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Get Over It!!!!!
Ginobili's gaffe stays with him
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...i.ddba4bf.html
Web Posted: 05/01/2006 01:12 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The fear for the Spurs, going into Game4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, was that shooting guard Manu Ginobili would be trying too hard to compensate for what he called the worst turnover of his career, one he believed cost his team a victory in Game3 on Friday.
"I think just the opposite was true," Ginobili said after he scored only three points, on 1-for-4 shooting in the Spurs' 18-point loss to the Kings that left the teams tied at two games each in the best-of-7 series.
"I was playing still like my head wasn't ready after what happened in that game. I can't believe it, because I've been in situations that were tough, and you come back and put it behind and play strong, but today I just couldn't.
"So you've just got to give the Kings credit," he said. "They played their butts off and beat us."
Indeed, the Kings so thoroughly dominated the game, especially the second half, that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich emptied his bench with 6:35 remaining, giving Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker some rest.
Popovich had spent time on Saturday trying to counsel Ginobili to get over his gaffe at the end of Game3, when he lost the ball on a drive to the basket with about seven seconds left and the Spurs leading by a point. That turnover resulted in a game-winning, buzzer-beating basket by the Kings' Kevin Martin, and Ginobili was disconsolate and angry with himself afterward, to the point some of his teammates worried about him.
Popovich got a hint on Saturday that Ginobili would not easily get past the mistake.
"I tried to give him all sorts of stuff (to help)," Popovich said "I told him it was my fault; I should have called another play.' But he just said, 'Bull.'
"If that's the worst thing that ever happens in his life, he will have a good life."
Ginobili's tentative play on Sunday showed he still was thinking about his costly error. On one play, when a Kings miss was batted in his direction, he took one step toward the ball before hesitating and turning to go back on defense. The Kings got the loose ball and turned it into a basket, which earned Ginobili a tirade from Popovich.
Ginobili said the Spurs, including himself, now must focus on regaining their aggression.
"I think they were able to beat us with aggressiveness on the boards," Ginobili said. "We played ... well, I don't know how we felt. We just didn't play like ourselves. We didn't move the ball enough. Too many one-on-one plays. We looked too static, but I want to see the film.
"Once you play the game and lose, you are angry so you don't have a good game feel in your head. But that is what it seemed like in my mind, that we were static."
Ginobili's counterpart on the Kings, Bonzi Wells, had 17 rebounds and 25 points. Much of the Spurs' attention in Game5 will be directed toward him.
"A lot of his rebounds, he was in the right place at the right time," Spurs forward Robert Horry said. "There were a lot of long rebounds that just seemed to come out to him, but he went after them really aggressively."
Get Over It!!!!!
could be worse.... look at the suns...
i've always believed manu is a tough compe or, physically, mentally. he should really put these past two games behind him and give his best out there.
I find impossible that a fighter like Manu, have 2 such horrible games being healthy...
When Manu is healthy, no matter how well guarded is, he can have bad games, but at least he fights very hard, he steals balls, he grab rebounds, he make assists, he's agressive etc...
In these 2 games, none of that was seen...I really can't find another explanation. Artest's defesne isnt't enough explanation, cause a good defense can make Manu commit mistakes, but no matter how good the defense, never before a good D took away Manu's intensisty.
Freakin' grow a Sac Manu.
WTF is up with this weak crap? This isn't the WNBA.
I can not believe the stuff I am reading from manu
wtf I did not think he was hedo
Honestly I think it's wishful thinking on Manu's part that it was "el turnover" that caused his poor game last night. Artest has shut his ass down this series. The Spurs weren't even trying to go to him when he was on the floor last night.
Pop needs to find a way to free him up or things aren't going to change.
oh please please don't drop excuses for this guy - don't resort to the injury bug - please dont do that. winners dont make excuses - whiners do.
Everyone knows Manu has played like this series except for Game 2 and surprise surprise that was the game that Artest didn't play. It's very rare that I admit fault in Manu but Artest has his number, there's no way around that.
But the thing about Manu is that he IS a fighter. He'll find some other way to contribute. He just has to stop being a pussy letting things get into his head and just play ball the way everyone knows he can.
Manu needs to snap the out of it. Go look at your gold medal and your two rings or something. Eat a pint of ice cream. Watch some porn. Whatever it takes.
That being said, one man does not a team make. I doubt that Artest is going to stop guarding Manu, so the rest of the team is going to have to treat him as a pseudo-non-factor. If the rest of our shooters can start knocking the ball down, Manu can try and wear Artest out and get his points at the charity stripe. We all know that Manu doesn't need to score a crapload of points to be effective.
if manu can drive maybe he can get ron in foul trouble
There needs to be a better effort to free Manu up with screens off the ball. The Lakers screened Bowen with Shaq when he was shutting down Kobe and it gave him a lot more opportunities to score.
I'm not even remotely concerned about Manu going into Game5. By tomorrow he'll DEFINITELY know its time to focus and let bygones be bygones.
Artest and Bonzi have got to be among the toughest matchups in the lig for Manu. He is being overpowered and that is not likely to change. The Spurs will need to ride Duncan to win this series.
"can get ron in foul trouble"
That worked great last night, Ron picked 2 fouls in first 2 minutes, so he sits.
Then Kevin came in and torched us.
scoring, steals, rebounds, ended with same pts and more STL and RB that Ron.
Tim and Manu need to stop crying for a foul everytime they TRY and do anything, it's so irritating watching them whine to the damn ref.
JUST PLAY!!!!!
Manu is having the biggest coochie moment of his life. it happens to the best man. Sack up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree stop crying baby, just play ... it is painful ... send him to the bench!
Manu is the man. He's going to own Artest tonight.
yeah the crying to the ref thing is getting sooooooo old. enough with this crap already. the refs are not gonna reward the spurs with foul calls if the spurs aren't gonna put forth the effort that warrants calling fouls. play hard and aggresive and the refs just might give them some calls. but until the spurs decide they want to put forth a solid effort......STFU and play some in' ball.
It is that latin passion...he can not help it.
I think he will be fine, when all the fans show him support tonight and show him that they still are 100% behind him, and the Spurs need him to play his game and be the Manu that we all love.
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