If we go down 0-2, it will be hard to turn it around (Original article in Spanish)
SAN ANTONIO.- In tomorrow's practice, that would be today for you reading this, it will be decided if I'll be available for the 2nd game against Memphis. It will depend on how well the elbow brace I have to use works. I'll try it during practice playing one-on-one and, if it doesn't bother me and Popovich thinks I can lend a hand, I'll be ready to play. It will be decided by noon, but it will only be announced a few minutes before the game.
Hope everybody understands that I'm dying to play. You have no idea how much I suffered the first game that we lost last Sunday and I had to watch it from behind the bench. It's terrible. To give you an idea, that the injury is on my right arm gives me a chance to play; if it would have been in the left, my shooting hand, forget about it.
I suffered the hyperextension of the elbow in the last game of the regular season against Phoenix and it provoked a lot of pain, besides of a big scare. My arm was stretched between Tim Duncan and Grant Hill, who kept on running and pushed it opposite of the natural articulation. I've been healthy all season and I had to get injured in the very last game. I couldn't believe it. On top of that, since that area is very sensitive, I lost strength and mobility in the entire arm. I couldn't even grab a soap with that hand.
The day after I felt better, and the next one even better, but it wasn't enough to start the playoffs. Regardless, I wanted to play that first game, I wanted to help and I asked Popovich, but he thought that my arm was too weak. He spoke to the doctors before making his decision. I think it's understandable. He didn't want to risk me. It was the first game of the series and there was 3 more days of rest until the second. The thing is, I never missed a playoff game, except for 2009 when I was out during the regular season because of that ankle injury.
With regards to the game we lost, I though we played well, aggressive, controlling their strengths, and executing the tactics we planned. We neutralized fairly well Memphis' scoring in the paint, we didn't turn the ball over much, and we defended well. I think the only thing missing was to make the shots in the most important moments. We missed key shots. That's why it hurts to lose the first game, but there's nothing to critique or get mad about, we didn't mail it in. Sometimes it happens that you lose playing well.
The reality is that Memphis is a team that can make anybody uncomfortable, defends well, plays very physically and has very good players, especially Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, who make things difficult under the rim. Memphis had a really good end of the regular season. Houston tried to catch up with them winning some games but they couldn't. That said, I think Memphis choose to get the 8th seed and play against us in the first series of the playoffs. They could have gone for the seventh seed, but they let their best players rest in the last few games that they lost (vs Portland 102-89 and Clippers 110-103) because they didn't want to play against the Lakers.
So they have their best players rested to start the playoffs. But the second game will not be the same. There's more pressure. We can't lose it because if we end up 0-2 it will be hard to turn around the series. Few teams have historically done that. We have to win, tie the series and then head to Memphis and "steal" a game to recover home court.
One more thing, losing the first game of the playoffs is nothing new for San Antonio. It already happened to us in 2003, against Phoenix, and we ended up winning it all. Also, I think in 2005 we started losing against Denver and we ended up winning the le. Regardless, the West is going to be a dogfight from the first round, something I don't think will happen in the East, where the candidates to pass to the second round are more or less well defined.
Last edited by ElNono; 04-20-2011 at 09:49 AM. Reason: Fixed typo (underscored)
Yep it is nearly impossible if we go down 0-2, which is why SA needs to come out and win that one there, no doubt at all MUST WIN! I hate a must win this early but it's here.
Nice article. Glad to hear from Manu himself about the situation. Too bad he couldn't have thrown in a "and in regards to Pop playing Bonner over Splitter: Free Tiago!!!"
I really hope Manu is just playing up to the injury hype. He isnt known for doing so but damnit if he is hurt that bad like he says he is might as well put a bullseye on his right arm...
as everybody knows the injury the bullseye is already there ... not good at all
it. Just his presence alone can give the Spurs life. Even if he isnt El Contusion he is still a damn good playmaker. Also a deadly clutch shooter. I still believe we can win game 2 without him though. Parker needs to step up though..
Absolutely we can win game 2 without Manu ... perhaps it was just the early playing time on Sunday which made the difference in shot making. However, the Spurs rebounded very good, took care of the ball and still lost. Last years series vs. Phoenix showed as soon as they erase one mistake, another one comes up. I had the feeling Pop wanted to run more on Sunday, but in doing that we might have sacrificed more rebounds to Memphis ...
Cannot wait for tonights game!
Absolutely.
These kind of games always make me freakin nervous. I was positive last year we would come back against the Suns and we got swept. I just hope this is a different Spurs team.
We shouldnt have lost game 1. This is sad. MEMPHIS is all wrong for san antonio and if these players like dyess and bonner cant find there game its going to be a tall order.
me also. this team pisses me off nowadays. I sometimes turn the tv off while watching them. Supposed veterans playing like rookies. I expect screwups from neal and anderson. Not dyess bonner and parker. But neal plays balls to the wall
Must mother in' win man
I think all of us know how hard it will be to come back if we lose 2 games. That's why I don't understand how people think we should still sit Manu. If he can play, he should play. This could be the end of our season.
Hard? More like impossible, especially with this group.
Indeed. You can come from 2-0 down... if the two games were on the road. Coming from 2-0 down when both those games were at home? Verrrrrrrry difficult
yup, it'd be close to impossible to come back down 0-2, going into 2 home games at memphis where they went 30-11 in the regular season
game 2 is a must win, then hopefully we can get a split it memphis
I also wait for this "inexperience" thing to hit the Grizzlies so hard they forget how to get the ball in the paintme also. this team pisses me off nowadays. I sometimes turn the tv off while watching them
This team wanted the spurs for a reason...it is quite scary...they feel that they got the spurs number...
Also, Pop even said it...the spurs accomplished most of their goals for the game---and STILL--lost...
I can see this going south really soon and the worst part is that Pop WON'T go big to match up with their bigs...Pop just continues to insist that it is about making shots....
Very, very troublesome.
"lend a hand"
Spurs = ed
Thanks for the translation
Great to hear from Manu. Unfortunately, it sounds like his elbow is still in bad shape. Even if he plays, it doesn't read like he thinks he'll be anywhere near 100%.
Frickin' last game of the season.....
Giving up already? this board is hilariousFrickin' last game of the season.....
It's the playoffs and he should play even if he's around 80%.
If Pop holds him out again and the Spurs go down 0-2, then it'd be pretty much par for the course for good ol' Gregory the last 2 months.
Brent Barry on the radio yesterday said Manu couldn't straighten his right arm.
I would rather see the Spurs go down with all guns blazing (if it's to be), rather than "what ifs." (Although there will be some cosmic "what ifs" if another injury dooms the Spurs in the playoffs once again.)
Too late for that. There's going to be "what ifs" either way...
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