Is Manu becoming a Liability?

[DAF86]

Of course Manu isn't a liability but the Spurs would benefit of having Manu playing off the ball a bit more and giving Leonard a couple more playmaking oportunities per game.

[FkLA]

tbh I always figured Manu would be effective even when he declined physically because of his vision and passing ability, but his passes have been getting stolen/deflected alot this season...maybe passing isnt as age-proof as one would believe.

[Bruno]

The whole "Manu playing out of position" and "Manu having too much the ball in his hands" is just BS. Manu has jsut had a bad game against OKC and made some bonehead plays that have little to do with his role.

[therealtruth]

tbh I always figured Manu would be effective even when he declined physically because of his vision and passing ability, but his passes have been getting stolen/deflected alot this season...maybe passing isnt as age-proof as one would believe.

He killed us against OKC with his passes. I think he needs more minutes to improve the timing on his passes.

[chasky]

Short memory guys:

http://www.82games.com/1213/1213SAS.HTM

[ALVAREZ6]

Obviously his body's capabilities have declined dramatically, but he's making a lot of bonehead plays (always has) that he shouldn't because it's not outweighed by any offensive dominance anymore. Something seems to not be right with his confidence, it's showing in his passing and FT%. He probably just needs more time into regular minutes, I would guess he will be playing better basketball come playoff time.

[rjv]

I am scared for Manu's life.

Pop's face is going to explode on him. Manu will take old man jaw shrapnel in the face.

the stare down was classic. manu's arms in the air gesticulation was probably an involuntary reflex to the stare down.

[DJB]

Ha.

[SenorSpur]

I don't think he's terrible. But from what I've seen this season he's clearly not what he was even two years ago. I think its funny that people are talking about now that Tonys the best player on the team because if you said that at this point in this season two years ago people would have thought that blasphemous. Manu was the man back then and has taken a step back. He just can't do it anymore; not his fault that he got old. He still has the skills its just becoming less and less frequent that he uses them or uses them properly.

If we are going to win this year it's going to take a brief resurgence of Manu to do it.

I would also add that he was certainly bordering on being a liability in the waning moments of the recent OKC game. When your team is in a situation where you need to run clock to close out the game, against a rival opponent, meanwhile your seasoned veteran is chucking ill-advised 3-pt shots and throwing errant passes that lead to turnovers, you are flirting with being a liability to your team. There is just no other way to phrase it. There's also no excuse for it. While it didn't affect the outcome of the game, it did piss off Pop - and rightfully so. It's very surprising because Manu has played this game long enough to know better. It's yet another example of Manu sometimes making bone-head decisions during crucial times.

Still, he's one of the chief playmakers on this team. As an older player, it's impossible to expect him to bring it every night, which means he's got to curb his desire to engage in the Kobe Bryant-esque hero ball. He's got more help now. Still, I agree with others who've said that a resurgence in his game will be necessary if the Spurs are going to have any chance of winning it all this year.