Ranting about the series, has Manu's luck running out?

[boutons_]

We need Manu to bounce back and find his game and shot the way Kirilenko bounced back from the Rockets series to play very well vs Warriors.

[aaronstampler]

We need Manu to play a lot better. A LOT better. No question. But I don't understand why he's the one getting dumped on and Tim and Tony are getting a free pass.

Think about it, on offense you can do two things wrong. You can either miss a shot or you can commit a turnover. Both of these are bad, and if anything turnovers are worse than missed shots because A) they cannot be offensively rebounded and B) they often lead to fast breaks the other way.

When you add up the missed shots + turnovers, Manu had 11, Tim had 11, Tony had 15. So explain to me why Manu is the one getting shat on.

[Slippy]

GiG got it right . Manu played ok in game 4, doing all the other things on the court like he usually does. I thought he played a great first half but in the second half went cold with his shooting. I mean that last miss of his just said it all.

Is their really anything to take positively out of this series, unless somehow the Spurs either romp the Suns 2 games in a row, or find a way to win a potential Game 7 on the road? I am not sure this sits right with me. Manu playing crappy isn't too fun to see either, and given the Spurs might need a lucky break to win this series is disheartening.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I wont feel bad at all if the Spurs win this series and win it all. Basketball is a team game and we play the best of seven series for a reason. The Spurs had already taken 2 games with their full side and If they closed out better would of won game 4. If the Suns are the better team they will come back stronger in game 6 and take the series. When it's all said and done, who comes out on top will be the story-line.. while a few will remember the "what ifs."

[rascal]

The problem is you think Manu is an all star level player. He is not. he got a gift all star appearance two years ago and had a good 2005 playoff run but he has always been inconsistent and not at the level of the true all stars.

And yes the spurs should have traded him last year.

[Budkin]

Something tells me we'll see a bit of him tonight. Just a hunch...

[DarrinS]

Manu has been less agressive. He's too in love with his 3 point shot. Good things happen when he attacks the basket, but he's stopped doing that, for whatever reason. No one is biting on that fake penetration move he does at the top of the key.

[Nikos]

The problem is you think Manu is an all star level player. He is not. he got a gift all star appearance two years ago and had a good 2005 playoff run but he has always been inconsistent and not at the level of the true all stars.

And yes the spurs should have traded him last year.

This is not the issue. Parker hasn't even had one excellent playoff run and you think he is an all-star. Actually Manu's 2005 run was clearly better than even Parker's two best all-star regular seasons.

The point is most players don't do well in the playoffs. Even guys who you might assume are legit all stars, whatever that means. Manu got lucky to have done so well in 2005, but he was one of the biggest reasons they won the le in 2005 after Tim. You could argue he was the playoff offensive MVP even that year. That doesn't sound like a 'gift' to me, when he was actually more productive statistically on offense then Tim Duncan. That sounds like a true playoff all star in that year. You could argue it was luck or whatever, but I could also say this years playoffs he is just unlucky.

Manu's regular season was very good this year, why did the Spurs need to trade him. His value isn't even high enough to other teams to trade a young all star calibur player. Manu is too old to get equal or superior value anyways via trade.

[Nikos]

BTW timvp comparing 03 with 07 is a poor example because Manu's 2007 regular season was miles better than his 2003 regular season. I tend to judge players playoff statistical performances in relationship to their corresponding regular seasons and expectations -- not just being purely comparing statistics.

Manu was actually superior in the 2003 playoffs to his 2003 regular season. Right now he is WAY below his 2007 regular season. And that is the issue.

[leemajors]

So explain to me why Manu is the one getting shat on.

ginobili set the playoff bar high.

[SAGambler]

Stern has made it so if the Spurs win all anyone will remember is that it was tainted

,

Well, for a week or so maybe. Unless of course Phil Jackson reminds everyone on a bi weekly basis. Otherwise it will pretty much be forgotten by the time the next series is well underway.

Does anyone remember that Frenchman (I think he was French) that blew the British Open a few years back because he took like a 12 on the final hole, and lost by 1 or 2 strokes? Of course not.......They only remember winners. In a few days if the Spurs win this, all that will be remembered is that Phoenix lost. Like they say in golf, "they don't ask how, they only ask how many".

[duncanchick21]

I have a feeling that manu will have a good game tonight and prove all of you wrong!!!

[Spurs go]

I dont think we should blame Manu. Right now he is physically banged up. He has lost his first step and cannot split between the double teams like he used to do. I remembered that during one stretch in the regular season Manu played superb basketball. Now I think Manu just does not have it in his tank.
I blame the Spurs management for not bringing more young legs. The players they brought last offseason have been a waste so far. Elson, etc

[Athenea]

Which amazes me is that considering Pop is such a control freak, everybody asumes that Manu's game has nothing to do w/gameplan.
Let's talk about Manu's best game in this series. Manu had 7 shot attempts by the middle of the 2nd half. 7. I don't think that's Manu's decision.
Of course if Manu fails to knock his shots down (as it happend in that game during that stretch) it's not coach's decision.

[MadDog73]

While I agree Manu is sucking, he does not need to make 35+ points a game to redeem himself!

, all he really has to do is just win one series for us, just one, and all will be forgiven.