Kori Ellis
11-08-2005, 04:05 AM
Spurs Notebook: Ginobili fighting through injuries
Web Posted: 11/08/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110805.7D.spurs.notes.1736e95e.html
CHICAGO — Manu Ginobili had to talk his way into playing Monday night against the Chicago Bulls.
Concerned that Ginobili's right leg wasn't getting any better, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was leaning toward giving his starting shooting guard a couple of games off to rest.
But Ginobili felt confident enough after testing his leg during warm-ups to ask to play.
"I told him I wanted to give it another try," Ginobili said.
Ginobili has lacked his usual explosiveness since bruising his right quadriceps in practice three days before the start of the season. His right ankle also began to trouble him Saturday when he missed nine of his 11 shots in the Spurs' loss in Dallas.
Ginobili also went 2 for 9 in the season opener. Several of his misses in the first three games were shots at the rim he usually finishes.
Ginobili said Monday his ankle felt better, but his leg obviously had yet to completely heal.
"We're very concerned," Popovich said before the game. "We're hoping we're making the right decision by letting him go one more night. He seems to think he's improving every day a little bit, but we don't see it.
"We'll just respect his decision to play, but if we don't like what we'll see, we'll sit him down."
To the rafters: Popovich's high school in Merrillville, Ind., plans to retire his jersey at halftime of a game on Dec.30. The Spurs have that day off, so Popovich plans to attend.
"It's funny, I don't remember anyone wanting to retire my number when I was coaching at Pomona," Popovich said, laughing.
"I don't think I've changed as a high-school player since then."
Popovich, coincidentally, wore No.21 — the same as Tim Duncan.
50-50 feedback: Popovich gave the league's new dress code a mixed review.
"That part where the bench guys are not playing and have to present themselves in a way most people would present themselves in any business is cool," Popovich said. "But the more specific you get, the more minefields you hit.
"I felt like a cadet again when (the dress code) first came out. I just said, 'Is somebody going to inspect me every day and see what I'm doing?'
"We'll see how it goes, but I think it will die down to nothing as long as the guys on the bench do what they need to."
That said, Popovich also admitted he will have a tough time getting Duncan to comply if he should sit out a game. All players on the bench not in uniform must wear a sports jacket.
"If Timmy is hurt," Popovich said, "I think he'll just have to stay home."
Moving up: Duncan's block of Kurt Hinrich in the first quarter was the 1,500th of his career. He joins Miami's Shaquille O'Neal as the only active players with at least 13,000 points, 7,000 rebounds and 1,500 blocks.
Duncan ranks second on the Spurs' all-time list for blocks, though he has a ways to go before he needs to start thinking about catching David Robinson. Robinson retired with 2,954 in his 14-year career.
For a good cause: Popovich participated in a wine tasting in Hinsdale, Ill., on Sunday to benefit Chicago-based Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The $2,500-a-plate event raised $50,000.
The event was organized after the owners of A Taste of Vino, a Hinsdale wine store, read that Popovich had never tasted a selection from Domaine de la Romanée. Popovich took Sean Elliott with him.
Web Posted: 11/08/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110805.7D.spurs.notes.1736e95e.html
CHICAGO — Manu Ginobili had to talk his way into playing Monday night against the Chicago Bulls.
Concerned that Ginobili's right leg wasn't getting any better, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was leaning toward giving his starting shooting guard a couple of games off to rest.
But Ginobili felt confident enough after testing his leg during warm-ups to ask to play.
"I told him I wanted to give it another try," Ginobili said.
Ginobili has lacked his usual explosiveness since bruising his right quadriceps in practice three days before the start of the season. His right ankle also began to trouble him Saturday when he missed nine of his 11 shots in the Spurs' loss in Dallas.
Ginobili also went 2 for 9 in the season opener. Several of his misses in the first three games were shots at the rim he usually finishes.
Ginobili said Monday his ankle felt better, but his leg obviously had yet to completely heal.
"We're very concerned," Popovich said before the game. "We're hoping we're making the right decision by letting him go one more night. He seems to think he's improving every day a little bit, but we don't see it.
"We'll just respect his decision to play, but if we don't like what we'll see, we'll sit him down."
To the rafters: Popovich's high school in Merrillville, Ind., plans to retire his jersey at halftime of a game on Dec.30. The Spurs have that day off, so Popovich plans to attend.
"It's funny, I don't remember anyone wanting to retire my number when I was coaching at Pomona," Popovich said, laughing.
"I don't think I've changed as a high-school player since then."
Popovich, coincidentally, wore No.21 — the same as Tim Duncan.
50-50 feedback: Popovich gave the league's new dress code a mixed review.
"That part where the bench guys are not playing and have to present themselves in a way most people would present themselves in any business is cool," Popovich said. "But the more specific you get, the more minefields you hit.
"I felt like a cadet again when (the dress code) first came out. I just said, 'Is somebody going to inspect me every day and see what I'm doing?'
"We'll see how it goes, but I think it will die down to nothing as long as the guys on the bench do what they need to."
That said, Popovich also admitted he will have a tough time getting Duncan to comply if he should sit out a game. All players on the bench not in uniform must wear a sports jacket.
"If Timmy is hurt," Popovich said, "I think he'll just have to stay home."
Moving up: Duncan's block of Kurt Hinrich in the first quarter was the 1,500th of his career. He joins Miami's Shaquille O'Neal as the only active players with at least 13,000 points, 7,000 rebounds and 1,500 blocks.
Duncan ranks second on the Spurs' all-time list for blocks, though he has a ways to go before he needs to start thinking about catching David Robinson. Robinson retired with 2,954 in his 14-year career.
For a good cause: Popovich participated in a wine tasting in Hinsdale, Ill., on Sunday to benefit Chicago-based Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The $2,500-a-plate event raised $50,000.
The event was organized after the owners of A Taste of Vino, a Hinsdale wine store, read that Popovich had never tasted a selection from Domaine de la Romanée. Popovich took Sean Elliott with him.