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Buck Harvey: Shaq bonds with Manu? Winning rivalry
Web Posted: 02/14/2005 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
MIAMI — Shaquille O'Neal leaned back and thought. Who in the league has won both an NBA le and an Olympic gold medal?
Shaq knew he had won both. But anyone else? Shaq didn't know.
Manu Ginobili did better with the question. He quickly named Shaq as another active player who has what he has.
Neither came close to knowing the only other member of this select fraternity (Steve Smith), but that didn't matter. Shaq and Ginobili have a bond, and it was there again Sunday afternoon.
Then Shaq bonded to Ginobili with an elbow, sometimes a push, sometimes with just a long reach. Until the very end.
This is Ginobili's new status. He runs in different crowds now, and he will again next weekend with his first All-Star appearance.
His legend has grown so large that some have gotten carried away. Bill Walton is prone to exaggeration anyway, so it is no wonder Walton began Sunday's telecast with an over-the-top opinion.
Walton wouldn't trade Ginobili for LeBron James?
Everyone outside of Argentina and Bexar County would.
But it's not hard to be captivated by Ginobili, especially on days such as Sunday. Then Ginobili started the scoring for the Spurs with a cut, and followed that with a high, arcing floater that just cleared Shaq's fingertips.
It would be the theme of the day. Whereas once it was Shaq vs. Duncan, this time the rivalry was as much about Shaq vs. Ginobili. Seconds after Ginobili had teased Shaq with the layup, Ginobili sprinted on a fast break, whipped a pass to Tony Parker — and Shaq slammed Ginobili without a foul being called.
"No problem," Ginobili said afterward. "I know he's not trying to hurt me. He's just big."
Some would still see the "just big" part as an issue. Drive inside against Shaq, and a blocked shot is one of the safer options.
Ginobili sees it as part of the job. "I know he's not going to come out," Ginobili said. "He's going to wait. So I try to attack, to get fouled or finish. It's what I do."
It's a curious match, pitting an angular, skinny man against a bearish hulk. And sometimes Ginobili gave at the other end. Late in the fourth quarter, for example, with Shaq underneath the basket and about to score, Ginobili raked arms that are bigger than Ginobili's legs.
Ginobili immediately followed with one of his trademark drives, again slicing past Shaq. And afterward the Miami coach, Stan Van Gundy, sounded a lot like Walton. "Ginobili makes unbelievable shots," Van Gundy said. "That's why the guy is in the All-Star Game."
Shaq's appearance in All-Star games has been a given for a decade. Shaq posted Duncan late in the game for an essential score, just as he once powered the Lakers and Magic.
Dwyane Wade will be in Denver for a reason, too. He led both teams in points and assists, then had to recover from a run-in with the scorer's table.
Wade recovered, all right, driving past Bruce Bowen for a six-point Miami lead. When Devin Brown missed a drive and the Heat rebounded, that should have been the game. But Miami reserve Shandon Anderson threw an outlet pass that Parker stole, and Ginobili followed with the kind of play that has won a le and a gold medal.
He drove, his left arm again extending just past Shaq's reach. Shaq's foul gave Ginobili the three-point play, and the Spurs a chance. "He's slivery," Shaq said afterward. "Herky jerky. And a fabulous player."
Shaq saw that again a minute later. Then Ginobili drove past Shaq, this time to pull the Spurs within a point.
Wade followed with a jumper with 25 seconds left — All-Star guard matching All-Star guard — bringing up the critical sequence. Down by three points, with about 10 seconds left in the game, Ginobili drove again.
He admitted later it was a poor choice. Ginobili says he should have pulled outside for a 3-pointer and a chance to tie the game.
But Gregg Popovich's teams have often gone for the quick two points in that situation. This time, when Ginobili went up for the short jumper, Shaq was there. Shaq got the ball, and some of Ginobili's arms, too.
Enough for a whistle? "Sometimes you get that call," Ginobili said without anger.
Shaq won this time. And afterward both were asked if they might play the next time in June.
Both saw it as a possibility. After all, both are accustomed to winning rings and medals.
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sliveryHe drove, his left arm again extending just past Shaq's reach. Shaq's foul gave Ginobili the three-point play, and the Spurs a chance. "He's slivery," Shaq said afterward. "Herky jerky. And a fabulous player."
adj : resembling or consisting of or embedded with long slender fragments of (especially) wood having sharp points; "a rough splintery floor of old pine boards"
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