Kori Ellis
11-19-2004, 02:15 AM
Buck Harvey: Manu is all money — but also an All-Star?
Web Posted: 11/19/2004 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111904.1C.COLBKNharvey.6e7efb9c.html
San Antonio Express-News
PHILADELPHIA — Just as Malik Rose pressed with a new contract, Tony Parker does now.
When Parker went scoreless Thursday night — shooting only twice more than Peter Holt did — the zero was linked to the zeroes on his contract.
But Manu Ginobili got his long-term deal last summer, too, and he still plays as he always has. He had a hand in 11-consecutive points in the final minutes against the 76ers, twice getting the ball to Tim Duncan as few can.
And when Ginobili had finished again as winners do — along with 17 points and nine assists — Holt had to wonder if This Investment is still growing.
Is Ginobili good enough to be an All-Star?
Ginobili says it isn't much of a goal, and he also understands why his selection is unlikely. The NBA released its All-Star ballots Thursday, and among the other backcourt candidates in the Western Conference are Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Kobe Bryant, Sam Cassell, Tracy McGrady and Steve Nash.
These are players with big stats and bigger reputations. Won't Ginobili have to win another few titles before his status would rise high enough?
"I hope you're wrong," coach Gregg Popovich said. "I'm not saying he's an All-Star, but he's playing as well right now as any two guard except for Allen. I hope the more we go along, the more people will notice everything he does."
Popovich would also like referees to notice. He thinks Ginobili gets more respect than he did a year ago, but still not enough.
Fans vote for the All-Star starters, and the coaches vote for the backups. "Trust me," said guard Brent Barry. "Every coach who is trying to figure out how to deal with him will have reason to put him on the team."
Philadelphia's Jim O'Brien can't vote for Western Conference players, but he might write in Ginobili anyway. Ginobili set up Bruce Bowen for a 3-pointer with about three minutes left, then threw a left-handed bullet to Duncan to create a layup. Ginobili followed with a cut, and Duncan found him for a foul and two free throws.
Ginobili paid back Duncan with a clever post pass that had to be precise. And then came what Barry called "the key play of the game." With the shot clock down, Ginobili up-faked a young Sixer, drawing a foul. "Those," said Barry, "are the things that win."
It's what Ginobili does, which is why some in the league thought the Spurs were lucky last summer during negotiations. One scout, looking beyond reputations, thought Ginobili deserved a near-max contract.
So, why didn't the bidding go higher? The same traditional standards that select All-Star teams also set the price.
That's why Steve Francis was a two-time starter in the West, yet was known for getting brainlock in Houston when it mattered. Ginobili, instead, is at his best then.
Nothing bothers Ginobili, and the same can't be said of Parker. Stephon Marbury has gotten into his head in the past, and last spring the Lakers did.
Now he presses while trying to live up to his contract. It's the best of intentions; he wants to repay the trust that Popovich had in him during negotiations and he wants to show everyone else he's worth the money.
Normally a player would shoot to prove something. But Parker, perhaps determined not to fail, instead chose to pass on one end and chase Allen Iverson on the other.
Ginobili thinks Parker is merely going through the usual ups-and-downs of the NBA season, and he's right. When Parker begins to play as he did at the end of last season, he will get his own All-Star comparisons. That change could begin as early as tonight when Parker sprints at Gary Payton again, this time in Boston.
Still, when asked if a contract should weigh on someone, Ginobili shook his head. "I think it would be the opposite," he said.
His reasoning makes sense. Once a franchise puts trust in you, you should feel free.
Ginobili would likely feel free no matter. He won't always succeed, and he takes risks that make Popovich squirm. But Ginobili does everything without consideration for the opposition, or what a game means, or what people think about him.
All-Stars are often that way.
Web Posted: 11/19/2004 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111904.1C.COLBKNharvey.6e7efb9c.html
San Antonio Express-News
PHILADELPHIA — Just as Malik Rose pressed with a new contract, Tony Parker does now.
When Parker went scoreless Thursday night — shooting only twice more than Peter Holt did — the zero was linked to the zeroes on his contract.
But Manu Ginobili got his long-term deal last summer, too, and he still plays as he always has. He had a hand in 11-consecutive points in the final minutes against the 76ers, twice getting the ball to Tim Duncan as few can.
And when Ginobili had finished again as winners do — along with 17 points and nine assists — Holt had to wonder if This Investment is still growing.
Is Ginobili good enough to be an All-Star?
Ginobili says it isn't much of a goal, and he also understands why his selection is unlikely. The NBA released its All-Star ballots Thursday, and among the other backcourt candidates in the Western Conference are Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Kobe Bryant, Sam Cassell, Tracy McGrady and Steve Nash.
These are players with big stats and bigger reputations. Won't Ginobili have to win another few titles before his status would rise high enough?
"I hope you're wrong," coach Gregg Popovich said. "I'm not saying he's an All-Star, but he's playing as well right now as any two guard except for Allen. I hope the more we go along, the more people will notice everything he does."
Popovich would also like referees to notice. He thinks Ginobili gets more respect than he did a year ago, but still not enough.
Fans vote for the All-Star starters, and the coaches vote for the backups. "Trust me," said guard Brent Barry. "Every coach who is trying to figure out how to deal with him will have reason to put him on the team."
Philadelphia's Jim O'Brien can't vote for Western Conference players, but he might write in Ginobili anyway. Ginobili set up Bruce Bowen for a 3-pointer with about three minutes left, then threw a left-handed bullet to Duncan to create a layup. Ginobili followed with a cut, and Duncan found him for a foul and two free throws.
Ginobili paid back Duncan with a clever post pass that had to be precise. And then came what Barry called "the key play of the game." With the shot clock down, Ginobili up-faked a young Sixer, drawing a foul. "Those," said Barry, "are the things that win."
It's what Ginobili does, which is why some in the league thought the Spurs were lucky last summer during negotiations. One scout, looking beyond reputations, thought Ginobili deserved a near-max contract.
So, why didn't the bidding go higher? The same traditional standards that select All-Star teams also set the price.
That's why Steve Francis was a two-time starter in the West, yet was known for getting brainlock in Houston when it mattered. Ginobili, instead, is at his best then.
Nothing bothers Ginobili, and the same can't be said of Parker. Stephon Marbury has gotten into his head in the past, and last spring the Lakers did.
Now he presses while trying to live up to his contract. It's the best of intentions; he wants to repay the trust that Popovich had in him during negotiations and he wants to show everyone else he's worth the money.
Normally a player would shoot to prove something. But Parker, perhaps determined not to fail, instead chose to pass on one end and chase Allen Iverson on the other.
Ginobili thinks Parker is merely going through the usual ups-and-downs of the NBA season, and he's right. When Parker begins to play as he did at the end of last season, he will get his own All-Star comparisons. That change could begin as early as tonight when Parker sprints at Gary Payton again, this time in Boston.
Still, when asked if a contract should weigh on someone, Ginobili shook his head. "I think it would be the opposite," he said.
His reasoning makes sense. Once a franchise puts trust in you, you should feel free.
Ginobili would likely feel free no matter. He won't always succeed, and he takes risks that make Popovich squirm. But Ginobili does everything without consideration for the opposition, or what a game means, or what people think about him.
All-Stars are often that way.