 1 showed.

[duncan228]

Pop (obviously) isn't saying if Manu will play. Team preparing as if he's not. My take: Gonna take the entire Serbian army to keep him out.

[Mugen]

Pop pretty much concedes the series if he keeps Manu out of Game 2.

[++SaiNt TiAg0++]

pop is a drunk and needs to step down. im tired of his bullshit, and if we win yes ill be happy but not with pop the players are what win games not our shitty coach

[duncan228]

Hit the link for more quotes.


Manu has more intensive workout, still listed as doubtful (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/18/manu-has-more-intensive-workout-still-listed-as-doubtful/)
Tim Griffin

...“We didn’t scrimmage five-on-five today,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s shooting and trying to his condition up so that when he does heal, he’ll at least be in some decent shape.”


...“We’ve prepared like he’s not here from the beginning,” Popovich said. “We’re still in that mode.”


...“He looks better,” Parker said. “Hopefully, he’ll play.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/18/manu-has-more-intensive-workout-still-listed-as-doubtful/

[Rick Von Braun]

As I said in the other thread...

Since the 2006 playoffs, the Spurs are 29-18 with Manu in the lineup, and 1-5 without him.

You better pray Manu plays next game.

[iminol]

I saw somewhere video with Manu shooting with "big robo cop pad"? It was like day before game 1.

Anybody got link to this?

[hater]

As I said in the other thread...

Since the 2006 playoffs, the Spurs are 29-18 with Manu in the lineup, and 1-5 without him.

You better pray Manu plays next game.


^ that is not even counting the times we had a 50-70% manu due to injuries. The real record is probably more like 3-12

[z0sa]

It took everything Memphis had to win Game 1, and our best player (IMHO) wasn't even suited up. Manu has also been mostly injury free this season and the guys are not used to playing without him, especially in the most intense game of the year thus far.

I'm guessing G2 is a blowout win thanks to Manu's return and the team's readjustment to "normal" 2011 spurs basketball.

[cheguevara]

I saw it different. Memphis played a really bad game missed tons of shots, didn't rebound and choked 4 consecutive free throws in the last 2 minutes. And they still won the game

:pctoss

[z0sa]

Their two main big men didn't miss hardly any shots. The Grizzlies' outside shooting sucks anyway and is not an anomaly, which is why leaving Battier open for that 3 was so terrible.

[boutons_deux]

"missed tons of shots"

Grizz FG 55% vs 40%

[TD 21]

Why does this coach play games? Everyone knows Ginobili is going to play in game two, just like anyone who's followed this team for a while knew he wasn't going to allow him to play in game one. I'm sick of this tired, predictable act. "We're preparing to play without him"; no, you're not. He needs to stop attempting to play everyone for a fool and start using logic.

I've heard the word "disappointing" used a lot with regards to game one. More like alarming. The Spurs did a lot of things they wanted to do coming in and still lost. The defensive field goal percentage, it's easy to call it an anomaly, but go back and look at this team's defensive stats in the past six weeks or so and the way the Grizzlies have shot the three against them this season.

No matter how well Ginobili plays in game two, it's probably going to come down to the end again. And their performance in such games the past month or so has been atrocious. The Grizzlies advantage in the paint isn't going to go away just because the Spurs are going to have a heightened sense of urgency.

[Obstructed_View]

You've heard of psychology majors? Pop's a reverse-psychology major. If he were a football coach, they'd run trick plays on every series.