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Nice game from Manu. Hope he keeps it up.
I´ll say he is back after a few games like yesterday.
Above all, I hope he stays healthy.
of A Win last night Spurs.
No Parker, No Duncan, so its Manu to the Rescue!
Nice game from Manu. Hope he keeps it up.
I´ll say he is back after a few games like yesterday.
Above all, I hope he stays healthy.
Its easy to forget how good he is. After the last two seasons, I think in my mind we were the big 2 + 1/2. If Manu is back to this kind of form, then there are some good times ahead.
still the 3rd best SG in the nba
I like our chances.
this kind of thread is as premature as the Manu is done threads after a bad game.
Behind the Box Score, where Manu's back!
By Kelly Dwyer
Ball Don't Lie
San Antonio 131, Toronto 124
We had no idea what to expect heading into this game. San Antonio was without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and while it seems like a slap in the face to expect that Toronto might have a hard time downing a Spurs roster without its top two players, one also has to remember that the Raps are a team with a lot of holes and a lot of issues right now. Perhaps, someday, the Raptors will remember as much.
Somehow, we got the unexpected. A fantastic game, quite entertaining, and one that allowed us a peek at the reemergence of Manu Ginobili, superstar.
Sure, it might only be for a game, Ginobili's body and timing and touch and balance and rhythm still have a long way to go, but the bad boy was just a beast for 32 bench minutes. And San Antonio needed every ounce of Manu's production, and influence.
Not before we got a shootout. That shouldn't surprise, considering Toronto's problems on the defensive end and the presence of Tim Duncan in street clothes. But the sheer totals? This was some knockout stuff.
The Spurs managed 141 points per 100 possessions, the Raptors 133. For comparison's sake, 114 points per 100 possessions led the league last year. Led the league.
It makes sense, for the Raptors.
San Antonio was doughy on the interior even with Duncan around, entering the game 21st in defensive efficiency — a far cry from their le-era runs that saw them routinely top the NBA in that mark. Theo Ratliff got the start at center in both halves, but he played fewer than nine minutes and really didn't make much of an impact. Beyond that, it was a series of more-or-less wing players (Matt Bonner, Richard Jefferson) and undersized power forwards (Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair) holding the fort.
So you can see why Chris Bosh (32 points) and Andrea Bargnani (17 points) had their way. What I can't see why Bargs managed only four rebounds in 32 minutes. Toronto was out-rebounded by 12 to a miserable rebounding team missing its best per game rebounder in Duncan. Blair is, barely, the Spurs' best at rebound rate, but a distant third remains Antonio McDyess. Antonio's 11.1 percent rebound rate falls, league-wise, behind luminaries like Michael Beasley, Kevin Durant, and even Bargnani himself in 2009-10.
Somehow, San Antonio had the edge. Dyess chipped in with 10 caroms. Richard Jefferson was aggressive early, and finished with a fantastic line that included 24 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and just one turnover.
But it all paled, in comparison to the guy with the pale halo on the top of his head.
Ginobili had 36 points on only 15 shots, astounding efficiency. His 16 free throw attempts helped make this a rather bland game in the first half, but his incendiary touch from long range (making six of eight attempts) put the Raptors on the canvas. This guy blocked four shots — four shots! — started breaks, finished them, and found the open man (eight assists) when applicable.
He was a monster. We've seen this fright before, but it's been too, too long for Manu. And whether this is a sign of things to come or just a blip on the radar until he's finally in physical range, I could not care less. For one night, there he was. Manu Ginobili. A bad, bad boy.
Let's just hope he can do something like this against the mavs...and we play better D.
The 4 blocks really impressive. Thats a stat stuffer for you lulz
Last night performance will give batmanu added confidence. Its getting really scary. Spurs are getting their comfort zone and everybody is on attack mode. If only their defense could come up now. Let's see what we have next game.
Manu actually leads the team in points per game this season with 17.5 PPG. He also is now shooting 38% from three-point range after last night's 6/8 shooting night from beyond the arc.
what? I'm sure that can't be right... Tony has had a number of 20 point games already, hasn't he? Seriously, I'm asking.
It seems like Manu's not even impressed with it last night. This is what he said on his facebook today.
Manu Ginobili Great win, but 124pts? Won't get too far like that. Gotta keep improving! // Lindo partido anoche, pero nos hicieron 124pts! Así muy lejos no vamos a llegar. Hay que seguir trabajando.
I was surprised, as well, but Tony is only averaging 14.8 PPG (third on the team).
Tony has had 17, 8, 24, 21, and 4 points in the games he has played in this year.
RJ is the #2 scorer at 15.3 PPG.
When Manu is nailing his step-back 15-18fters (along with all the other stuff he does) you know that he's playing at his peak. Personally, it's not a shot I like to see him take because it's such a difficult one, but you know he's at his peak when he starts hitting them consistently.
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