Monroe: Ginobili Begins To Pester Pop To Play

Ginobili begins to pester Pop to play
Mike Monroe

The war of wills has begun.

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, 37 days removed from his last game action, said before Friday's game against the Boston Celtics that he has begun to pester coach Gregg Popovich to get back on the court.

With an eye on the playoffs, Popovich continues to turn a deaf ear to Ginobili's entreaties.

“I'm already asking for permission to do more,” said Ginobili, who was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right distal fibula after the NBA All-Star break. “But you know how it works.”

Ginobili on Thursday participated in his first Spurs practice session since his diagnosis.

“He talked to me a little bit about where he is and what he'd like to do and what the plan might be for him as we finish out the season,” Popovich said. “We'll just try to make an intelligent decision so that we have him for the playoffs at 100 percent.”

While continuing to take a conservative approach to Ginobili's return from injury, Popovich sounded optimistic about what he has seen from the reigning Sixth Man Award winner.

“He hasn't had any setbacks at all,” Popovich said. “He's progressed each day. Different parts of his body have been sore as he's been trying to get back into shape. Other than that, the progression has been steady. Hopefully, within the next week or so, we'll see him.”

When does Ginobili think he will crack Popovich's resolve to keep him on the sidelines?

“Soon,” he said, “soon.”

Meeting a legend: Spurs captain Tim Duncan is scheduled for a sit-down today with legendary Celtics great Bill Russell, the Hall of Fame center who won 11 championships, more than any player in league history.

Russell is in San Antonio to tape an interview with Duncan for NBA TV and to participate in tonight's George Gervin Roast.

“That should be pretty cool,” Duncan said of his one-on-one with Russell, one of the greatest defensive centers in league history. “Can you imagine winning 11 championships? How ticked off do you think he was in the years he didn't win?”

Louder, please: Late in the first half Friday, Spurs point guard Tony Parker dribbled into the front court, picked up his dribble and called for a timeout. None of the three referees, distracted by Boston center Kendrick Perkins and Duncan in a minor skirmish, paid him any heed.

Finally, Parker screamed at the top of his lungs and got the timeout called.

Hope TD and TP aren't gassed out before Manu makes his return.

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Originally Posted by duncan228

Meeting a legend: Spurs captain Tim Duncan is scheduled for a sit-down today with legendary Celtics great Bill Russell, the Hall of Fame center who won 11 championships, more than any player in league history.

Russell is in San Antonio to tape an interview with Duncan for NBA TV and to participate in tonight's George Gervin Roast.

“That should be pretty cool,” Duncan said of his one-on-one with Russell, one of the greatest defensive centers in league history. “Can you imagine winning 11 championships? How ticked off do you think he was in the years he didn't win?”

Louder, please: Late in the first half Friday, Spurs point guard Tony Parker dribbled into the front court, picked up his dribble and called for a timeout. None of the three referees, distracted by Boston center Kendrick Perkins and Duncan in a minor skirmish, paid him any heed.

Finally, Parker screamed at the top of his lungs and got the timeout called.

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:lol

I'm very upbeat now that I've read Pop's comments.. though he really doesn't say much, one can read between the lines that Manu has made good progress and he appears ok after getting some practice time.. now all Pop has to do is keep turning a deaf ear to manu's pleas to be activated.. keep him sitting Pop until he gets so pissed off that when he does play he takes it out on the competition.

I knew it was just a matter of time.

Manu practiced yesterday and then participated in shootaround today, so that means he wasn't in too much pain the day after his first practice in a while......

great to see progress..that's all that matters..

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Originally Posted by harlemheat37

great to see progress..that's all that matters..

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+1

:toast hopefully all our patience will pay off in the end. :ihit :flag: :lobt:

Getting Manu 100% and back in the fold, regardless of it's 1 or 2 weeks, is the only option. No near 100% Manu? No chance.

Great!

Just Great news

Manu seems to be getting healthy
And Tim looked better physically against boston

We're finally getting healthy!!!

And gooden as well

In the next week or so, the REAL rotation will be fixed

Hopefully, we have enough time to build the chemistry

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Originally Posted by BLACKJACK21

Getting Manu 100% and back in the fold, regardless of it's 1 or 2 weeks, is the only option. No near 100% Manu? No chance.

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Exactly right..

good news! here comes the spurs juggernaut. Be afraid!

Manu will be back soon!!!!:flag:

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Originally Posted by Manu-of-steel

good news! here comes the spurs juggernaut. Be afraid!

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I never heard of a juggernaut getting injured so frequently.

Tim, manu and tony all needed time to play at their best when they came back from injuries this season.

i really can't see manu being at 100 % for the PO. but when i see how all the spurs perimeters players outside tony are playing righ now on offense, i'll take a 50 % manu without hesitation. hope it will be enough.....

I'd like to see Pop doing what Doc did with KG yesterday.

Play Manu 8 minutes or so tomorrow and keep increasing it.

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Originally Posted by Spurs Brazil

I'd like to see Pop doing what Doc did with KG yesterday.

Play Manu 8 minutes or so tomorrow and keep increasing it.

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Exactly, what would be the harm in that? If his recovery is normal, the bone has healed. And, he just needs to condition himself back into the game.:toast

Hold him out for at least ONE more game.

:D

DD

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Originally Posted by Spursmania

Exactly, what would be the harm in that? If his recovery is normal, the bone has healed. And, he just needs to condition himself back into the game.:toast

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the guy's been out a month and just started practicing this week. he's the key to any chance we have this season and we can't just throw him out there. he'll be out there when he's ready.

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Originally Posted by Spurs Brazil

I'd like to see Pop doing what Doc did with KG yesterday.

Play Manu 8 minutes or so tomorrow and keep increasing it.

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I'd like to see that too but I bet we're another week away from seeing Ginobli on the court.

Still I'm happy with the news of him practicing and participating in a shoot around.

Manu came back too soon the first time. I think he was still favoring the other foot and caused his good leg to develop the problem we see now.
I think that is why Pop is being overly cautious with Manu this time, to try to prevent further injury if at all possible.

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Originally Posted by cherylsteele

Manu came back too soon the first time. I think he was still favoring the other foot and caused his good leg to develop the problem we see now.I think that is why Pop is being overly cautious with Manu this time, to try to prevent further injury if at all possible.

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I don't doubt that, that could very well be true.

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Originally Posted by Chieflion

I never heard of a juggernaut getting injured so frequently.

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frequently?? For the way he plays, he's hardly ever injured. And you can't ask Manu to change the way he plays...it's wouldn't be Manu...he wouldn't be nearly as effective. He's played a HELL of a lot more games than he's missed.

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“He hasn't had any setbacks at all,” Popovich said. “He's progressed each day. Different parts of his body have been sore as he's been trying to get back into shape. Other than that, the progression has been steady. Hopefully, within the next week or so, we'll see him.”

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This is all that really matters.

I'm probably way off on this, but here's the facts. I had a dream last night...no joke. I dreamed that the Spurs were playing Houston, and it was a tight game. Manu was in a warmup, but the media was told he would not play. Then, the Spurs put Manu in the game. He scored 12 points, but brought a spark, and the Spurs won. It's weird. I doubt it will happen, but I figured I'd share it. Can't get it out of my head.

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Originally Posted by Spursfan092120

I'm probably way off on this, but here's the facts. I had a dream last night...no joke. I dreamed that the Spurs were playing Houston, and it was a tight game. Manu was in a warmup, but the media was told he would not play. Then, the Spurs put Manu in the game. He scored 12 points, but brought a spark, and the Spurs won. It's weird. I doubt it will happen, but I figured I'd share it. Can't get it out of my head.

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I was going to say "dude why you dreaming about basketball games" But then I remembered my dream about deciphering the "crab dribble"...

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Originally Posted by NBAdime

I was going to say "dude why you dreaming about basketball games" But then I remembered my dream about deciphering the "crab dribble"...

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lol..basketball is my life...I played it, had a scholarshit taken away because of an injury that I no longer have, (and yes, I meant to call it scholarshit..it's not a typo)and I had a radio show I hosted about basketball. I'm surprised I don't wake up in the morning on a court after playing sleep ball...lol

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Originally Posted by Spursfan092120

lol..basketball is my life...I played it, had a scholarshit taken away because of an injury that I no longer have, (and yes, I meant to call it scholarshit..it's not a typo)and I had a radio show I hosted about basketball. I'm surprised I don't wake up in the morning on a court after playing sleep ball...lol

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Hahaha I'm teasing, my other half without a doubt is more obsessive, I'm used to it.

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Originally Posted by NBAdime

Hahaha I'm teasing, my other half without a doubt is more obsessive, I'm used to it.

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lol...yeah..my wife makes fun of me, but I've started to get her into the Spurs at least. I've given up on getting her to watch football, but I have too much time invested in basketball...

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“I'm already asking for permission to do more,

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already?

going on three months

way to go chump

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Originally Posted by Spursfan092120

lol...yeah..my wife makes fun of me, but I've started to get her into the Spurs at least. I've given up on getting her to watch football, but I have too much time invested in basketball...

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He is lucky he doesn't have to get me "into" any sports, but we do however like different teams/people in just about every sport. A game in our house is plenty of trash-talking!

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Originally Posted by Thomas82

I knew it was just a matter of time.

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:wakeup

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Originally Posted by NBAdime

He is lucky he doesn't have to get me "into" any sports, but we do however like different teams/people in just about every sport. A game in our house is plenty of trash-talking!

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That would be awesome..lol..

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Originally Posted by mookie2001

:wakeup

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:wakeup:wakeup

i knew it was just a matter of a really really long time until a rumor of return

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“That should be pretty cool,” Duncan said of his one-on-one with Russell, one of the greatest defensive centers in league history. “Can you imagine winning 11 championships? How ticked off do you think he was in the years he didn't win?”

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If we didn't already know, but a clue to Timmy's state of mind re The Even Years.

Unleash the beast ! :ihit:ihit:ihit:ihit:ihit

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Originally Posted by mookie2001

i knew it was just a matter of a really really long time until a rumor of return

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You ever tire of being a complete ass?

youre right he came back ahead of schedule

nothing can keep manu off the court, except his numerous injuries

Manu should be back within the next 3-4 games or so....

Manu should take his time

fantastic. And in terms of people rushing to get him out there (like against the Rockets), he won't be quite able to make a big impact at first, remember. Because he's been out for quite a while, it will take some time playing in actual games before he's in a good shooting rhythm and in game shape, able to play effectively and efficiently with the team.

However, by playoffs, hopefully that will have changed. And this team with a healthy Manu Ginobili is tough to beat, especially having added Gooden.

The one really big factor/fear is Tim's health. He hasn't scored 20 points in 12 games. He's shooting at 40+%. He needs to be a 20 point 10 rebound producer and terrific defending the paint for us to win.

It all now depends upon Tim's health. If Tim's relatively healthy, then we win it all. If not, then we don't have a chance at all.

:wakeup

Manu is good. He's good. On paper. Manu's good on paper.

I hope Ginobili continues his recovery, and Duncan gets back to his normal self. I want to see both the Spurs and Lakers at full strenght. If we want to be the best we gotta beat the best.

Go LAKERS!:lobt2:

I could give a shit if every single player on both the Spurs and Lakers is seriously injured or not.

I used to hate this guy so much but it's pretty hard to hate players who are this passionate and tough.

Manu is fighting to get back on the court, meanwhile, Amare was on TV tonight talking about all the sunglasses he's bought because of his eye injury. And people wonder why the Suns can't beat the Spurs :rolleyes