some_user86
11-09-2007, 12:13 AM
NBA: Spring in Ginobili's step tied to summer
Web Posted: 11/08/2007 11:04 PM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
NEW ORLEANS — After the first five games of the Spurs' season, Manu Ginobili leads the team in points scored, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers made, free throws made and practical jokes.
Teammates have noticed, some with a modicum of pain.
Ginobili took a summer off from international competition, watching with relief as his national team from Argentina finished second in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas and earned a spot in next summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. After a championship run that extended the Spurs' season to June 14, Ginobili needed rest and relaxation more than Argentina needed its team captain.
Now Ginobili's fresh legs have carried the Spurs to a 4-1 record they will test tonight at New Orleans Arena against the Hornets. New Orleans also is 4-1 after losing Wednesday night in Portland.
"His summer off obviously helped him a lot," said Tony Parker, the point guard who is right behind Ginobili in points and assists. "It looks like he's got a lot more energy. He's being very aggressive and shooting the ball very well.
"Everybody remembers 2005, when he was on fire. So if he can do that again, that can definitely help us."
Maybe Darius Washington, a sophomore at Memphis in 2004-05, doesn't recall the 2004-05 Ginobili. The rookie is learning about his new teammates each day.
On Wednesday, Washington discovered that Ginobili is as sly with a practical joke as he is with a no-look bounce pass. He fell prey to that wit when Ginobili convinced him he had committed a fineable violation of league policy by listening to music on a headset in the team's locker room while an ESPN camera crew filmed him.
"Bones (Brent Barry) was fined $10,000 for that last season," Ginobili deadpanned, whereupon the gullible rookie begged the camera crew to videotape someone else.
Ginobili got a good laugh at the flustered rookie's expense, but it was no joke when Washington got some time at point guard in the second half of Wednesday's 88-78 victory over Miami.
Washington, who had been backing up Parker in the first four games, didn't see the court until the final 29 seconds. Parker played 41 minutes, 25 seconds on Wednesday, just 24 hours after going 40:18 against the Houston Rockets.
Ginobili played 34:51 against the Heat, his longest stint of the season.
Neither Parker nor Ginobili figure to get much rest in tonight's game, either. The Hornets have one of the Western Conference's most potent backcourts.
Third-year point guard Chris Paul dropped 21 assists on the Los Angeles Lakers in New Orleans' Tuesday night victory. Shooting guard Morris Peterson, signed as a free agent this summer, is finding his comfort zone. Backups Bobby Jackson and Rasual Butler are solid and consistent.
"Eighty-one minutes in back-to-back, that's nothing," Parker said. "Remember when we went double overtime in back-to-back against Golden State and Sacramento? I played 99 minutes."
That was April 9 and 10, 2005, and the Spurs were on their way to the 2005 title. Now Parker relishes the added playing time Popovich is giving him after a pre-season of relative inactivity that was part of coach Gregg Popovich's pre-season plan.
"I think Pop is just trying to get me back in shape because the first three games I was feeling out of rhythm," Parker said. "I'm playing a lot of minutes and trying to get back in my normal shape. Obviously, I'm feeling pretty good right now."
Parker respects Paul's game, though he wondered how many of his 21 assists against the Lakers were a result of Stojakovic's 10-for-10 3-point shooting.
"I still put (Phoenix's Leandro) Barbosa or (Denver's Allen) Iverson ahead of him for quickness," Parker said, "but Chris is deceptive quick and changes speeds on you."
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110907.SpursHornetsAdvance.en.33ac9d7.html
Web Posted: 11/08/2007 11:04 PM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News
NEW ORLEANS — After the first five games of the Spurs' season, Manu Ginobili leads the team in points scored, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers made, free throws made and practical jokes.
Teammates have noticed, some with a modicum of pain.
Ginobili took a summer off from international competition, watching with relief as his national team from Argentina finished second in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas and earned a spot in next summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. After a championship run that extended the Spurs' season to June 14, Ginobili needed rest and relaxation more than Argentina needed its team captain.
Now Ginobili's fresh legs have carried the Spurs to a 4-1 record they will test tonight at New Orleans Arena against the Hornets. New Orleans also is 4-1 after losing Wednesday night in Portland.
"His summer off obviously helped him a lot," said Tony Parker, the point guard who is right behind Ginobili in points and assists. "It looks like he's got a lot more energy. He's being very aggressive and shooting the ball very well.
"Everybody remembers 2005, when he was on fire. So if he can do that again, that can definitely help us."
Maybe Darius Washington, a sophomore at Memphis in 2004-05, doesn't recall the 2004-05 Ginobili. The rookie is learning about his new teammates each day.
On Wednesday, Washington discovered that Ginobili is as sly with a practical joke as he is with a no-look bounce pass. He fell prey to that wit when Ginobili convinced him he had committed a fineable violation of league policy by listening to music on a headset in the team's locker room while an ESPN camera crew filmed him.
"Bones (Brent Barry) was fined $10,000 for that last season," Ginobili deadpanned, whereupon the gullible rookie begged the camera crew to videotape someone else.
Ginobili got a good laugh at the flustered rookie's expense, but it was no joke when Washington got some time at point guard in the second half of Wednesday's 88-78 victory over Miami.
Washington, who had been backing up Parker in the first four games, didn't see the court until the final 29 seconds. Parker played 41 minutes, 25 seconds on Wednesday, just 24 hours after going 40:18 against the Houston Rockets.
Ginobili played 34:51 against the Heat, his longest stint of the season.
Neither Parker nor Ginobili figure to get much rest in tonight's game, either. The Hornets have one of the Western Conference's most potent backcourts.
Third-year point guard Chris Paul dropped 21 assists on the Los Angeles Lakers in New Orleans' Tuesday night victory. Shooting guard Morris Peterson, signed as a free agent this summer, is finding his comfort zone. Backups Bobby Jackson and Rasual Butler are solid and consistent.
"Eighty-one minutes in back-to-back, that's nothing," Parker said. "Remember when we went double overtime in back-to-back against Golden State and Sacramento? I played 99 minutes."
That was April 9 and 10, 2005, and the Spurs were on their way to the 2005 title. Now Parker relishes the added playing time Popovich is giving him after a pre-season of relative inactivity that was part of coach Gregg Popovich's pre-season plan.
"I think Pop is just trying to get me back in shape because the first three games I was feeling out of rhythm," Parker said. "I'm playing a lot of minutes and trying to get back in my normal shape. Obviously, I'm feeling pretty good right now."
Parker respects Paul's game, though he wondered how many of his 21 assists against the Lakers were a result of Stojakovic's 10-for-10 3-point shooting.
"I still put (Phoenix's Leandro) Barbosa or (Denver's Allen) Iverson ahead of him for quickness," Parker said, "but Chris is deceptive quick and changes speeds on you."
LINK: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110907.SpursHornetsAdvance.en.33ac9d7.html