This loss is on POP

[weebo]

Manu is the closer. Since last post season, when a play is needed to be made for our Spurs its been Manu creating for himself or others. Granted he didn't have a great night but would you take the ball away from a struggling Marion Rivera because Barry Bonds is at the plate? I don't think so. Besides, most times than not Manu has come through with smart decisions at the end of games. Its not that complicated--you win some, you lose some.

[Sportman]

It's easy for you guys to say now that Pop ed up. But if Manu would have scored (Or dished to someone else who scored) you all would be in here praising Pop for sticking with Manu even on a bad night.

This is the truth. If you have always put your confidence in an guy you can´t lose it overnight. Besides when you know this guy almost gave you an entire playoffs and finals. This is what i love from us "the human beings", and i say i love because i laugh at it. Manu played as a rokkie yesterday, at some moment i asked myself, did manu go to sacramento, was he on the court? .........But as a friend of mine told me, this is a SIMPLE basketball game, you can´t kill a guy after telling he was the best in game two, for me that´s something REALLY funny

[wildbill2u]

It was a good call to give Manu the ball but he should've waited for the foul. I don't understand why he drove to the hoop.

I agree. Apparently SAC decided to wait out the clock without fouling Manu and putting him on the line.

If Manu had simply played the clock instead of trying to score the worst thing that happens is we get a shot clock violation with them getting the ball with only a couple of seconds to score against our set defense.

Manu is right. this one's on him. Now let's move on and win the series 4-1

[Kamnik]

Sorry but I say you still have to go through Manu.

Even with six turnovers, Manu is the best guy in crunch time with the ball in his hands. Refer to the play where Finley hit the 3. Refer to the last play of Game 2. Even if he had 20 turnovers, I'd want Pop to still have the confidence to go through him. He's a winner and in the playoffs, winners step up even if they are having an awful game.

His turnovers weren't just because Artest was smothering him on D. A lot of his turnovers were just plain screw ups. So oh well. You keep going to him and most of the time he'll come through for you. Last night he didn't. Oh well. Move on.

It's easy for you guys to say now that Pop ed up. But if Manu would have scored (Or dished to someone else who scored) you all would be in here praising Pop for sticking with Manu even on a bad night.

i think some people need to read and think about your last sentence at least 10 times

hypocrism,re ism,whateverism

[wildbill2u]

shouldve just pass itto duncan and let him decide the end of the game.

if they foul us, who do you want on the line? Manu or Duncan? Manu or Parker?

[Sportman]

i think some people need to read and think about your last sentence at least 10 times

hypocrism,re ism,whateverism

I think you are completly WRONG and from what i can notice i could assure you are one of them

[Kamnik]

I think that´s SIMPLY truth and from what i can notice i could assure you are one of them

uh?

get a dose of reality man

i hardly ever post; i never comment things like why they lost or won

and especially i never blame a guy for making a mistake because everyone including pop and manu are just humans and humans make mistakes

i just liked what Kori wrote in the last part because some ppl get on my nerves for saying some players are gods when they have a good game and the other night he is saying he sucks when he doesnt

[Sportman]

Oh ok sorry i misunderstood you, my fault

[Spurs Dynasty]

Yes, yes, yes... Manu almost always is the guy you want with the ball at clutch time... BUT NOT LAST NIGHT. It was obvious he was having a very rare bad game. Pop should have recogognized that and gone to TD and let him work... the guy who was coming thru all game long, and may i say, hitting free throws (*thud*).

[SequSpur]

Manu hasn't played 3 games in a row all season. The Spurs got to 63 and a blowout in Game 1 because of Tony Parker.

Manu is wreckless. The Spurs lost this game because of Manu's wreckless skills.

All he had to do was jack up a shot instead of forcing the issue. If it truly was an isolation and he was to penetrate, why did he puss out and pass it?

Because he's 2006 Manu.

[boutons_]

Pop doesn't seem to recognize when Tim or Manu are totally ineffective in one game. He still goes to them in crunch time.

Everybody on the planet knew Manu was going to drive left last night, just like he did in Game2.

3 Kings were right there. Good defense defense by Kings against a predictable play by the Spurs.

Rick and the Kings adjusted to face the inevitable. Why the can't Pop and the Spurs be less inevitable, especially when Manu (or Tim on other nights) is having a horrible game?

With the lead AND the ball, the Spurs weren't playing to score, just to kill the clock,put up a shot, draw a foul, perhaps with a time-finishing rebound. Manu drives right into 3 defenders and loses the ball and the game.

Rigidly dumb basketball. Not playoff, Championship basketball.

[baseline bum]

Game 5, 2005 Finals - Horry for 3 and the win w/ 5.9 left
Game 2, 2006 first round - Barry for 3 to go to OT w/ 4.0 left
Game 6, 2005 second round - Duncan for the win w/ 0.5 left
Game 6, 2003 Finals - Jack gives the Spurs their first lead of the game, 73-72

All Manu Ginobili assists. I want the ball in Manu's hand every single time the Spurs are in that situtation.

[Athenea]

Manu hasn't played 3 games in a row all season. The Spurs got to 63 and a blowout in Game 1 because of Tony Parker.

Manu is wreckless. The Spurs lost this game because of Manu's wreckless skills.

All he had to do was jack up a shot instead of forcing the issue. If it truly was an isolation and he was to penetrate, why did he puss out and pass it?

Because he's 2006 Manu.

Again... R u saying that from now on Manu needs to get benched in crunch time?
U r just a schizophrenic fan. One of your multiple personalities likes Manu and the rest just can't stand the guy.
Last year u were crucifying 2005 Manu all season but he just shut ur mouth in the POffs and u were all over him.
Try to be reasonable and coherent for a change.

[Athenea]

Sorry but I say you still have to go through Manu.

Even with six turnovers, Manu is the best guy in crunch time with the ball in his hands. Refer to the play where Finley hit the 3. Refer to the last play of Game 2. Even if he had 20 turnovers, I'd want Pop to still have the confidence to go through him. He's a winner and in the playoffs, winners step up even if they are having an awful game.

Either that ^^, or u can become Sequ.

[Cherry]

Can anyone believe in Manu for game 4? or just kill him today for 1 loss?
He will be ready for Game4, that´s for sure.

[baseline bum]

I wonder if Laker fans killed Kobe for traveling on the last possession of game 2 of the 2002 second round, to give the Spurs the win... clutch players still screw up sometimes.

[exstatic]

if they foul us, who do you want on the line? Manu or Duncan? Manu or Parker?

Parker, no question. Manu has shown the ability this year to miss big FTs, and Tony is hot from the FT line at 94.4% (17/18) for the series. Of the players in this series that have shot 10 or more FTS, only Kevin Martin is shooting better at 100%. Parker is outshooting Bibby by 7 percentage points at the line.

Of the FT shooters that I would want handling the ball (Manu,Tony,Barry), my order would be Parker, Barry, Manu. Now if Sacto were in a position to HAVE to foul, I'd inbound to Finley, but I don't want him handling the ball or trying to create in the situation that SA was actually in.

Another option would have been Tim in the high post, and run some cutters through the lane. He has options to shoot, drive, or hit a cutter. I'll bet he would have gotten a shot off, or been shooting FTs with a 1 point lead and the clock stopped, giving the Spurs a chance to set their defense.

Edit: Parker also had a FAR weaker defender in Bibby.

[exstatic]

Can anyone believe in Manu for game 4? or just kill him today for 1 loss?
He will be ready for Game4, that´s for sure.

Huh? Manu gets the benefit of the doubt every game...until he proves ineffective, which he was last night. I don't think anyone is saying Manu isn't a good player. Pop just needs to recognize his off nights and act accordingly. Run the ing play for someone else.

[ManusGirl402]

exstatic, affirmative

[ManusGirl402]

anyone there?

[spurster]

I said it before and I'll say it again. The Kings unbelievably allowed the Spurs to run the clock down with a 3.7 sec. differential. Manu passes it to Parker and he gets a shot off with 4 seconds remaining from the arc, all he needs is iron and the game is essentially won. Manu folded holding a Straight Flush.

I agree with Solid D. Even better is to let Brent take a long 3 with a couple seconds left on the clock. Either he makes it or it takes a few seconds for anybody to control the rebound or it's an airball with the Kings having only 3.7 to make a play against a set defense.

[Trifecta]

What has hurt MANU also is his flopping!!!!!

It's the cry wolf syndrome -- when he actually gets hacked, the play is allowed to continue!!!

Regardless, when in waning seconds of game, the refs WILL allow the physical play!

I did not argue the fact that MANU had the ball in that situation -- he just forced the action and Sacto took advantage!!!!

[Manu4Three]

It seem that none of you guys can get it, if the ball would be on Tony or Barry's hands and either of them make the TO, all of you would be saying...
" WTF the ball wasn't on Manu's hand." Period.

[exstatic]

It seem that none of you guys can get it, if the ball would be on Tony or Barry's hands and either of them make the TO, all of you would be saying...
" WTF the ball wasn't on Manu's hand." Period.

Um, no. I'd say Pop probably realized that it wasn't Manu's night. Parker, guarded by Bibby is about 10 times a better option than Manu with Artest on him.

[Manu4Three]

Um, no. I'd say Pop probably realized that it wasn't Manu's night. Parker, guarded by Bibby is about 10 times a better option than Manu with Artest on him.

Ok, Pop probably would think that and would give the ball to Tony, but if Parker make the TO, I'm sure that you would be thinking WTF the ball was on the hand of a guy that never make a crunch time play.
If Manu's play would have gone to the ring, none of us would be talking about this issue.