Ginobili expected to play Wednesday

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs notebook: Ginobili expected to play Wednesday
Web Posted: 01/18/2005 12:00 AM CST

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA011805.4D.BKNspurs.notebook.1b30a34c.html

The Spurs are hopeful Manu Ginobili will be able to play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ginobili missed Monday's victory over Washington because of a bruised right thigh he suffered in Houston on Saturday. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich estimated his recovery at 80 percent.

"He's sore," Popovich said of Ginobili. "We just didn't think it was wise because (the contusion) was on his jumping leg, the one he pushes off. It's better to rest it and not make it worse."

Ginobili also missed the Dec. 30 victory over Portland because of a sore neck. He is the only player on the team's active roster to miss a game because of injury this season.

He's even a pest to pests: Bruce Bowen deserved a thank-you from the media Monday after he killed a wasp on the scorer's table.

Bowen was on the way to check into the game in the second quarter when he noticed the wasp buzzing near Spurs TV analyst Sean Elliott. Bowen grabbed Elliott's media guide and flattened the insect with one swing.

What a difference two days make: Considering he had watched his team get out-rebounded 49-39 Saturday in Houston, Popovich didn't need long to point to why the Spurs won Monday.

They had a 19-4 rebounding advantage over the Wizards in the first quarter. For the game, they out-rebounded Washington 49-37.

Tony Parker, who said the guards were at fault for Saturday's poor performance on the boards, had seven rebounds Monday, one of his season-high.

He was good, but ... Parker can't thank his free-throw shooting for his recent scoring increase.

Parker missed four of his six foul shots Monday. He is 15 of 31 in the past six games.

Wizards' Hughes out six weeks: The Wizards will be without Larry Hughes, their No. 2 scorer, for about six weeks. Hughes broke his right thumb in a Saturday victory over the Phoenix Suns.

It's nothing new for the Wizards, but they are hoping they respond better to Hughes' loss than they have in the past.

"Ever since I've been here it seems like one of our main guys has had to miss three or four weeks," said center Brendan Haywood, a Wizard for four seasons. "My first year, Michael Jordan got hurt. My second year, Michael Jordan got hurt. Last year, Larry, Gilbert and (Jerry) Stackhouse got hurt.

"It takes time and it takes an adjustment."

The Wizards have been one of the surprise teams in the Eastern Conference this season, their seven-game winning streak before Monday having earned them the third-best record in the conference. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan knows his club will be measured by how it responds without Hughes.

"We were 7-0, but in the NBA you start over every day," Jordan said.

[ShoogarBear]

Parker missed four of his six foul shots Monday. He is 15 of 31 in the past six games.

Cripes.

You can argue about Tim's and Rasho's forms, but for Parker it's just concentration and nothing else.

[boutons]

"Parker it's just concentration and nothing else."

Tony has bad form shooting FTs. Too much wrist-flick, not enough legs, no full arm extension and follow through (good FT shooters: Nash, Peja, Ray Allen, even Danny Fortson), and not enough synchronization with the legs. He doesn't get "under the ball" enough, the ball is out front.

Plus, he was also spooked (over concentrating?) so badly @HOU he almost airballed 2 straight FTs, just barely nicking the front of the rim on both shots. On the second shot, I was shocked to see him put a lot of extra arc on the ball (ie, he was desparate, changing his mechanics, in mid-game?, that are already not consistent enough).

[BigVee]

I agree his mechanics look awful, plus....what is the hurry? He acts like it is a contest to see how quickly he can get the ball out of his hands.

[Kori Ellis]

plus....what is the hurry?

That's usually the problem for Tony. Not just this year, but in past seasons too. When he hurries, his mechanics go to hell and he misses in bunches. He gets to the point where it doesn't even look like he's paying attention or looking at the rim. Hopefully he'll get back on track soon.

[picnroll]

He better straighten it out or it'll only encourage teams to hammer him when he goes to the basket.

[TMTTRIO]

I'd rather have Manu not play at least on Wednesday. Brent and Devin did a great job the other day filling in for him plus the way Manu plays you just hope he doesn't reinjure it more seriously and have him out for a lot longer.

[2centsworth]

Parker missed four of his six foul shots Monday. He is 15 of 31 in the past six games.

It's all wrist with a soft confident touch. Same advice Eva gives him. :smokin

[BigVee]

I'd rather have Manu not play at least on Wednesday. Brent and Devin did a great job the other day filling in for him plus the way Manu plays you just hope he doesn't reinjure it more seriously and have him out for a lot longer.

Here, here. Let him sit against the Clippers. He will be running his ass off friday chasing the Suns.

[exstatic]

...plus the way Manu plays you just hope he doesn't reinjure it more seriously and have him out for a lot longer.

It's not like he turned his ankle badly. He was hit in the thigh. That's the only way he could be re-injured, and frankly that would injure him even if he weren't already injured.

You want your best players on the court. The risk of aggravating it seems low, and the Spurs seem to err on the side of caution most times.

[boutons]

Let him sit. That bad a muscle hit and damage is bound to have reduced the willingness of the muscle to work at full strength (like Tim's muscles refusing to work when he had that tendinitis hit him @DAL las season).

If we can't beat the Clips @SBC because Manu doesn't play, the much bigger problem is that the other Spurs will sucking anway (and Manu may not have made any difference).