By Emanuel Special Ginóbili for the NATION
I know that many were surprised because I did not play against
Phoenix last Wednesday. I want to clarify that it was not by injury. I
do not know from where it left that. What happened is that I came
adding blows and pains and at some moment had to stop. It could not
continue covering with patches each small problem. It does like two
weeks, since we faced Houston, that I have a blow in the hip and
another one in the left quadriceps that bothers to me. In addition,
the previous game with Phoenix, the one that we played against New
Jersey, I was on the verge of not entering the field because the
annoyance in the adductive one straight needed a rest.
For that reason I say that it was not an injury, is a simple
contractura that was to take care of. We have had much trajín and was
necessary to take precautions. If it played against Phoenix it could
be dangerous. He was better to stop a game and ten not followed.
Equal I requested to play because it was a very important game, but
Gregg Popovich does not pay attention to those things, preferred to
protect to Tim (Duncan, with esguince of ankle) and me to us. To Pop
it does not like to risk in these things.
He is not something rare in me that it has several blows. It happened
to me here, in the NBA, and before in Italy, where it was much more
time in contact with the ball and received more lack. In addition, by
my style of game, the adductive one is a key point that I must take
care of. I need to be well, that is clear. Everything is product of an
exhaustion and a wearing down that at some moment there is to solve.
In addition, the day after the defeat with Phoenix we had frees and it
came to us Barbarian. Equal, I follow with the trainer of the
Spurs doing a special work.
I suppose that with these almost three days of rest I am going to be
better to play the next game. When this happens to me they ask to me
if I am going to change my style of game. I am not going it to change,
of that I am safe.
I know a single form to play, I do not know to do it of another one. I
know that that way group of people more risks or receipt more blows,
but I am not going to change the style. The only thing that I can do
is to ice me down after each game. Respect to the
game with Phoenix, we began bad because they imposed their style to
run and to run, but began to defend very well and Tony (Parker) played
three tremendous quarters until it went away tiring, being without
batteries. But we were on the verge of gaining it. On the end we had
bad luck when being mistaken two limpitas trays. In any case, we were
in agreement. Popovich congratulated them to all in clothes in spite
of the defeat.
I want to clarify that although Phoenix tied to us in the record and
was a very important shock, still are left 21 games to finish the
regular series. They can pass many things. In addition, with the
entrance of a new team this season, the schedule of games now
forces to play three games with some rivals of the Conference. One
of them for us is Phoenix, with which already we played the three and
we have favorable record of 2-1. For that reason, although both we
have the same mark of triumphs and defeats in all the season, Nº 1
continues being ours by that advantage on the Suns. So so painful it
was not the defeat. He is not either bad to finish N° 2. Anyway, to me
I had liked to be on the court.
Manu
[run through a free translator and cleaned up a bit. Some words didn't translate at all. For some reason, "game" came out "party" in both singular and plural. I was able to figure out some stuff in context.]