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We will send hit men from Argentina.
Pop is a dead man, I say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FURTHER NOTICE SERVED...Spurs notebook: Lineup changes after all: Ginobili returns to bench
Web Posted: 03/03/2008 12:18 AM CST
Jeff McDonald
Express-News
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Not long before tipoff Sunday night at New Jersey, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich approached Manu Ginobili.
Popovich had that look in his eye. Ginobili knew what it meant.
After starting 14 consecutive games, he was headed back to the bench.
"When he comes with that look, I know what he's going to say," said Ginobili, who had 17 points in the Spurs' 93-83 victory. "He said it was the best for the team, and I want what's best for the team, too."
A day after telling reporters in Milwaukee that he did not anticipate making a lineup change in the immediate future, Popovich made two of them Sunday.
His two Argentines, Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto, headed to the bench. In their place, Popovich started Michael Finley and newly acquired forward Kurt Thomas, who technically started at center.
Ginobili, who emerged as a leading candidate for the sixth man of the year award after coming off the bench for 36 of his first 38 games this year, said he wasn't surprised by the move to the bench.
"At this point in my career, nothing surprises me," he said.
Popovich informed Thomas of the decision not long before tipoff, too. Like Ginobili, Thomas was unfazed by the move.
"I've been around long enough to know you've got to be ready to go at a moment's notice," said Thomas, who logged 17 minutes, 29 seconds for the most playing time of his fledgling Spurs career.
The lineup shift came partly as a pre-emptive strike against any bench fatigue that might set in on the second night of a back-to-back, especially with a relatively early 6 p.m. EST tipoff on Sunday.
It also served to carve time for Ginobili and Oberto, who team up well on pick-and-rolls, to play together off the bench.
We will send hit men from Argentina.
Pop is a dead man, I say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manu's starting again tonight
That's good. He's proven he can play as a starter or coming off the bench. However, it messes with Fin's game when he's shuttled back and forth. Hopefully, Pop makes a decision and sticks with it.Manu's starting again tonight
Yeah, and Pop is going to up the opposing coaches gameplans as well
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