Manu and the Olympics

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Manu was horrible this year. Yeah, he had some highlights, but that's it. The Spurs got just to where they should be and were quickly disposed of.

The Spurs need to change that position. Manu is no longer a threat. AT ALL.

He should be traded immediately.

Hope you are just joking. I know you are still sore for the loss but this statement is ridiculous.

It was because of Manu pretty much that the SPurs even played the playoffs.

He was the best guy all season.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

I really think that he shouldn't play in the Olympics. He's already gotten Argentina a gold medal. Its enough. Now he should focus on getting as many championships under his belt as possible. This means getting the most rest during the summer, and coming fresh into next season.

Nonsense. Come on Manumaniac give me a break!!

You know better than anyone Manu will not miss his last shot at another olympic medal. Olympics are a 4-year event so there's not so many shots you can have in while in your prime. He's gonna try getting another one for sure hurt or not.

[kaji157]

Manu was horrible this year. Yeah, he had some highlights, but that's it. The Spurs got just to where they should be and were quickly disposed of.

The Spurs need to change that position. Manu is no longer a threat. AT ALL.

He should be traded immediately.

Yeah, an horrible season being the leading scorer and not having the rest TD and TP had midway the season, sure.

You seem like you didn´t realize that this core has shown that they rebound quite well from failures.

About those arguing seriously (because this guy can go to the trade manu thread) about the Olympics, i think Manu will only play by then if he feels he can help the team, he will go with the team anyway, but he will only play if he feels ready, after this last series he must have realized how slow his game is when the ankle is this bad so he won´t be putting himself on Argentina´s way if he sees himself as a stone in the road.

Now, if Manu plays, it will do wonders for him, a player compe ive as he is needs to play to forget, and get hunger again, after every International Compe ion he has played very good on crucial moments (i read this in an article) and this can only be good for this team.

I would love the Spurs to sign Delfino, a player i like a lot, good defender and offensive player, very gifted, he had some issues with coaches in the past, but he always play great in the NT when Manu is playing with him (actually not playing, sharing the team i mean) and maybe Manu can work with him to make him the 13-15 ppg player we need (he averaged 9 ppg this season) with the Raptors playing 23 mins per game, that´s about what he will play here (he plays both SG and SF) and is a very good rebounder considering his size (6-6 like Manu but averaged almost the same as Manu by playing 10 less mpg).

Overall i think this is doable, even he is a RFA Toronto will not try to resign him unless he accepts a very bad offer, so we can give it a try, also having Manu and Oberto can make him choose us over other teams if a bigger offer is presented, 4 years at 12 millions will make it.

[spurschick]

I was listening to ESPN radio on the way home and Don Harris said he had spoken to Manu about this after game 2. Manu said that the Olympics is the most fun he has as a basketball player. The NBA is his "job" and he knows how important it is, but he's not going to give up the fun of playing with his national team until he has to.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Manu is a compe or. He deserves to go to the Olympics and defend the gold, because it's a once in a life time thing. He'll never have the opportunity to play the Olympics, and I'm sure he'll be fine with two weeks rest.

It really sucks that Manu's had his two best regular seasons, back to back, only to get out of rhythm during the playoff due to injury or adjusting to his role in 2007.

Anyway, it sucks that we couldn't repeat but hopefully we'll be ready in 2009, and Manu peaks at the right time that year.

[milkyway21]

if Manu play in the Olympics and beat Kobe that would really be

[SpurOutofTownFan]

if Manu play in the Olympics and beat Kobe that would really be

I saw manu and kobe talking at the end of the game and I'm pretty sure they said somehting to each other about the olympics. manu is going to take it from kobe

[Russ]

I will be patriotically hoping the US will lose -- to everybody.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I saw manu and kobe talking at the end of the game and I'm pretty sure they said somehting to each other about the olympics. manu is going to take it from kobe

It would be sweet revenge if Manu plays like Manu by August and actually eliminates the U.S. team again with Kobe Lebron, etc.

Though I doubt it...but you never know. It'd certainly shut up the unwarranted national media attention they gave to Manu just because he played against the precious Lakers, where they practically blamed him for the Spurs losing.
As if they gave a about the Spurs, to know what they're actually talking about, prior to the Laker matchup.

[greens]

I saw manu and kobe talking at the end of the game and I'm pretty sure they said somehting to each other about the olympics. manu is going to take it from kobe

I missed the last few minutes of the game. Did Manu give Kobe a congratulations hug?

[Russ]

if Manu play in the Olympics and beat Kobe that would really be

Kobe has demanded to be traded because the US didn't win the last Olympics.

[carina_gino20]

I missed the last few minutes of the game. Did Manu give Kobe a congratulations hug?

Yeah, he did. They exchanged a few words.



Anyway, there's no way Manu is missing these Olympics, because it's his last good shot. He'll give it his all, too. Part of me wishes that he'll just take this summer to rest up, but part of me also excepts nothing less than Manu's full commitment to his national squad.



And I hope Argentina plays another warm-up tournament in SG so I can see him again.

[timvp]

I was listening to ESPN radio on the way home and Don Harris said he had spoken to Manu about this after game 2. Manu said that the Olympics is the most fun he has as a basketball player. The NBA is his "job" and he knows how important it is, but he's not going to give up the fun of playing with his national team until he has to.

Good thing Manu was the one who said that because anyone else on the team would be roasted for such remarks.

[milkyway21]

Good thing Manu was the one who said that because anyone else on the team would be roasted for such remarks.

good thing "Fiba sucks" because Duncan won't ever say playing in the Olympics is such a fun.

BTW, I love the dream team, I always cheer for them, but hey if they will play on 08-08-08 I will be cheering for Manu and Oberto (& Scola).

[spurschick]

Good thing Manu was the one who said that because anyone else on the team would be roasted for such remarks.

Keep in mind that this was Don Harris paraphrasing the conversation, but I don't doubt the comments about him having fun with the national team. Since it's something that you're not paid for, I can see where it might be more of a relaxed vibe.

[kuato]

I would not call it selfish. The Spurs are the organization that pay him to perform, and they want to protect their investment.



The thread that unites us all is that we are all Spurs fans...

--------> Yeahhhhh !!! god saves capitalism !!! off the love for the sport and the team !!

[Typhoon]

Manu was horrible this year. Yeah, he had some highlights, but that's it. The Spurs got just to where they should be and were quickly disposed of.

The Spurs need to change that position. Manu is no longer a threat. AT ALL.

He should be traded immediately.

Epic fail, seriously you fgt.

[angelbelow]

Manu is a compe or. He deserves to go to the Olympics and defend the gold, because it's a once in a life time thing. He'll never have the opportunity to play the Olympics, and I'm sure he'll be fine with two weeks rest.

It really sucks that Manu's had his two best regular seasons, back to back, only to get out of rhythm during the playoff due to injury or adjusting to his role in 2007.

Anyway, it sucks that we couldn't repeat but hopefully we'll be ready in 2009, and Manu peaks at the right time that year.

agree. this is also why i want to draft/sign an nba ready/quality sg for the season to limit manus mintues.

he definitely deserves to goto the olympics to defend his gold medal. afterall he was the mvp of that team.

[v2freak]

--------> Yeahhhhh !!! god saves capitalism !!! off the love for the sport and the team !!

What?

[carina_gino20]

Keep in mind that this was Don Harris paraphrasing the conversation, but I don't doubt the comments about him having fun with the national team. Since it's something that you're not paid for, I can see where it might be more of a relaxed vibe.

I guess it feels like a reunion of sorts for him. After all, he's played with this core for a long long time and has built a lot of friendships.

I don't know about the relaxed vibe though. Maybe off the court. But when I saw Manu during some warmup games for the World Championships a couple of years ago, he was far from relaxed. He was so into it, you knew he'd do anything to win. He wants to win this for his country, for pride. Or maybe it's just the compe or in him.

[urunobili]

I missed the last few minutes of the game. Did Manu give Kobe a congratulations hug?

it was more Bryant looking for him and he told him something on his year... i think it was something like "c ya at the olympics this summer get rest i want to beat you at your full capacity... "