Kori Ellis
06-19-2005, 01:19 AM
Buck Harvey: Spurs' hope? Tension tightens inside Ginobili
Web Posted: 06/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA061905.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2258e99f.html
San Antonio Express-News
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — There's a rubber band inside of Manu Ginobili. It winds up, twist by twist, like something found on a toy airplane, until the tension is released.
But the rubber band needs time to coil. And that's where days off on Friday and Saturday come in, and why Ginobili is set to unwind, and why the Spurs have a chance to find themselves tonight.
Looking for a reason to believe again in the Spurs?
This is it.
The rubber band isn't always easy to see. Ginobili hangs around on the road with a Spurs backup, Sean Marks, as much as any teammate. And Marks says Ginobili usually hides whatever is winding up inside.
Ginobili spends some of his time trying to learn about America, reading books — in English — about such things as the Civil War. Mostly, Ginobili tries to get away from the game, and he and Marks had plans Saturday night for a movie.
"Cinderella Man," playing next to the team hotel, was their first option.
But Marks says he sometimes sees the boxer in Ginobili, complete with Jim Braddock's desire to avoid the 10 count. Marks has seen this here.
"Quite honestly, Manu was itching to go Friday," Marks said. "Sometimes we'll be talking, and he'll blurt out, 'Let's play!'"
That means the rubber band, the one inside, is twisting.
Other signs have come in press conferences the past few days. Ginobili has told the media he's "embarrassed," that the Spurs need to play "more with our hearts" and that "we need to compete better."
The coil?
Tighter and tighter.
Ben Wallace is similarly wound, as are a lot of world-class athletes. But Ginobili's spring comes with a catch. Even if his heart is ready, the rest of him isn't always cooperative.
Gregg Popovich coaches Ginobili with this in mind, resting Ginobili as often as he can. Even now, during practice, Popovich does the same.
Other Spurs will work for 45 minutes, Ginobili maybe for 10. After all, if Ginobili isn't able to speed around the floor, giving everything every second, he's just another player.
That's why the opening minute of Game 3 meant more to him than it might have to others. Ginobili took a shot to the thigh, and it was as if the rubber band went limp.
He felt better in Game 4. But with just a day between games, he still wasn't the same.
The Pistons also had something to do with Ginobili sagging. "We've been trying to keep a body on him at all times," Rip Hamilton said. "When he tries to go into his move, we try to put pressure on him. We don't allow him to be out there playing with the ball, going to the basket, things like that."
But the Spurs wonder if the Pistons have really figured out Ginobili. After all, when Ginobili gets pumped up, slithering to the basket and jumping into passing lanes, does even he know where he's going?
Ginobili hasn't always needed time to recharge. He scored 39 points after only a day's rest before Game 5 against Seattle, and he made the pass that eliminated Seattle the following game after another travel day was the only break.
But it's also true Ginobili has been at his best when his body has been at its happiest. He led the Spurs in scoring to start the playoffs against the Nuggets. He had three off days before Game 3 in Denver, when he saved the Spurs by coming off the bench with 32 points. He had 26 points in the opener against Detroit after eight days off. And he had 27 points in Game 2 of the Finals after two full days off.
These last two Spurs losses? Just one day between both games.
His Argentine compatriot who is now a part of the Pistons, Carlos Delfino, has seen the same pattern. Ginobili started off the Olympics against Serbia with 19 early points, then rested for a long stretch, only to return to throw in the buzzer beater.
The Argentina coach rationed minutes as Popovich does now. And in every big game in Athens, just as Ginobili has done in European championships, too, Ginobili attacked no matter the defense.
Said Delfino: "These are Manu's moments."
A reason to believe?
The moments come when the rubber band is fully wound.
Web Posted: 06/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/bharvey/stories/MYSA061905.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2258e99f.html
San Antonio Express-News
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — There's a rubber band inside of Manu Ginobili. It winds up, twist by twist, like something found on a toy airplane, until the tension is released.
But the rubber band needs time to coil. And that's where days off on Friday and Saturday come in, and why Ginobili is set to unwind, and why the Spurs have a chance to find themselves tonight.
Looking for a reason to believe again in the Spurs?
This is it.
The rubber band isn't always easy to see. Ginobili hangs around on the road with a Spurs backup, Sean Marks, as much as any teammate. And Marks says Ginobili usually hides whatever is winding up inside.
Ginobili spends some of his time trying to learn about America, reading books — in English — about such things as the Civil War. Mostly, Ginobili tries to get away from the game, and he and Marks had plans Saturday night for a movie.
"Cinderella Man," playing next to the team hotel, was their first option.
But Marks says he sometimes sees the boxer in Ginobili, complete with Jim Braddock's desire to avoid the 10 count. Marks has seen this here.
"Quite honestly, Manu was itching to go Friday," Marks said. "Sometimes we'll be talking, and he'll blurt out, 'Let's play!'"
That means the rubber band, the one inside, is twisting.
Other signs have come in press conferences the past few days. Ginobili has told the media he's "embarrassed," that the Spurs need to play "more with our hearts" and that "we need to compete better."
The coil?
Tighter and tighter.
Ben Wallace is similarly wound, as are a lot of world-class athletes. But Ginobili's spring comes with a catch. Even if his heart is ready, the rest of him isn't always cooperative.
Gregg Popovich coaches Ginobili with this in mind, resting Ginobili as often as he can. Even now, during practice, Popovich does the same.
Other Spurs will work for 45 minutes, Ginobili maybe for 10. After all, if Ginobili isn't able to speed around the floor, giving everything every second, he's just another player.
That's why the opening minute of Game 3 meant more to him than it might have to others. Ginobili took a shot to the thigh, and it was as if the rubber band went limp.
He felt better in Game 4. But with just a day between games, he still wasn't the same.
The Pistons also had something to do with Ginobili sagging. "We've been trying to keep a body on him at all times," Rip Hamilton said. "When he tries to go into his move, we try to put pressure on him. We don't allow him to be out there playing with the ball, going to the basket, things like that."
But the Spurs wonder if the Pistons have really figured out Ginobili. After all, when Ginobili gets pumped up, slithering to the basket and jumping into passing lanes, does even he know where he's going?
Ginobili hasn't always needed time to recharge. He scored 39 points after only a day's rest before Game 5 against Seattle, and he made the pass that eliminated Seattle the following game after another travel day was the only break.
But it's also true Ginobili has been at his best when his body has been at its happiest. He led the Spurs in scoring to start the playoffs against the Nuggets. He had three off days before Game 3 in Denver, when he saved the Spurs by coming off the bench with 32 points. He had 26 points in the opener against Detroit after eight days off. And he had 27 points in Game 2 of the Finals after two full days off.
These last two Spurs losses? Just one day between both games.
His Argentine compatriot who is now a part of the Pistons, Carlos Delfino, has seen the same pattern. Ginobili started off the Olympics against Serbia with 19 early points, then rested for a long stretch, only to return to throw in the buzzer beater.
The Argentina coach rationed minutes as Popovich does now. And in every big game in Athens, just as Ginobili has done in European championships, too, Ginobili attacked no matter the defense.
Said Delfino: "These are Manu's moments."
A reason to believe?
The moments come when the rubber band is fully wound.