Spurs Mailbag: Ginobili back to sixth-man status

[Spurs Brazil]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...N.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.

[Allanon]

[url]
Enter the Ginobili-of-all-trades.

Now, with the Spurs’ bench sagging, Ginobili is a reserve again. He says he doesn’t mind.

Great, now the starters get to sag.

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.

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.

Great sig you have btw.

[E20]

I hate the way this guy writes. Makes me wanna spit.

[Agloco]

Time for Pop to quit tinkering with things and let gel.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

We’ve got some bad news for you. Try not to freak out. We’re looking in your general direction, nation of Argentina (south).

This mention of Argentinians in articles talking about Manu's subs ute status is getting stupid. And it also is stupid to say that is a good thing, and it shows how cool Manu is about it, we all know that. What no writer mentions is that Manu comes from the bench, just for the reason that without his points and energy the Spurs bench has been awful for most of the season.

[T Park]

I hate the way this guy writes. Makes me wanna spit.

Would you prefer in spanish mrs stallone?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

We’ve got some bad news for you. Try not to freak out. We’re looking in your general direction, nation of Argentina (south).

Can someone email this condescending piece of and tell him to go himself?

[Shaolin-Style]

sounds fine to me. manu coming off the bench can always screw with another team even if they're aware its gonna happen.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I think E20 was referring to his condescension.

Why do they always publish morons? Do they not get any intelligent or insightful mail? The only decent question amongst that bunch was raised by my countryman from Sydney.

[T Park]

Can someone email this condescending piece of and tell him to go himself?

So your saying he has no basis?



Hes pretty much 100% right

[carina_gino20]

I think E20 was referring to his condescension.

Why do they always publish morons? Do they not get any intelligent or insightful mail? The only decent question amongst that bunch was raised by my countryman from Sydney.

Well, he's already a jackass as it is. God forbid he has to answer a serious question. And besides, what's new? Really? We've all been waiting for this. The way McDonald spins it in the intro, it's almost as if nobody's heard of the notion of Manu off the bench.

[T Park]

I think E20 was referring to his condescension.

Why do they always publish morons? Do they not get any intelligent or insightful mail? The only decent question amongst that bunch was raised by my countryman from Sydney.

You get Spurs Dynastys emailing him all the time, so theres your answer.

[T Park]

Well, he's already a jackass as it is. God forbid he has to answer a serious question.

The manu fans are up in arms just because he stated a truism.

[carina_gino20]

The manu fans are up in arms just because he stated a truism.

He was condescending. And I was referring to Ruff's comment that McDonald always picks the stupid questions to answer.

[GrandeDavid]

I hate the way this guy writes. Makes me wanna spit.

I do, too! His introductions are too predictably long with a high cheeze factor. But that is forgiveable. What's awful is his lame sarcastic tone in the Mailbag.

Amateur!

Johnny Ludden was much better than this guy.

[GrandeDavid]

Time for Pop to quit tinkering with things and let gel.

Nice girl in the pics! I wouldn't mind eating sushi off her backside.

[ChumpDumper]

Argies are freaking out at McDonald's telling them not to freak out?

[GrandeDavid]

Can someone email this condescending piece of and tell him to go himself?

Done, my friend. Seriously, this guy is annoying and I'm so sick of the "Argentina is gonna be mad" tired take. Think of something original!

[Dex]

Even though I agree some of the emails are ridiculously funny, I don't think it is the place of the team's MAIN beat writer to be bashing the fans that are obviously just not educated. Leave that to the internet bloggers (Cuban, I'm looking at you).

Plus I still blame the Ire of the Ironman Streak completely on Jinxy Mc face. If this isn't how you fail a test run for a writing job, I sure don't know what is.

[itzsoweezee]

aka, the desperate attempt to get some productivity out of finley move. i doubt it'll make a difference. at this point, finley hurts the spurs more than he helps. his minutes should be given to udoka. i doubt that's going to happen though.

[ploto]

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.

Does this mean Pop is going to play Oberto, Thomas, Horry, and "small ball" each about 15 minutes per game? I have said it before: it is 2006 all over again.

Damon Stoudamire netted zero minutes against Boston in Popovich’s permanent rotation.

So did Bonner.

[T Park]

Does this mean Pop is going to play Oberto, Thomas, Horry, and "small ball" each about 15 minutes per game? I have said it before: it is 2006 all over again.

If it was 2006 all over again, he would've played small ball exclusively genius.

[kuato]

for the record:

argentina
brazil
australia

Please, a little respect, this is about basketball, not countries.

[1Parker1]

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.

I have yet to see evidence of this, this season.

[MoSpur]

I have yet to see evidence of this, this season.

Agreed. In the NBA forum, I stated Horry is the most overpaid player on the Spurs roster. I hope I am wrong come playoff time.