Adande: Spurs Fate Rests on Ginobili's Health

[lurker23]

By J.A. Adande | ESPN.com

LOS ANGELES -- Trying to blend the now-you-see-him, now-you-don't Manu Ginobili with his abundance of new teammates is a serious concern to San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. We know this because Popovich even admitted the thought has crossed his mind.

There's a lot of stuff Pop pretends not to care about.

On whether his team will be ready for the playoffs: "I don't give it any thought, because it's a waste of time. They'll either be there or they won't, they'll be healthy or they won't be. We'll be ready or we won't."

On whether Ginobili is recovering well from the stress reaction in his right fibula: "I assume so. I don't pay any attention to him."

On whether it will be hard for the team's newcomers to adjust to Ginobili:

"That's actually something we thought about," Popovich said. "Matt Bonner and George Hill and Roger Mason ... they don't have a great feel for him. It's difficult anyway, because of the way he plays. When he comes back in, I think that's going to be somewhat of an adjustment for us. And I do think about that."

The Spurs have always been about building, oh so slowly, toward a crescendo in time for the playoffs. It's tough to do that in fits and spurts, which is what they've had from Ginobili this season. He missed the first 12 games of the season while recovering from surgery on his left ankle. He's missed the past eight games with the right leg injury. The only update Popovich provided is that Thursday will mark the two-week milestone for a recovery that was projected to be two to three weeks.

Even though Tim Duncan is still good for 20 and 10 on a nightly basis, and Tony Parker is still difficulty to keep out of the lane and Bonner's made almost half of his 3-point attempts and Mason has turned out to be a clutch shooter, they'll still ride or die with Ginobili on the offensive end.

Ginobili "is a player who definitely wins X number of games a year in some way shape or form that no one can anticipate ahead of time," Popovich said. "It may be an offensive board or a steal a three-point play or a drive to the bucket or a variety of things. We don't have that athleticism that he gives us, that wild card."

The Spurs might have more depth if they add Drew Gooden, who was bought out of his contract by the Sacramento Kings Sunday. Gooden would be eligible to be signed by the Spurs after clearing waivers on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-10 Gooden would give the Spurs the additional big man they have sought, in addition to a player who has been consistent double-digit scorer throughout his career. But with only 23 games remaining, he'd have to learn the Spurs' system, they'd have to learn his ways.

And he still wouldn't be the same as having a healthy Ginobili, who's looking like more of a wild card than ever.

J.A. Adande is an ESPN.com senior writer and the author of "The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailyd...ge=dime-090303 (#2)

[Slippy]

Thanks for posting. 20 pages for Drew Gooden the saviour. Don't forget Manu. When healthy and in top form gives the Spurs the best chance of winning it all.

"That's actually something we thought about," Popovich said. "Matt Bonner and George Hill and Roger Mason ... they don't have a great feel for him. It's difficult anyway, because of the way he plays. When he comes back in, I think that's going to be somewhat of an adjustment for us. And I do think about that."

Manu had this problem coming back the first time this season. As this lay-off is not as long.. hopefully the adjustment is smoother.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i think we are in safe spot for the playoffs spot...should just rest ginoboli till the playoffs....

and start working out rotations and give GHILL more damn minutes....

[urunobili]

This article is full of hate and fear... I felt uneasy while going over it... First time Andande made me feel this uncomfortable... he showed some of his "should be hidden" wishes about the outcome of the Spurs season on it...

[hater]

where is the vbookie about us signing Gooden??? easy money.

[TMTTRIO]

I hate whether we win or lose is always put on Ginobili's shoulders all the time. Just like he gets blamed for losing '06 (that foul which was bad) even though we probably should've never won that game anyways and '08 because of his ankle. Right now Tim and Tony are doing great and the other guys are doing fine without him (other then the awful Portland game the other night). I hope he sits out a few more weeks and gets 100% healthy.

[SenorSpur]

A better le to this article would be "Spurs fate rests on the health of their Big Three". If either of these guys aren't healthy, the Spurs virtually have no shot at the NBA le.

[Spursmania]

A better le to this article would be "Spurs fate rests on the health of their Big Three". If either of these guys aren't healthy, the Spurs virtually have no shot at the NBA le.

[Agloco]

i think we are in safe spot for the playoffs spot...should just rest ginoboli till the playoffs....

and start working out rotations and give GHILL more damn minutes....

Fail. We all know Gino needs some PT in order to shake off the rust. You want him trying to do that in a first round matchup against Dallas, Phoenix or Utah?

That's playing with fire for sure.

[rayray2k8]

Where's the "no " icon when you need one?

[ducks]

bull
if manu is healthy
tp and duncan are out
spurs are winning

[urunobili]

bull
if manu is healthy
tp OR duncan are out
spurs are winning

FIFY

[G-Nob]

Where's the "no " icon when you need one?

Stole my thunder. WTFdoes espn pay this guy for???

[roycrikside]

bull
if manu is healthy
tp and duncan are out
spurs are winning

No Sherlock. I'm pretty sure that is implied in the article. I don't think J.A. Adande, a professional basketball writer, thinks the team can win a le with Tim and Tony injured.

God, you must be the stupidest person on this entire message board. Anytime anyone says anything at all good about Manu, your first instinct is to immediately defend Tony.

[ducks]

No Sherlock. I'm pretty sure that is implied in the article. I don't think J.A. Adande, a professional basketball writer, thinks the team can win a le with Tim and Tony injured.

God, you must be the stupidest person on this entire message board. Anytime anyone says anything at all good about Manu, your first instinct is to immediately defend Tony.

just because you are paid to write for a newspaper does not make you the smart
jeff is not the brightest especially comparred to ludden

[rascal]

i think we are in safe spot for the playoffs spot...should just rest ginoboli till the playoffs....

and start working out rotations and give GHILL more damn minutes....

So you think Manu can rest until the playoffs start and be in top playoff form?

[rascal]

A better le to this article would be "Spurs fate rests on the health of their Big Three". If either of these guys aren't healthy, the Spurs virtually have no shot at the NBA le.

More like Spurs le hopes rest on the health of the Lakers.
A healthy Spurs team does not get past a healthy Laker team.

[Slippy]

A few of you missed the point .

The writer like Pop is pondering the transition Manu and his teammates have to make once back. With Tim and Tony it probablly wouldn't be as much of an issue. He even kept it Drew Gooden related .. Who's gonna have more of an impact, Gooden the saviour or Manu?