Ginobili For Point Guard In 2007-2008!

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

Yes, yes, I know... it was an early pre-season game, and that Ginobili only started at point guard because all 3 Spurs point-men were hurt. HOWEVER... I believe Coach Pop should take a serious look at Ginobili in the point guard role for the upcoming season. Here's how I got there...

What do the truly great point guards - the kind that make every other player on their team exponentially better - have in common?

They all seem to have a 6th sense on the hardwood that enables them to know where every player is on the floor, and more importantly, where every player is going. It's as though they have the ability to slow time and analyze their surroundings. It is this sense that enables great point guards to see things no one else sees, thread passes no one else could have, and ignite the kinds of plays few others can.

You can't teach it. Few players have it... but Ginobili does.

Of course there are other attributes and skills a great point guard must possess:

Ball handling skill: check.

Quickness: check (he's not TP, but he's quick enough).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting Ginobili Supplant Tony Parker as the starting point guard this year. But it's simply impossible for me to ignore the fact that Ginobili has more in common with the Stocktons, Nashes, and Kidds of the world than do most of the starting point guards in the NBA.

I say, give Ginobili minutes at the point - a lot of minutes - and you won't be sorry. That doesn't mean you have to sit Parker. Try having Ginobili run the plays while Parker looks to score. I'm not saying Pop should make some kind of an immediate or permanent switch in this regard... I'm just saying, try it.

Ginobili has the skills to be a great point guard. Seems a waste to not at least get a good look at him in the role.

[RC's Boss]

Stockton, Kidd, and Nash have never won championships. Manu doesn't have anything in common w/ them. PG's are not judged on asst. numbers alone stat boy. Nash wouldn't avg. over 7 apg. w/ Pop's style of play. It's a preseason game, WTF! For THIS system, we have the BEST PG! Get over it already.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

How about we stick to what has won us some championships?

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

How about we stick to what has won us some championships?

I didn't say "change everything". I'm not advocating any sudden drastic changes. I'm just saying, let's get a look at him at the backup point.

I'm not even advocating that we hand Ginobili the backup point job. Again... just saying, let's have a look at him there. He certainly has the skills. Couldn't hurt.

[ChumpDumper]

He already brings up the ball plenty.

This can only devolve into another Manu vs. Tony thread.

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

PG's are not judged on asst. numbers alone stat boy.

I'm sorry... am I missing something? Did I quote a single stat? Did I say that PG's should be judged on asst. numbers alone?

Did you even read what I wrote before you responded?

[Walter Craparita]

If it ain't broke.

[smeagol]

How about we stick to what has won us some championships?
That makes sense to me . . .

[hater]

there are some dumb ppl around here

[barbacoataco]

If the Spurs really give up on Beno completely and put him on the IR, I could see Manu playing point for a couple minutes here or there.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Ugh. No.

[1Parker1]

Ginobili is a good ballhandler?? That's news to me...

He's a good passer, but as far as ballhandling goes, he's actually pretty TO prone.

[bdictjames]

So Parker will just stand in the corner and shoot jumpshots? He ain't good at that.

Pop knew Manu had good court vision, but there's a reason he put Parker on PG and not Manu. A reason we may never know, but heck, it gave us 3 extra championships!!!

[mookie2001]

Ginobili is a good ballhandler?? That's news to me...

He's a good passer, but as far as ballhandling goes, he's actually pretty TO prone.
im going to have to side with parker1 on this one

[ShoogarBear]

5 assists, 0 turnovers . . .

Michael Finley for point guard in 2007-2008!!!!!!!!!

[mavs>spurs2]

Ginobili is a good ballhandler?? That's news to me...

He's a good passer, but as far as ballhandling goes, he's actually pretty TO prone.

He's a good ball handler as far as dribbling goes

It's his wild and erratic style of play that racks up the turnovers

[Stump]

Third string? Sure.

Back up? No.

[E20]

Ginobili for El Presidente in 0-Ocho!

[1Parker1]

im going to have to side with parker1 on this one

Uh-oh Mookie's agreeing with me on something...I must be wrong then! :angel

[Obstructed_View]

Did somebody miss the playoffs? Manu brings up the ball at least as much as Parker does in the fourth quarter. He and Duncan have a better two man game.

[midgetonadonkey]

I like when Manu dunks.

[waly.mg]

Tony and Manu are both playmakers

One is Point Guard and the other is Shotting guard

[mookie2001]

Uh-oh Mookie's agreeing with me on something...I must be wrong then! :angelsmeagol makes you look like phog allen

[LaMarcus Bryant]

It's funny because he's the most herky jerky ball handler and passer in Spurs History....put him at the point for serious minutes and you'll see flashes, true flashes, of Manu 2003 and Manu early post season 2007.....he'll look from left to right like Mark Madsen, dribble and jump in the air right into a crowd of defenders, then pass the ball from a crazy unexpected angle into the face of a fellow spur, for a turnover.

[urunobili]

Yes, yes, I know... it was an early pre-season game, and that Ginobili only started at point guard because all 3 Spurs point-men were hurt. HOWEVER... I believe Coach Pop should take a serious look at Ginobili in the point guard role for the upcoming season. Here's how I got there...

What do the truly great point guards - the kind that make every other player on their team exponentially better - have in common?

They all seem to have a 6th sense on the hardwood that enables them to know where every player is on the floor, and more importantly, where every player is going. It's as though they have the ability to slow time and analyze their surroundings. It is this sense that enables great point guards to see things no one else sees, thread passes no one else could have, and ignite the kinds of plays few others can.

You can't teach it. Few players have it... but Ginobili does.

Of course there are other attributes and skills a great point guard must possess:

Ball handling skill: check.

Quickness: check (he's not TP, but he's quick enough).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting Ginobili Supplant Tony Parker as the starting point guard this year. But it's simply impossible for me to ignore the fact that Ginobili has more in common with the Stocktons, Nashes, and Kidds of the world than do most of the starting point guards in the NBA.

I say, give Ginobili minutes at the point - a lot of minutes - and you won't be sorry. That doesn't mean you have to sit Parker. Try having Ginobili run the plays while Parker looks to score. I'm not saying Pop should make some kind of an immediate or permanent switch in this regard... I'm just saying, try it.

Ginobili has the skills to be a great point guard. Seems a waste to not at least get a good look at him in the role.

TP and Manu always switch positions in between PG and SG... this is nothing new...

[mookie2001]

TP and Manu always switch positions in between PG and SG... this is nothing new...what??

do you mean sometimes manu dribbles across halfcourt?

[Hemotivo]

for certain plays

[Cherry]

Tony and Manu are both playmakers

One is Point Guard and the other is Shotting guard

agree