Kori Ellis
11-16-2004, 03:04 AM
Ginobili retains highlights, but adds all-around excellence
Web Posted: 11/16/2004 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111604.1D.spurs.5f298d36.html
Sometimes it was the behind-the-back dribble. Or the skip pass through a defender's leg. Or the no-look, over-the-shoulder, off-the-glass shot he seemed to flip in once a game.
Each time Manu Ginobili created a how-did-he-do-that moment, Kevin Willis rose from the bench and pointed at his teammate. It was a sign of respect from Willis, a thank-you of sorts.
Ginobili made the plays, Willis pointed, the deliver-and-stand routine lasting two seasons.
Willis, having since relocated to Atlanta, now has to rely on a satellite dish, NBA League Pass and the occasional scouting tape to keep up with the Spurs. But Ginobili has him shaking his head more than ever.
"The kid's on a tear," Willis said. "It's unbelievable. I feel, in my opinion, he's the most exciting small forward/(shooting)-guard in the league. By far."
Having long been a plays-of-the-week regular, Ginobili has production to match his highlights. Through the Spurs' first six games, he has become a coach's (and fantasy enthusiasts') dream, averaging 20.5points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and a league-leading 3.0steals. Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Paul Pierce and Dwyane Wade are the only other players in the league's 20-6-5 club.
Ginobili described his start as nothing more than "a good week." He played well at times early last season, too. With Tim Duncan and Tony Parker sidelined with injuries, he scored a career-best 33 points in a double-overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Two months later, he lost his starting job.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made the switch in part to boost Hedo Turkoglu's confidence but also because of Ginobili's increasingly inconsistent play. Even now, Ginobili won't blame his struggles on a back injury that landed him on the injured list for five games.
Opening up
The difference this season, he said, is confidence. His own, as well as the faith his teammates and Popovich have shown in him. Before games, he often can be found in a corner of the locker room, trading jokes with his teammates. Two years ago, new to the league and frustrated by a slow-to-heal left ankle sprain, Ginobili primarily kept to himself until Willis ordered him to formally greet each player every day.
In the same week this summer, Ginobili found personal and financial security, first marrying his longtime girlfriend, Marianela, then signing a six-year, $52 million contract. One month later, he led Argentina to a victory over the United States and on to the country's first Olympic gold medal in 52 years.
Ginobili even looks more comfortable off the court, often trading jokes with teammates from his seat in the corner of the locker room.
If the new contract hadn't already convinced Ginobili of his importance to the team, Popovich reconfirmed it when he spoke with him before the season. Though a good portion of Ginobili's scoring opportunities come from the team's transition offense, motion or simply playing off Duncan, Popovich has called more plays for him this season — similar to what the Spurs did when Sean Elliott was complementing David Robinson.
In return, Ginobili hasn't pressed as much as he did.
"He's letting the game come to him a lot more in certain situations," Popovich said. "And in other situations he's taking advantage of people, realizing who's guarding him, where he is on the floor.
"You haven't seen him in as many crowds. When you see him doing something now he usually got to the rim or got a pretty open shot. In the past you'd see him in the middle of three people a lot, somebody taking the ball from him, getting a foul — getting into predicaments."
'No middle ground'
Ginobili is averaging a team-high 3.33 turnovers, but his fearlessness has created far more problems for the Spurs' opponents than themselves. In Friday's victory over Miami, Shaquille O'Neal looked to make a routine outlet pass when Ginobili came up behind him and poked the ball out of his oversized hands.
Seemingly tormented by Ginobili every time he stepped on the floor, Eddie Jones fouled out in only 19 minutes. The coup de grace came when Jones, frustrated by Ginobili's limitless energy, flattened him with a forearm to the back.
Ginobili "is the kind of guy you just have to let him do his thing," Willis said. "You just have to take the good with the bad. There's no middle ground."
There's been far more good than bad for Ginobili this season. A 42.5 percent shooter entering the season, he has made 52.4 percent of his shots (including 50 percent of his 3-point attempts), third-best in the league among perimeter players.
"I probably shouldn't say it," Ginobili said, "but I'm one of those guys who thinks in an 82-game season, in the long term, your percentage is going to go where it has to."
For now, at least, Ginobili is the league's most efficient scorer, averaging 1.7 points per shot. He scored 24, 21, 22 and 29 points, respectively, against Sacramento, Seattle, Golden State and Miami, taking only 12 shots in each game. With officials cracking down on perimeter contact this season, Ginobili has even more cause to attack.
"The thing that gets you a little bit," said Warriors coach Mike Montgomery, "is when you have a scouting report and you talk ad nauseam about a kid going to his left, and he still goes left and dunks on you."
Though the Spurs haven't had a shooting guard average 20 points since George Gervin did 20 seasons ago, Ginobili doesn't want to predicate his game on scoring. Tired and a little sore from Friday's run-in with O'Neal and Jones, he took only six shots against Atlanta on Saturday, choosing instead to act as a distributor. He had a career-high nine assists — the third time he's led the team in that category this season.
Two hours earlier, Ginobili walked onto the court for warm-ups and found Willis pointing at him. Ginobili laughed and wrapped his old teammate in a hug. No prodding needed.
Web Posted: 11/16/2004 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111604.1D.spurs.5f298d36.html
Sometimes it was the behind-the-back dribble. Or the skip pass through a defender's leg. Or the no-look, over-the-shoulder, off-the-glass shot he seemed to flip in once a game.
Each time Manu Ginobili created a how-did-he-do-that moment, Kevin Willis rose from the bench and pointed at his teammate. It was a sign of respect from Willis, a thank-you of sorts.
Ginobili made the plays, Willis pointed, the deliver-and-stand routine lasting two seasons.
Willis, having since relocated to Atlanta, now has to rely on a satellite dish, NBA League Pass and the occasional scouting tape to keep up with the Spurs. But Ginobili has him shaking his head more than ever.
"The kid's on a tear," Willis said. "It's unbelievable. I feel, in my opinion, he's the most exciting small forward/(shooting)-guard in the league. By far."
Having long been a plays-of-the-week regular, Ginobili has production to match his highlights. Through the Spurs' first six games, he has become a coach's (and fantasy enthusiasts') dream, averaging 20.5points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and a league-leading 3.0steals. Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Paul Pierce and Dwyane Wade are the only other players in the league's 20-6-5 club.
Ginobili described his start as nothing more than "a good week." He played well at times early last season, too. With Tim Duncan and Tony Parker sidelined with injuries, he scored a career-best 33 points in a double-overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Two months later, he lost his starting job.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made the switch in part to boost Hedo Turkoglu's confidence but also because of Ginobili's increasingly inconsistent play. Even now, Ginobili won't blame his struggles on a back injury that landed him on the injured list for five games.
Opening up
The difference this season, he said, is confidence. His own, as well as the faith his teammates and Popovich have shown in him. Before games, he often can be found in a corner of the locker room, trading jokes with his teammates. Two years ago, new to the league and frustrated by a slow-to-heal left ankle sprain, Ginobili primarily kept to himself until Willis ordered him to formally greet each player every day.
In the same week this summer, Ginobili found personal and financial security, first marrying his longtime girlfriend, Marianela, then signing a six-year, $52 million contract. One month later, he led Argentina to a victory over the United States and on to the country's first Olympic gold medal in 52 years.
Ginobili even looks more comfortable off the court, often trading jokes with teammates from his seat in the corner of the locker room.
If the new contract hadn't already convinced Ginobili of his importance to the team, Popovich reconfirmed it when he spoke with him before the season. Though a good portion of Ginobili's scoring opportunities come from the team's transition offense, motion or simply playing off Duncan, Popovich has called more plays for him this season — similar to what the Spurs did when Sean Elliott was complementing David Robinson.
In return, Ginobili hasn't pressed as much as he did.
"He's letting the game come to him a lot more in certain situations," Popovich said. "And in other situations he's taking advantage of people, realizing who's guarding him, where he is on the floor.
"You haven't seen him in as many crowds. When you see him doing something now he usually got to the rim or got a pretty open shot. In the past you'd see him in the middle of three people a lot, somebody taking the ball from him, getting a foul — getting into predicaments."
'No middle ground'
Ginobili is averaging a team-high 3.33 turnovers, but his fearlessness has created far more problems for the Spurs' opponents than themselves. In Friday's victory over Miami, Shaquille O'Neal looked to make a routine outlet pass when Ginobili came up behind him and poked the ball out of his oversized hands.
Seemingly tormented by Ginobili every time he stepped on the floor, Eddie Jones fouled out in only 19 minutes. The coup de grace came when Jones, frustrated by Ginobili's limitless energy, flattened him with a forearm to the back.
Ginobili "is the kind of guy you just have to let him do his thing," Willis said. "You just have to take the good with the bad. There's no middle ground."
There's been far more good than bad for Ginobili this season. A 42.5 percent shooter entering the season, he has made 52.4 percent of his shots (including 50 percent of his 3-point attempts), third-best in the league among perimeter players.
"I probably shouldn't say it," Ginobili said, "but I'm one of those guys who thinks in an 82-game season, in the long term, your percentage is going to go where it has to."
For now, at least, Ginobili is the league's most efficient scorer, averaging 1.7 points per shot. He scored 24, 21, 22 and 29 points, respectively, against Sacramento, Seattle, Golden State and Miami, taking only 12 shots in each game. With officials cracking down on perimeter contact this season, Ginobili has even more cause to attack.
"The thing that gets you a little bit," said Warriors coach Mike Montgomery, "is when you have a scouting report and you talk ad nauseam about a kid going to his left, and he still goes left and dunks on you."
Though the Spurs haven't had a shooting guard average 20 points since George Gervin did 20 seasons ago, Ginobili doesn't want to predicate his game on scoring. Tired and a little sore from Friday's run-in with O'Neal and Jones, he took only six shots against Atlanta on Saturday, choosing instead to act as a distributor. He had a career-high nine assists — the third time he's led the team in that category this season.
Two hours earlier, Ginobili walked onto the court for warm-ups and found Willis pointing at him. Ginobili laughed and wrapped his old teammate in a hug. No prodding needed.