Spurs Brazil
03-19-2008, 06:18 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031908.SpursMailbag.EN.37beef0.html
Spurs Mailbag: Ginobili back to sixth-man status
Web Posted: 03/18/2008 09:31 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
OK, Manu Ginobili fans. You’d better sit down for this.
We’ve got some bad news for you. Try not to freak out. We’re looking in your general direction, nation of Argentina (south).
Ginobili isn’t going to start another game this season.
At least, that’s what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday.
The lineup you saw in Monday night’s loss to Boston is the lineup you’re going to see for the rest of the year, Popovich said. That means Manu is on the bench.
Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth -- and the irate emails -- now.
Popovich moved Ginobili back to the bench in order to give the Spurs’ flagging phalanx of reserves some added punch. It worked in the short term.
With Ginobili going for 32 points, the Spurs’ bench accounted for 52 in the 93-91 loss to the league-leading Celtics.
One game earlier, the bench managed a whopping 14 points.
“I loved it,” Popovich said of the lineup swap. “It gives us our familiarity, our continuity, our personality, our comfort zone. Back the way we were.
“That will be the deal. That will be our rotation, so we’re set.”
Ginobili came off the bench for much of the first three months of the season, vaulting his name to the top of the list of Sixth Man of the Year candidates. Then, Tony Parker got hurt in late January, and it was the Spurs’ starting lineup that needed the scoring punch.
Enter the Ginobili-of-all-trades.
Now, with the Spurs’ bench sagging, Ginobili is a reserve again. He says he doesn’t mind.
Although, with the way Popovich has tinkered with his role, Ginobili isn’t completely convinced this lineup is permanent. No matter what his head coach says.
“I don’t know, I really don’t,” Ginobili said. “But he sounded more convincing this time that he wanted to take the team back to where it had always been, the same rotations. So I said, ‘OK.’ ”
Look at it this way. The move should serve as a renewed kick to Ginobili’s Sixth Man of the Year campaign. That’s a trophy he’s never won before!
Hey, it could be worse.
Damon Stoudamire netted zero minutes against Boston in Popovich’s permanent rotation.
Now on to this week’s questions …
When will Berry be back with the team?
-- Daniel, San Antonio
If you mean Brent Barry, with an “a,” he is eligible to re-sign with the team March 23. If you mean Walter Berry, then he won’t be back until Old Timer’s Day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enough already! Three games in a row, the opposing point guard (or guards) has lit up the Spurs. It is time to assign Bruce Bowen to the opposing point guard and take your chances elsewhere!
-- Whitey, San Antonio
Gregg Popovich took your advice in the fourth quarter against Boston, moving Bowen over to defend Sam Cassell. That was right about the time the guy Bowen previously guarded, Paul Pierce, began torching the Spurs.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to give the opposing team credit for being good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is Bowen's contract situation? I can't wait for him to be gone.
-- Mark, San Antonio
Bowen signed a new two-year extension during training camp, keeping him under contract with the Spurs until after the 2008-09 season. Among those eager for him to retire: Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, Jason Terry -- and Mark from San Antonio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't you notice the Spurs’ turning point (from great to just bad) has to do with Tony Parker back on the team? Does the team play better without him?
-- Julian, Caracas
We would argue the Spurs’ troubles stem from playing a collection of better teams during a brutal March schedule, and not the return of last year’s NBA Finals MVP. But that’s just our opinion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do I feel Tony Parker isn't the same as last year? I could see he hesitates on his drive or shooting if he's open. If he keeps this up, the Spurs will have a hard time winning those important games (in) the playoffs. Tony must regain his confidence, can you tell him that?
-- Chito, Richmond, Calif.
Done.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who do you think offers more for the Spurs in the playoffs? Big Shot Rob Horry or Matt Bonner? I know the obvious answer is Rob, but I see Bonner as offering more energy and hustle in the 10 or so minutes that either player would be required.
-- Rick Montrone, Sydney
Interesting question. The Spurs hope that the answer is Horry. Bonner is a gamer, and he is going to hustle his red head off. Horry, however, is a veteran with a sky-high basketball IQ. When he’s right, Horry makes savvy basketball plays -- the right pass here, a big tip-out there -- that you don’t really teach.
If he’s got something left in the tank for the stretch run, the Spurs are a better team.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manu and Kurt Thomas are getting deadly on the pick and pop. Do you think they will share more time on the court than Manu and Fab?
-- J.B., San Antonio
Now that both of them are going to be expected to anchor the Spurs’ bench, yes.
Spurs Mailbag: Ginobili back to sixth-man status
Web Posted: 03/18/2008 09:31 PM CDT
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
OK, Manu Ginobili fans. You’d better sit down for this.
We’ve got some bad news for you. Try not to freak out. We’re looking in your general direction, nation of Argentina (south).
Ginobili isn’t going to start another game this season.
At least, that’s what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday.
The lineup you saw in Monday night’s loss to Boston is the lineup you’re going to see for the rest of the year, Popovich said. That means Manu is on the bench.
Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth -- and the irate emails -- now.
Popovich moved Ginobili back to the bench in order to give the Spurs’ flagging phalanx of reserves some added punch. It worked in the short term.
With Ginobili going for 32 points, the Spurs’ bench accounted for 52 in the 93-91 loss to the league-leading Celtics.
One game earlier, the bench managed a whopping 14 points.
“I loved it,” Popovich said of the lineup swap. “It gives us our familiarity, our continuity, our personality, our comfort zone. Back the way we were.
“That will be the deal. That will be our rotation, so we’re set.”
Ginobili came off the bench for much of the first three months of the season, vaulting his name to the top of the list of Sixth Man of the Year candidates. Then, Tony Parker got hurt in late January, and it was the Spurs’ starting lineup that needed the scoring punch.
Enter the Ginobili-of-all-trades.
Now, with the Spurs’ bench sagging, Ginobili is a reserve again. He says he doesn’t mind.
Although, with the way Popovich has tinkered with his role, Ginobili isn’t completely convinced this lineup is permanent. No matter what his head coach says.
“I don’t know, I really don’t,” Ginobili said. “But he sounded more convincing this time that he wanted to take the team back to where it had always been, the same rotations. So I said, ‘OK.’ ”
Look at it this way. The move should serve as a renewed kick to Ginobili’s Sixth Man of the Year campaign. That’s a trophy he’s never won before!
Hey, it could be worse.
Damon Stoudamire netted zero minutes against Boston in Popovich’s permanent rotation.
Now on to this week’s questions …
When will Berry be back with the team?
-- Daniel, San Antonio
If you mean Brent Barry, with an “a,” he is eligible to re-sign with the team March 23. If you mean Walter Berry, then he won’t be back until Old Timer’s Day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enough already! Three games in a row, the opposing point guard (or guards) has lit up the Spurs. It is time to assign Bruce Bowen to the opposing point guard and take your chances elsewhere!
-- Whitey, San Antonio
Gregg Popovich took your advice in the fourth quarter against Boston, moving Bowen over to defend Sam Cassell. That was right about the time the guy Bowen previously guarded, Paul Pierce, began torching the Spurs.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to give the opposing team credit for being good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is Bowen's contract situation? I can't wait for him to be gone.
-- Mark, San Antonio
Bowen signed a new two-year extension during training camp, keeping him under contract with the Spurs until after the 2008-09 season. Among those eager for him to retire: Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, Jason Terry -- and Mark from San Antonio.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't you notice the Spurs’ turning point (from great to just bad) has to do with Tony Parker back on the team? Does the team play better without him?
-- Julian, Caracas
We would argue the Spurs’ troubles stem from playing a collection of better teams during a brutal March schedule, and not the return of last year’s NBA Finals MVP. But that’s just our opinion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do I feel Tony Parker isn't the same as last year? I could see he hesitates on his drive or shooting if he's open. If he keeps this up, the Spurs will have a hard time winning those important games (in) the playoffs. Tony must regain his confidence, can you tell him that?
-- Chito, Richmond, Calif.
Done.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who do you think offers more for the Spurs in the playoffs? Big Shot Rob Horry or Matt Bonner? I know the obvious answer is Rob, but I see Bonner as offering more energy and hustle in the 10 or so minutes that either player would be required.
-- Rick Montrone, Sydney
Interesting question. The Spurs hope that the answer is Horry. Bonner is a gamer, and he is going to hustle his red head off. Horry, however, is a veteran with a sky-high basketball IQ. When he’s right, Horry makes savvy basketball plays -- the right pass here, a big tip-out there -- that you don’t really teach.
If he’s got something left in the tank for the stretch run, the Spurs are a better team.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manu and Kurt Thomas are getting deadly on the pick and pop. Do you think they will share more time on the court than Manu and Fab?
-- J.B., San Antonio
Now that both of them are going to be expected to anchor the Spurs’ bench, yes.