Kori Ellis
12-06-2005, 01:28 AM
Wary Ginobili jolted in return: Collision to left knee not serious, he says
Web Posted: 12/06/2005 12:16 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120605.5D.BKNspurs.notebook.ginobili.da1c5e8.h tml
ORLANDO, Fla. — After spending the past five days receiving treatment on his bruised right ankle, Manu Ginobili returned to the floor Monday — and promptly hurt his left knee.
Ginobili suffered his knee-on-knee collision less than three minutes into the game. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich briefly replaced him with Michael Finley, but Ginobili returned and finished with four points, four assists and three rebounds in 21 minutes.
"When you're already (compensating) for one leg and you hurt the other, that makes it more difficult," Ginobili said with a laugh. "None of (the injuries) are serious, but, of course, we have to be careful. I don't want to take three steps back."
Ginobili thought his biggest problem Monday was that he played too tentative.
"I was being too cautious to play my game," he said.
Ginobili picked up his first points when Tony Parker found him near the basket for a reverse layup. He also helped slow Orlando's fourth-quarter comeback with a pair of free throws after driving into the lane.
"I thought the he was a little antsy in the first half," Popovich said. "In the second half, he took his time and let the game come to him a lot more. I thought he was getting into form in the second half."
After the game, Ginobili returned to the court to participate in a live TV broadcast by Fox Sports that honored him as the Latin American Athlete of the Year.
Reminded of Robinson: Dwight Howard turns all of 20 on Thursday, but Boston coach Doc Rivers has seen enough of the Orlando forward to remind him of one of his former teammates: David Robinson.
"To me, he walks like David, talks like David," Rivers told reporters in Boston last week. "He's very religious. His whole life is very much like David's.
"I don't want to put pressure on Howard. They're just very much alike."
Said Howard: "I just feel honored that an NBA coach would say I remind him of an NBA great. That's amazing."
Howard didn't get to see many of Robinson's games growing up, but he has watched footage of the former Spurs center's quadruple-double performance against Detroit on Feb. 17, 1994. Robinson also gave Howard some advice as he was getting ready to join the NBA.
"He said the stuff I do off the court will bring more success to me on the court," Howard said. "Stay away from temptation and stuff like that."
Hill on the mend, again: Orlando forward Grant Hill, who has yet to play this season after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia, said there's a chance he could make his first appearance this week.
He underwent surgery on Oct. 31 — two days before the Magic's season opener — and was projected to miss three to six weeks.
"It could be Wednesday, it could be next Wednesday," said Hill, who hopes to participate in his first five-on-five scrimmage today. "I think definitely within the next two weeks I'll be out there."
Since signing with Orlando in July 2000, he has played in 114 of a possible 427 games, missing most of the time because of recurring problems with his left ankle.
"I'm looking forward to getting back out there," he said. "I'm tired of sitting."
Francis out: Magic point guard Steve Francis rejoined the team after seeking a second opinion on a chest injury, but was not feeling good enough to play Monday night.
Francis said he strained rib cartilage in a single-car accident on Nov. 19.
Draft pick a French All-Star: Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' first-round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, was selected Monday to play in the French League All-Star Game on Dec. 18.
Web Posted: 12/06/2005 12:16 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA120605.5D.BKNspurs.notebook.ginobili.da1c5e8.h tml
ORLANDO, Fla. — After spending the past five days receiving treatment on his bruised right ankle, Manu Ginobili returned to the floor Monday — and promptly hurt his left knee.
Ginobili suffered his knee-on-knee collision less than three minutes into the game. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich briefly replaced him with Michael Finley, but Ginobili returned and finished with four points, four assists and three rebounds in 21 minutes.
"When you're already (compensating) for one leg and you hurt the other, that makes it more difficult," Ginobili said with a laugh. "None of (the injuries) are serious, but, of course, we have to be careful. I don't want to take three steps back."
Ginobili thought his biggest problem Monday was that he played too tentative.
"I was being too cautious to play my game," he said.
Ginobili picked up his first points when Tony Parker found him near the basket for a reverse layup. He also helped slow Orlando's fourth-quarter comeback with a pair of free throws after driving into the lane.
"I thought the he was a little antsy in the first half," Popovich said. "In the second half, he took his time and let the game come to him a lot more. I thought he was getting into form in the second half."
After the game, Ginobili returned to the court to participate in a live TV broadcast by Fox Sports that honored him as the Latin American Athlete of the Year.
Reminded of Robinson: Dwight Howard turns all of 20 on Thursday, but Boston coach Doc Rivers has seen enough of the Orlando forward to remind him of one of his former teammates: David Robinson.
"To me, he walks like David, talks like David," Rivers told reporters in Boston last week. "He's very religious. His whole life is very much like David's.
"I don't want to put pressure on Howard. They're just very much alike."
Said Howard: "I just feel honored that an NBA coach would say I remind him of an NBA great. That's amazing."
Howard didn't get to see many of Robinson's games growing up, but he has watched footage of the former Spurs center's quadruple-double performance against Detroit on Feb. 17, 1994. Robinson also gave Howard some advice as he was getting ready to join the NBA.
"He said the stuff I do off the court will bring more success to me on the court," Howard said. "Stay away from temptation and stuff like that."
Hill on the mend, again: Orlando forward Grant Hill, who has yet to play this season after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia, said there's a chance he could make his first appearance this week.
He underwent surgery on Oct. 31 — two days before the Magic's season opener — and was projected to miss three to six weeks.
"It could be Wednesday, it could be next Wednesday," said Hill, who hopes to participate in his first five-on-five scrimmage today. "I think definitely within the next two weeks I'll be out there."
Since signing with Orlando in July 2000, he has played in 114 of a possible 427 games, missing most of the time because of recurring problems with his left ankle.
"I'm looking forward to getting back out there," he said. "I'm tired of sitting."
Francis out: Magic point guard Steve Francis rejoined the team after seeking a second opinion on a chest injury, but was not feeling good enough to play Monday night.
Francis said he strained rib cartilage in a single-car accident on Nov. 19.
Draft pick a French All-Star: Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' first-round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, was selected Monday to play in the French League All-Star Game on Dec. 18.