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Finish the games, #20 will. Most important, this is.
But now, upgrade the starting lineup, Greg must.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....17a0d37f.html
Talk starting on Ginobili's role with Spurs
Web Posted: 12/29/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
With Manu Ginobili having survived his first game in more than two weeks, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich quickly turned his attention Wednesday to making sure his All-Star guard also survived practice.
As the Spurs began their brief workout, Popovich gave Ginobili some instructions: If you have a shot, shoot it. But don't even think about driving to the rim.
"No one needed to tell me that," Ginobili said.
Ginobili hasn't forgotten what happened the last time he practiced with his teammates. After getting tangled with Bruce Bowen during a seemingly innocent drill, he sprained his right foot — an injury that sidelined him for eight games.
Popovich said he would use Ginobili off the bench for the foreseeable future, slightly increasing his minutes each game. Bringing Ginobili back slowly also gives Popovich time to evaluate whether the Spurs would be better served keeping him as a reserve and continuing to start Michael Finley.
"I honestly don't know how it's going to end up," Popovich said.
The Spurs went 5-3 during Ginobili's most recent absence and are 8-3 overall when Finley starts. Although the Spurs — who host the Hornets tonight at 7:30 at the SBC Center — missed Ginobili's defense in a couple of games, Popovich said he would feel more pressure to start Ginobili if he weren't comfortable with Finley's play.
"But Finley's playing well enough, and that group is playing well enough," Popovich said, "where I can afford to bring (Ginobili) off the bench and get him back in shape without giving him 34 minutes."
Finley has shot 43.8 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from the 3-point line in the 11 games he's started compared to 37.3 percent and 28.6 percent in the 13 games he's come off the bench. Still, he said he's prepared to play either role.
"To be quite honest," Finley said, "whatever (Ginobili) feels more comfortable with, I'm willing to do."
A starter most of his career, Finley was told he would come off the bench when he signed with the Spurs. The opportunity to start during Ginobili's absence has helped him settle into a rhythm more easily and become more comfortable playing with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
He's hopeful that would ease his transition if he eventually returns to the bench.
"As a reserve you have to get into that flow and try to find the flow of the game," Finley said. "You find yourself trying to make more of an immediate impact when you come off the bench. Where as a starter, the game just seems to come to you a lot easier."
The Spurs have struggled to find someone besides Ginobili to provide energy and scoring off the bench. Hedo Turkoglu never seemed confident as a reserve two seasons ago, so Popovich moved him into the starting lineup in place of Ginobili. Devin Brown looked capable of taking over that role last season before injuring his back.
After the Spurs lost their playoff opener to Denver, Popovich decided his reserve unit needed a jolt. So he brought Ginobili off the bench for the rest of the series and started Brent Barry.
"Sometimes the team needs a spark from the bench, but I think I've been providing it from the start, too," Ginobili said. "That's just the way I play."
Ginobili is more concerned now with building back his minutes, as well as his confidence. He cited the four free throws he missed Tuesday as evidence he needs time to find his rhythm.
After checking into the game midway through the first quarter, Ginobili looked to pass the first two times he touched the ball. He became more assertive in the second half, attacking as he usually does.
He still doesn't have complete flexibility in his right foot when he pushes off — "it's not pain," he said, "just a little limitation" — but said that should change the more he plays. The time off also allowed the bone bruise on his right ankle — a separate injury he suffered last month — as well as his bruised quadriceps time to heal.
"Right now I'm not ready to play 30 minutes," Ginobili said. "But once I feel better and forget about (his foot), I'll go back to playing the way I always play."
Starting or not.
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Finish the games, #20 will. Most important, this is.
But now, upgrade the starting lineup, Greg must.
Is Master Yoda mouse?
If he is, long time no talk.
Seriously we need sumone who can score of the bench, and finley is not the answer. Put finley in the starting lineup and bench gino givin gino more minutes in the game, oh yeh play him along with barry, cause barry tends to feed him the ball alot unlike that ballhog parker.
Popovich said he would use Ginobili off the bench for the foreseeable future, slightly increasing his minutes each game. Bringing Ginobili back slowly also gives Popovich time to evaluate whether the Spurs would be better served keeping him as a reserve and continuing to start Michael Finley.
"I honestly don't know how it's going to end up," Popovich said.
You can tell right now that Finley is going to end up the starter. Pop always uses this type of to make it seem like he really doesn't know.
It's obvious to me that Pop just hates Manu and Argentina and is trying very hard to keep Manu from reaching his full potential.
and TP is jealous of Manu. That's why he never passes to Manu when he's open.
WTF????
(I hope that was just meant to be funny)
" After getting tangled with Bruce Bowen during a seemingly innocent drill, he sprained his right foot — an injury that sidelined him for eight games."
Wow.....I always thought the talk about Bowen playing dirty was BS, but I might have to reconsider.
I think we are better with Manu coming off the bench. Somehow, he is the only player that can not start and still play like a starter.
I say let Finley start and bring Manu off the bench for the rest of the season (Manu still gets more minutes though).
Nope. It's true.
No, it's not true. I'm sad for you that you believe it, though. You're young to be so cynical.Nope. It's true.
You need to tell Sheed don't put his foot under others." After getting tangled with Bruce Bowen during a seemingly innocent drill, he sprained his right foot — an injury that sidelined him for eight games."
Wow.....I always thought the talk about Bowen playing dirty was BS, but I might have to reconsider.
I'd like to see some stats of Manu coming off the bench and Manu starting.
[QUOTE=50 cent]I think we are better with Manu coming off the bench. Somehow, he is the only player that can not start and still play like a starter.
I say let Finley start and bring Manu off the bench for the rest of the season (Manu still gets more minutes though).[/QUOT
I hate to admit it, but damn, it's looking like it's going to be another year where the team needs Manu to come off the bench and bail them out. And I don't really blame Finley, I'm more pissed at Barry and his weak ass play. What happened to the guy who was so clutch in the playoffs? Especially the conf. finals and the finals.
If spurs wants another tle, pop should know that manu can´t come off the bench. During the playoffs against denver last years, pop realised manu couldn´t come off the bench and in this way spurs got what they were seeking, THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!
Our bench needs the help and Manu needs less minutes during the regular season.
Maybe Bowen needs to stop breaking Manu's ankles
you should be happy if manu comes off the bench because then manu would be the go to guy on the second teamNope. It's true.
and tp and duncan would be on the bench
I was joking, hence the emoticon,
What?
You got it backward. Pop moved Manu to the bench against Denver, and it worked.
Poor Manu, a great ballplayer, but too fragile over 3 NBA years to get through 82 games without injury.
The Spurs problem is that the other two shoooting guards, Brent and Michael, can't ing shoot. Both are shooting 40% FG%, while the team is at 48%.
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