http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...27feed69b.html
Buck Harvey: More Manu? What Spurs need, minute by minute
Web Posted: 05/17/2005 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Either Gregg Popovich is holding back Manu Ginobili. Or Ginobili's body is.
Either Popovich is being too cautious with Ginobili to make sure he's fresh. Or Ginobili is what he is, a 30-minute player without the endurance to play longer.
Which is it?
The answer doesn't matter, not tonight, when sore legs should be as forgotten as the grind of the 2004 Olympics.
This is when the stars play.
Leaning on Ginobili would go against Popovich's season-long theme. He hasn't coached the Spurs as much as he has rested them.
Popovich has spent the season managing their minutes, trying to find days off, concerned they are burning up their energy reserves. The same was true last week in Seattle, when the Sonics worked out while the Spurs took a day off.
Popovich has had reason to be protective, especially with Ginobili and Tim Duncan. Maybe no duo in the world has put in as much time on a court over the past two years whether in the NBA or internationally as the Spurs' two All-Stars.
Popovich knows them better than anyone, and he knows Ginobili is a peculiar star. Ginobili burns fuel the way a jet does; when his engines run hot, exhaust is visible.
Exhaustion is, too. And that's likely why no All-Star averaged fewer minutes than Ginobili did this season. He averaged less than 30 minutes over 74 games because, in the eyes of Popovich, this jet flies better in short bursts.
Injuries were a factor, but so is his style. Any coach looking at Ginobili's angular body knowing his game is built around fury would want to make sure he had the oxygen to play the way he does.
After all, Ginobili was averaging almost 34 points per 48 minutes going into Sunday, and that's the third-best ratio anywhere in these playoffs. If he's worn down, does that efficiency drop?
Perhaps. His Game 3 moment against Denver, with 32 points, came in only 31 minutes.
But there also are signs his body belies what is inside. Twice this season Ginobili played 40 or minutes in a game, and the results suggest this jet could go trans-Atlantic if necessary.
The first time, in Phoenix, Ginobili finished with 48 points, including a finishing, two-hand dunk in overtime. Tired? The Suns were from chasing after him.
The second time, at the end of the season against the Clippers, Ginobili merely had 40 points. His nine assists that night made up for his low point total.
But bothered by an assortment of bruises that earned him Brent Barry's nickname, El Contusion, Ginobili's time on the bench became El Longated. He finished the season trying to heal.
This series reveals the same pattern. Ginobili played 28, 31 and 30 minutes in the first three games, then followed with 25 on Sunday. Or, fewer than Nick Collison.
Granted, the end of the game on Sunday skewed the box score. Popovich pulled Ginobili as well as Duncan with a lot of time left in the fourth quarter when the Sonics' lead extended. Again, Popovich was notably concerned then with resting, since there were over eight minutes left when Duncan sat down.
But even if a few minutes were added to Ginobili's final number, would his time Sunday compare to others around the league? It didn't in the same game.
Ray Allen went 41 minutes on a sore ankle. Antonio Daniels played 38, Luke Ridnour 39.
Other series played Sunday offered an even greater contrast. Stephen Jackson lasted 40 minutes, Dirk Nowitzki 44, Rip Hamilton 45.
And then there were the Suns, who live on their best players as no team does. Four played 43 or more minutes, and two (Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire) also were Olympians.
Did the Suns lose to Dallas on Sunday because they were out of gas? "We had the gas," coach Mike D'Antoni said.
He instead attributed the loss to the Suns being "a young team thinking we have two games left at home."
The Spurs aren't as young, but they aren't old, either. Duncan and Ginobili are in their 20s, as much in their primes as they will ever be.
So entering a pivotal Game 5? With other Spurs struggling?
Either play Ginobili.
Or risk resting him and the other Spurs throughout June.
Manu should be playing 32-35 minutes per game. If you play him less than that, you aren't getting what you could out of him. If you play him more than that, you risk exhausting him for the rest of the playoffs.
There should be no reason why the Spurs can't beat the Sonics without playing their top three players over 40 minutes per game.
Considering that game 5 will be the most important game of the season so far for the Spurs, I think Coach Popovich is obligated not only to start Ginobili but to play him for as much as 40 minutes, depending on the closeness of the score. This guy wants to win more than any other Spur and he is a proven clutch player. Look at him when he is on the bench and you will see that his heart is still on the court. I say unleash Manu.
I agree with Manu playing more minutes.
IF only Brent Barry contribute half the points Manu had then we won't be having this doubts right now: more Manu? Limit Manu?
3-3pts from Brent could have been more than a help to our team than risking Manu playing against those hustlers.
what if we make it to the WC Finals? I'm 90% sure we can.
what if we play against the HEALTHY Suns? It's more like giving Sarver early Christmas present when Turkey has not been served yet on thanksgiving.
I am glad you changed your mind. I've been saying exactly what you suggest since the beginning of the playoffs.
Last edited by Rick Von Braun; 05-17-2005 at 07:46 AM.
HCA? People say it doesn't count?
With a series tied 2-2, one cannot be indifferent about where pivotal Game5 is played.
All you idiots who shrugged off stupid, give-away season losses as "just one game" pay attention now.
Where's the stat about the winner of Game5 being the winner of the series?
That historical trend was supported last May as the Spurs lost Game5, and the series.
Was also true in all 4 of the Spurs' 6-game series in the 03 Championship. Game5 winner won the series.
Buck's right. Whatever Pop has done in the season to conserve his players, he's got to run all his horses now.
And, Pop, don't pull that where you make robotic, knee-jerk, rule-based subs utions when the team has just made a run from behind and tied the game (pull Manu for Brent). Why "fix" something that's working in a critical point in the game?
Last edited by boutons; 05-17-2005 at 06:40 AM.
The Spurs should be able to win this game handily WITHOUT Tim Duncan, so don't fret at all. Manu will get his tonight, but watch out for Parker. He's suddenly got something to prove against...Luke Ridnour? Watch the out!
Spurs will rout tonight.
Jump on the Sonics early and rest shouldn't be a problem in the 4th quarter with a huge lead.
Oh please, let's give it a rest already!!
Play the guy 48 God Damned minutes already!!!
I'm sick of the fatigue excuse already. It's old and worn out.
Damn.
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