Ginobili lays blame on Spurs' confidence

[Kori Ellis]

Ginobili lays blame on Spurs' confidence

Web Posted: 03/18/2007 01:12 AM CDT

Mike Monroe
Express-News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031807.06C.BKNspurs.ginobili.3c8bdbf.html

Calling the Spurs' performance in their last three games a big step backward with the playoffs looming, guard Manu Ginobili challenged his teammates to stop being cocky and forget their 13-game winning streak that seemed to breed overconfidence.

"Nobody gives a (damn) about those 13 games," Ginobili said after the Boston Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 at AT&T Center on Saturday. "We've really got to start doing things better and be more humble."

Just as coach Gregg Popovich warned when the Spurs struggled Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers in what turned out to be consecutive victory No. 13, a lack of focus and mental intensity caused the Spurs to suffer their first back-to-back losses in nearly five weeks.

"I think the three games are a step back," Ginobili said. "We beat the Clippers, but we didn't play good at all. We've really got to go back to play the way we were playing two weeks ago."

After a loss in Milwaukee on Thursday and a practice on Friday, Ginobili expected the Spurs to open Saturday's game aggressively and crisply. Instead, they missed their first five shots and trailed by 10 after just 6:35 had been played.

"I really can't understand it," Ginobili said. "We started very slow. We came back and brought the game to five, and then we started the third quarter again with a 10-0 (Celtics) run. We can't allow that to happen. We've got to step out and play with more aggressiveness, knowing that we've got 16 games to the playoffs. We should be in way better shape."

It wasn't hard to pinpoint one reason for the Spurs' struggles at the outset of both the first and third quarters: horrid shooting. They made only 6 of 19 shots in the first period, only 7 of 21 in the third. For the game they made only 1 of 17 3-pointers.

No Spur struggled more thoroughly with his shot than Bruce Bowen, who missed 7 of 8 shots and clanked both his 3-point attempts. He even air-balled a layup on a four-on-one fast break.

"What a time to struggle," Bowen said. "There's one thing in struggles: You don't want somebody to start shooting shots they're not capable of making or start trying to do too much. I missed shots that I'm capable of making tonight. But of all nights, I knew I'd get shots tonight, and that's usually enough to make you feel good. I got them and just didn't do well with them."

Bowen also committed a key crunch time turnover, losing the ball as he started a dribble from the top of the key with the score tied at 85.

"I pump-faked a pass into Tim and (Gerald Green) jumped," Bowen said, "so I had that whole lane in front of me. I want to see the replay of what happened. I know he had a hand on the ball, but how did he get a hand in? Was he riding me? That's all I want to see."

[SpursDynasty]

Also, the Spurs are allowing other teams to get too confident against them as well.

When Boston and Milwaukee get WIDE OPEN jump shots that my 10 year old cousin could make against them, it gives them confidence and they keep sinking a bunch of jump shots that shouldn't be going in. That's the problem.

Milwaukee and Boston are a combined 45-87 in the regular season right now. SA has more wins than both of those teams COMBINED. And yet they come out, gain some confidence that the Spurs allow them to get, by taking a bunch of wide open jump shots that fall in.

I guarantee you this won't be happening in one month.

[boutons_]

We've been hearing the sames shit repeated too many times.

This team is a collective head case. It's like they've never played together, like they've never won 2 championships together, like they don't know to play basketball. Fucking amazing.

[whottt]

Also, the Spurs are allowing other teams to get too confident against them as well.

When Boston and Milwaukee get WIDE OPEN jump shots that my 10 year old cousin could make against them, it gives them confidence and they keep sinking a bunch of jump shots that shouldn't be going in. That's the problem.

Milwaukee and Boston are a combined 45-87 in the regular season right now. SA has more wins than both of those teams COMBINED. And yet they come out, gain some confidence that the Spurs allow them to get, by taking a bunch of wide open jump shots that fall in.

I guarantee you this won't be happening in one month.


Is this like you guranteed an 18 game winning streak?

What a wonderful bit of inspriation that was...coincidentally your divine foresight just so happened to see one more win than the Mavs won...lame.

You got 170 posts and the most notable of them is you being wrong...if it is your intent to make a spalsh on this board as a clown, congrats...you've succeeded already.

Guranteeing that we won't see this in the playoffs only proves to me that you weren't watching last years playoffs.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

"Nobody gives a (damn) about those 13 games," Ginobili said after the Boston Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 at AT&T Center on Saturday. "We've really got to start doing things better and be more humble."



"I really can't understand it," Ginobili said. "We started very slow. We came back and brought the game to five, and then we started the third quarter again with a 10-0 (Celtics) run. We can't allow that to happen. We've got to step out and play with more aggressiveness, knowing that we've got 16 games to the playoffs. We should be in way better shape."

:wow

So Is Ginobili becoming more vocal towards the team??

I think the Spurs maybe were riding high off their streak? Spurs always get complacent, and Pop probably got pissed about that.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Is this like you guranteed an 18 game winning streak?

What a wonderful bit of inspriation that was...coincidentally your divine foresight just so happened to see one more win than the Mavs won...lame.

You got 170 posts and the most notable of them is you being wrong...if it is your intent to make a spalsh on this board as a clown, congrats...you've succeeded already.

Guranteeing that we won't see this in the playoffs only proves to me that you weren't watching last years playoffs.
:lol

I don't think cocky predictions of some of the Spurs fans on here, with that stupid 18 streak thread. (it was so stupid and random) is reason to worry about how the Spurs were cocky themselves a little. At least playing with less urgency and focus, as they were when they responded to their slump.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

i applaud ginobili for calling out this sorry excuse for a team (at time) but he needs to step up himself and lead by example. He's been playing terrible the past few games, and it's almost hypocritical for him to call out teammates if he isn't doing much himself.


Having said that, it's about time players started taking responsibility

[whottt]

i applaud ginobili for calling out this sorry excuse for a team (at time) but he needs to step up himself and lead by example. He's been playing terrible the past few games, and it's almost hypocritical for him to call out teammates if he isn't doing much himself.


Having said that, it's about time players started taking responsibility


I don't know what game you were watching tonight but I saw Manu drawing multiple defenders on many of his penetrations and making beautiful passes to wide open Spurs who bricked time and time again...

Manu should have had about 19 assists tonight...he got 6.


Edit: And I don't think it's a case of him calling out his teamates and excusing himself anyway...Manu always speaks in terms of the team...I don't think I've ever heard him single a teamate out.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

i applaud ginobili for calling out this sorry excuse for a team (at time) but he needs to step up himself and lead by example. He's been playing terrible the past few games, and it's almost hypocritical for him to call out teammates if he isn't doing much himself.


Having said that, it's about time players started taking responsibility
yeah I was wondering about that, but I think Ginobili probably includes himself, and he's usually pretty hard on himself when he plays poorly.

Maybe Manu should talk to Pop about it. :lol I think Manu is usually right and calls things like he sees 'em. He's a weird guy, in that he's never fooled or swayed away from his one goal, from frivolous celebrations. Or will admit when there's some overconfidence in whatever squad he's playing for in the season..(The Argentinian Team, or the Spurs)Tim may lead by example on the court, but Manu can be another leader in his own way. And I'm glad he's calling them out again, I think he said something earlier, where he was vocal to the press this year.

It's a little bit newer to hear, because I don't remember him doing it so explicitly like now.

Supposedly Finley is the Spurs leader according to Pop. :wow

also, did Manu say "give a damn" ? or was it worse...or did he curse in spanish? He must have been angrier than usual.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I don't know what game you were watching tonight but I saw Manu drawing multiple defenders on many of his penetrations and making beautiful passes to wide open Spurs who bricked time and time again...

Manu should have had about 19 assists tonight...he got 6.


Edit: And I don't think it's a case of him calling out his teamates and excusing himself anyway...Manu always speaks in terms of the team...I don't think I've ever heard him single a teamate out.


we must have seen different games because manu's offense was atrocious.


but he always bounces back and has more heart than any other player in the league

[SpursDynasty]

Is this like you guranteed an 18 game winning streak?

What a wonderful bit of inspriation that was...coincidentally your divine foresight just so happened to see one more win than the Mavs won...lame.

You got 170 posts and the most notable of them is you being wrong...if it is your intent to make a spalsh on this board as a clown, congrats...you've succeeded already.

Guranteeing that we won't see this in the playoffs only proves to me that you weren't watching last years playoffs.

I was watching last years' playoffs. Their first round series with Sacramento was very similar to their first round series with Phoenix in 2003: The underdog team gains confidence, hits a couple of wide open jump shots, ties the series at 2-2, SA comes out and takes the next two and advances to the next round.

What else is new?

Teams that have beaten SA in the playoffs from 1999-2007: Phoenix got us with Duncan injured in 2000, LA Lakers, and Dallas in the closest possible series ever between two top teams. Only two different teams, not counting Phoenix. I have been watching the playoffs. Shows you how consistent we've been and will continue to be. We have never let some sub-par team kick us out of the playoffs. That won't change this year.

I mean, come on, am I really saying anything that is false?

[aaronstampler]

They were trapping him aggressively and as long as we play smallball his only option is to pass to the corners because Duncan is his screener and therefore not open because he's behind Manu once he starts driving.

When we don't play smallball the other big is the screener and Tim can still hang out on the lane and occupy other people, giving Manu an easier path to the basket.

[whottt]

I was watching last years' playoffs. Their first round series with Sacramento was very similar to their first round series with Phoenix in 2003: The underdog team gains confidence, hits a couple of wide open jump shots, ties the series at 2-2, SA comes out and takes the next two and advances to the next round.

What else is new?

Teams that have beaten SA in the playoffs from 2001-2007: LA Lakers, and Dallas in the closest possible series ever between two top teams. Only two different teams. I have been watching the playoffs. Shows you how consistent we've been and will continue to be. We have never let some sub-par team kick us out of the playoffs. That won't change this year.



Pop's crappy coaching has just about killed my desire for arguing on the messageboard...

But I'll just say this...

The series with Phoenix was nothing like the series with the Kings, and the Kings were a hell of a lot closer to beating us than the Suns ever were.


That was an 8 seed nearly bumping off a 1 seed...I mean it was like a Brent Barry roll was the difference.


Bonzi was putting up Bill Russellesque rebound totals against us...

[Kori Ellis]

I don't see that quote by Ginobili as really calling out the team more than how all the Spurs players talk after every loss.

"We've really got to start doing things better and be more humble."

He usually says something very similar after each loss of the season.

[SpursDynasty]

Pop's crappy coaching has just about killed my desire for arguing on the messageboard...

But I'll just say this...

The series with Phoenix was nothing like the series with the Kings, and the Kings were a hell of a lot closer to beating us than the Suns ever were.


That was an 8 seed nearly bumping off a 1 seed...I mean it was like a Brent Barry roll was the difference.


Bonzi was putting up Bill Russellesque rebound totals against us...

Both series were 4-2, in 2003 and 2006. No difference there. Marbury hits some cheap wild jump shot in Game 1 in 2003, Martin hits a cheap layup that shouldn't have happened in 2006 to make it 2-1. It was more PHX/SAC luck than anything else.

Just because the Spurs lost to the Bucks and Celtics, does not mean that Sacramento should have won the series last year, maybe in 2002 when Sacramento actually played real basketball. Some people REALLY freak out when we lose to non-playoff teams.

"We feel like we should be up 3-1 in the series, but we're not" - Mike Bibby
:lol

[Kori Ellis]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn" :lol

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=372968

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn" :lol

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=372968

:lol

Oh, that makes a lot more sense! That puts it in a much more REGULAR context. I thought he was madder than usual, heh.

Then yeah! he always says "they" (collectively) have to try to be more humble after games. For a while now.

For a moment I thought he just brought up out of the blue, that the Spurs were riding high off the 13 game win streak. Not answering a question.
"We shouldn't give a damn about those 13 games!" - Manu Ginobili immediately, after being asked to comment on the loss to Boston at home :madrun

[Clutch20]

I'm glad there was no reference here made to the officiating that took place, it saves time when the focus is on specifics and input tells immediately what went wrong.
Spur's ID is defense, then offense feeding off of defense.

Remember the wild sequence when trapping, stealing, deflections took place and Celts got rattled and those turnovers trans to points.

Defense.

It lacked solidness, like wet cement that never hardened until latter half of the game.

[Clutch20]

Defense has to happen BEFORE the game starts

[wildbill2u]

This year's Spur team is a good team--but not a juggernaut. They have the potential to win every game, but are subject to bad luck and their own mistakes and bad play.

They came from 19 down and could have won this game. If they had won, everyone would be talking about how much 'heart' they had. But they didn't and all the armchair coaches think their play last night in the final seconds means they're crap.

Well, that's crap. They are what they are. They may not win the championship, but they are still in the top echelon of the league and have a better chance than most teams who are going into the playoffs.

[mikeanthony21]

Pop's crappy coaching has just about killed my desire for arguing on the messageboard...

But I'll just say this...

The series with Phoenix was nothing like the series with the Kings, and the Kings were a hell of a lot closer to beating us than the Suns ever were.


That was an 8 seed nearly bumping off a 1 seed...I mean it was like a Brent Barry roll was the difference.


Bonzi was putting up Bill Russellesque rebound totals against us...

He was rebounding for a contract.

[JamStone]

If his rebounding was for a contract, what was his scoring for? A lead role in a hardcore porno movie?

Because aside from rebounding, he was also putting it in the hole a lot.

[leemajors]

If his rebounding was for a contract, what was his scoring for? A lead role in a hardcore porno movie?

Because aside from rebounding, he was also putting it in the hole a lot.

agreed, he was even hitting from three against us. dude really couldn't miss.

[1Parker1]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn" :lol

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=372968

:lol Damn, that completely changes my interpretation of the quote. I was excited to hear Manu sound fired about about losing by saying "Damn!" and was thinking, wow we finally got a leader in that lockerroom....

[angel_luv]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn" :lol

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=372968


That sounds much more like him. :) I was taken aback by that first "quote".

[fred33]

the factor x is elson when he struggle the spurs struggle

[mikeanthony21]

If his rebounding was for a contract, what was his scoring for? A lead role in a hardcore porno movie?

Because aside from rebounding, he was also putting it in the hole a lot.

He probably would've made more from royalties FROM a hardcore porn flick than what he signed for this year. :bang

[Sam]

Be more humble? Who's not being humble? Parker? Bowen? Elson?

[v2freak]

It comes down to more than confidence. With the Spurs up 85-83, Duncan didn't touch the ball again on offense.

[Kori Ellis]

Be more humble? Who's not being humble? Parker? Bowen? Elson?

Manu always uses the phrase "we need to be more humble". He means, as a team, they can't be overconfident against the "lesser" teams.

[1Parker1]

Manu always uses the phrase "we need to be more humble". He means, as a team, they can't be overconfident against the "lesser" teams.

The weird thing is, I'm not sure that was even the case last night. Several people seemed to have pointed out that when the Spurs rallied back from 19 down they really showed they wanted to win and heart and focus. They jsut don't have the right personell this season though to accomplish it.

[Kori Ellis]

The weird thing is, I'm not sure that was even the case last night. Several people seemed to have pointed out that when the Spurs rallied back from 19 down they really showed they wanted to win and heart and focus. They jsut don't have the right personell this season though to accomplish it.

Well I think that the fact they came out so flat and lackadaisical in the first and third quarters is what he is referencing.

They sleepwalked through the whole first quarter and then to start the 3rd quarter, they didn't even get a rebound for 7 minutes.

That heart and focus you are talking about didn't start until 1 min left in the 3rd quarter. So I think that's exactly what he means.

[powerpower]

It comes down to more than confidence. With the Spurs up 85-83, Duncan didn't touch the ball again on offense.

well ask the point guard...why...

[Kori Ellis]

well ask the point guard...why...

:lol

Ridiculous.

[Pugglekicker_21]

Ginobili lays blame on Spurs' confidence


No Spur struggled more thoroughly with his shot than Bruce Bowen, who missed 7 of 8 shots and clanked both his 3-point attempts. He even air-balled a layup on a four-on-one fast break.

"What a time to struggle," Bowen said. "There's one thing in struggles: You don't want somebody to start shooting shots they're not capable of making or start trying to do too much. I missed shots that I'm capable of making tonight. But of all nights, I knew I'd get shots tonight, and that's usually enough to make you feel good. I got them and just didn't do well with them."

Bowen also committed a key crunch time turnover, losing the ball as he started a dribble from the top of the key with the score tied at 85.




Lies!! I think Bowen of all people should know how much he's been sucking at shooting.

[Kori Ellis]

Lies!! I think Bowen of all people should know how much he's been sucking at shooting.

Umm... I think in that quote he is acknowledging that he has been sucking at shooting.

[judaspriestess]

seems to me, Spurs play great against good teams and plays bad against bad teams. Its not the end of the world, they will remain contendars for the title

[spurschick]

I noticed Manu came in earlier than usual in the first quarter. By no means am I putting the problems on Brent starting, but I'm wondering if Manu coming off the bench isn't working anymore. Or perhaps it only works against certain teams. For whatever reason, the Spurs dug themselves a hole in the beginnings of the first and third quarters.

What's bothered me more in the past few games is that we don't have a reliable third scorer. Tony and Timmy have gotten their points, but Manu has obviously dropped off from his streak of a couple weeks ago and there hasn't been anyone to answer the call. Brent got hot the other night, but Tony and Timmy were below their average, so it didn't matter.

[aaronstampler]

Tony and Manu are struggling to play together once again. The more minutes they play together the worse it gets. They played like what, 27 mins together yesterday? And Manu got 8 shots.

[powerpower]

Tony and Manu are struggling to play together once again. The more minutes they play together the worse it gets. They played like what, 27 mins together yesterday? And Manu got 8 shots.


i don't know what it is ...i keep saying its tony because he does not get people involved............but now i don;t know may be ....... any thought???why manu and tony can't seem to play together ?
i have noticed a lot of plays where tony just goes for a lay up and lay up but then that does not work because the other people are not involved at all and later when we actually need someone to score at the end of the fourth quarter tony blows a lay up or passes but since his teamates have not been involved to get their confidence up..it's hard for them to make those shots....

[powerpower]

we just seem to win more when manu is playing and scoring 20 and tony is at the 15 and 7 assist or so......i just want to see Tony find people at their "Sweet" spots and he should know where his teammates like to shoot...like steve nash ...but maybe that is just too much to ask of him ...i don't know

[aaronstampler]

What amazes me the most about Pop is after all this time he either completely misunderstands or chooses to ignore what gets the fans excited in San Antonio.

The fans like it when Manu scores. A LOT. Many people in the arena speak the Español. They naturally gravitate to that Ginobili dude.

Manu scoring = fans clapping and cheering and yelling = energy in the building = more energy for the team = better play.

It's pretty frickin' simple.

But Pop would almost prefer to play in an empty arena rather than considering the thought that the whole purpose of the league is to entertain people. He constantly keeps the team on a leash creatively and never seems to notice when Manu goes through these three minute stretches where he's completely frozen out of the offense. And then people wonder why the team plays like zombies at home sometimes and loses to lesser teams....

Get Manu involved early and often and the fans will be into it and the team won't let down against shit teams. I don't know how I can state this any clearer.

[powerpower]

well sometimes i just feel that manu is not being "appreciated" by pop..i mean he can score
he seems like stackhouse to me but there he gets a lot of the offensive run by him at the end of 1st and beginning of second and even late in the 4th …but Stackhouse is like the 4th option there or the fifth and has more touches on the ball than manu does…
I think pop should really rethink because we are going to end up like last year because we are not going to get anywhere without manu…..

[powerpower]

may be tony should learn that he has to get his teamates confidence up first and then his ...... last game i think he got his first assist in the second half....may be his teamates where not hitting the Shots...but some of that falls on him too because he should know when to pass it to whom and where always!

[powerpower]

What amazes me the most about Pop is after all this time he either completely misunderstands or chooses to ignore what gets the fans excited in San Antonio.

The fans like it when Manu scores. A LOT. Many people in the arena speak the Español. They naturally gravitate to that Ginobili dude.

Manu scoring = fans clapping and cheering and yelling = energy in the building = more energy for the team = better play.

It's pretty frickin' simple.

But Pop would almost prefer to play in an empty arena rather than considering the thought that the whole purpose of the league is to entertain people. He constantly keeps the team on a leash creatively and never seems to notice when Manu goes through these three minute stretches where he's completely frozen out of the offense. And then people wonder why the team plays like zombies at home sometimes and loses to lesser teams....

Get Manu involved early and often and the fans will be into it and the team won't let down against shit teams. I don't know how I can state this any clearer.


i don’t know but it seems that pop does not like manu ...i know it seems absurd but how else can u explain it?

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

It's not that Pop doesn't like Manu. He's just TOO concerned about keeping him on a leash for preservation purposes. Rest your players when they're nursing injuries. But let them play their games when they're healthy. Manu definitely needs to be the second option. It's how WE WON in 2005. Last year Manu was the third and FOURTH option (with a legitimate excuse)! and that kept him out of sync, and ultimately the whole team were old, and lazy, because nothing sparked them in last year's regular season, with Manu hurting.

Manu should be taking 15 shots or more!

It won't effect Tony and Tim's shots, but it will prevent us from having BOWEN take his usual 1 out of 10 shots. I mean, let Manu handle the ball! He automatically looks for the optimal way of scoring. He'll pass to whoever the fuck, whatever time period in the game, whether hot or cold, if they're in a better position to score, he'll do it. I don't know why fans have to wonder, if it's *actually* the case where he's underusing Manu according to strategy. Let the teams adjust to Manu handling the ball.

You can save talent, and rest them for the playoffs, but Manu needs enough minutes where he's running the team. Did he not learn anything?

It was almost as if when Pop was forced to have Tony third scorer because of his latest injury. We were leading bigger and playing more spryly, with Tony getting in his layups, but taking on his role he had in 2005. I hate to admit it, but Tony's great, but the team stagnates when it's just Tony 32 minutes straight, and THEN Manu is asked to handle the fourth. Who's the real reason behind us playing like we did in January? Pop!

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

:lol Damn, that completely changes my interpretation of the quote. I was excited to hear Manu sound fired about about losing by saying "Damn!" and was thinking, wow we finally got a leader in that lockerroom....
:lol Yeah I 'm kind of disappointed in a way, cuz it would have been awesome if he was really pissed. But who knows, maybe he did started cursing in spanish in the locker room, telling the people to get their heads out of their asses and stop celebrating the win streaks.

[Guh-No-Bleee!!!]

Pop better not let this year slip again.

http://www.elnuevoheraldo.com/images/uploads/JC_28_GINOBILI.jpg

It's simple: Give the man the ball!!!!

:bang



























































GUH - NO - BLEEEEEE!!!!!!

[tmtcsc]

"We started very slow. We came back and brought the game to five, and then we started the third quarter again with a 10-0 (Celtics) run. We can't allow that to happen. We've got to step out and play with more aggressiveness, knowing that we've got 16 games to the playoffs. We should be in way better shape." -- Manu Ginobili

I expect that he will be starting on Wednesday. :ihit

[mikeanthony21]

"We started very slow. We came back and brought the game to five, and then we started the third quarter again with a 10-0 (Celtics) run. We can't allow that to happen. We've got to step out and play with more aggressiveness, knowing that we've got 16 games to the playoffs. We should be in way better shape." -- Manu Ginobili

I expect that he will be starting on Wednesday. :ihit

...and watch Barry go on a 30 point tear on Wednesday. :bang