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Still in denial I see.
Forget that, Manu can earn his way there.
If he is playing bad because he's upset that he isn't starting, then that's his problem and he needs to learn team ball. But I know that isn't it (despite what all the Manu lovers here say).
If he's just going to dribble, step back, and brick a three 9 times a game, he can stay on the bench for all I care and let Finley play. What, is making him start all of a sudden going to stop his jumpshooting passion?
Still in denial I see.
Stay outta the paint manu!
i think Pop should should put Manu in the starting line-up...maybe Manu could find his rhythm coz he's a little bit lost...
Manu's problem has nothing to do with starting and everything to do with his head being stuck up his ass.
Starting or not shouldn't matter to a player of his supposed calibur. He hasn't been getting in rhythm because he's gotten into foul trouble and has relied on weak jump shots off fakes (did they ever work, because no one bites now) instead of aggressively driving to the basket and creating his shots inside to allow him to get to line, which also increases his rhythm.
It's one thing if he is contributing in other ways, but he hasn't even been doing that consistently.
But to answer the question, I was pissed after last nights loss. Especially at Manu because Tony and Tim can't get it done by themselves. Manu is a top three option in our system along with Tim and Tony. Pump faking and jumpers won't get him out of the slump that he's in right now. This was excusable during the regular season, but not now in the playoffs. He needs put his head down and drive to create and give us that other dimension we need. This has nothing to do with Finley. We all know Manu went to the bench to create a bench. Which has worked for us, especially during the Denver series when our bench outscored Denver's. Manu just needs to sack up and become the reckless player that we've all grown to love.
manu is sucking, finley is playing well, so what is pop waiting to start manu for elevate manu's confidence?...
i think spurs need a change and that's starting manu...
If manu can play more minutes as well as Tony, im definately all for starting manu...i feel comfortable with finley coming off the bench to put points up.
Start Butler!
Manu is a confidence player. Spurs need to do something to raise his confidence.
and Beno can?
Yeah, They have to get him going like Tony say. Get Manu involved.
I would give the Suns D some credit too,for this lack of confidence on Manu.They are guardin him real good and every time He has the ball there´s somebody helping so He can´t penetrate.I belive they focus on Manu so much in game 1,that they did let TP penetrate and shoot all night long.
But I belive Pop will find the way to overcome the suns Defense on Manu to get him going.
There is nothing more Pop can do - this is alllllllll Manu. He needs to pull his head out.
He is fully aware that he gets starter's minutes and that for all intents and purposes save actually starting the game, he is considered the starter. We have 3 big players. There shouldn't be any reason to have to play them all at the same time. We have to start Timmy because he is our anchor, offensively and defensively. We have to start Tony because our back-up is too slow and ineffective to work this series. That leaves Manu. We have 2 other effective players (one of whom is playing out of his ing mind) that can play that position.
So, quite simply, you don't start Manu. Putting him out there early is only going to decrease the number of touches he sees, and make him more likely to get into early foul trouble and out of rhythm.
Bottom line is that Manu needs to figure out what's happening. If he's tired, if he needs to practice more, if he's afraid of committing another stupid turnover, if he's scared of being permanently hurt, whatever it is, he needs to get rid of it and start playing like someone getting paid millions, instead of someone who looks scared and lost and like he's playing hot potato with the ball.
Well, if you start Manu, then Fin comes off the bench. Or are you saying
Fin isn't a "scoring option"?
Right now I see a couple of problems. A backup for Tony.....Vaughn just isn't cuttin it no more than Beno did. And if you put Manu on the floor as the "main scoring option", it makes the defenses job much easier.
I also find it hilarious that posters have said all along the Phoenix doesn't play defense, and yet here are post after post about Thomas defending Tim well, and Raja Bell shutting down Manu.
Good thread. I believe we should start Manu Ginobili. The Suns have found a consistent answer to our plan to run the offense through Timmy. They were able to clamp down onto our shooters.
Manu Ginobili can create shots for himself and others...with his slashing he will draw in defenders and open up the offense. We need more ball movement and spread the defense. We can't rely on Duncan to do it all now
Spurs' Ginobili anticipates keeping reserve role
Web Posted: 05/11/2007 10:22 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Manu Ginobili expects to begin tonight in the same place he's begun the previous 44 games.
On the bench.
Ginobili said he doesn't think Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will change the lineup for Game 3.
"He didn't say anything about it," Ginobili said. "It doesn't mean that last minute there isn't going to be a change. You never know.
"But I think we're doing good. The team is being very active for 48 minutes. We just made too many mistakes, that's it."
With Ginobili averaging six points during the three previous games, there had been some speculation Popovich might put him back in the starting lineup to help him regain his rhythm. But Ginobili said he wasn't sure such a move would benefit him or the team. The Spurs have gone 32-12 since he moved to the bench full-time on Jan. 28.
"I see (the Phoenix Suns) are being aggressive on me on pick and rolls, trying not to let me get to the basket or get any clean looks," Ginobili said. "I'm fine with it. I think the team has enough weapons — that if I am smart enough to pass the ball to the right guy — to score anyways."
The Spurs want Ginobili to stay aggressive, but not force shots that aren't there.
"Manu is a big part of what we do, and we need him to get going," Tim Duncan said. "Is it a priority? We're not changing a whole lot of what we do. We'll try to get him involved along the way, and of course, being the compe or that he is, he's going to try to do the same.
"So we'll just have to keep him from pressing and making bad plays. Stay within what we do and his chances will come."
No consequences: Bruce Bowen's feet have generated a number of complaints in recent seasons, but the Spurs forward said he didn't receive a single call from NBA officials about the latest incident.
Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president of basketball operations, called Bowen at home earlier this season after New York coach Isiah Thomas threatened to "break his foot." Jackson warned Bowen he needed to start giving shooters space to land.
Bowen, who said he didn't intend to hurt Amare Stoudemire, has grown accustomed to being labeled "dirty."
"I've pleaded my case in a lot of other things, and it really doesn't do me any justice to try to explain any of that," Bowen said. "It's an unfortunate cir stance, and I'm sorry it happened."
Stoudemire made similar accusations against Ginobili, who biggest previous sin was allegedly being a "flopper."
"I get tough fouls all the time, and I never say anything," Ginobili said. "(Stoudemire) is a guy who wants to say it. It doesn't matter. It's not going to bother my game and change everything."
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni doesn't expect Stoudemire's complaints to change the way tonight's game is officiated.
"It just adds a little flavor to it, and 'let's see what happens,' but I don't think it affects anything," D'Antoni said. "Referees talk about it and try to control it, but I don't think it will affect it."
Perfect gentleman: Asked if he was glad Stoudemire excluded him from his "dirty" accusations, Duncan quipped, "I'm honored, I guess."
Finley is playing better as a starter so hopefully Manu can get it going from the bench.
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