MYSA: Ginobili might miss Olympics with ankle injury

[duncan228]

McDonald's updated column, along with a little Splitter and Engelland bits.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....18a2db19.html

Spurs: Pop wants Ginobili to consider missing Olympics
Jeff McDonald

In less than two months, Argentina’s national basketball team will convene in Beijing with hopes of defending the Olympic gold medal it claimed in Athens in 2004.

For the first time, there are serious doubts as to whether Manu Ginobili will be healthy enough to play.

Acknowledging that the sore ankle that hobbled him during last month’s Western Conference finals has not improved in the three weeks since the Spurs’ season ended, Ginobili told reporters in Argentina on Wednesday he might be forced to skip the Olympics.

“The ankle injury is worse than I thought,” Ginobili said, adding, “I believe this puts in danger my chances at playing in the Olympic Games.”

Given Ginobili’s troubling medical report, Spurs officials have begun to voice grave concerns about the prospect of him playing in Beijing.

Coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday he hopes his star guard will give serious consideration to resting in August if his health doesn’t improve dramatically. In a meeting with Ginobili this week, Popovich told him as much.

“My concern is that it is going to get worse,” Popovich said. “He’s got to seriously consider his health.”

Generally, Popovich has no qualms with his players participating in international compe ion, particularly the Olympics. His apprehension about Ginobili sounds an alarm bell signaling the severity of the guard’s injury, which could require surgery if it doesn’t heal on its own.

An MRI taken in May just after Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers revealed a ligament in Ginobili’s left ankle swollen to four to five times its normal size. Another MRI taken Monday showed little improvement, even though Ginobili had been off the ankle for nearly three weeks.

“He’s just as hobbled as he was in the L.A. series,” Popovich said. “If we had a game today, he couldn’t play.”

Ginobili, who led the Spurs in scoring this season at 19.5 points per game, will spend the next three weeks in a plastic boot to immobilize the ankle. If his condition hasn’t improved, Ginobili will have a decision to make regarding his participation in the Olympics.

That decision rests with Ginobili alone. Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the Spurs cannot order Ginobili to skip the Olympics.

The Argentine team is slated to begin workouts on July 4 and opens Olympic pool play Aug. 10.

Popovich says he is sympathetic to Ginobili’s plight, a tug of war between pocketbook and patriotism.

“He’s got to go back and live there (in Argentina) some day,” Popovich said. “But his bills get paid by his performance with the Spurs.”

Ginobili, who will turn 31 before the start of the Olympics, is somewhat of a national hero at home. He is to Argentine basketball what Diego Maradona was to Argentine soccer.

But it is the Spurs’ logo that graces the paychecks scheduled to total $9.9 million for Ginobili next season. From Buenos Aires, Ginobili said he still hasn’t surrendered hope of healing in time to play in the Olympics.

“I am going to do everything possible, because I want to play,” Ginobili said.

The Spurs don’t mind a healthy Ginobili playing in Beijing. They don’t want him playing on a partially healed ankle.

“He’s torn between his responsibility to the Spurs, and his love to play for his country,” Popovich said. “If he gets better in three weeks, fine. If not, he has a decision on his hands.”

Basketball fans on two continents await the answer.

Splitter no fool: Tiago Splitter’s decision to return to his Spanish League team next season hasn’t drastically altered the Spurs’ offseason game plan, Popovich said.

Splitter, the Spurs’ top draft pick last June, signed a four-year deal with Tau Ceramica this month worth several times what the Spurs could pay him under the NBA’s rookie salary scale.

“When he agreed to come, he didn’t know they were going to offer him so much (in Spain),” Popovich said. “With the way the economy is, he would have had to be an idiot to come here next year.”

Engelland interviews : Spurs assistant Chip Engelland has interviewed for a spot on Terry Porter’s bench in Phoenix.

Engellend, a shooting guru widely credited with helping to remake Tony Parker’s shot, has been with the Spurs for three seasons. He can extract himself from his Spurs contract only if he is promoted to a larger role with another club.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Manu takes chances and he's god. J.R does and he's a bad seed? GTFOH

Well there's a difference between taking a ballsy shot, from known players with high IQ's ( like Nash, Deron Williams have also taken "risky shots" during these years playoffs...)
and when players like Sasha, the Antoine Walkers and J.R. Smith jack up shots...it's cuz they weren't thinking, they just shot for no reason; they were just playing individually.


Usually, Nash, Kobe, Manu take shots it's because they feel the team needs the shot, and it can be a game/momentum changer.
Same goes for Manu. A lot of the times it gets good results. There's a reason why Manu is the only one Pop gives the green light to on those shots, and it's not because he takes "stupid shots".

(Kobe doesn't really count with stupid shots, because he's an exception; impossible low percentage shots are his game.)

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

“When he agreed to come, he didn’t know they were going to offer him so much (in Spain),” Popovich said. “With the way the economy is, he would have had to be an idiot to come here next year.”

Whatever makes you feel sleep better Pop.

[TMTTRIO]

His apprehension about Ginobili sounds an alarm bell signaling the severity of the guard’s injury, which could require surgery if it doesn’t heal on its own.

That doesn't sound good at all

[Spur-Addict]

Well there's a difference between taking a ballsy shot, from known players with high IQ's ( like Nash, Deron Williams have also taken "risky shots" during these years playoffs...)
and when players like Sasha, the Antoine Walkers and J.R. Smith jack up shots...it's cuz they weren't thinking, they just shot for no reason; they were just playing individually.


Usually, Nash, Kobe, Manu take shots it's because they feel the team needs the shot, and it can be a game/momentum changer.
Same goes for Manu. A lot of the times it gets good results. There's a reason why Manu is the only one Pop gives the green light to on those shots, and it's not because he takes "stupid shots".

(Kobe doesn't really count with stupid shots, because he's an exception; impossible low percentage shots are his game.)

They both take risks. Manu is far more experienced. When he was younger what were Pop's thoughts? Yeah, we all know what they were. All he needs is to be reigned in, PERIOD. Go look at vintage Manu video before he was a Spur and compare it with J.R. HE'S YOUNG!!!!!!!, very young and he won't play enormous minutes and if he steps out of line he'll find the bench just like all others who forget what the situation is. BELIEVE ME, pop will put him in the right state of mind. All the players you've referred to are Vets. Smith is not, so don't write him off.

[ducks]

“When he agreed to come, he didn’t know they were going to offer him so much (in Spain),” Popovich said. “With the way the economy is, he would have had to be an idiot to come here next year.”

so he did agree with the spurs to come over


I guess spurs did their homework HUH

[ducks]

Whatever makes you feel sleep better Pop.

[O-Factor]

I would hope Manu will rest and heal his body this off-season. Not go balls out in the summer games when he isn't even fully healthy.

[carina_gino20]

“He’s just as hobbled as he was in the L.A. series,” Popovich said. “If we had a game today, he couldn’t play.”

[gilmor]

Manu just ing cost us the 5th championship..

A healthy Manu would be enough for Spurs to be thro to Finals..
No question about that..
How far Spurs can get in the playoffs is all bout the health of Manu.. not parker.. not duncan

DAMN!

[carina_gino20]

Manu just ing cost us the 5th championship..

Seriously? Just one player? So if the Spurs win next year with Manu healthy, will you also say that Manu won us the 5th championship?

[gilmor]

Seriously? Just one player? So if the Spurs win next year with Manu healthy, will you also say that Manu won us the 5th championship?

Yup.. 100%..

Esp when the defense collapses on Parker and Duncan..

Manu is different, he is unguardable when healthy

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Manu just ing cost us the 5th championship..

A healthy Manu would be enough for Spurs to be thro to Finals..

That's absurd.
Injuries happen. It's not like Manu or Pop could control it from happening, no matter how conservative they played.

An injury happened in 08.

Just be glad the Spurs were fortunate to be healthy to have 4 championships already.

[carina_gino20]

Yup.. 100%..

Esp when the defense collapses on Parker and Duncan..

Manu is different, he is unguardable when healthy

Manu was healthy in 2005. Did Manu alone win the Spurs their 3rd championship?

[Brox6]

Manu should listen to Pop this time. He has already Olympic Gold Medal and right now with the USA team line up, the chances Argentina team repeating to win the Gold is very slim.

Rest Manu and start fresh for the new run in 2009...

Go Spurs!!

[amy020]

really bad news. though I really want to see MANU in China and play the Olympics.But if the ankle injury is that serious,please have a rest so as not to get any worse. or the injury will always affect the performance in the future. What a pity this season. and with an ankle injury ,it is hard to defend the olympic championship. SO if healthy ,play,if not, rest.

[pooh]

If I was manu, I'd go to the Olympics. They only come 'round every four years and look...it's a chance to "repeat" as gold medal winners. Not many can say that. Better to go for it, then limit his minutes once the season begins and have him well rested up come Jan/Feb then get him ready for the playoffs.

[gilmor]

Manu was healthy in 2005. Did Manu alone win the Spurs their 3rd championship?

In 2005, it's a combination of the Big 3.

But in 2008, Spurs badly needs Manu in the Lakers' series. Because you can expect so much from Parker and Duncan, but you won't know when Manu will ignite..

[polandprzem]

Those CIA's in spurs organization


You know that many guys (NBA fans) did not even knew Manu was injured?

Most of the spurs fans thought it was a minor injury. Well with the moinor injuries Manu is playing all season long.

[gilmor]

That's absurd.
Injuries happen. It's not like Manu or Pop could control it from happening, no matter how conservative they played.

An injury happened in 08.

Just be glad the Spurs were fortunate to be healthy to have 4 championships already.

Did u watch the US Open Golf?

If any of the Big 3 was half the man Tiger Woods was, we are looking at championship 5..

'Just be glad' is never in a champion's mind. If they are satisfied with what they have right now, might as well quit the game.

[polandprzem]

Did u watch the US Open Golf?

If any of the Big 3 was half the man Tiger Woods was, we are looking at championship 5..

'Just be glad' is never in a champion's mind. If they are satisfied with what they have right now, might as well quit the game.

I havent watched the US open.

Was Tiger with the broken leg? arm?
Could he run, swing, jump and push body to the limit?

[ducks]

If I was manu, I'd go to the Olympics. They only come 'round every four years and look...it's a chance to "repeat" as gold medal winners. Not many can say that. Better to go for it, then limit his minutes once the season begins and have him well rested up come Jan/Feb then get him ready for the playoffs.

yeah that is the at ude to take
spurs pay his bills and he says screw the spurs

[Athenea]

Ginobili's injury-and subsequent performance cost the Spurs a championship this season. If he makes matters worse, the Spurs number 1 priority this summer needs to be liquidating Ginobili and getting the best possible return on their investment.

Let's bottom line it folks; no need to sugarcoat. The window is closing, we can't rely on 30-something 2 guards that can't handle playing 30 minutes a game. If Manu chooses his country and he has every right to, Spurs need to say goodbye.

-Walton.

And Manu has to put such a mercenary type of support above of his countrymen unconditional love??
U guys will be asking to trade Manu anyway by the end of next season.
Heck! Even Duncan's when he shows more signs of declining.
country>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>club

[Athenea]

yeah that is the at ude to take
spurs pay his bills and he says screw the spurs

U want Manu gone but u need a reality check here: your guy Tony doesnt have what it takes to win championships. U either have it or u don't.

[Alice_spurs]

It is a sad news for me
I'm a chinese girl, and I hope I can see Ginobili in 2008 Olypic Games
But now~~
manu please musk take care of yourself ! !