Surviving Manu Ginobili's Injury

[Libri]

They have almost zero leadership without Manu.

I think that something that is vastly underestimated is that Manu was the emotional leader of the team. Apart from the statistics, his mere presence on the court infused confidence to the rest of the players. Furthermore, he showed a whole range of emotions that stem from disappointment when losing to excitement when making a big play. It's that intangible quality that will be greatly missed.

[ducks]

spurs scored 94 last game
manu played very little
spurs scoring will not be the problem
spurs closing might be
why because pop only goes to manu

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

spurs scored 94 last game
manu played very little
spurs scoring will not be the problem
spurs closing might be
why because pop only goes to manu

Didn't watch the game, did you? TP shot 2-11 and was atrocious. Time your man stepped up and brought his A-game... if he doesn't, we're screwed.

[ducks]

spurs were screwed when manu got paid what he did and has always been hurts....
tp jumpshots are on he just needs to finish better
pop fault not playing him in preason and camp

[NASpurs]

spurs scored 94 last game
manu played very little
spurs scoring will not be the problem
spurs closing might be
why because pop only goes to manu

Crappiest poem I've ever seen in my life.

[TJastal]

Crappiest poem I've ever seen in my life.

[TD 21]

Good points, but I don't see Pop playing Duncan and Parker the minutes you're suggesting. Especially not Duncan.

I know its not the popular choice, but I'm still in favor of tanking. Unless Ike provides immediate relief offensively and defensively.. I'm not sure our fragile front line can last the season.

Also, tanking wouldn't necessarily mean rebuilding our team from the ground up (unless TD decides to retire then we have no choice.) If we can get a high pick and a solid prospect, we still might be in a great position to make a run next year.

All in all, I want to see how we look for the next 10 games before making any big time judgements like "tank!"

He might not have a choice, particularly in Parker's case. It's either that or increase the risk of narrowly missing the playoffs, missing out on the playoff revenue that comes with even two home games and not getting a great draft pick. That's precisely why tanking makes no sense, because this team is too good to get a high enough pick to justify it.

In what's maybe Duncan's last season, are they supposed to tell him to stop trying? The guy got them a new building built, ensuring the franchise would stay put for, at minimum, a long, long time, carried them in virtually all aspects of the game for a long time and did so with limited help, yet never once complained. He also lead them to four championships along the way. More recently, he's given up $11 million over 2 years and taken on a reduced role, again, while never once complaining, even though they've failed to provide him with adequate help as he's aged. Yeah, tell that guy to just give up. And while they're at it, maybe they can tell Parker too.

[jgome21]

I think the Spurs will struggle in some games, but should be fine in the long run. It allows James Anderson to play a bigger role and Gary Neal to get back into his groove. I've accepted the fact that ginobili gets hurt at some point of every season, so I rather have him get it over with now and have him hopefully healthy in the playoffs. All I ask for is a healthy Manu and Tim in playoffs......

[cantthinkofanything]

I think that something that is vastly underestimated is that Manu was the emotional leader of the team. Apart from the statistics, his mere presence on the court infused confidence to the rest of the players. Furthermore, he showed a whole range of emotions that stem from disappointment when losing to excitement when making a big play. It's that intangible quality that will be greatly missed.

I agree with you but you couldn't have said it any gayer.

[angelbelow]

He might not have a choice, particularly in Parker's case. It's either that or increase the risk of narrowly missing the playoffs, missing out on the playoff revenue that comes with even two home games and not getting a great draft pick. That's precisely why tanking makes no sense, because this team is too good to get a high enough pick to justify it.

In what's maybe Duncan's last season, are they supposed to tell him to stop trying? The guy got them a new building built, ensuring the franchise would stay put for, at minimum, a long, long time, carried them in virtually all aspects of the game for a long time and did so with limited help, yet never once complained. He also lead them to four championships along the way. More recently, he's given up $11 million over 2 years and taken on a reduced role, again, while never once complaining, even though they've failed to provide him with adequate help as he's aged. Yeah, tell that guy to just give up. And while they're at it, maybe they can tell Parker too.

Regarding Duncan.. he definitely earned the right to finish out the season the way he wants. If he wants to push his limits and attempt lead the spurs to another successful seasons, then I'll be there to cheer him on. If we end up clicking on all cylinders without Manu and actually improve when he returns for our playoff run, then this would easily be one of the more memorable seasons in Spurs history.

As far as tanking goes.. I like the way you put it.. it'll be just as hard to get a top 5 pick as it would be to finish with a top 4 seed in the West. We're kind of stuck in the middle, as of now we should make the playoffs as a low seed even without Manu. So we're kind of stuck in this mediocre realm where we aren't good enough to compete - yet were not close to being bad enough to tank. The next few weeks will be more revealing but I'm not sure which situation I'm rooting for yet.

[TD 21]

But with the West in the state it's in, does it really matter what seed the Spurs get? They might get a 6-8 seed, but really be a top four caliber team come playoff time, like in '10 or like the Grizzlies last season.

I think it's a no brainer to root for them to do well, because, as I alluded to, unless they get an obscene amount of injuries to key personnel, there's no way they're going to be bad enough to get a top 10 pick. Missing the playoffs and getting a 11-14th pick is the worst possible scenario. So you might as well root for them to stay in the playoff picture and hope they're healthy for once going into the playoffs. They're long overdue.

[mailboogie52]

I have read all the posts on this thread. So many of you have said the Spurs are doomed. You talk of Parker or leonard or Jefferson or someone stepping up to fill the hole of Manu's absence. Looking at the team as a whole, I agree that the young players have to show what they can do. Having seen all the games to this point, at least 3 times each(recorded), I think we all overlook the team concept that is Spurs ball.

Manu has about 25 mins a game that will have to taken by someone. Anderson 21.4, Leonard 18.2 and Green 8.8 are going to getting the bulk of the minutes for the next 3 or 4 games. Neal will get maybe 10 for those games then cut into the minutes Green is getting. TP will stay on the court for 3 or 4 extra minutes. That leaves Anderson to start at SG and get 30 mins a game, up about 8. Leonard will gain 5 more as the main backup at SF. Green will get about 18 mins a game till Neal returns.

I dont see our offense dropping but I do worry about the defense. My predition for Manu is Feb 29. At that point we should be 20-14 or 19-15 at the worst. We could even be better.

[cantthinkofanything]

I have read all the posts on this thread. So many of you have said the Spurs are doomed. You talk of Parker or leonard or Jefferson or someone stepping up to fill the hole of Manu's absence. Looking at the team as a whole, I agree that the young players have to show what they can do. Having seen all the games to this point, at least 3 times each(recorded), I think we all overlook the team concept that is Spurs ball.

Manu has about 25 mins a game that will have to taken by someone. Anderson 21.4, Leonard 18.2 and Green 8.8 are going to getting the bulk of the minutes for the next 3 or 4 games. Neal will get maybe 10 for those games then cut into the minutes Green is getting. TP will stay on the court for 3 or 4 extra minutes. That leaves Anderson to start at SG and get 30 mins a game, up about 8. Leonard will gain 5 more as the main backup at SF. Green will get about 18 mins a game till Neal returns.

I dont see our offense dropping but I do worry about the defense. My predition for Manu is Feb 29. At that point we should be 20-14 or 19-15 at the worst. We could even be better.

ohhhh...so all they have to do is reallocate Manu's minutes and it'll work out fine.

[analyzed]

I have read all the posts on this thread. So many of you have said the Spurs are doomed. You talk of Parker or leonard or Jefferson or someone stepping up to fill the hole of Manu's absence. Looking at the team as a whole, I agree that the young players have to show what they can do. Having seen all the games to this point, at least 3 times each(recorded), I think we all overlook the team concept that is Spurs ball.

Manu has about 25 mins a game that will have to taken by someone. Anderson 21.4, Leonard 18.2 and Green 8.8 are going to getting the bulk of the minutes for the next 3 or 4 games. Neal will get maybe 10 for those games then cut into the minutes Green is getting. TP will stay on the court for 3 or 4 extra minutes. That leaves Anderson to start at SG and get 30 mins a game, up about 8. Leonard will gain 5 more as the main backup at SF. Green will get about 18 mins a game till Neal returns.

I dont see our offense dropping but I do worry about the defense. My predition for Manu is Feb 29. At that point we should be 20-14 or 19-15 at the worst. We could even be better.

Huh? you do realize that Manu is one of if not the most efficeint players in the NBA, avg 20 pts in 26 minutes before his injury. So you figure Anderson and company can provide the same offensive efficeincy with the 26 minutes shared among them. I'd like to see that happen.

[Fabbs]

That said, I'd say this injury lowers the championship hopes from 3% to about 1%.

You just inspired some PollyAnna Poppers party attire.

[Xevious]

tp jumpshots are on he just needs to finish better
pop fault not playing him in preason and camp

GTFO are you even watching the games? Parker's jumper is MIA (has been for more than this season), he's bricking all over the place. He had like a 5 minute run where he was actually scoring at will. The rest of the time he's been struggling.

Anyway, the guys calling for a tank need to shut up. Yes, Manu will probably not return to anything close to 100% this season, Tim looks to be about 60 years old, and Tony is just flat out sucking... but the team owes them at least an effort. They might as well waive Duncan now, so he can join a contender or retire with at least a little dignity. But as long as he is in a Spurs uniform, they try to win.

[therealtruth]

spurs were screwed when manu got paid what he did and has always been hurts....
tp jumpshots are on he just needs to finish better
pop fault not playing him in preason and camp

The Spurs got him cheap on the previous deal. I think they overcompensated on the current one. Same thing happened with the Trailblazers and B. Roy. They knew he had knee issues and still gave him a max. It's hard to factor injuries into what a contract should look like. Nobody wants to accept being called injury prone.

[angelbelow]

But with the West in the state it's in, does it really matter what seed the Spurs get? They might get a 6-8 seed, but really be a top four caliber team come playoff time, like in '10 or like the Grizzlies last season.

I think it's a no brainer to root for them to do well, because, as I alluded to, unless they get an obscene amount of injuries to key personnel, there's no way they're going to be bad enough to get a top 10 pick. Missing the playoffs and getting a 11-14th pick is the worst possible scenario. So you might as well root for them to stay in the playoff picture and hope they're healthy for once going into the playoffs. They're long overdue.

Yeah, the west is much weaker this year. Hopefully we gel and get some consistency from the everyone outside of just Duncan and Parker.

[Spurtacus]

I really don't see Manu back and fully healthy until after the All-Star break. 7-8 weeks from now. Had the injury been to his non shooting hand I would say 4 weeks. Not an expert on this injury just my preliminary prediction.

If he's out until the All-Star break then thats 29 games missed.

[rascal]

People are saying Parker is out of shape but Duncan is the one out of shape.
I expect Duncan to play better as he gets into game shape.

It has always been on Duncan and it will be like that again.

[benefactor]

Crappiest poem I've ever seen in my life.

[Ice009]

People are saying Parker is out of shape but Duncan is the one out of shape.
I expect Duncan to play better as he gets into game shape.

It has always been on Duncan and it will be like that again.

I agree. I think Tim is just rusty and out of game shape. I think he will get a lot better later on.

[timvp]

If he's out six weeks, he'll miss 25 games. If Ginobili can't return for the full eight weeks, the Spurs will be without their star guard for 31 games.

So Ginobili is out at the very least 25 games. Probably closer to 31.

Let's hope TD and TP are in one piece by then.

[analyzed]

With our win vs the Warriors , we need to win 11 out of our next 27 games (2 months) that equates to 40 % of our games . and we would have a mid-season record of .500 . 17 wins , 16 losses. Hopefully with a healthy Manu we can win 20 of our last 33 games. 60 % . That would being our record to 36 and 30. Which I believe would put us in the playoffs.

11 (In bold) of the next 27 games are certainly winable. when you look at the remaining schedule for January and Febuary.
s Mavericks

Sat 07 vs Nuggets

Sun 08 @ Oklahoma City

Tue 10 @ Milwaukee

1200 WOAI
Wed 11 vs Rockets
1200 WOAI
Fri 13 vs Trail Blazers
A 1200 WOAI
Sun 15 vs Suns
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
8:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Tue 17 @ Miami

6:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Wed 18 @ Orlando
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
1200 WOAI
Fri 20 vs Kings
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 21 @ Houston
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Mon 23 @ New Orleans
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
1200 WOAI
Wed 25 vs Hawks
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Fri 27 @ Minnesota
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sun 29 @ Dallas
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
5:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Mon 30 @ Memphis
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
February Opponent Time Local TV Nat TV Radio
Wed 01 vs Rockets
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Thu 02 vs Hornets
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 04 vs Thunder
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM KENS 1200 WOAI
Mon 06 @ Memphis
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Wed 08 @ Philadelphia
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
6:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 11 @ New Jersey
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
7:00 PM KENS 1200 WOAI
Tue 14 @ Detroit
Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
6:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Wed 15 @ Toronto
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
6:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 18 @ L.A. Clippers
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
2:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Mon 20 @ Utah
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
8:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Tue 21 @ Portland
Rose Garden, Portland, OR
9:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Thu 23 @ Denver
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

[Robz4000]

With our win vs the Warriors , we need to win 11 out of our next 27 games (2 months) that equates to 40 % of our games . and we would have a mid-season record of .500 . 17 wins , 16 losses. Hopefully with a healthy Manu we can win 20 of our last 33 games. 60 % . That would being our record to 36 and 30. Which I believe would put us in the playoffs.

11 (In bold) of the next 27 games are certainly winable. when you look at the remaining schedule for January and Febuary.
s Mavericks

Sat 07 vs Nuggets

Sun 08 @ Oklahoma City

Tue 10 @ Milwaukee

1200 WOAI
Wed 11 vs Rockets
1200 WOAI
Fri 13 vs Trail Blazers
A 1200 WOAI
Sun 15 vs Suns
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
8:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Tue 17 @ Miami

6:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Wed 18 @ Orlando
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
1200 WOAI
Fri 20 vs Kings
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 21 @ Houston
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Mon 23 @ New Orleans
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
1200 WOAI
Wed 25 vs Hawks
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Fri 27 @ Minnesota
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sun 29 @ Dallas
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
5:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Mon 30 @ Memphis
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
February Opponent Time Local TV Nat TV Radio
Wed 01 vs Rockets
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Thu 02 vs Hornets
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 04 vs Thunder
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
7:30 PM KENS 1200 WOAI
Mon 06 @ Memphis
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
7:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Wed 08 @ Philadelphia
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
6:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 11 @ New Jersey
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
7:00 PM KENS 1200 WOAI
Tue 14 @ Detroit
Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
6:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Wed 15 @ Toronto
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
6:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Sat 18 @ L.A. Clippers
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
2:30 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Mon 20 @ Utah
EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
8:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Tue 21 @ Portland
Rose Garden, Portland, OR
9:00 PM FSSW 1200 WOAI
Thu 23 @ Denver
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

At Phili and Memphis, where they haven't had success in years? Those aren't sure-wins at all. Any home game they should have a decent chance to win, provided it isn't the second of a b2b or on the later end of their first b2b2b.