ESPN.com's 2007-08 award winners: Sixth Man Award

[DAF86]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...cks/index.html

That Marty Burns guy's a joke he selects Billups and Iverson (McGrady could be debatible) before Manu for the all nba teams.

[Jack Sommersset]

Manu's averaging the same number of fouls per game this year as he has in every year of his playing career.

Honestly, I don't think you're paying much attention to the NBA if you're truly convinced that fouls have anything to do with why Manu comes off the bench.

Honestly, You have to be kidding me. You can't be paying attention to the Spurs if you don't think that is the main reason he comes off the bench.There is a guy in Mangoo that only knows one way to play. That way can get him in to trouble.

The Mavericks can thank him for going to the Championship game 2 years ago. He can't help himself. He is very aggressive all the time.Game 7. Let Dirk go to the rim and advance to another championship. Nope he only knows one way to play. He fouls him going for a block.

Pop saves him as much as he can and does not start him so that he can stay in the game. Please.

[FromWayDowntown]

Honestly, You have to be kidding me. You can't be paying attention to the Spurs if you don't think that is the main reason he comes off the bench.There is a guy in Mangoo that only knows one way to play. That way can get him in to trouble.

The Mavericks can thank him for going to the Championship game 2 years ago. He can't help himself. He is very aggressive all the time.Game 7. Let Dirk go to the rim and advance to another championship. Nope he only knows one way to play. He fouls him going for a block.

Pop saves him as much as he can and does not start him so that he can stay in the game. Please.

Yeah, you know, I've only been watching the Spurs closely for something like the last 30 years. I'd defy you to find me a quote by Popovich saying that Manu comes off the bench to stave off foul troubles.

Manu's foul against Dirk would have happened whether Manu started that game or came off the bench. It's not as if Manu wouldn't have been playing in the closing seconds of regulation if he had come off the bench that night.

In fact, during last year's NBA Finals here's exactly what Pop said about why Manu comes off the bench:

http://www.nba.com/nba_news/ginobili....html?rss=true

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich moved Ginobili to the bench midway through the season in hopes of getting more offensive energy from his reserves.

* * * *

Popovich called the decision to bring the 29-year-old Ginobili off the bench a "seat-of-the-pants sort of thing.''

"The bench wasn't really producing a whole lot. I thought maybe it would be easier for Michael (Finley) or Brent (Barry) to play with the starting group,'' Popovich said. "And I'm fortunate in that Manu is the kind of guy that obviously cares more about the team. Sure, he'd rather start, but he'll do whatever he's got to do for the team and would take it well and not moan and groan about it.''

Now, I wonder which of these will be your response -- will it be:

(1) Popovich doesn't really understand why he's bringing Ginobili off the bench; or

(2) Popovich is lying; or

(3) Popovich has reasons for bringing Ginobili off the bench that he's only explained to you and that he then systematically lies to the media about those reasons.

[Gino]

I'm tired of hearing that Manu isn't a true sixth man. There is no gray area here. You either start most games or you come off the bench most games. Manu has come off the bench most games, and is the first off the bench most games. To suggest he isn't a sixth man isn't a matter of a difference of opinion, it's a matter of being wrong.

Kevin McHale was an All Star and averaged 19-9 in his 6th man years. Ricky Pierce won it averaging 23 ppg. This isn't the first time one of the best two or three players on a team has been up for 6th Man.

Not really. Manu is a bench player in name only. This is actually kind of an insult to him. Is Manu the Spurs' sixth man?

[FromWayDowntown]

This nonsense about Manu's foul trouble is particularly absurd since he hasn't fouled out of a regular season game since November 7, 2004 (at Seattle) and has fouled out of 2 of his 90 playoff games and didn't start either of those games (Gm. 1, 2003 WCF vs. Dallas; Game 4, 2006 WCSF @ Dallas).

[FromWayDowntown]

Not really. Manu is a bench player in name only. This is actually kind of an insult to him. Is Manu the Spurs' sixth man?

Was Kevin McHale truly the Celtics' sixth man in 1984 or 1985?

[RoundTableVoice]

KEVIN McHALE won the SIXTH man both years !

[Spurminator]

Not really. Manu is a bench player in name only. This is actually kind of an insult to him. Is Manu the Spurs' sixth man?

Yes. Manu is the Spurs' sixth man. He is a bench player in both name and function.

[Jack Sommersset]

Yeah, you know, I've only been watching the Spurs closely for something like the last 30 years. I'd defy you to find me a quote by Popovich saying that Manu comes off the bench to stave off foul troubles.

Manu's foul against Dirk would have happened whether Manu started that game or came off the bench. It's not as if Manu wouldn't have been playing in the closing seconds of regulation if he had come off the bench that night.

In fact, during last year's NBA Finals here's exactly what Pop said about why Manu comes off the bench:

http://www.nba.com/nba_news/ginobili....html?rss=true



Now, I wonder which of these will be your response -- will it be:

(1) Popovich doesn't really understand why he's bringing Ginobili off the bench; or

(2) Popovich is lying; or

(3) Popovich has reasons for bringing Ginobili off the bench that he's only explained to you and that he then systematically lies to the media about those reasons.

I skimmed over your post. I choose number 2. I think its more of saving face for Mangoo but I guess a lie is a lie. 30 years of watching Spurs has color blind you. I am not impressed. I won't bother spelling it out for you anymore. You just don't understand.

Go Spurs GO

[Gino]

Was Kevin McHale truly the Celtics' sixth man in 1984 or 1985?

How the should I know? I was 4 and 5. Give us another example from the last twenty years where the sixth man wasn't really the "sixth man". That is, there wasn't someone better starting in his place.

[Spurminator]

Ben Gordon.

That was easy.

[FromWayDowntown]

How the should I know? I was 4 and 5. Give us another example from the last twenty years where the sixth man wasn't really the "sixth man". That is, there wasn't someone better starting in his place.

Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks, 2003-04.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'll also say this: if Manu was playing somewhere other than San Antonio and was coming off the bench to aid the club, it seems likely to me that: (a) he would have won 6th Man of the Year already; and (b) there wouldn't be people concocting unprecedented overqualification arguments to claim that he shouldn't win the award.

[Obstructed_View]

Calling BS on JS. Nobody is that stupid and sticks to such a ridiculous argument for any other reason than to try to piss people off.

[Phenomanul]

Calling BS on JS. Nobody is that stupid and sticks to such a ridiculous argument for any other reason than to try to piss people off.

Exactly.... It appears he has nothing left to win his stupid argument than to resort to trolling... why else would he end his posts in "GO Spurs GO"???

[Jack Sommersset]

Exactly.... It appears he has nothing left to win his stupid argument than to resort to trolling... why else would he end his posts in "GO Spurs GO"???

Its not about winning my friends, its not about trolling amigos.Its not about name calling folks. Its an opinion that is correct. I honestly for the life of me don't understand what some of you see. Its right in front of you. The guy is 3rd in minutes on his own team. .......?He is.....

I am not doing this again....I have said more than I needed to in spirit of the conversation.Some of you need to look outside the box. Don't hate. If you have something to contribute that could change opinions please do so.

Go Spurs Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BIG z]

Timmy got no votes for Defensive, well people just dont realize what kind of a role he plays on our team, people just look at stats...

[gino>yourlife]

nice to see manu FINALLY getting some love

[porscha]

it would be better if he's getting the Sexy Man Award

[LilMissSPURfect]

Cinco for MANU!!!!!!!

[TMTTRIO]

It's really stupid for Manu to win it. the 6MOY award is mostly for the best role players that come off the bench. Manu should've made the All Star game instead this year and is much more important to our team then a simple role player.

[spursfan09]

Why do fans of the other teams care that Manu might win it? What's the big deal. He deserves it as much anyone. He could be starting and complaining but he doesn't. Instead he puts the team first. That deserves recognition don't you think? So if he gets it, he gets it. Are ya'll just tired of the Spurs winning trophies?

[Obstructed_View]

It's really stupid for Manu to win it. the 6MOY award is mostly for the best role players that come off the bench. Manu should've made the All Star game instead this year and is much more important to our team then a simple role player.

It's not an award for role players, it's an award for non-starting players. That's all. Don't read more into it than is there. If the NBA wants to change the requirements for the award so Manu doesn't qualify, that's fine, but for now it's his award.