That's because his daring defense was bad for the team. Last year, he got into the habit of going for the steal everytime down the court and it even cost the Spurs a couple games. This season, he's playing MUCH better defense and knows that playing hardnosed defense is better than going for steals all the time.
If he plays the same amount of minutes off the bench, why does that make his an "simple bench player"? Get over the bad connotation.If he is tired from those type of sequences, then I don't see why the Spurs wanted him at his contract if he can only play 27mpg or be a simple bench player or sparkplug. If the coaching staff knows he gets this tired etc...and feel he cannot last a season playing 30mpg, then I have a hard time understanding why they signed him up.
His endurance is the only weakness to his game right now. For the 28-30 minutes he's on the court, he's an amazing player. He's put the pieces together and has learned the NBA game.Use the guy, don't typecast him as a sparkplug. If coaching knew his endurance was this weak relative to his style of play and effectiveness why sign him up for 6 years? I would like to think they DO beleive he can play 32-33mpg come playoff time and do a good job.
Regarding his playing time in the playoffs, 32-33 mpg sounds reasonable. Maybe even a little more than that. In the playoffs, you get a day off between ever game and if you take care of business, you get a couple days off in between rounds.
Well, I think ppl overestimate "starting"! To me it matters more who finishes a game and how many minutes the player gets. I would say 30 minutes/game should be okay. I don't say he should come off the bench. But the coach has to figure out how a player helps the team the most. I think Manu an Pop will find a way to get it done.
@Kori: Will Timmy play monday?
I wouldn't mind that much if manu was not a starter, assuming he would he get his minutes. I just don't think pop will ever do that, considering that manu does a good job at the start of the game. And don't think he will play 35mpg a season either, but I would bet he will have 32 minutes next year.
Manu has been pretty busy lately... The Olympics, the guy Is still considered a newlywed, his season with the Spurs, his All Star game, and let's not forget his gigs.
I'm sure ty Pop knows what's best for his players. Hopefully, It doesn't back fire on his ass..
This might explain why Manu hasn't been feeling up to playing basketball lately, It's the late night gigs...
Manu can play 30+MPG he's just tired from the summer olympics.
So far these are Pop's favorite players...
Ginobili needs to brush up on his English.
I see the new Photoshop has a ducks mode.
Meaning if he signed for the Nugz or Suns, he would play more than 30mpg.What do you mean if "HE REALLY HAD TO"? Like if his life was on the line, could he average 33-35 minutes per game? Yeah, in that case he probably could.
Bury my head in the sand? Because I think he can play 32-33mpg? The guy is going to be just as tired if he plays 25mpg. He said the same stuff and had fatigue problems last season too, even when he was seeing a decrease in time.But unless you want to just bury your head in the sand, you should be able to see that he fatigues when he plays too many minutes.
I just find it funny how when Manu has a little tweak you jump on the fact he played 35 min, but when he has several great games playing 35mpg+ you basically just shrug it off. Sure he isn't averaging more than 35mpg on the season, but you always seem to point out in your grades and analysis how tired Manu is before the games even happen and how he might struggle going into it. But even in back to backs he has had some good games. I don't really ever see that being noted when he does have that good game on a back to back.
Sure he is more efficient for this team at 30mpg. But if he played for a less defensively focused club, I think you would see less gambles. I don't remember him being that much of a thief or gambler in the Olympics.Again, I'm not taking anything away from him. I'm just pointing out a byproduct of him playing so hard.
It was more good, more often than bad. Don't let those two games fool you, he has had several game turning steals as well. But because they happened near the end of the game they got magnified. Spurs should have won those games anyway IMO against the Hornets especially. Manu became more reckless when he got benched by Pop, and it took him a while to find his groove. I think that benching did hurt his confidence for a while. He wasn't only gambling more, but turning it over a lot more too.That's because his daring defense was bad for the team. Last year, he got into the habit of going for the steal everytime down the court and it even cost the Spurs a couple games. This season, he's playing MUCH better defense and knows that playing hardnosed defense is better than going for steals all the time.
I really do not see the point in benching him. Pop can manage his minutes however he wants, and take him out whenever. Why put him on the bench? It can only dink his confidence a bit. It is natural for a player to feel slighted when put to the bench, I don't care how confident that player is.If he plays the same amount of minutes off the bench, why does that make his an "simple bench player"? Get over the bad connotation.
I happen to think Manu played very good defense from when he came in the league. Today he doesn't guard the best offensive players like Pop used to make him do at times off the bench in 0203. I do not think those few poor gambles mean he played subpar defense. All those charges he drew and steals he made account for a lot. I happen to think all his forced turnovers are nearly as valuable as what most of the elite positional defenders in the NBA on the perimeter bring. Maybe not Bruce, but most other perimeter defenders.
Bottom line, in the playoffs you play your best players a decent chunk of minutes. You take your chances. I don't care if Manu plays 30mpg in the regular season as long as he gets a few more minutes in the playoffs. I don't want to see Pop saving him or trying to micromanage his minutes just assuming he will be a 4th quarter wizard. There are no gauruntees with that. Just play him a consistent set of minutes and let him play in the playoffs. Don't use him as a supersub or whatever. If you limit his minutes more in the playoffs, you won't get the best out of him.His endurance is the only weakness to his game right now. For the 28-30 minutes he's on the court, he's an amazing player. He's put the pieces together and has learned the NBA game.
Regarding his playing time in the playoffs, 32-33 mpg sounds reasonable. Maybe even a little more than that. In the playoffs, you get a day off between ever game and if you take care of business, you get a couple days off in between rounds.
Where are the Duncan Defenders who were saying that Duncan can play 35+minutes a game? He's averaged nearly that many this season and now he is continually banged up and is missing games. If it's not an ankle, it's his hip or his back.
Tim is an awesome player, but he should never average more than 30 minutes per game. If you play him any more than that, he can't last many more NBA seasons and his career is going to be shortened.
Best case scenario is bringing him off the bench for something like 28 minutes a night. That way he can play an entire NBA season and it will ensure that he'll still be able to walk by the time his contract is over. At this rate, he's seriously setting himself up for trouble.
When he comes back, Pop must limit his minutes. From now to the end of the season, Tim has to rest up. If he doesn't, he's not going to be good enough in the playoffs for the Spurs to do anything.
This offseason, I'd really consider making it known that Tim is going to be the first big man off the bench and going out and finding a starting power forward. Tim's not going to make it at this rate.
WTF?
What kind sport is it that the game is so tough, the players are so mis-matched to the demands of the game, that a player (in his youth/prime) can only play 50% of a game?
Check around the other top teams with some bench, Pistons, Rockets, Heat. You'll find plenty of players not breaking down when playing MPG of 30, 35, 40.
What TF is wrong with the Spurs starters that they can't do the same?
IMO, benching Manu is not the solution. You start with your best players and you end the game with you most "clutch" players. Manu fits the profile.
after Argentina won the gold medal Manu was very vocal about playing intenationally this summer if the situation is ideal for him. He stressed many times that he wants to be rested for his NBA career hence playing for Argentina without a crazy schedule (as they always are)
^^^^^Usually the simplest solution is the best one....
I concur.
Yes. After the gold medal Montecchia retired and some players (most of the squad) are "resting" from Argentine national team for a couple of years, only to return for next World Championship in Japan. This was kind of happening already at continental (South America) Level, since Argentina has a lot of good players and the rotation doesnt hurt much the team.
So, for Ginobilli fans outside Argentina this is good news.
U can put Tony instead of Tim also...
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