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Apology Accepted.Popovich is considering using Ginobili off the bench to slowly work him up to his 30-minute average.
Damn, timvp is good.
Spurs notebook: Ginobili will be eased back in
Web Posted: 03/19/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...1505e64bd.html
The Spurs think Manu Ginobili will probably play at some point during the team's three-game road trip.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wouldn't rule out the chance of Ginobili playing Sunday against Detroit. The team also plays at New York on Monday and at Indiana on Wednesday.
Ginobili has missed the past five games because of a groin strain. After working out Thursday, he showed up at Friday morning's shootaround feeling fine.
"He's visibly getting itchy," Popovich said. "He's looking at me with that plaintive look in his eyes."
Popovich is considering using Ginobili off the bench to slowly work him up to his 30-minute average.
Welcome back: The Coyote returned from his quarter-long sabbatical Friday evening.
After becoming just the third mascot in NBA history to be ejected from a game Wednesday, the Coyote made his return midway through the first quarter. The fans cheered him, though not noticeably more than they usually do.
The Spurs' mascot didn't make light of his ejection in any of his skits.
Spurs officials have yet to be contacted by the league regarding the incident.
On your mark: Brent Barry and his wife Erin are helping host the Spurs' first 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. March 26 at the SBC Center. A portion of each $25 registration fee ($30 after Monday) will be donated to the Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Task Force.
Registration forms can be obtained through the team's Web site (spurs.com) and at Ashley Furniture HomeStore. Each paid registration receives a ticket to an upcoming Spurs' home game.
Alexander finds way back to S.A.: Cory Alexander was just about halfway through the 1997-98 season with the Spurs when Popovich, then doubling as general manager, called him into his office to tell him he was waiving him.
"He compared me to Avery (Johnson)," said Alexander, who played eight minutes for the Bobcats Friday night. "Avery had all those struggles to get into the NBA, and Pop told me I'd never had any turmoil; never had to go through any fire to play in the league. He reminded me I came out of college a first-round pick and all that.
"Well, I've definitely seen the other side now."
After being picked up by the Denver Nuggets when the Spurs waived him in 1998, he played in Denver for two more seasons before being traded to Orlando in 2000. Alexander played in the National Basketball Development League from 2001-03, in the Italian League in 2003-04, and played with the NBDL's Roanoke, Va., Dazzle this season.
On Feb. 28 the Bobcats signed him for the remainder of the season.
Apology Accepted.Popovich is considering using Ginobili off the bench to slowly work him up to his 30-minute average.
Damn, timvp is good.
Ghost-lite
Where's that damn kluby-matic?
I think this will work. Especially if Barry can start hitting a few jumpers with the first unit.
All in All, I want more Manu in the 4th when it counts instead of at the begining of the game and the half.
Manu works best off the bench. timvp knows this. Pop knows this. He'll work him in for a few games and will make the switch because Barry will be playing well as a starter.
With Manu only able to play 30 minutes per contest, you don't want to waste half of those minutes starting each half. It doesn't make sense.
We know this.
Off topic, but not all the way off topic ...
Did you see the headband Manu was sporting at shootaround today ...
http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/?videoId=95222,565
Barry is pathetic whether he starts or plays reserve minutes. If Glover continues to impress Pop, Brent will become just another HITA.
Pop can say what he wants, but with Manu hurt of course he is going to coddle him back into the lineup. Doesn't mean he is more effective off the bench. Tim Duncan is barely playing 35mpg, you really think Manu is going to play 35mpg with the way the Spurs have played all year? It's not exactly a revelation that Pop wants to play him his NORMAL set of minutes that he has been getting all season.
I do not understand why you think he would be 'better' off the bench? 30 minutes is 30 minutes. As long as he finishes the game, isn't it all the same?
I also don't understand your request for an apology. I still feel Manu has to play more than 30 minutes in the playoffs for this team to maximize its potential. There is no gauruntee that playing him in second ends of quarters will yield any more success. To me its pointless to bench him going into the playoffs. I rather play him 32-34mpg than 26-28mpg in the playoffs, expecting that he will be a 4th quarter superman is wishful thinking.
Go with your best players, don't start platooning your wingmen because you think Manu can give great 'energy'. Benching him going into the playoffs serves no purpose and might actually make him play more reckless than when Hedo replaced him last season (not effective energy, but careless even for Manu).
^^^
Agreed. TimVP, how the does that fact that he's working back in gradually from an injury mean that he performs better off the bench?? Where the have you been all season? Very disappointed in your take, timvp. You can do better than that.
Last edited by BronxCowboy; 03-19-2005 at 08:11 AM. Reason: spelling
Agreed with Nikos and BC. Not sure how timvp can conclude that Manu will come of the bench for the rest of the season just because of what Pop said.
If Manu is coming of the bench come playoff time, then I will give your props.
No way does Manu make a permanent switch to the bench. 30 minutes is 30 minutes right? How is he better off the bench then? Barry HAS been playing as a starter and is still sucking where it counts most. I don't see that changing right now. Wasting minutes? LMAO Manu wastes minutes, that's the biggest joke I've ever heard.
I wouldn't put him on the bench for good. He does well as a starter and still brings a lot of energy. IT may cause Manu to be unhappy if he comes off the bench just because hes proven himself a starter so many times this year. Hes actualluy consistent in points scored.
manu said on his site last year he was a little disappointed he did not start but was willign to come off the bench because pop wanted his energy off the bench
Manu is a team player
I'm not advocating bringing Manu off the bench for the rest of the season. But if he comes back very slowly from the injuries, Pop might just do it because he wouldn't want to make another switch again that late.
You can't argue that Barry's numbers/percentages as a starter have improved. Perhaps Pop will think since he KNOWS Manu can produce off the bench and now Barry is producing as starter, he may just choose to keep it that way (ala Hedo). It doesn't mean that Manu won't finish games or get the majority of the minutes.
I don't think it play out this way, but who knows?!
Barry's numbers as a starter ..
MIN FGM-FGA FG% 3PM-3PA 3P% FTM-FTA FT% STL BLK TO PF OFF DEF TOT AST PTS
6 32.8 4.8-9.3 .518 1.8-4.3 .423 0.8-1.2 .714 0.33 0.33 1.0 2.3 0.7 4.0 4.7 4.0 12.3
Kori, although Manu has said he would come off the bench if Pop asks him to, he has also said that he prefers to starts (like 99.9% of the players in the NBA).
I understand Pop trying to bring Manu slowly after his injury, therefore limiting his minutes and bringing him off the bench. But come playoff time, I expect Manu to be starting.
A Brent Barry welfare plan?
Not without precedent.
If Manu goes back to the bench, we won't get that 3-second bucket that he goes for every time he ends up with the tip-off.
30 minutes is not 30 minutes. Pop plays with the strategy that the end of the quarters are the most important parts of the game. Wasting almost half of Manu's minutes in the start of the game and after halftime doesn't make sense. You want Manu for the meat of the game. When the Spurs start each half, Barry won't be much better or worse than Manu. At that point, both teams are feeling each other out, anyways.
I said that Manu should come off the bench. The word "bench" evoked all sorts of hatred my way. Numerous Manu Defenders said he'd never come off the bench.I also don't understand your request for an apology.
Now he is.
Agreed. But no more than 34.I still feel Manu has to play more than 30 minutes in the playoffs for this team to maximize its potential.
Manu can give you great "play" as a starter or a bench player. He's done it before.Go with your best players, don't start platooning your wingmen because you think Manu can give great 'energy'.
The term "benching" is what bothers the Manu Defenders. Think of it as better team utilization. It's not a demotion. It's just a better way to use the roster.Benching him going into the playoffs serves no purpose.
Believe me. Manu's an All-Star, he knows he belongs in the league. If Pop goes up to him and says he's coming off the bench from now on, he's going to be initially saddened but as soon as the game tips off, the only people who are going to hold a grudge against Pop will be the Manu Defenders.
Read above.
Wasting minutes? LMAO Manu wastes minutes, that's the biggest joke I've ever heard.
You must not have comprehended what I said. I said that Manu's 30 minutes per game are wasted if almost half of those minutes come at the beginning of the game and after halftime. I never said Manu wastes minutes.
I'm usually right in guessing what Pop is going to do. Ask around or look take a look at the classic threads.^^^
Agreed. TimVP, how the does that fact that he's working back in gradually from an injury mean that he performs better off the bench?? Where the have you been all season? Very disappointed in your take, timvp. You can do better than that.
I just do not know if it is worth a try at this point. I did not support it with Hedo last season, because he was coddled into the starting role. And it ended up doing nothing for the team in the playoffs, because Hedo played poorly.
I do not think I want Barry being coddled either. I don't care if Manu is benched for a few games, but I rather not have it that way for the playoffs. It's natural to feel a bit slighted as a player, even if you know your an all star and will finish the game. The le in reality does mean something, even to Manu despite what he says or the fact that he might play well anyway.
I think Barry just has to earn his place on the team. Being given a starting role sounds interesting in theory, but if Barry can't adjust after all this time -- just think about how he is going to adjust in the playoffs? He has to figure it out for himself, not simply be given a starting role. I rather him learn to play well off the bench and force Pop to play him at the end of games.
I have been pleased with Barry at the end of games when they are close. He has hit some big shots in a few games. But so did Hedo last season, in the REGULAR season.
Hopefully Barry can start playing well off the bench. He has to earn it to grow as a player in this system. And Manu has to suck it up and be effective in 32-33mpg or so in the playoffs.
I just do not like the idea of benching Manu at this point. It did not work with Hedo, and I am not sure doing it with Barry will make a difference.
Manu is just benched because he is off an injury. He will be back as a starter soon enough I am sure. So, timvp, you wonīt be right unless manu is not starting in the playoffs. I suggest you wait a little before making such statements, you canīt assure anything just because of one game he comes off an injury, and where it is known that pop wants him rested for the playoffs.
This "easing in" approach is worrying.
If his groin strain not healed, he needs to take it easy completely until 100%. Putting him in not fully healed and expecting him to take it easy is stupid (he won't). and one all-out leg movement risks hurting it again.
If he's ok, he starts.
timvp said this:
Odds are, Manu will start in the playoffs.
How are minutes wasted though? There's still scoring and tangibles going on...I really don't understand your theory on this.
Actually Kori, Barry has started 7 games (Dec.30, Jan.17, Mar.9, Mar.12, Mar.14, Mar.16, Mar.18)
His numbers are as follows (if I calculated right...lol)
Minutes: 32.3
FGM-A: 31-61 (.508)
3PM-A: 11-28 (.393)
FTM-A: 7-9 (.778)
Rebounds: 4.1
Assists: 4
Turnovers: 1.1
Points: 11.4
I'm working on figuring the stats on his non-starting numbers...
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