THE SIXTH MAN
02-05-2008, 02:37 AM
NBA: Ginobili's playing time a fine line for Spurs
Pop's hand forced concerning Manu's minutes.
Web Posted: 02/04/2008 11:32 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Almost from the day he first joined the Spurs, Manu Ginobili has been persistent in one polite request of coach Gregg Popovich.
More minutes, please.
Lately, with point guard Tony Parker out and Popovich all but forced to increase Ginobili's workload, the Argentine guard has been reminded of one of life's most frequent lessons. Be careful what you wish for.
"When I play 28, 30 (minutes), I'm always upset and want to play more," Ginobili said. "When I play 40, I say, 'I never play 40, I'm tired, I need to play less.'"
The moral of the story, as Ginobili sees it?
"Players are never happy," he said with a chuckle.
Coaches seldom are either, which is why Popovich is eager to return Ginobili to a more restful role as the six-game, eastern leg of the Spurs' rodeo road trip kicks off tonight at Indiana.
Typically a reserve off-guard, Ginobili started in Parker's place at the point in each of the Spurs' past two games — a loss at Seattle and a victory at Phoenix. He played around 40 minutes in both contests, bumping his season average to more than 30 per game for the first time this year.
That number sends up all kinds of red flags for Popovich, who is perpetually wary of wearying his full-throttle guard. If Ginobili were a race car, he would have finished both those games in the red.
"His minutes might go up a bit, but we're trying not to," Popovich said. "I don't want to overplay him to the point where he runs out of gas."
With Parker expected to miss the entire trip to come, that could be easier said than done. The Spurs will have to fight the temptation to overuse Ginobili, their second-leading scorer at 19.5 points per game.
The subject of Ginobili's minutes always has been a touchy one among Spurs faithful.
Popovich is adamant that he needs to keep them in check in order to maintain Ginobili's freshness and effectiveness. Fans — especially those from Ginobili's home country of Argentina — wonder why he can't play more.
By most measures, Ginobili is the NBA's most efficient player, the only one in the league to average at least 19 points and less than 31 minutes. But that efficiency seems to wane when he takes on too many minutes for too many games in a row.
Ginobili approaches every second on the floor with a pedal-to-the-metal mentality. His battery can drain rapidly if he is overworked.
With the Spurs set to play six games over the next nine days, Popovich will attempt to massage Ginobili's minutes as best he can.
"We've got to find that fine line," Popovich said.
Ginobili has never averaged more than 30 minutes per game in any NBA season. In the past two, he has logged a tad less than 28 per game.
No doubt the Spurs would like to keep his workload in that ballpark.
Assisting Popovich in the quest to ration Ginobili's time: Damon Stoudamire.
The 12-year veteran, who signed with the Spurs on Sunday, gives the team another option at point guard. Ginobili is expected to start at point again tonight against the Pacers, but Stoudamire can help alleviate the need for him to spend too much time there as the game progresses.
A starter in 93 percent of his 833 career games, Stoudamire is unaccustomed to life as a reserve. But he says he's willing to give it a shot.
"I feel like (my role is) coming off the bench, giving the team a spark, coming in and knocking down open shots," Stoudamire said. "Trying to maintain the pace of the game, that's what I'm going to bring. Going out there and not having a fall-off."
Ginobili, keen on giving his time at point guard a rest, will welcome Stoudamire with open arms.
"Now," Ginobili said, "everything can go back to normal."
Perhaps, if all goes to plan, Ginobili can even return to his favorite pastime: Politely pestering Popovich for more playing time.
[email protected]
link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020508.BKN_spurs-pacers_manu.en.37ea0ad.html)
Pop's hand forced concerning Manu's minutes.
Web Posted: 02/04/2008 11:32 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Almost from the day he first joined the Spurs, Manu Ginobili has been persistent in one polite request of coach Gregg Popovich.
More minutes, please.
Lately, with point guard Tony Parker out and Popovich all but forced to increase Ginobili's workload, the Argentine guard has been reminded of one of life's most frequent lessons. Be careful what you wish for.
"When I play 28, 30 (minutes), I'm always upset and want to play more," Ginobili said. "When I play 40, I say, 'I never play 40, I'm tired, I need to play less.'"
The moral of the story, as Ginobili sees it?
"Players are never happy," he said with a chuckle.
Coaches seldom are either, which is why Popovich is eager to return Ginobili to a more restful role as the six-game, eastern leg of the Spurs' rodeo road trip kicks off tonight at Indiana.
Typically a reserve off-guard, Ginobili started in Parker's place at the point in each of the Spurs' past two games — a loss at Seattle and a victory at Phoenix. He played around 40 minutes in both contests, bumping his season average to more than 30 per game for the first time this year.
That number sends up all kinds of red flags for Popovich, who is perpetually wary of wearying his full-throttle guard. If Ginobili were a race car, he would have finished both those games in the red.
"His minutes might go up a bit, but we're trying not to," Popovich said. "I don't want to overplay him to the point where he runs out of gas."
With Parker expected to miss the entire trip to come, that could be easier said than done. The Spurs will have to fight the temptation to overuse Ginobili, their second-leading scorer at 19.5 points per game.
The subject of Ginobili's minutes always has been a touchy one among Spurs faithful.
Popovich is adamant that he needs to keep them in check in order to maintain Ginobili's freshness and effectiveness. Fans — especially those from Ginobili's home country of Argentina — wonder why he can't play more.
By most measures, Ginobili is the NBA's most efficient player, the only one in the league to average at least 19 points and less than 31 minutes. But that efficiency seems to wane when he takes on too many minutes for too many games in a row.
Ginobili approaches every second on the floor with a pedal-to-the-metal mentality. His battery can drain rapidly if he is overworked.
With the Spurs set to play six games over the next nine days, Popovich will attempt to massage Ginobili's minutes as best he can.
"We've got to find that fine line," Popovich said.
Ginobili has never averaged more than 30 minutes per game in any NBA season. In the past two, he has logged a tad less than 28 per game.
No doubt the Spurs would like to keep his workload in that ballpark.
Assisting Popovich in the quest to ration Ginobili's time: Damon Stoudamire.
The 12-year veteran, who signed with the Spurs on Sunday, gives the team another option at point guard. Ginobili is expected to start at point again tonight against the Pacers, but Stoudamire can help alleviate the need for him to spend too much time there as the game progresses.
A starter in 93 percent of his 833 career games, Stoudamire is unaccustomed to life as a reserve. But he says he's willing to give it a shot.
"I feel like (my role is) coming off the bench, giving the team a spark, coming in and knocking down open shots," Stoudamire said. "Trying to maintain the pace of the game, that's what I'm going to bring. Going out there and not having a fall-off."
Ginobili, keen on giving his time at point guard a rest, will welcome Stoudamire with open arms.
"Now," Ginobili said, "everything can go back to normal."
Perhaps, if all goes to plan, Ginobili can even return to his favorite pastime: Politely pestering Popovich for more playing time.
[email protected]
link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020508.BKN_spurs-pacers_manu.en.37ea0ad.html)