Don't expect Manu to play Monday

**Kori Ellis** · 03-13-2005

Spurs notebook: On mend, Ginobili hopeful vs. Wolves
Web Posted: 03/13/2005 12:00 AM CST

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...131a80661.html

The Spurs don't expect Manu Ginobili to play again until Wednesday at the earliest.

Ginobili has missed the past two games after suffering a slight groin strain Tuesday against New Jersey. Nazr Mohammed has been limited by a similar injury for much of the past month.

The Spurs hope Ginobili will benefit enough from a week of rest to play against Minnesota on Wednesday.

"I don't think (Ginobili's injury) is quite as serious as Nazr's," coach Gregg Popovich said. "Hopefully, he'll be back with us. If he's not ready, we just won't play him."

Ginobili said he probably would have needed to miss at least one game even if he hadn't tweaked his groin. A couple of other minor yet nagging injuries had worn on him.

Ginobili, like Tim Duncan, didn't have much of a break last summer because he played in the Olympics. Before the season, Popovich said he would try to find rest for both players whenever possible.

"It's taken its toll on (Ginobili's) body in a bumps-and-bruises sort of way," Popovich said. "He's not bouncing back as quickly after games. That's going to make him prone to other injuries if we don't get that strength back in him.

"This time off will hopefully help him for the stretch run."

Long road back: Linton Johnson III, sidelined all season with a stress fracture in his left foot, has begun scrimmaging with the team.

Johnson had not been cleared for contact until Thursday. He underwent surgery on the foot Nov. 23.

Popovich is not optimistic about Johnson's chances of making the playoff roster.

"I don't plan on him really helping us this season unless the pace of his improvement drastically increases," Popovich said.

Deep pockets: Mohammed knows how to make a good impression. He bid $13,000 on a trip for two to Hawaii in a charity auction at the Spurs' gala Friday night.

TV fan: Nuggets coach George Karl has been keeping close track of the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament because his son, Coby, is the starting point guard for Boise State, which advanced to a tournament championship game against Texas-El Paso.

Karl described the nerve-racking moments he spent Friday night watching the final seconds of Boise State's victory over Fresno State. Coby Karl made two free throws in the final seconds to give his team the victory.

"Imagine waking up this (Saturday) morning and seeing your kid on 'SportsCenter'," Karl said.

Another former Spurs player who is a head coach, Larry Krystkowiak, got his University of Montana team into the NCAA field of 64 when it won the Big Sky Conference tournament final Saturday.

Fond memories: Karl said he had nothing but great memories of the three seasons he spent with the Spurs in the team's final years in the American Basketball Association.

"As (former Spurs coach) Doug Moe would tell everyone, I was a stiff, but at least I was a hustling stiff," Karl said.

"I had the pleasure of playing with guys like James Silas and George Gervin and Larry Kenon and Billy Paultz. We had some very good teams. We never won the championship, but a guy named Julius Erving got in the way. Then Doug came in and waived me, and I became a coach."

**timvp** · 03-13-2005

Where are the Manu Defenders who were saying that Manu can play 35+minutes a game? Pop played him 37, 35 and 35 minutes in three straight games and that made him dead tired in the Nets game and now miss three games.

Manu is an awesome player, but he should never average more than 30 minutes per game. If you play him any more than that, he can't last an NBA season and his career is going to be shortened.

Best case scenario is bringing him off the bench for something like 28 minutes a night. That way he can play an entire NBA season and it will ensure that he'll still be able to walk by the time his contract is over. At this right, he's seriously setting himself up for trouble.

When he comes back, Pop must limit his minutes. From now to the end of the season, Manu has to rest up. If he doesn't, he's not going to be good enough in the playoffs for the Spurs to do anything.

This offseason, I'd really consider making it known that Manu is going back to the bench and going out and finding a starter. Manu's not going to make it at this rate.

**Spurgal** · 03-13-2005

This might explain why Manu hasn't been feeling up to playing basketball lately, It's the late night gigs...

**Kori Ellis** · 03-13-2005

This offseason, I'd really consider making it known that Manu is going back to the bench and going out and finding a starter. Manu's not going to make it at this rate.

Too drastic.

If he doesn't play in international compe ion in the summer and plays 28-30 mpg during the season, he should be able to make it.

**timvp** · 03-13-2005

The thing is ... if he's going to play only 28 minutes per game, why waste 12 of those minutes being the first six minutes of each half? He should play more meaningful segments of the game.

Make him the fourth quarter player a la Ben Gordon.

**Kori Ellis** · 03-13-2005

Well if he doesn't play internationally this summer, then I'd imagine they would wait to see how much his stamina has increased early next season before making any dramatic changes.

**timvp** · 03-13-2005

I don't really buy the argument that he'll magically be able to play more minutes because he'll have the summer off. He's still going to get banged around in games when he starts playing again and will still be playing at 110%. The summer rest will help in the first half of the year, but by the playoffs it'll be the same ish.

**Rick Von Braun** · 03-13-2005

Originally Posted by timvp

Where are the Manu Defenders who were saying that Manu can play 35+minutes a game? Pop played him 37, 35 and 35 minutes in three straight games and that made him dead tired in the Nets game and now miss three games.

Manu is an awesome player, but he should never average more than 30 minutes per game. If you play him any more than that, he can't last an NBA season and his career is going to be shortened.

Best case scenario is bringing him off the bench for something like 28 minutes a night. That way he can play an entire NBA season and it will ensure that he'll still be able to walk by the time his contract is over. At this right, he's seriously setting himself up for trouble.

When he comes back, Pop must limit his minutes. From now to the end of the season, Manu has to rest up. If he doesn't, he's not going to be good enough in the playoffs for the Spurs to do anything.

This offseason, I'd really consider making it known that Manu is going back to the bench and going out and finding a starter. Manu's not going to make it at this rate.

Yeah, that's right... bench your All-Star! I am glad you are not the coach timvp.

Some of you argue about this like you are their personal physical trainer. It is all speculation.

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that Manu got injured because he played 3 games 35+. He had some of the nagging injuries before the last 3 games, and some specific plays may have aggravated them. He could have gotten injured by playing 25 minutes/g the last 3 games.

The injuries are more related with his style of play, NOT the total number of minutes. He'll practically get the same exposure to injuries whether he plays 25, 30, or 35 min/g.

**timvp** · 03-13-2005

The injuries are more related with his style of play, NOT the total number of minutes. He'll practically get the same exposure to injuries whether he plays 25, 30, or 35 min/g.

That doesn't make sense on so many different levels.

The main point about Manu is he can't physically handle playing more than 30 minutes per game. He's not injured right now by his own admission ... he's worn out. If you don't think that three game stretch had anything to do with it, then you must not be following Manu very closely.

On the court, you can see him getting tired if he plays over 30 minutes. In the Nets game, he asked out of the game after THREE minutes in the second half because he was tired. Him being tired has to do with how many minutes he's playing. This is basic stuff.

Manu isn't a super hero. He gets tired because he plays so damn hard. I don't think any player plays as hard as he does. He's not going to change (as he said in an interview recently), so the Spurs are going to have to limit his minutes so he doesn't get as tired.

In future seasons, the best way to utilize him would be off the bench ... unless you want him playing 12 of his 28 minutes in the first six minutes of each half.

**Rick Von Braun** · 03-13-2005

Originally Posted by timvp

That doesn't make sense on so many different levels.

The main point about Manu is he can't physically handle playing more than 30 minutes per game. He's not injured right now by his own admission ... he's worn out. If you don't think that three game stretch had anything to do with it, then you must not be following Manu very closely.

On the court, you can see him getting tired if he plays over 30 minutes. In the Nets game, he asked out of the game after THREE minutes in the second half because he was tired. Him being tired has to do with how many minutes he's playing. This is basic stuff.

Manu isn't a super hero. He gets tired because he plays so damn hard. I don't think any player plays as hard as he does. He's not going to change (as he said in an interview recently), so the Spurs are going to have to limit his minutes so he doesn't get as tired.

In future seasons, the best way to utilize him would be off the bench ... unless you want him playing 12 of his 28 minutes in the first six minutes of each half.

As I said, there is absolutely no concrete evidence of what you are saying. I respect your opinion as much as any other Spurs' fan opinion.

We are going to agree to disagree.

**Kori Ellis** · 03-13-2005

I don't understand what you are saying, Rick. You think that Manu's nagging injuries are not because his body is being worn out?

**timvp** · 03-13-2005

Manu is tired.

You get tired by playing too many minutes.

**Rick Von Braun** · 03-13-2005

Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

I don't understand what you are saying, Rick. You think that Manu's nagging injuries are not because his body is being worn out?

The nagging 'injures' are most probably due to specific plays. When you fall hard on the floor after a hard foul, you hit your hip. When you get pushed and shoved several times you can strain your groin. My point is that most of the bumps and bruises are probably due to specific plays more than ac ulative effort. Manu will always suffer these type of problems due to his style of play, not because he plays +/- 3 minutes.

**GerM** · 03-13-2005

Originally Posted by timvp

I don't really buy the argument that he'll magically be able to play more minutes because he'll have the summer off. He's still going to get banged around in games when he starts playing again and will still be playing at 110%. The summer rest will help in the first half of the year, but by the playoffs it'll be the same ish.

You see, stamina is a skill that you CAN increase, no matter the age. And I don´t really think that manu would be very happy playing 28mpg. Thats why I always say next year will be different, I´m sure he already spotted this weakness, and he will work on it this summer.

And I really don´t think pop will ever bench him.

**Kori Ellis** · 03-13-2005

The nagging 'injures' are most probably due to specific plays. When you fall hard on the floor after a hard foul, you hit your hip. When you get pushed and shoved several times you can strain your groin. My point is that most of the bumps and bruises are probably due to specific plays more than ac ulative effort. Manu will always suffer these type of problems due to his style of play, not because he plays +/- 3 minutes.

Okay, I understand what you are saying now.

Though I completely disagree and I believe Manu and the coaching staff do as well. I don't think it's due to specific incidents, but rather long-term fatigue. That's why it's been so important to not play Manu in long stretches this season. That's why he gets pulled at the six minute mark and why they try to monitor his minutes very, very carefully. He is more fatigued after games than any player I've ever seen in my life.

**Kori Ellis** · 03-13-2005

And I really don´t think pop will ever bench him.

I don't think so either.

**timvp** · 03-13-2005

When you are tired, you are more susceptible to injuries. That is a known fact in sports. Your body isn't able to react like it would normally and that's when you get in trouble.

On top of that, Manu admits to just being tired. There is no way that isn't a result of too many minutes.

**cqsallie** · 03-13-2005

You can't watch Manu out there, throwing himself willy-nilly into the fray, without cringing. When he gets up, brushes himself off, and starts all over again, it makes us think that he is invincible...
Well, he's bound to incur some type of injury that he prefers to scoff off and goddess knows, he must get damned tired, which he also laughs off.
The very style of play that makes Spurs' fans love him and sportscasters rave about him is what will eventually bench him or put him on the IL. Somebody has to step in and make him wait out injuries and exhaustion. Manu will never admit to either...

**cqsallie** · 03-13-2005

Originally Posted by Spurgal

This might explain why Manu hasn't been feeling up to playing basketball lately, It's the late night gigs...

**cqsallie** · 03-13-2005

I have no idea why my reply to Spurgal resulted in a repeat of her post. My apologies! My comments, that seemed to have been lost in all of this were something like:
"The king of the weird basketball moves, disguised as the king of the guitar - Brian May, of Queen, who wrote/performed some of the greatest and most recognizable guitar riffs ever...
Sorry...

**Fizzzar** · 03-13-2005

Hey, TP has tendinitis on his knees for playing too much, lets bench him as well.

This is ridiculous.

**GrandeDavid** · 03-13-2005

I don't think Pop would ever take him out of the starting rotation, at least permanently, nor would I want him to. Manu may be better off as a 6th man, but he's too high profile now, too beloved by the fans and now is an All Star. Besides, Argentina would refuse to join the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) were Manu to have his starting position revoked or his minutes reduced.

Obviously Manu is worn out...but I'm thinking that these days off will put that spring back in his step. Tim, I am all for reducing Manu's minutes some. But if that means Brent Barry getting more minutes, then I'll keep my fingers crossed that Barry will somehow remember how to hit a three pointer on a fairly consistent basis.

**Streakyshooter08** · 03-13-2005

Any word on how worse timmys ankle is? I thought he wanted to play! I hope he will be okay...

**td4mvp21** · 03-13-2005

I wouldn't bench Ginobili. He's proven himself a starter this year and has been pretty consistent. Benching him would cause a conflict most likely. Who else would we start anyway? I think we have a perfect starting lineup.

**TMTTRIO** · 03-13-2005

The Spurs aren't going to pay him all that money for him to be another bench player. I think the reason he get's tired soon is he plays with 100% hustle (unlike other players) and aggression. He gets beat up more than any of the other players on the team. That will wear you down after some time. There is no need to bench him.

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