Harvey: Old role, new image: If Manu backtracks

[JamesR]

This is actually kind of funny.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Or maybe the handful of Argentinians making comments like "fat " can chill out and realize that Manu not starting is NOT A DEMOTION! He will still have the same role if not larger! If he comes in without Tony and Tim the Manu will be the focal point of the offense.

And the notion that "Finley doesn't deserve to start" is silly. He's a career 15 PPG scorer and has started his whole career. They both 'deserve' to start, its just a matter of who does.

James, the "fat " remark was a response to T Park's "argentine bozos" crap. The guy is an imbecile, he's been one for quite a while now.

about the Manu to the bench subject I have no problem with Pop doing that. Its not like Manu would be less effective. Plus he hasn't been his old self, perhaps bringing him off the bench will wake him up a bit.

[JamesR]

James, the "fat " remark was a response to T Park's "argentine bozos" crap. The guy is an imbecile, he's been one for quite a while now.

Gotcha.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

there is more of a history between tpark and the argentinian contingent here at spurstalk than you may realize. i am sure none of them particularly care if he starts as long as he gets his minutes. what they resent is the pre-emptive insinuation that they will always blow up about any perceived slight to ginobili. i think it's pretty self-evident that if pop decides ginobili is more effective off the bench it is in no way a demotion. tpark's comments are the insult here.

[5ToolMan]

I think the ideal of starting Finley over Manu is very foolish for the Spurs, if for any other reason than to rehab Manu slowly to get him at his best for the playoffs. The Spurs are a defensive first team, and Manu simply puts Finley to shame in his ability and execution of the Spurs defensive scheme. When Manu is ready, as soon as he is ready, he is and needs to be the Spurs starter and finisher.

Once Finley gets used to his needed role off the bench, he would provide the Spurs with needed bench scoring, while not having to play against the other teams best offensive players. The Spurs problems this year have not been in scoring, as much as it has been in getting stops. They have the best shooting percentage in the NBA. Thus, Finley starting can't improve the offense much, and hurts defense and many other positive ways Manu sets the tone.

[TheTruth]

He called them bozos!!!

[Man In Black]

I know that if Tpark started that crap with the Pinoys....We'd be pissed off too.

You could have went to another level and showed some class by not going nationalistic on our friends from Argentina.

Whether you want to diss or not diss, at least recognize that Manu is completely pivotal to the Spurs success. With him, the team is infinitely better. Whether he starts or is the bonafide 6th man, he provides the intensity needed to sustain a victory drive.

I'd prefer that he starts but am cogniscent of the fact that he should do what's best for himself, in terms of getting healthy. Decreased minutes to slowly build him up would probably better for his body given his frenetic style of play. Once he has built up to combat the typical assortment of minor injuries, then we all will see the MAN-U we all appreciate.