I've been noticing Manu's game has been going downhill since mid December and I wanted to discuss if this has to do with a slump or if he is just wearing down already. The last 4 games he's been really off, especially his FG%.
Before that date, he was averaging 20p a game and since then he only had 2 +20 games and only just 1 game (vs WAS) where his FG% was good.
Should we be worried?
MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Jan 04 @ NYK L 115 - 128 34 5 - 11 1 - 4 4 - 4 0 5 5 5 1 1 3 2 15
Jan 01 vs. OKC W 101 - 74 25 2 - 11 2 - 7 3 - 4 0 1 1 7 1 0 2 0 9
Dec 30 @ DAL W 99 - 93 30 4 - 11 4 - 8 3 - 5 0 8 8 3 0 1 3 2 15
Dec 28 vs. LAL W 97 - 82 32 3 - 12 2 - 7 1 - 2 2 2 4 6 3 1 4 3 9
Dec 26 vs. WAS W 94 - 80 29 8 - 13 5 - 7 0 - 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 1 21
Dec 23 @ ORL L 101 - 123 20 3 - 10 1 - 3 3 - 4 3 2 5 6 0 1 2 1 10
Dec 22 vs. DEN W 109 - 103 36 6 - 15 4 - 9 6 - 8 2 2 4 6 1 1 0 2 22
Dec 20 vs. PHX W 118 - 110 36 4 - 11 2 - 9 5 - 6 0 2 2 3 3 1 2 1 15
Dec 18 vs. MEM W 112 - 106 38 4 - 10 1 - 3 6 - 7 1 2 3 9 1 1 2 1 15
Dec 16 @ DEN W 113 - 112 31 5 - 15 2 - 10 4 - 4 0 3 3 4 1 0 1 3 16
One of the primary fears of the Spurs amazing start was that Manu would wear himself thin by mid-season. 2008 and 2009 was all we needed to see to know how far we get in the playoffs without a healthy Manu.
That being said, let's pray this is just a slump...
I call slump. I didn't think his energy wasn't there last night. He just wasn't sharp, to put it mildly.
Overall in the last few games, I only think in the Orlando game he had tired legs. Otherwise, he just missed shots.
Slump and sickness, I think.
Manu cant finish at the rim like he used to, thats pretty apparent. But tbh I think he's changed his game and is now more perimeter oriented...this was the case even at the start of the season. I think his shot is just off right now, which is to be expected at some points throughout an 82 game season. Slump tbh.
He's STILL sick? Chriiiist. You'd think w/ the money these players make, the doctors on the Spurs payroll, and maybe a quick visit to one of the local curanderas, he'd be on the up-and-up by now.
+1
The return of James Anderson, as well as the ASB, should give him the appropriate rest for the finish. I can see his minutes per go down like Duncan's has.
still could be sick with that sore throat
Maybe. If he has a good january he might go to the ASW. He was until mid December the best player in the best team.+1
The return of James Anderson, as well as the ASB, should give him the appropriate rest for the finish. I can see his minutes per go down like Duncan's has.
The decline, as I have seen it, is that Manu shoots everything. He doesn't look for the pass as much as he used to. Maybe that's his new role, or maybe being a starter makes him believe he's a better shooter. He's not a good shooter. He's ok, but he takes the most 3s in the league and isn't close to hitting the most.
It's not like the expensive doctors have the best cures.
Done.......
slump and laziness on turnovers
IMO, he still is the best player on the best team.
I don't know if he's still sick. I'm just saying that in the 4-game stretch in question, he was sick for at least 3 of those games.
i think its better we go through these slumps/difficulties etc with each player so we can keep adjusting and improve our ability to adapt to win games. Manu is not on? go with tony, no tony, tim. No big three? hope for three point shooting. Nothing going right? bounce back strong int he next game, no b2b losses.
Well, there goes MY whole belief system...
Oh. Yeah, well, here's hopin...[fingers crossed]
Man. when you 29-5 i guess you have to REALLY look for something to gripe about ...
even in this so called slump, manu has made plenty of "winning plays" in the clutch. Who cares if he goes 2-12 through 3 quarters if he has balls of steel in the 4th?
in fact despite this recent return to the "mean" ... shouldnt manu get some MVP consideration? not saying he should win, but if Miami had this record or the lakers Wade/Lebron or Kobe/Pau would be the favorites for the award ...
Not saying he can play the whole year at the level he was on but if he finishes strong and the winning % doesnt drop by much he has to be inthe top 3 for MVP at least if you use recent history for MVP as a criteria ...
It's cliche at this point, but you're forced to take the good w/ the bad when it comes to Manu. Unfortunately, when he's going through slumps like these, he can try to do TOO much (not necessarily shooting his way out, but errant passes or dumb defensive fouls) to make up for his poor play...which, in turn, can really hurt the team.
But sometime in games when Manu is the deciding factor late he makes those dumb plays ...in fact (though i dont see every game like i did when i lived in S.A.) ... his greatest blocks, steals or clutch drives usually comes after a dumb foul, forced pass or bad shot. He is just uber compe ive and it happens. Just like laker fans hve to deal with kobe's double clutch over two people sometimes ...the great "shot makers" or even play-makers take tough shots or force those passes because they:
1. know they can hit them or make them
2. in the clutch you get very few wide open looks or passing lanes ...you have to "practice them" at times in games ...
Trust me I yell at the TV when Kobe does his forced crap too ...but overall i know it's the gift and the curse of most great players. Duncan doesnt do that but he is a anomaly the exception to the rule ...most great compe ors force some of their will on agame even if they are cold ...because they never doubt they can catch fire ...
It's like when farve or manning forces a pass in football they do it because they believe they can get there before the DB and in a small window, and many times they do ...sometimes they fail.
Last edited by Killakobe81; 01-05-2011 at 03:04 PM.
[sigh]
Yeah, I know. I simply wanna eat my cake, too.
Manu the all world compe or that he is will come out blazing vs. the Cs book it now.
As a doc, I am sure Kori is spot on with the lingering effects of last weeks illness for Manu - whether it was strep or a virus, as either can certainly still affect you days after the major symptoms are gone with more subtle symptoms of fatique and decreased excercise tolerance (i.e, this past week with a cold I had to dramatically reduce the amount of time and intensity on a treadmill personally) + travel, even under the first class type the Spurs do has to take a toil in the short-term.
Moreover, he has not been over-used this year minutes wise so I doubt anything major is happening unless he has an unannounced injury.
I expect to hear many more Manu Ginobiliiiiiiiiiiiiiii's this year!
I expect that too ...and if Pop left him in last night I doubt spurs win but Manu would not of gone down without a fight.
Tonight's game should be good ...
PG Parker vs. Rondo (edge Rondo but it's close)
SG Manu vs. allen (edge Manu)
SF RJ vs. Paulina (edge PP but RJ can makea huge difference here and has had some previous success against Pierce in the playoffs)
PF Blair vs. Davis (we all know Blair aint no center great matchup of guys who play bigger than their size)
C Duncan vs. Shaq the best big man of the past decade against the most dominant (for a while)
Best game of the night IMHO and should of been the ESPN game, utim glad they chose the Lakers vs. suns
Come on Manu. Grab your bottle of Chloraseptic spray and get back out there !
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