Manu and his future: "I don't know what's going to happen"

[ElNono]

Extracted from this basketplus.com article (Spanish):
http://basquetplus.com/articulo/manu-gin%C3%B3bili-y-su-futuro-%E2%80%9Cno-s%C3%A9-lo-que-va-pasar%E2%80%9D

After last night's defeat on Game 6, Manu was asked if he thought next game, in case of a loss, could be the last in many ways. And he didn't dodge the question: "Yeah, but it's something we can't think about. Honestly I don't know what's going to happen. What I do know is that in two days we have a Game 7. It's the only thing I can control, what I'm thinking about and what occupies my time. I'll try to do my best, the team too and afterwards, life will go on"

About Game 6, he said: "There's not a lot left to be said, it's clear we didn't play our best game. They're normally more physical, but we weren't aggressive enough and focused like they were. We made a lot of mistakes, a few at the end again. We managed to stay close, but they played better, they had a better offense and they hit big shots".

Pressed about the mistakes, he said: "The ball movement wasn't there, at least the way we need to do it in order for our offense to flow better. Their aggressiveness and physicality bothered because of that, because we didn't move the ball fast enough". Then he added: "We have to play a lot better and be more focused to have a shot to win Game 7"

[sexinthatsx]

Manu will come through in Game 7. Book it.

[Sean Cagney]

Manu will come through in Game 7. Book it.

I hope so man, just one more vintage Manu moment.....

[spursparker9]

One hell of a ride.

Thank you, Manu.

[MultiTroll]

Pressed about the mistakes, he said: "The ball movement wasn't there, at least the way we need to do it in order for our offense to flow better.
Does Manu do any self analysis at all, or is he like the one poster aptly applied 'like the dog when he gets too old and is just walking around the house, bumping into things, pissing and dumping where he shouldn't, just unaware'.

A point in game where the Spurs made a great comeback on ball movement, Manutard goes in and gets the inbounds pass, holds the ball for like 8 got damn seconds then launches some pathetic 28 footer that bricked.

[ElNono]

Does Manu do any self analysis at all, or is he like the one poster aptly applied 'like the dog when he gets too old and is just walking around the house, bumping into things, pissing and dumping where he shouldn't, just unaware'.

A point in game where the Spurs made a great comeback on ball movement, Manutard goes in and gets the inbounds pass, holds the ball for like 8 got damn seconds then launches some pathetic 28 footer that bricked.

I don't see Manu excluding himself in that sentence...

[MultiTroll]

I don't see Manu excluding himself in that sentence...
Okay OTOH he certainly does not high lite himself either.
He does that 'no passes on a possession' thing leading to brick hork -a lot these days. Like second only to Parker.

Yes he still hits some great shots has had some good playoff games. But its to the point where its like one out of three good games.
Ill try to find the play in particular i am talking about. A real momentum dud.

The contrast between he and Porker vs Patty and esp last night Beli is stunning.
How the best coach in the league cannot see this is unfathomable.

[ElNono]

Okay OTOH he certainly does not high lite himself either.
He does that 'no passes on a possession' thing leading to brick hork -a lot these days. Like second only to Parker.

Yes he still hits some great shots has had some good playoff games. But its to the point where its like one out of three good games.
Ill try to find the play in particular i am talking about. A real momentum dud.

The contrast between he and Porker vs Patty and esp last night Beli is stunning.
How the best coach in the league cannot see this is unfathomable.

He was asked what the team mistakes were, and he answered that question.

I suppose if somebody would ask him the tough questions like: "why do you stop moving the ball?", or "where is the next Polyanna Poppers secret meeting?" then, he would probably answer those questions.

Obviously, they're aware the lack of ball movement is a problem. If the solution would be super-easy, then we probably would be playing the Rockets already.

Manu is well known to be damn hard on himself, even Pop said so, IIRC. Although I suspect most Spurs players are. These guys aren't a bunch of longtime winners for nothing.

[ElNono]

FWIW, I don't think you're nuts at all, I even think I remember that play... but that's also probably why Manu only played 14 mins last game. Pop probably had enough with the ball stopping and went somewhere else.

[FkLA]

Give him the start tomorrow.

[MultiTroll]

Obviously, they're aware the lack of ball movement is a problem. If the solution would be super-easy, then we probably would be playing the Rockets already.
Aware but unwilling to do anything about it?
How hard can it be to tell Porker to distribute the ball. And if he won't pull him.
I think it's some *message* stubborn Pop want to send that he is sticking with the guys who got him a title in 1942. Be damned if it costs the team the chance for another title.

Pulled Manu? Ya i think we did finally see that twice in this series.
Porker? :lol It's just bizarre.

[Skull-1]

I hope so man, just one more vintage Manu moment.....


I hope so, too. Come on Manu. Dig deep. Empty the tank. Whatever is in it.

[Skull-1]

Does Manu do any self analysis at all, or is he like the one poster aptly applied 'like the dog when he gets too old and is just walking around the house, bumping into things, pissing and dumping where he shouldn't, just unaware'.

A point in game where the Spurs made a great comeback on ball movement, Manutard goes in and gets the inbounds pass, holds the ball for like 8 got damn seconds then launches some pathetic 28 footer that bricked.

I don't think he is aware one damned bit. Hasn't been for years. That's why his game has not changed.

[jiggy_55]

Give him the start tomorrow.

Now that would be something. Maybe even a big enough surprise to confuse LAC for a while lol

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Is it just me or do the Spurs outside of duncan not sound very confident about game 7?

Thanks for the translation buddy :tu

[Spur|n|Austin]

Give him the start tomorrow.

Over? Not saying I disagree but not sure if it works to our bench's advantage.

[FkLA]

Over? Not saying I disagree but not sure if it works to our bench's advantage.

Green. The rotation will be shortened and the starters will play heavy minutes anyway.

[Spur|n|Austin]

Green. The rotation will be shortened and the starters will play heavy minutes anyway.

I guess Green's confidence can't get any lower... may actually spark him.

[cd021]

Give him the start tomorrow.

Not an awful idea. Hopefully its the '13 Game 5 Manu we get.

[cd021]

Over? Not saying I disagree but not sure if it works to our bench's advantage.

You could start him the 1st 7 minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarter. He could start the 2nd and 4th after resting 5 minutes of game time (plus the end of quarter breaks) . Thats 28 minutes. Green would get 20 minutes with Mills and Beli beside him.

[ElNono]

Aware but unwilling to do anything about it?
How hard can it be to tell Porker to distribute the ball. And if he won't pull him.
I think it's some *message* stubborn Pop want to send that he is sticking with the guys who got him a title in 1942. Be damned if it costs the team the chance for another title.

Pulled Manu? Ya i think we did finally see that twice in this series.
Porker? :lol It's just bizarre.

It's not hard at all to tell them, but sometimes they make 5 passes and end up in the same spot. The other teams knows what you're trying to do too.

I mean, yeah, sometimes they get stuck on stupid and take shitty shots. But, well, what team doesn't do that?

And after 12 years, you should know by now we're going to live or die by Tony and Manu...

[ElNono]

Over? Not saying I disagree but not sure if it works to our bench's advantage.

Our bench has been our strongest suit in this series, outside TD and Kawhi.

[ElNono]

Is it just me or do the Spurs outside of duncan not sound very confident about game 7?

Thanks for the translation buddy :tu

No problem. Just not sure where did you get that Manu doesn't sound confident? The tidbit about "life will go on" was about his noncommittal about whether he's retiring or not, not about the game. Perhaps it was lost in translation.

[dg7md]

Not an awful idea. Hopefully its the '13 Game 5 Manu we get.

Could just as easily be '13 Game 7 Manu...

[MultiTroll]

It's not hard at all to tell them, but sometimes they make 5 passes and end up in the same spot.
Thus the other teams defense ends up in different spots.
= much much better for Spurs
= much much better chance at offensive rebound
= much much better position for transition D should the shot miss



I mean, yeah, sometimes they get stuck on stupid and take shitty shots. But, well, what team doesn't do that?
Spurs have gone from "sometimes" to "way too many times" with Porker and Manu.
Answer? Losing teams.


And after 12 years, you should know by now we're going to live or die by Tony and Manu..
Losing strategy to overuse Porker and Manu (if Manu is in ManuTard mode).
Freaking Patty and Beli were on fire.
Oh well i know Coatails is probably gonna do that today. I hold out hope he won't.

[sammy]

Manu will come through in Game 7. Book it.

Damn right! Manu will be beasting! Green, Mills, Bellinelli, Boris, Manu & Kawhi will be raining 3's on those bitches!

[hater]

Just give him the keys to the team tonight. With one caveat. We lose and you immediately retire.

[ElNono]

Thus the other teams defense ends up in different spots.
= much much better for Spurs
= much much better chance at offensive rebound
= much much better position for transition D should the shot miss

It doesn't matter if the wide open shooter doesn't knock down the shot. And that has happened a lot this series.

So what happens, is you keep sinking and your leaders try to go an hero you out.

We know Tony and Manu are in no shape to do that, but stop pretending you don't know why this happens. In Game 3, when everybody was hitting, the ball never stopped moving.


Spurs have gone from "sometimes" to "way too many times" with Porker and Manu.
Answer? Losing teams.

Losing teams? We were a 55 win team this season, despite the injuries and struggles... we're going 7 games against a 56-win team. Perspective, Fabbs.


Losing strategy to overuse Porker and Manu (if Manu is in ManuTard mode).
Freaking Patty and Beli were on fire.
Oh well i know Coatails is probably gonna do that today. I hold out hope he won't.

Patty and Beli both played more mins than Manu last game... and I'm on the record Patty deserves an extended role if hot...

[Amuseddaysleeper]

No problem. Just not sure where did you get that Manu doesn't sound confident? The tidbit about "life will go on" was about his noncommittal about whether he's retiring or not, not about the game. Perhaps it was lost in translation.

It's the "to have a shot at winning game 7" comment but again I'm reading too much into it.

I hope the Spurs come ready to play, even in the game 7 losses the games have been pretty close so I'm sure they'll come out firing.

[TheGoldStandard]

Manu will come back next season on a farewell tour.

[sexinthatsx]

I feel like Manu's offensive prowess has regresed not because of his age, but because Pop's emphasis on involving other players more as well as leaning less and less on Ginobili. If you couldn't tell, this is a season where Pop essentially tried to limit Duncan and Manu's stats just to see how well the team would fare with them regressing; now it's biting them in the ass come playoffs. Manu just has to come out and impose his will on the game like he does every season, and hope that his limited minutes this season doesn't strike or phase his confidence at the least bit.

[Clipper Nation]

Shit, I'd take Manu next year if the Spurs don't want him. He's still better than Crawful.

[MultiTroll]

It doesn't matter if the wide open shooter doesn't knock down the shot. And that has happened a lot this series.
It does matter.
Clipper D has to run around like crazy. Vs watching Porker or getting a break while Manu holds the ball like he's an egg warmer.
As stated, position it leaves Spurs in for transition D is much better.
Kwa in particular does much better with the motion O vs Stand n Veg.


So what happens, is you keep sinking and your leaders try to go an hero you out.
Only if you have a coach that allows that shit.


We know Tony and Manu are in no shape to do that, but stop pretending you don't know why this happens.
:lol There has never been a need to pretend. :pop:


In Game 3, when everybody was hitting, the ball never stopped moving.
Tell me the score of that game again please.



Losing teams? We were a 55 win team this season, despite the injuries and struggles... we're going 7 games against a 56-win team. Perspective, Fabbs. 3-3 for .500
This should have been over in 6.


Patty and Beli both played more mins than Manu last game... and I'm on the record Patty deserves an extended role if hot... Add Porker to that list and we have a series win. And don't just make it "more". Reverse Porker and Patty/Cojos minutes. (Patty + Cojo get 3 to 1 minutes over Porker). Porker can come in for spot minutes and run the O. He starts jacking off Enrique style he's gone.

[ElNono]

It does matter.
Clipper D has to run around like crazy. Vs watching Porker or getting a break while Manu holds the ball like he's an egg warmer.
As stated, position it leaves Spurs in for transition D is much better.
Kwa in particular does much better with the motion O vs Stand n Veg.

Only if you have a coach that allows that shit.

:lol There has never been a need to pretend. :pop:

Tell me the score of that game again please.

3-3 for .500
This should have been over in 6.

Add Porker to that list and we have a series win. And don't just make it "more". Reverse Porker and Patty/Cojos minutes. (Patty + Cojo get 3 to 1 minutes over Porker). Porker can come in for spot minutes and run the O. He starts jacking off Enrique style he's gone.

Fabbs, I read your points, agree and disagree, but it's undeniable that we're just not playing well at a lot of different positions. I don't think the Clippers look like world-beaters either (Blake and Paul have been their consistently good players, but the rest is very up and down). Which is why this series is 3-3...

Let's watch tonight game and then either none of this will matter or we'll have all summer to talk about it. Hope you have some good food and booze for tonight :toast

[Mugen]

Will always love you Manu, great times and bad....

I know somewhere up there, my man ElNono is lookin' down... Quilmes in one hand....empanada in the other....and smiling.

:toast

[ElNono]

:toast

[BillMc]

Manu is my second favorite Spurs all time (behind Timmy) I don't want him to retire, but if he does we can all celebrate his amazing career.

Either way, we'll have weeks to talk about this, because we're beating L.A. tonight. :ihit

[cd021]

Could just as easily be '13 Game 7 Manu...

Which wasn't bad. 18 points, 5 assists. I think you're thinking of game 6.