Kori Ellis
05-18-2006, 04:10 AM
Spurs' Ginobili again imposes his will
Web Posted: 05/18/2006 01:16 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051806.4D.BKNspurs.ginobili.1d51da9e.html
In the four seasons Manu Ginobili has been in San Antonio playing for the Spurs, his English has improved each year, to the point he rarely has to ask for the meaning of a phrase or word.
But when the Argentine guard was asked if he always believes he can impose his will on a close game in the final minutes, he paused.
"Impose your will means winning," Ginobili asked, "or dominating?
Told it meant, in essence, making things happen the way you want them to happen, Ginobili smiled.
"Yes," he said. "You always believe you can do it."
Ginobili's ability to make big plays is a function of a competitive nature so fierce, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich marvels at an intensity that allowed Ginobili to snatch the ball from Jason Terry's grasp with 1:10 left, then to emerge with it after the Spurs' Bruce Bowen and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki competed for a jump ball with 6.3 seconds left.
"He's one of the most competitive players I've ever been around," Popovich said. "Those are the plays when it shows."
Ginobili made certain he got his hands on the ball after Bowen prevented Nowitzki from controlling the jump ball, also making certain to prevent, among other things, the Mavericks calling a timeout to set up a final play that would leave them enough time for a good shot.
"I think they were going to call a timeout (if they got the ball),"Ginobili said.
"I sort of guessed they were going to try to go to the bucket there, and I just took my chances. I was pretty confident about it."
Ginobili nearly gained sole possession of the ball near mid-court, but Terry managed to get his hands on it enough for referee Bernie Fryer to call for another jump ball, this time at the half-court circle. Only 3.4 seconds were left this time. Even though the Mavericks' Josh Howard grabbed the ball, the Mavericks were left with only 2.4 seconds to get off a final shot.
Ginobili, who finished with 18 points, scored what would turn out to be the Spurs' final basket of the game, a floater over 7-footer DeSagana Diop with 3:55 remaining that gave the Spurs a 95-90 lead. It was one of the few times in the series he successfully finished one of his signature drives to the rim, and he credited the Mavericks' big men for making things difficult for him all series.
"That's kind of a trademark move for me," Ginobili said of his drive from the right side and finish over Diop. "It is something I always try to do — when they are playing on the right side, I try to go back left. It is a move that I do a lot, but so far in this series, I just couldn't finish on top of him, so I'm glad that I could just once.
"They are big, and they've been in great position. Not many times do you see them out of position or getting late to the shot. Give them credit."
Web Posted: 05/18/2006 01:16 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051806.4D.BKNspurs.ginobili.1d51da9e.html
In the four seasons Manu Ginobili has been in San Antonio playing for the Spurs, his English has improved each year, to the point he rarely has to ask for the meaning of a phrase or word.
But when the Argentine guard was asked if he always believes he can impose his will on a close game in the final minutes, he paused.
"Impose your will means winning," Ginobili asked, "or dominating?
Told it meant, in essence, making things happen the way you want them to happen, Ginobili smiled.
"Yes," he said. "You always believe you can do it."
Ginobili's ability to make big plays is a function of a competitive nature so fierce, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich marvels at an intensity that allowed Ginobili to snatch the ball from Jason Terry's grasp with 1:10 left, then to emerge with it after the Spurs' Bruce Bowen and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki competed for a jump ball with 6.3 seconds left.
"He's one of the most competitive players I've ever been around," Popovich said. "Those are the plays when it shows."
Ginobili made certain he got his hands on the ball after Bowen prevented Nowitzki from controlling the jump ball, also making certain to prevent, among other things, the Mavericks calling a timeout to set up a final play that would leave them enough time for a good shot.
"I think they were going to call a timeout (if they got the ball),"Ginobili said.
"I sort of guessed they were going to try to go to the bucket there, and I just took my chances. I was pretty confident about it."
Ginobili nearly gained sole possession of the ball near mid-court, but Terry managed to get his hands on it enough for referee Bernie Fryer to call for another jump ball, this time at the half-court circle. Only 3.4 seconds were left this time. Even though the Mavericks' Josh Howard grabbed the ball, the Mavericks were left with only 2.4 seconds to get off a final shot.
Ginobili, who finished with 18 points, scored what would turn out to be the Spurs' final basket of the game, a floater over 7-footer DeSagana Diop with 3:55 remaining that gave the Spurs a 95-90 lead. It was one of the few times in the series he successfully finished one of his signature drives to the rim, and he credited the Mavericks' big men for making things difficult for him all series.
"That's kind of a trademark move for me," Ginobili said of his drive from the right side and finish over Diop. "It is something I always try to do — when they are playing on the right side, I try to go back left. It is a move that I do a lot, but so far in this series, I just couldn't finish on top of him, so I'm glad that I could just once.
"They are big, and they've been in great position. Not many times do you see them out of position or getting late to the shot. Give them credit."