Manu will be the scapegoat as usual, but...

[timvp]

That's a role that doesn't allow him to drive to the rack, or take open shots.

[Yuixafun]

That last part of the interview

At 5:40 when he says "and.. that's not what I'm ASKED to do"

listen to how he emphasizes the word

and watch his demeanor and body language.

There's a world behind that little sentence.

You might think it's borderline Stephen Jacksonish



Also at around 5:30 when he says " I have to be sharp feeding the bigs... and fiding the shooters USE THEM"

JUST Pause it at 5:35 look at his face and eyes.

Clearly there is some resentment there or exasperation.

[FkLA]

That really is the most twilight zone interview of Manu I've ever seen. If I didn't know better, I'd think all his answers were being passive-aggressive about not liking his role on the team.

It makes it extra strange that it's Manu because this is a guy in his prime who would literally be on suicide watch after playoff losses. If he had a game like this back then, they'd have to put him in a padded room until the start of the next game.

Hopefully this is just Manu BSing his way through media answers and the fire/passion/anger is bubbling under the surface. I suspect that is the case.

But if Manu is really saying what he thinks in that interview, the Spurs are toast. They can't win if Ginobili think his role is to be a poor man's Brent Barry.

Its more passive aggressive than a 16 year old girl. I have NEVER doubted Manu's heart until now. And - like you - I'm mostly certain that he's trying 100% out there but you can't tell me that there's not a part of you who thinks that he might be pulling a Kobe at the worst possible time ever. I hope not. I suspect no one outside the organization knows.

WTF? So the same guy who had no problem coming off the bench for years now has a problem with his role?

Its not like Manu isnt involved in the offense anyways, he still has his moments of running the offense. Hes more passive because he has to be (Im sure hes aware of his physical limitations now) not because hes ing Kobe.

[InK]

That's a role that doesn't allow him to drive to the rack, or take open shots.

Unreal.

[MannyIsGod]

WTF? So the same guy who had no problem coming off the bench for years now has a problem with his role?

Its not like Manu isnt involved in the offense anyways, he still has his moments of running the offense. Hes more passive because he has to be, Im sure hes aware of his physical limitations now, not because hes ing Kobe.

High probability Manu is giving it his all. But that interview is really really really really really odd for Manu. Hopefully as LJ said its just the way he reacted tonight to being so pissed. Honestly, now I want to see Manu drive and maybe take a couple of bad shots in the lane. Well I'd prefer good shots in the lane obviously but now I just want to see him show some fire out there in Game 5.

[hommeaetage]

He isn't playing 'passive'. He's playing the role Pop gave him: facilitator as a backup PG. That's a role that doesn't allow him to drive to the rack, or take open shots.

I'm sure Manu would like to play his natural position as a SG, but Neal never developed into a backup PG (and we all definitely remember THAT experiment).

Now you're just making stuff up tbh. I'm pretty sure the backup PG role has more than call a pick 30 feet from the basket or shoot a contested step back 3

[MannyIsGod]

El Nono if you were trolling job well done. Otherwise.... lol.

[SA210]

You really ing think Manu's been done wrong by the Spurs and Spurs fans huh? You think that he's had it rough with them? Un ingbelievable. Every person who puts on that uniform owes the fans. Especially one who's received so much of their adoration for a long ass time. You're a moron if you think otherwise.

LMAO @ won't be able to walk straight though. Jesus ing Christ there isn't a cross big enough for you to nail Manu to.

Dude, gtfo with that bull . Manu was robbed of his well deserved starting role his entire career. He sacrificed for this team. I even think you're happy he said what he said just so you could further on him. He owes you? He gives all he has, and always has. He's ing struggling horribly right now beyond belief. It happens to the best of them sooner or later. Timmy looked almost done 2 years ago. Now look at him.

Damn some Spurs fans, if you wanna call yourselves that.

[SpurSpurSpurs]

That last part of the interview

At 5:40 when he says "and.. that's not what I'm ASKED to do"

listen to how he emphasizes the word

and watch his demeanor and body language.

There's a world behind that little sentence.

You might think it's borderline Stephen Jacksonish



Also at around 5:30 when he says " I have to be sharp feeding the bigs... and fiding the shooters USE THEM"

JUST Pause it at 5:35 look at his face and eyes.

Clearly there is some resentment there or exasperation.

You high?

[Yuixafun]

Nah but I should go to bed.

[ElNono]

Since when does the back up PG position mean you can't ing drive???? You're pulling out of your ass to rationalize his play. He's playing the same ing role he's played for the past 6 years as a Spur and all of a sudden now he's not allowed to drive? Make up your mind - is it his body or is it because he plays this new non driving backup PG position?

Do you watch the games AT ALL, Manny?

Go watch what happens when he starts running the pick and roll. This isn't something every team does. It's Miami that defends it like this.

This is why he doesn't drive:




He's not quick enough to go around both defenders.

Miami is the TOP pick and roll defense in the league. Safe to say that yeah, no, Manu hasn't played against this kind of defense as a backup PG in the past 6 years.

[FkLA]

High probability Manu is giving it his all. But that interview is really really really really really odd for Manu. Hopefully as LJ said its just the way he reacted tonight to being so pissed. Honestly, now I want to see Manu drive and maybe take a couple of bad shots in the lane. Well I'd prefer good shots in the lane obviously but now I just want to see him show some fire out there in Game 5.

You guys expect him to flat out come out and say his body has deteriorated so now he has to be more of a facilitator? Of course hes going to say its no longer his role or that scoring 20 ppg isnt expected of him instead of flat out saying that, dont see how thats odd. I just think its ridiculous to accuse one of the most unselfish and most compe ive players weve had in SA of not giving it his all or purposely being passive to send a message.

I dont agree with ElNono about him being tied down by the role Pop gave him though. Regardless of role Manu would still drive relentlessly if he were still capable enough tbh.

[DAF86]

That really is the most twilight zone interview of Manu I've ever seen. If I didn't know better, I'd think all his answers were being passive-aggressive about not liking his role on the team.

It makes it extra strange that it's Manu because this is a guy in his prime who would literally be on suicide watch after playoff losses. If he had a game like this back then, they'd have to put him in a padded room until the start of the next game.

Hopefully this is just Manu BSing his way through media answers and the fire/passion/anger is bubbling under the surface. I suspect that is the case.

But if Manu is really saying what he thinks in that interview, the Spurs are toast. They can't win if Ginobili think his role is to be a poor man's Brent Barry.

lol how is that being passive/agressive?

He's pretty straightforward in this interview. Watch it again. He hasn't been a high volume scorer all season long and it's clear that he doesn't need to be for this team to be as good as it is. At no point in this interview I see him ing about his role, he's just calling it how he sees it and to be honest as it is, he has been more of a facilitator than a scorer all season long. He says he needs to do a better job at it but nothing more. I don't see him sending any hidden message to Pop about his role, tbh.

[ElNono]

Now you're just making stuff up tbh. I'm pretty sure the backup PG role has more than call a pick 30 feet from the basket or shoot a contested step back 3

He's being trapped or they're sagging from him. The only way to make them pay, at least on the sagging part, is making a shot (which he can't right now). The trapping part: get rid of the ball.

[dallasmaverickslose]

I think yall are really taking Manu's interview WAY out of context...

[ElNono]

El Nono if you were trolling job well done. Otherwise.... lol.

Not trolling, Many...GSH already called you out on this thread about the backup PG thing... you probably didn't see it.

[timvp]

lol how is that being passive/agressive?

At no point in this interview I see him ing about his role

Not sure if you know what passive-aggressive means, tbh.

Again, on the surface it sounds passive-aggressive as ... but it's Manu so I'm going to safely assume that it's not. Anyone else, though, I wouldn't give the benefit of the doubt -- even TD.

[ElNono]

Tell me how he beats that trap, LJ...

The only time I recall this series where he was running PG and Miami didn't trap/sag (Wade went over the screen), was in Game 1, when the score was 18-18 (go look it up, I know you have it on your DVR).

What did Manu do? He drove to the rack!

[FkLA]

Since when is being honest about your role the definition of being passive aggressive?

[DAF86]

Not sure if you know what passive-aggressive means, tbh.

Again, on the surface it sounds passive-aggressive as ... but it's Manu so I'm going to safely assume that it's not. Anyone else, though, I wouldn't give the benefit of the doubt -- even TD.

"At no point in this interview I see Manu playing the passive/agressive card and hinting that he's not happy about his role". Is that better for you?

Seriously, he's just speaking his mind and tbh is the truth, what everybody has seen during the whole season.

[ElNono]

I dont agree with ElNono about him being tied down by the role Pop gave him though. Regardless of role Manu would still drive relentlessly if he were still capable enough tbh.

I think it's a combo of things... it's both how he's being played and the fact that he isn't fast enough anymore to beat it... Tony struggles sometimes against it too, but he has quick enough feet to eventually beat it.

[DAF86]

Its more passive aggressive than a 16 year old girl. I have NEVER doubted Manu's heart until now. And - like you - I'm mostly certain that he's trying 100% out there but you can't tell me that there's not a part of you who thinks that he might be pulling a Kobe at the worst possible time ever. I hope not. I suspect no one outside the organization knows.

You still mad he didn't tip you?

[HI-FI]

lol at this thread. i have a feeling this will be a great read when i wake up tomorrow. Should hold us over til Game 5.

that being said, i mentioned on here during the 9-day rest that I figured Manu would really benefit from the rest and truly peak in the Finals. wow.....I had no idea he would be playing so t....OK by his standards.

[ElNono]

lol at this thread. i have a feeling this will be a great read when i wake up tomorrow. Should hold us over til Game 5.

that being said, i mentioned on here during the 9-day rest that I figured Manu would really benefit from the rest and truly peak in the Finals. wow.....I had no idea he would be playing so t....OK by his standards.

10 pages... you know it's a hit!

[timvp]

Tell me how he beats that trap, LJ...

As I've posted elsewhere (maybe in this thread, tbh), I'd abandon pick-and-rolls with Manu. He can't turn the corner, he can't hit that pull-up three and the Heat are pre-rotating on his passes so even when he doesn't turn it over, whoever catches it has a Heat player swiping at the ball.

Pop needs to get Manu into isolations and tell him to create one-on-one. Also, running him off screens and maybe even giving him a few post opportunities early to get him going could help.

I don't mind Manu running random pick-and-rolls later in the shot clock against a rotating defense -- that can be successful at times. It's when he deliberately goes into the top pick-and-roll that there really is little chance of a positive outcome.