Woj: Most beloved Spur Manu Ginobili gives vintage performance

[ace3g]

Most beloved Spur Manu Ginobili gives vintage performance that puts San Antonio on cusp of title
SAN ANTONIO – Sixteen years ago, this was the Manu Ginobili (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3380) that Spurs general manager R.C. Buford discovered at the World Championships in Australia. The long, wavy hair is gone, the behind-the-back passes that soared into the stands have long been weeded out of his game, but in the winter of his basketball life, the essence of Ginobili had been unchanged in crisis, unrelenting in the uncertainty of his performance.

"There's no backing off with him," Buford said outside the Spurs' locker room late Sunday night. The championship core of these Spurs had all come so far together – the GM, the coach, the three magical stars – and together now they stand at the cusp of the franchise's fifth championship.

There will probably never be another night like this at the AT&T Center, another night when it's Manu Ginobili (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3380) and Tim Duncan (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3173) and Tony Parker (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3527) playing brilliant basketball with an NBA championship hanging in the balance. Out of his resolve and resourcefulness, out of nowhere, Ginobili had a throwback night – 24 points and 10 assists – and pushed this throwback championship chase to the cusp of completion with a 114-104 Game 5 victory (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--manu-ginobili--spurs-push-heat-to-the-brink--win-nba-finals-game-5-025727990.html).

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--most-beloved-spur-manu-ginobili-gives-vintage-performance-that-puts-san-antonio-on-cusp-of-title-073208540.html

[Kuestmaster]

Beautiful article. We HAVE to win this thing. It will be the sweetest one and one hell of a way to say ¿goodbye? to one of the greatest dinasties in the sports history.

[SpurSpurSpurs]

The only real BIG 3 in the NBA.

[easjer]

Beautiful and so sad to think back on. I can't express how glad I am that that game on that night went that way for Manu.

[SA210]

Will always be my favorite Spur

[superjames1992]

Most beloved Spur Manu Ginobili gives vintage performance that puts San Antonio on cusp of title


SAN ANTONIO – Sixteen years ago, this was the Manu Ginobili (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3380) that Spurs general manager R.C. Buford discovered at the World Championships in Australia. The long, wavy hair is gone, the behind-the-back passes that soared into the stands have long been weeded out of his game, but in the winter of his basketball life, the essence of Ginobili had been unchanged in crisis, unrelenting in the uncertainty of his performance.

"There's no backing off with him," Buford said outside the Spurs' locker room late Sunday night. The championship core of these Spurs had all come so far together – the GM, the coach, the three magical stars – and together now they stand at the cusp of the franchise's fifth championship.

There will probably never be another night like this at the AT&T Center, another night when it's Manu Ginobili (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3380) and Tim Duncan (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3173) and Tony Parker (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3527) playing brilliant basketball with an NBA championship hanging in the balance. Out of his resolve and resourcefulness, out of nowhere, Ginobili had a throwback night – 24 points and 10 assists – and pushed this throwback championship chase to the cusp of completion with a 114-104 Game 5 victory (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--manu-ginobili--spurs-push-heat-to-the-brink--win-nba-finals-game-5-025727990.html).

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--most-beloved-spur-manu-ginobili-gives-vintage-performance-that-puts-san-antonio-on-cusp-of-title-073208540.html
Brings a tear to my eye, tbh...

[The Reckoning]

http://youtu.be/lNQrBQ6uVsE

Wylie Burp, tbh.

:(

[benefactor]

:cry

[ducks]

Robert Mays: We’re likely to hear that last night’s Manu Ginobili performance was a return to form, but that’s not really true. What Manu did last night — at least 24 points and double-digit assists — is something he’d done only once in 155 playoff games. In fact, Ginobili’s had at least 10 assists only six times in his playoff career; half of those games have come this postseason. The scoring Ginobili isn’t new, but the level at which this Spurs machine runs, the array of guys capable of hammering home the Ginobili passes that few others would even try? That part is.

[ElNono]

He's dropped 30+ points before in playoff games multiple times... that's certainly not new, tbh

[Bill_Brasky]

And that's a Manu tres!!!!!

[OldSilentHill]

Great article.

But we should not forget Parker´s 26 pts.

[boutons_deux]

Great article.

But we should not forget Parker´s 26 pts.

I LOVED how Tony was pushing it hard to the basket well into the 4th.

[ducks]

He's dropped 30+ points before in playoff games multiple times... that's certainly not new, tbh

with the assist read it

[ChumpDumper]

Great article.

But we should not forget Parker´s 26 pts.Seriously?

There are other threads.

[davidbowie]

the chanting of MANU last night got me a little misty. dude came thru like a fuckin man.

:flag:

[OldSilentHill]

Seriously?

There are other threads.

True, when i saw it i went right to raise it.

WE WANT MORE MANU :ihit

[ElNono]

with the assist read it

He had 7+ assists in multiple playoff games before too :rolleyes

[ducks]

not 10

[SouthernFried]

I bought this gray T, with a Superman Logo with a "G" in the middle and "Ginobili" across the top...from a guy on a street corner. Musta been a decade ago at least. Never seen another like it. It's the only Spurs stuff I've ever worn...the only NBA logo stuff I've ever worn too (well, outside of my Nike Jordan's I wore in the 90's.)

I knew from the first time I saw him play, he was something special. Been my favorite player to watch ever since. You can have the Kobe's and Lebrons...I'll take Manu's behind the back dribbles, between the leg passes, gyrating drives and finishes over any of 'em.

One more Manu...just one more.

[ElNono]

not 10

:lol mad

[ducks]

already posted I want him to be better in game 6
I WANT THE TITLE

people act like this was the old manu
it was not
he played better then he has ever in the playoffs in game 5

[slick'81]

As Michael Cole would say vintage manu

[crc21209]

Great piece by Woj as always. Thanks for posting it ace! :tu

[timvp]

Great article.

[Mark in Austin]

nice. I wonder what Giricek is up to these days?

[MannyIsGod]

:lol mad

Ducks has hated on Manu many times but you're failing at reading comprehension if you think he was hating on Manu with that blurb. He basically just said Manu played one of his best games ever.

[Leetonidas]

So happy to see Manu turn the clock back. I was seriously ready to give up on him but once again he has proved us all wrong. I bet he felt so much joy after that performance especially with the crowd chanting his name. Good on ya, Manu :tu

[Spurs Brazil]

Finally, they were all together again – Duncan, Parker and Ginobili – and the most improbable championship of all is 48 minutes away.

:toast:flag:

[Budkin]

I swear the hair was there!

http://i.imgur.com/pCkG63V.jpg

[chazley]

Woj is the best writer in the business by a mile.