Disagree whole heartedly to sit Manu for the long-term if his injury is more serious than what's been reported. As Spurs fans, you have been fortunate enough to see a lot of success in the last decade or so. But, you never take for granted an appearance to the NBA Finals. As many players have found out, you don't get to be there very often. Not every player is Magic, Michael, or Larry and can expect to win multiple rings, much less appear in the finals 5 or 6 times in a career.
Now, I'm not saying the Spurs won't be back in the NBA finals in the future. They are definitely poised to make multiple trips in the next 7 years. But, what if they didn't??? You just never know. With free agency, head coaching turnover, trades and teams getting better, a team that is successful one year is guaranteed nothing the following year. You just look at Minnesota and Indiana from last year to this year, and you should realize that you never take for granted the opportunity to win an NBA championship.
And, I'm sure Pop, Manu, and many Spurs fans would agree if they really think about it. That's why Terrell Owens played in the Superbowl. It's why Isiah and Willis Reed played in the NBA finals on basically one leg. If Manu can walk, he plays, no matter how injured he really is.
That sounds easy, but when you play a certain way for 100 games and now someone says go ahead and goon it up out there, it just doesn't work that way. Just like you saw Detroit could not adjust to the tight calls in game two. The game is not being called the same. The team that wins this series will be the team that gets the game called "their way" on the road. Watch.
"Much Worse" is referring to Manu's performance in relation to any other Finals series.
Manu has hit a wall and is starting to suck.
Also, he is dethroning Parker from the Most Inconsistent Spur Poster Child.
Actually my personal opinion is that Manu f'ed up his knee on that play. Watching it a couple of times on Tivo, it appeared he started to flinch and react before there was even any contact.
And I'm not talking flop type flinch, I'm talking like he hyperextended his knee and it hurt like pain.
Just my two cents.
Then two days off is good, even if the fans hate it.
If Manu or any player is hurt, they just need to damn declare it.
Manu is just getting outworked, outplayed and outsmarted.
He just plain sucks now.
No, man. It's Jedi Mind Tricks that we Pistons fans use. Using the power of the Force to suggest that Wade dribble himself into a human pretzel with no Pistons anywhere near him. Beaming the compulsion straight into Ginobili's head that he should commit a charge on Prince, leading with his left quadriceps. We've been honing this stuff all year. On the first test run, we didn't understand our own power, and put a little too much juice on the "Charge the stands and jump on a random fan" command....
(N.B. We had NOTHING to do with John Green's cup-toss; you can't use mind tricks on the mindless.)
I think that Manu is fine. He is no doubt getting treatment from the many trainers, physical therapists and docs that the Spurs employ. Pop would not let him play if he thought it was serious. Plus he injured his quads. The only bone in the area is the femur and of course that is not broken. His knee may have been tweaked, but obviously he can run and still drive.
The 2 days of rest will only help the Spurs. They looked out of gas and well, just lost last night. This break will gives all the Spurs a little more time to heal.
Piston fans can only hope Manu is injured worse than he is. Both he and TD looked very pissed after games 3 and 4. They will be looking for retribution in games 5 and 6.
I could run and ride a bike after I blew out my ACL, but that doesn't mean it's a good thing.His knee may have been tweaked, but obviously he can run and still drive.
There's no indication Manu's knee is in trouble. He has a thigh contusion. He sat out in teh regular season with the same injury, but this is the Finals. Pop couldn't sit Manu if he tried. And he shouldn't.
Manu was played scared for two and a half quarters last night, he was settling for jump shots because he made his first three and because he got banged the nght before. By the middle of the third quarter he was driving in again, and making shots. It was just too late by then, the Pistons were hot and were off and rolling.
Manu will be fine.
Naww...he looks affected. He has about 80% of his game. It's that 20% THOUGH that the Spurs can thrive off of.
The Bruise won't stop him from playing but it limits what he can do to an extent. But even then, the Spurs could still win the series...I said in 6 and I'm sticking to it, if they execute well enough. Why Nazr is channeling Samaki Walker the last 2 games is a mystery but as it stands, I wouldn't mind Rasho in their to start to at least battle for position and rather than blow a dunk or get a turnover, get the rebound and then re-start the offense. 2-2 and game 5 on Sunday...I can't wait to see which team shows up. GO SPURS GO.
And I've had a torn meniscus for years and still run stairs every day, but you missed the point.
If Manu had a knee injury, he would have already had an x-ray, MRI and Dx. And it would be reported. No way Pop would let him play with any serious injury.
That is because he is exhausted.
bones,
Did you ever stop to think that maybe Manu would keep it to himself and not tell anyone about it, because he wants to play?
It's great you think that Bones. I can tell you that I spent time as an Atheltic Trainer and well, he is playing but do you notice how much shorter his stride has been in the last couple of games. 3 days off will do him some good. Will it heal a contusion? Probably not but it's pain threshold that determines if an athlete can give it his all. With a thigh contusion, it's a very large muscle that needs to be a full capacity to give that athlete the best chance at success. Think of Bigfoot the truck, is his axle has a bend in it, he could still go, but his turning radius would be affected. 3 days will help Manu, playing defense and committing less turnovers and attacking mentality will help the Spurs. They can still win, Manu affected just makes it harder. So in effect, the Spurs have got to punch back.
Aggie-
Yes, I do agree that Manu would do anything to keep playing. But I also think Pop knows this and would have him checked out anyway. The trainer would at least put him through ROM and if he was worth one as a trainer, he could tell if there was swelling or abherent motion in the knee.
I also know that DRob tried to hide injury from Pop. It was easier for him to do so because with LBP, there is usually no obvious swelling and DRob just played through the pain. The knee is much smaller and you know yourself that you can't ingore the pain/instability for long.
I may be a total optimist, but I think that Manu is 'fine' (meaning good enough to play and make a difference) and the Spurs can still do this.
Last edited by bonesinaz; 06-17-2005 at 08:12 PM. Reason: 'fine' for Manu means playing with some injury
Good post, MIB. But I really can't remember when Manu was considered at 100%. It seems he always has a nagging injury.
Shut up Sequ, I beg you.
You were the one riding Manu's jock up until a week ago, running smack with Pistons fans about how the Spurs were going to sweep them and how it was IMPOSSIBLE for them to beat us even once.
Now Manu has "hit a wall, he is inconcistent, he is getting outworked, outscored and outsmart".
On Sunday, he drops 28 / 8 / 5, makes a couple of key steals, outhustles the Pistons, wins the game and you are back to claiming he is the best Spur in the roster.
Man you are a turd.
Manus thigh is bothering him...you can tell early in the game when he's moving awkwardly and stiff.
It loosens up considerably as the game wears on and the adrenaline gets pumping...but, it still bothers him.
Personally, I think they should have rested him game 4. I understand why they didn't, and prolly would have had to fight him to do it...still, it's what I woulda done.
After playing 100 or so games, no one on either team is 100%.
I'll tell ya
Then he will have the MIP award locked up.
thread hijack...Sequ, check your PMs, please.
carry on..
For what it's worth ...
The Thompson Brothers were just on NBATV with Fred Carter and Spiro Dedes (sp?) and when addressed the question about was Manu's injury effecting him, they said NO that Detroit defense is effecting him, that he is always banged up all season long, and the injury isn't anything hindering him more than normal.
He has looked tentative since he did that but I think he'll be ok. Here's the google translation of what Manu had to say:
"I feel worried, I do not know how I will be in the party. It hurts the leg to me when I am cold. I do not believe that Popovich changes the rotation system ", said to him to Olé.
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