Buck Harvey: Hit too early, Manu resumes his role

[Manu20]

Buck Harvey: Hit too early, Manu resumes his role
Web Posted: 04/26/2006 09:47 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...s.aa896ab.html

San Antonio Express-News

The Kings got it wrong. These are the games when you are supposed to hit Manu Ginobili in the back of the head.

These are the games when he frustrates, twisting for drives, finding open teammates, changing both the playoffs and the laws of physics. Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin got fed up a year ago and put Ginobili on the floor, and Seattle's Danny Fortson followed in the next series with a few body shots.

So when Ginobili went for 32 points, nine assists and zero turnovers, leading the Spurs in key moments just as he did a year ago?

The Kings should have timed it better.

Ginobili wasn't perfect. He missed a late free throw in regulation, for example; had Brent Barry not followed with a 3-point bouncer that sent the Spurs to overtime, San Antonio would be talking about something else today.

But it was also Ginobili who drove baseline with the clock down, the Spurs trailing by three points at the end of regulation — snapping the pass to Barry in the corner. If that sounds familiar, that's because it is. Ginobili found Robert Horry in Detroit a year ago.

That one came against the defending champs on the road. This one came at home against the No. 8 seed without its best player. Putting it another way, the Spurs still have some work to do.

Just a few days ago they appeared ready to sweep the Pistons in a rematch. Tuesday they looked like the Knicks after a Larry Brown pep talk. Gregg Popovich feared this kind of reversal, but maybe he fears something else now.

Tony Parker showed the signs of playoff yips past, including a rare inbounds violation in overtime. And then there was Tim Duncan celebrating his birthday Tuesday. He turned 50, according to sources.

Is it the foot? Or was he simply part of a Spurs post-blowout mentality caused by the Kings losing Ron Artest? Popovich yelled at Duncan once when the Spurs were being beaten down the floor, so perhaps it's the latter.

Either way, the contrast Tuesday among big men was dramatic. As Shareef Abdur-Rahim posted Duncan on one end, scoring 27 points, Duncan struggled again on the other. His string of 14-point nights is starting to become the norm.

But Duncan wobbled with sprained ankles at times last postseason, and Parker had up-and-down moments, too. Propping both up at times — and running into angry elbows — was Ginobili.

Why is he the one who always seems to be a target?

"It seems that way, doesn't it?" Ginobili said Tuesday, smiling.

His teammates list several factors. He's a lefty, he's frenetic, he's awkward, he's relentless and he's successful. Add it up and he sometimes embarrasses and angers opponents, just as his Argentine friend, Andres Nocioni, does now in his playoff series.

That said, what happened Saturday with Artest surprised him. "I was innocent this time," he said.

You weren't innocent before?

He shrugged. "I was scoring a lot of points before and playing well."

Translation: He understood the frustration in Denver and Seattle, because he was beating them. In the opener in this series he was just another guy who happened to be standing near Artest.

That changed Tuesday, when Ginobili resumed his role as the Spurs' difference maker. He threw in a couple of early threes, and then he took over to begin the second half. He scored 12 points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, adding yet another Manu moment. The ball tipped and free under the Spurs basketball, Ginobili ran to it in stride and slipped a perfect behind-the-back pass to Michael Finley in the corner. Finley's 3-pointer seemingly broke the game open.

Ginobili went to the bench with the Spurs leading by nine. But then the Kings scratched back, taking a late lead, until Barry saved the Spurs. Given another chance, Ginobili had a hand in 11 of the Spurs' first 12 points in overtime.

The sequence that made the difference? Ginobili dropping three free throws after a Mike Bibby foul, then drew a foul on the other end coming around a pick.

Ginobili, sensing the win secured, pumped his fist, and he had reason to celebrate.

No fists, this time, were aimed at him.

[angel_luv]

This was a good article- but Buck's usually are.

Why is he ( Ginobili) the one who always seems to be a target?

"It seems that way, doesn't it?" Ginobili said Tuesday, smiling.

His teammates list several factors. He's a lefty, he's frenetic, he's awkward, he's relentless and he's successful. Add it up and he sometimes embarrasses and angers opponents, just as his Argentine friend, Andres Nocioni, does now in his playoff series.

That said, what happened Saturday with Artest surprised him. "I was innocent this time," he said.

Ginobili, sensing the win secured, pumped his fist, and he had reason to celebrate.

No fists, this time, were aimed at him.

No kidding!

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Good to see Manu is getting back on the press good graces.

[TDMVPDPOY]

buck harvey wants to promote thug play in the nba, this guy is fkn jackass. yeh and we all know what happen to the nuggetz last season in the playoffs, lost 4 games straight, wattabout the team from seatle, yep they also lost. Gino will just shut the media up, he was built for primetime playoff bball.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

If you look in the dictionary under "NBA playoff stud" you'll see Manu's picture. Honestly, I just looked.

[Dunc]

Ginobili, sensing the win secured, pumped his fist, and he had reason to celebrate.

No fists, this time, were aimed at him.

This is a good article, but this line makes me think of Ginobili's reaction after Barry hit the 3. He pumped his fist after the shot went through, and he just about nailed Horry in the face. Kinda made me laugh, but I was glad to see the shot go through.

[Obstructed_View]

buck harvey wants to promote thug play in the nba, this guy is fkn jackass. yeh and we all know what happen to the nuggetz last season in the playoffs, lost 4 games straight, wattabout the team from seatle, yep they also lost. Gino will just shut the media up, he was built for primetime playoff bball.

What the are you talking about?

[ALVAREZ6]

What the are you talking about?

I was thinking the same.


WTF are you thinknig about dude???

[yeahone]

lol

[SequSpur]

Buck Harvey is a waste of paper.