Buck Harvey: Ginobili as savior? One who will, can't
Web Posted: 03/24/2005 12:00 AM CST
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...16a460286.html
San Antonio Express-News
INDIANAPOLIS — Manu Ginobili dribbled the ball off his leg early in the third quarter, and that was it. He couldn't take any more.
He came to the bench for a timeout, slamming a chair, then went back to the court determined to slam everything else. He would yell at refs, scrape for a rebound, come up with a steal, then drive into contact.
But two things were working against him this night.
His body.
And his teammates.
He didn't point fingers afterward. Instead, Ginobili sounded more like the voice of this team than he ever has. He sat in an empty locker room and said: "I see it in our faces ... that's why I'm going to stay awake until 5 this morning trying to figure out what's happening."
Gregg Popovich doesn't need that long. He ripped into his players as a group immediately after the game, pulling out the "soft" tag again. But it was clear he was talking about certain players.
Rasho Nesterovic. Nazr Mohammed. And Tony Parker.
Asked about Parker specifically, Popovich responded with a deliberate tone: "Tony is totally healthy."
As in contrast to Ginobili.
The Tim Duncan-less Spurs can't win without Parker and Ginobili playing well, and neither has been. But maybe it simply comes down to Ginobili and his sore groin, sore quads, sore right shoulder and sore left calf.
If he's playing full-bore, wouldn't the Spurs follow his lead?
This Ginobili wouldn't have won the gold medal for Argentina in Athens. He couldn't have led his country in the condition he is in now, and he admits as much. "I don't feel like I can go by anyone right now," he said.
Usually, Ginobili can go by anyone.
This Ginobili also didn't win gold here in this same building, when the 2002 World Championships were in Indianapolis. Then his body also gave out. He twisted his ankle nearly as badly as Duncan did his Sunday, coming down on Dirk Nowitzki in the Argentina-Germany semifinal game.
But whereas Duncan flew home, unable to put pressure on his ankle, Ginobili came back 20 hours later to try to win the championship for Argentina. His limp through the loss was painful to watch.
It was also a costly decision. The ankle, injured in August, bothered Ginobili through half of his rookie season with the Spurs. Not coincidentally, when he recovered is when the Spurs began their run to the championship.
So the same Ginobili who tried to play when he shouldn't have in the World Championships is the same Ginobili who tried to rage himself through his pain Wednesday night. It's a signal of who he is and why the Spurs need him healthy.
It's also a signal of his future. He's always thrown his body around as if it is disposable, and it's effective but damaging.
Standing Wednesday as the contrast was Reggie Miller. He's spent his career damaging others, running defenders through picks, then rising up with shooting skills that Ginobili doesn't have.
Miller has played a cleaner, safer game, the reason he could score a game-high 21 points Wednesday night at age 39. He's retiring, but there's really no reason he should.
He crossed the 25,000-point threshold against the Spurs. And when asked about coaching against Miller for the last time, Popovich said with some respect and humor: "Thank God."
Ginobili's career will never be as long, and it won't be the same. He needs contact, and he needs to be fearless. And when his body doesn't play along? He's not the same, and neither are the Spurs.
That doesn't stop him from burning inside, or from saying what the other Spurs need to hear. Asked about not having Duncan, Ginobili said defiantly: "I really don't care about Tim Duncan. We should play the same with or without him. And that is what worries me. There is no reason for this."
The one with the will to lead the Spurs without Duncan is the one who is hurt, and it's a bad combination. If the Spurs can't beat Atlanta on Friday night at home, when will they beat anyone?
Ginobili is ready, no matter the details. "I can't wait to play the next game."
And his teammates?
Great. The Spurs give up two first round draft picks and Malik Rose for a freaking Samaki Walker clone. How do you get on Pop's sh!t list after less than a dozen games?Gregg Popovich doesn't need that long. He ripped into his players as a group immediately after the game, pulling out the "soft" tag again. But it was clear he was talking about certain players.
Rasho Nesterovic. Nazr Mohammed. And Tony Parker.
Pop calling out Tony will make him respond. Calling out Rasho and Nazr? I'm not sure if they will respond or cry. We'll see Friday night.
Nice Article Kori!
Manu seems pissed, but what I really like about it is this:Take it out on Atlanta!!!!Ginobili is ready, no matter the details. "I can't wait to play the next game."
I want to forget all the bad games the Spurs had, and I want to see them start playing next game.
The only player on this team right now who I think is dedicated to winning is Manu. Everyone else looks like they'd rather be doing something else.
Damn right, Manu is a winner, along with Duncan and Parker.
Manu likes to win, and he dedicates his time in preparation for being a winner... not many people have won les in the Olympics, NBA, and Italian League.
I saw them interview Manu and he looked pissed and ready to do whatever it takes to win the next game whether he's health wise ready for it.
If Manu can find a smittance of health, he will lead this team for weeks.
And we will be that much better in the long run.
I know Manu is not 100%, but is he really that banged up? There was one play where he went by Austin Croshere and missed the layup badly. I sat their thinking how in the world could Manu blow that play after taking Austin Croshere off the dribble of all players? Slow feet, no true shot blocking ability, and in general not a good defender. It didn't look like Manu.
Is he really that banged up? If so, why is Pop playing him?
If he is getting closer to 100%, then I hope he gets his act together soon. The Spurs can't afford to drop to a 4 or 5 seed and completely collapse.
Pop said yesterday that Manu was healthy, but just had a bad game (NY). Obviously Pop thought Manu tried hard tonight, but it's hard to imagine that he's completely healthy.
Somehow I knew even if Barry did show up it'd get pissed on....I mean it has all season...by the fans and Pop so why should it stop now...I just wish people would stop acting like there is something he can do to prevent it...just say it's hate.
I mean he lead the team in scoring tonight...his best games all season have come in losing streaks...he gave up money(that ing Jack wasn't willing to give up) and starting to come here for a ring...and every acts like this guy is a heartless punk who doesn't care...That's crap. This guy wants to win and if you can't see it then you guys just aren't looking good enough. He's not ing Devin Brown and I'd take him over Devin Brown because he doesn't shove his head up his ass and forget to stand still when he should.
I think all it is gonna take from Barry is to simply play solid ball in games that the Spurs win. As long as he hits his open shots, passes well, and plays competent defense in most of the upcoming Spurs victories, the 'hate' you claim everyone has should go away.
But this is a perfect time to roast Brent even further. For not stepping up without Tim. Lately he has not been playing great ball, but if he starts doing the things he was brought in to do, then he will gain more respect.
I don't know what's going on with Manu because PJ on the pregame show said that if Tim didn't get injured Manu probably wouldn't of played in the New York game but he sure hasn't looked like himself.
Yeah I heard that PJ said that, which is weird because Pop said on The Pop Show that Manu was healthy.
Pop is also generally a liar.
Manu didn't look healthy against NY. I still don't think he's quite gotten the full bounce back in his step.
I love Manu for his effort. Whottt, I think it's safe to say Barry also brings effort. Devin Brown brings effort.
However, after that, the effort brought on this team drops off considerably. I'm telling you, these guys think they can pull a damn switch and I can't help but think that's a mistake.
Before tonight, I wouldn't have said it wasn't about effort. Sometimes they just suck. But the effort tonight (especially by the front court and Tony) was horrible. We'll see if they respond now.
No way, I think back to every one of the losses we had against weak compe ion,and it all comes down to focus and effort. Those games have already come back to haunt us, and HCA is definetly out of the picture the way this team is playing.
I've lost a ton of confidence in this team, and I'm ashamed they were ever compared to the 99 squad. This team as a whole lacks a lot of heart. They don't strike me nearly as professional as Spurs teams in the past.
They don't have the vocal, strong leader they've always had in the locker room in players like Ellie, Johnson, Rose, Porter, and others.
This team fits the soft moniker better than any Spurs team ever has.
So they are going to drop to the fifth seed?HCA is definetly out of the picture the way this team is playing.
Meaning throughout the playoffs. I think they are pretty much locked into the top 4, and for Dallas to catch them it would take a complete meltdown, so Top 3 seems likely enough.
However, I've been waiting all year for this team to show me some heart. I haven't given up on them by any means, but they need to show something, anything, soon.
I'm hoping tonight is rock bottom. But I don't understand why Monday wasn't rock bottom.
I don't get the feeling I do with this team that I have with Spurs teams through out the past 6 years. I get the feeling I get from the 90s, and those arne't pleasent feelings.
How long will this team keep us waiting?
I think people are over-reacting and don't remember that every season (including the Championship seasons) there were stretches when the team played soft, dumb, and just plain bad ... and most of those stretches Tim Duncan was on the court. Why I think people are freaking (and maybe rightfully so) is because this stretch is coming so late in the season.
This Spurs team is good. Up until this three-game losing streak they were on track to break the franchise win record. They have one of the best point-differentials in history. They have the best home record they've ever had. And a variety of other things.
Losing sucks and Spurs fans aren't used to it. But a three-game losing streak without Tim Duncan doesn't mean this whole team is crap. They need to adjust to playing without him. They haven't done that yet.
If 10 days from now they are still losing, then Spurs fans can cry, stomp, yell, scream and jump off the bandwagon. But right now, just let them come home and regroup and see what they are going to bring to the table.
Fair enough, and I'll give them more time.
But just to be clear, it's not the losing, it's the way in which they're losing. And I've been harping about this for a good portion of the season, because this team has had a tendancy to try and coast.
I don't want to sound like I don't believe in the Spurs, but if they had wound up with HCA they would have rolled over everyone, they are 31-3 at home, the best in the league but they are 19-15 on the road, so playing any good team on the road worries me, but if everyone is healthy I still think we win, just not as easily.
You don't want to play the Spurs at home for a seven game series.....
Again, they were on track to the best record in franchise history prior to this. If you were ing about the way they lost those games, I would have hated to see how you acted every other year.
Remember when the Spurs lost to Bulls in the 2003 Championship season? Or the loss to Minnesota on the first game of the Rodeo Road trip that year? Spurs lose some games bad and ugly every single year ... so does every other team in the league.
That's NBA basketball.
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