Manu: Before and After

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I'm sick of all this nose talk.

It's bull .

Every time Manu has ever had a bad game theres always an excuse

"ohh its his ankle"

"Ohh he's played too many minutes"

"Ohhh he is playing with the wrong players on the court"

Blame the ing person.

He played like the Bad Manu tonight and just admit it. End of story. We need him to be Super Manu.

[DesignatedT]

You didn't see Tony attacking the rim either. And this is not a cop-out for Manu. They're just packing the lane. That's why a guy like Dice and his jumper is crucial out there.

teams guard tony a of a lot different then they guard manu. teams like tonight went way under the screen and leave tony wide open for those jumpers. Great thing that he has been knocking them down as of late.

I understand teams blitz manu a lot more and double off the pick and role but it never used to phase him before. He still found his way to the rim and i just don't see it anymore. He isn't even trying to take the ball in. its more floating around the perimeter and shooting a contested 3 ball.

[ElNono]

Maybe you misunderstood what I was saying. Manu has been awesome. He's fighting his ass off and getting to the line. That's what great players do when their shot isn't there. But the difference in his shooting is so drastic before the nose vs after the nose. I don't think that's a coincidence.

And even though Manu is getting points at the line, it would make a difference if he was shooting a more normal percentage from the field.

I agree, but it's not so easy. He's being blitzed and trapped on the PnR. He has Hill on him, who has size. He forced the issue on game 1, and it didn't work. Gentry said plenty of times they're focusing on him. Realistically, for them it's easier to gang up on Manu than on Tim.

[ElNono]

teams guard tony a of a lot different then they guard manu. teams like tonight went way under the screen and leave tony wide open for those jumpers. Great thing that he has been knocking them down as of late.

I understand teams blitz manu a lot more and double off the pick and role but it never used to phase him before. He still found his way to the rim and i just don't see it anymore. He isn't even trying to take the ball in. its more floating around the perimeter and shooting a contested 3 ball.

He barely shot the 3 tonight. Tonight he was drawing his guy and RJ's, then passing the ball. The only time he tried to push the issue, he ran into Amare and ended up in a turnover. The Suns know they don't have a shot blocker. They're going to leave Hill and RJ all alone and dare them to beat them.
Look at Nash. They're hiding him on RJ or Hill.
As far as Tony goes, I agree. If that jumper is not falling, we're in deep .
But he's not having a layup feast like he used to against the Suns. You've to give them credit because they're packing the lanes pretty well.

[DesignatedT]

He barely shot the 3 tonight. Tonight he was drawing his guy and RJ's, then passing the ball. The only time he tried to push the issue, he ran into Amare and ended up in a turnover. The Suns know they don't have a shot blocker. They're going to leave Hill and RJ all alone and dare them to beat them.
Look at Nash. They're hiding him on RJ or Hill.
As far as Tony goes, I agree. If that jumper is not falling, we're in deep .
But he's not having a layup feast like he used to against the Suns. You've to give them credit because they're packing the lanes pretty well.

manu is going to have to find a way to play his game and score. especially when we need him to. im not really buying the "but there blitzing him and doubling him" argument. He is way to important to our success for them to be able to take him out of our offense, and honestly if their defense somehow continues to make an impact like this on manu we have no shot. It was no secret when the playoffs started that if manu isnt on his game we are going nowhere.

he definitely needs to step it up.

[DesignatedT]

was just disturbing to me that hill and rj ended up playing pretty damn solid games out there and we still came up short.

[ElNono]

manu is going to have to find a way to play his game and score. especially when we need him to. im not really buying the "but there blitzing him and doubling him" argument. He is way to important to our success for them to be able to take him out of our offense, and honestly if their defense somehow continues to make an impact like this on manu we have no shot. It was no secret when the playoffs started that if manu isnt on his game we are going nowhere.
he definitely needs to step it up.

And I agree. Somehow we're going to have to set better screens, maybe even double screens, or play more iso's and get him to the rack. Same with Tony.

was just disturbing to me that hill and rj ended up playing pretty damn solid games out there and we still came up short.

You look at the stats, and except for bench points and rebounds, we did pretty much everything better. Better shooting, better blocks, even points in the paint, better assists, more fastbreak points, less turnovers...

[DesignatedT]

And I agree. Somehow we're going to have to set better screens, maybe even double screens, or play more iso's and get him to the rack. Same with Tony.



You look at the stats, and except for bench points and rebounds, we did pretty much everything better. Better shooting, better blocks, even points in the paint, better assists, more fastbreak points, less turnovers...

I definitely think these teams are pretty evenly matched. I don't see there shooters shooting lights out on the road (especially frye with the struggles he has on the road). Spurs should win these next 2 games if they play like they did tonight. IMO

[GSH]

I agree, but it's not so easy. He's being blitzed and trapped on the PnR. He has Hill on him, who has size. He forced the issue on game 1, and it didn't work. Gentry said plenty of times they're focusing on him. Realistically, for them it's easier to gang up on Manu than on Tim.

No doubt. He's getting a lot of attention - and a lot more contact. The Suns know they have to keep him from beating them. But he's missing shots that he normally makes at a high percentage. Shooting 2 free throws, instead of and-1's. And he can't buy a jumper right now. (Although he did gut out that 3-pointer near the end of the game in typical Manu fasion. Even when he's not feeling it, he seems like he finds a way to will one in with the game on the line.)

For those people looking for an excuse to bash him? Against the Suns he's averaged 19 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, with 6.5 FTA per game. You have to be out of your minds to bash a guy with those kinds of numbers.

[Chief]

No excuses, this is a professional at the highest level, you have to adjust no matter what. And I agree completely with the thread, it's a lost cause if manu keeps playing like he played at the start of the season

Good take

Cus he's too damn predictable now...all they do is run pick n roll with Duncan, 90% of the times lately he's crossing back to the right with his left and they play it so he passes it up everytime save 5%. Any NBA team that watches film (AKA all of them) can guard the Manu-Duncan pick and roll now.

Great Take

Who gives a ?

A hurt nose or no, we've seen the Manu of tonight MANY TIMES and his nose was perfectly healthy.

The jump-shot only clanking, turnover prone, completely out of the flow Manu. It happens all the time. Its why mookie scoffs the out of him and his country.

It's not like this is the first time Manu has completely played like .

Deal with it.
It's not the nose it's him.

AGreed

was just disturbing to me that hill and rj ended up playing pretty damn solid games out there and we still came up short.

let´s hopefully take the momentum of hill and RJ into the next game, add them plus the big 3 and I think we take the next 2 at home.

[TD 21]

I'm sick of all this nose talk.

It's bull .

Every time Manu has ever had a bad game theres always an excuse

"ohh its his ankle"

"Ohh he's played too many minutes"

"Ohhh he is playing with the wrong players on the court"

Blame the ing person.

He played like the Bad Manu tonight and just admit it. End of story. We need him to be Super Manu.

You hit the nail on the head. But he's golden boy, so there's got to be an excuse. Parker receives heaps of unfair criticism, even Duncan, who should be treated like royalty amongst Spurs fans, routinely receives criticism nowadays, but Ginobili, it's always something. They're never given the benefit of the doubt, but he always is.

How about this: He's an inconsistent player and always has been. He needs to get his head out of his ass and start playing better. His shooting in the playoffs has been atrocious. It's time he go back to being the third wheel offensively. The offense needs to be run through either Duncan or Parker. When he's out there with them, he can be a spot up shooter.

[ducks]

In the first 3 games of the playoffs (before the broken nose), Manu shot 22-42 and 7-13 from the 3P line.
Since then, he has shot 23-68 and 2-27 from the 3P line.

I know he says it isn't bothering him, but whatever the reason, the Spurs needed the first Manu to win in the playoffs. It would have been nice if someone else had stepped up, but almost all of Manu's scoring has been from the line since the broken nose. That's not the same Big 3.

If he's back, we can still win the next two at home. But without his field goals, this is going nowhere.

IS IT NOT WONDERFULLY MANU IS HEALTHY IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
OH WAIT HE IS

[ducks]

i think the worst thing manu did tonight was not to attack the rim - again, the suns have no answer for that. i think he only tried one layup and missed in the entire game. i could be wrong but im pretty sure he didn't try more than twice. that's not typical manu

he is a baby on one day rest between games
but spurs thought they should keep him for three more years even though playoffs they play every other day

[vander]

I'm sick of all this nose talk.

It's bull .

Every time Manu has ever had a bad game theres always an excuse

"ohh its his ankle"

"Ohh he's played too many minutes"

"Ohhh he is playing with the wrong players on the court"

Blame the ing person.

He played like the Bad Manu tonight and just admit it. End of story. We need him to be Super Manu.

Manu is Super Manu once every 4 or 5 games, he strung a few extra together in March so he could get that contract.

this (or less) is what we're getting for 3 more years

[slayermin]

If Manu doesn't play like he did to end the season, it's all over. It might the the broken nose but it might be that he finally cooled off. For a while there, he was unstoppable.

And Bonner does deserve blame but man, I hope he turns it around. It's sad to watch.

Let get some home cooking and see what happens.

[MateoNeygro]

I think if I had a broken nose it would probably effect me. Just sayin.

[roycrikside]

I'm sick of all this nose talk.

It's bull .

Every time Manu has ever had a bad game theres always an excuse

"ohh its his ankle"

"Ohh he's played too many minutes"

"Ohhh he is playing with the wrong players on the court"

Blame the ing person.

He played like the Bad Manu tonight and just admit it. End of story. We need him to be Super Manu.

11 and 11 is "Bad Manu" now? You're ing re ed. He was blitzed every time on the pick and roll. You criticize him for his turnovers (he had 3 to Parker's 4) but if he barrels into double and triple teams he'd sure have a lot more and then you'd rip him worse.

You Manu bashers are unbelievable. Nobody even bothered to question the OP's claim that Manu is 2 for 27 since Game 3 at Dallas in three pointers, which isn't remotely close. Do any of you have eyes or brains?

[admiralsnackbar]

Manu's nose doesn't explain his blown defensive assignments.

[senorglory]

The broken nose has negatively impacted his play. No debate, the numbers tell the tale.

[senorglory]

Injuries/health issues claim another Spurs' playoffs.

[Slippy]

11 and 11 is "Bad Manu" now? You're ing re ed. He was blitzed every time on the pick and roll. You criticize him for his turnovers (he had 3 to Parker's 4) but if he barrels into double and triple teams he'd sure have a lot more and then you'd rip him worse.

You Manu bashers are unbelievable. Nobody even bothered to question the OP's claim that Manu is 2 for 27 since Game 3 at Dallas in three pointers, which isn't remotely close. Do any of you have eyes or brains?

Yah, a lot of posts here are un-real. You can only laugh and think game 3 can't come soon enough.

what is hurting the Spurs?

Lack of 3 point shooting options. Trusted shooters are Hill and Manu. Deny them the ball and in Hill's case his Spot. You got none. Mason not being one is killing this team.

Missed freethrows.

Giving up offensive rebounds. Good team D but once they miss,all a waste of time if you don't box out a man.

Smallball. Tim on D got exposed.

[Spurologist]

11 and 11 is "Bad Manu" now? You're ing re ed. He was blitzed every time on the pick and roll. You criticize him for his turnovers (he had 3 to Parker's 4) but if he barrels into double and triple teams he'd sure have a lot more and then you'd rip him worse.

You Manu bashers are unbelievable. Nobody even bothered to question the OP's claim that Manu is 2 for 27 since Game 3 at Dallas in three pointers, which isn't remotely close. Do any of you have eyes or brains?

You need a tissue? Crying me a river. Seriously STFU....at least some of tp's TOs happened when he tried to attack the rim. Manu couldn't get to the in paint if he was Michelangelo. The bottomline is spurs are going nowhere with Manu playing like dog .

[ElNono]

Manu is Super Manu once every 4 or 5 games, he strung a few extra together in March so he could get that contract.

this (or less) is what we're getting for 3 more years

Gino might not be SuperManu but he's far from our biggest problem.

I'm sure glad we're not getting this Bonner for 3 more seasons.

[vander]

Gino might not be SuperManu but he's far from our biggest problem.

I'm sure glad we're not getting this Bonner for 3 more seasons.

what's our biggest problem then? Bonner? the success of this team hangs on the 7th best player? Spurs can't win unless Bonner is hitting the 3?

if Manu plays like he's getting paid to play, we're at least 1-1, maybe 2-0

[ElNono]

what's our biggest problem then? Bonner? the success of this team hangs on the 7th best player? Spurs can't win unless Bonner is hitting the 3?

Our biggest problem is that their role players >>> our role players.
When the stars cancel eachother out, we need the rest of the guys stepping up. Make no mistake, last night's game was won by Dudley and Frye.

if Manu plays like he's getting paid to play, we're at least 1-1, maybe 2-0

With the way he's being guarded, he's doing fine. He could play better, but like I said, he's far from our biggest problem.