Ginobili Has found his place, coming off the bench

[smeagol]

If Manu plays the way he did yesterday against the Clips, leave his ass on the bench and play him 30 minutes including the 4th Qs of close games.

[pjjrfan]

Manu is not the same player he was before the tailbone contusion. Since he came back he has come back with a vengeance. I think before that injury he was playing with a "I want to stay in one piece for the playoffs" and was holding back or just couldn't get that extra burst of energy that made him so dangerous his first 3 years in the league. Before the bump Manu played one good game and then had a so so couple of games. Since he came on against the Warriors it's been a take no prisoners kind of mentality, hi-lighted by last nights play in the 4th where Manu was playing like if the Spurs were down by 30 instead of up by 30. That's the Manu we know and love.

I don't think it has anything to do with if he's playing off the bench or as a starter, he hopefully has gotten something off his neck and starting to be his old self. It's obvious that he has helped the team off the bench and if he stays there will continue to do so, but even if he starts I just see him playing the same kind of game, all out.

[Horry For 3!]

Ever since Manu has came back and has been comin off the bench, the Spurs have been blowing people out easily.

[carib]

What would be the reaction if the next game Manu starts and the Spurs loss.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

What would be the reaction if the next game Manu starts and the Spurs loss.

are you serious? why would there need to be a reaction? there could be a ton of reasons why the Spurs could lose, and on top of that if you react because of one game, I don't know what to tell you buddy

[bdictjames]

The big 3 starting is hard, because there are already plenty of offensive options, and Manu clearly isn't going to be the first option. Notice that Pop doesn't play the big 3 now, he sits one of them while two play.

[2centsworth]

How did you deduce they are having problems?

My statement was "starting" to have problems.

Watch the last 4 minutes of the half and 3 or 4 times Tony would control the ball and Manu would call for it at the top of the key to do what Manu does, create and distribute. Tony called him off and I could sense a little frustration in Manu. Then the last 37 seconds of the half Tony called for the ball twice and Manu waive him off and threw two cheap shots. Tony made it obvious he didn't like it.

I didn't watch much more of the second half except for a couple of more times when Tony waive Manu off.

For the record, Tony is the PG and Manu needs to get out of the way and stop calling for the ball. A good PG will find you without you having to call for the ball.

Not saying it's LA Laker drama,but more of a basketball problem that needs to be worked out.

Btw, In today's sports page quote after quote sounded like asking Tony to pass more and be more of a playmaker. "it's the next step in Tony's progression" said Brent Barry. On the court sometimes Manu thinks he should have the ball to create because he doesn't trust Tony will.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

My statement was "starting" to have problems.

Watch the last 4 minutes of the half and 3 or 4 times Tony would control the ball and Manu would call for it at the top of the key to do what Manu does, create and distribute. Tony called him off and I could sense a little frustration in Manu. Then the last 37 seconds of the half Tony called for the ball twice and Manu waive him off and threw two cheap shots. Tony made it obvious he didn't like it.

I didn't watch much more of the second half except for a couple of more times when Tony waive Manu off.

For the record, Tony is the PG and Manu needs to get out of the way and stop calling for the ball. A good PG will find you without you having to call for the ball.

Not saying it's LA Laker drama,but more of a basketball problem that needs to be worked out.

Btw, In today's sports page quote after quote sounded like asking Tony to pass more and be more of a playmaker. "it's the next step in Tony's progression" said Brent Barry. On the court sometimes Manu thinks he should have the ball to create because he doesn't trust Tony will.

what sportspage? where?

[2centsworth]

what sportspage? where?

local sports page, you might find it at www.mysa.com. It's the article about last nights game.

[Emanuel20]

My statement was "starting" to have problems.

Watch the last 4 minutes of the half and 3 or 4 times Tony would control the ball and Manu would call for it at the top of the key to do what Manu does, create and distribute. Tony called him off and I could sense a little frustration in Manu. Then the last 37 seconds of the half Tony called for the ball twice and Manu waive him off and threw two cheap shots. Tony made it obvious he didn't like it.

I didn't watch much more of the second half except for a couple of more times when Tony waive Manu off.

For the record, Tony is the PG and Manu needs to get out of the way and stop calling for the ball. A good PG will find you without you having to call for the ball.
Not saying it's LA Laker drama,but more of a basketball problem that needs to be worked out.

Btw, In today's sports page quote after quote sounded like asking Tony to pass more and be more of a playmaker. "it's the next step in Tony's progression" said Brent Barry. On the court sometimes Manu thinks he should have the ball to create because he doesn't trust Tony will.

you are only assuming and your conjectures MIGHT not be true!!!!!!

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Are you implying what you said is stated in that article?

I don't see it, but I like what Barry said about Tony's game:

"It's well known that the next step in the next progression for Tony as a point guard is to be a playmaker," Barry said. "The more he steps into that role for us, the more it's going to expand his game and the more it's going to improve us as a ballclub.

I hope Pop takes cue from Tony's own decisive adjustment to pass more, a lot of the big lead that night against the clips was from their inability to predict that Tony would pass out and create instead of performing his usual in score mode.

So you can credit the unpredictable ball movement (coupled with Manu's X-factor unpredictability)being a key to our bigger leads this past week.

So now if Tony looks to make a couple extra passes, instead of doing his usual scoring shtick, he's going to become an even harder threat for the defenses. Just because Pop insists on him scoring a lot doesn't mean we have to agree with it. Of course I don't want Tony to give Nash-like numbers, or expect him to right now, I just think he could try to use a few more plays to create shots for others when he handles the ball just to keep the defenses on their feet.

[2centsworth]

you are only assuming and your conjectures MIGHT not be true!!!!!!

it's only an opinion.

[2centsworth]

Are you implying what you said is stated in that article?

I don't see it, but I like what Barry said about Tony's game:


I hope Pop takes cue from Tony's own decisive adjustment to pass more, a lot of the big lead that night against the clips was from their inability to predict that Tony would pass out and create instead of performing his usual in score mode.

So you can credit the unpredictable ball movement (coupled with Manu's X-factor unpredictability)being a key to our bigger leads this past week.

So now if Tony looks to make a couple extra passes, instead of doing his usual scoring shtick, he's going to become an even harder threat for the defenses. Just because Pop insists on him scoring a lot doesn't mean we have to agree with it. Of course I don't want Tony to give Nash-like numbers, or expect him to right now, I just think he could try to use a few more plays to create shots for others when he handles the ball just to keep the defenses on their feet.

Tony has all the ability in the world to be whatever player he wants. I just want him to give up the play where he dribbles for 20 seconds and shoots a jumper.

[Kori Ellis]

Tony has all the ability in the world to be whatever player he wants. I just want him to give up the play where he dribbles for 20 seconds and shoots a jumper.

This exaggeration needs to die. It's a very extreme rarity that ever happens.

By the way, twice when Manu went up top and called for the ball, Pop had called a different play .. that's why Tony waved him off.

[ducks]

On the court sometimes Manu thinks he should have the ball to create because he doesn't trust Tony will.
Tony has to score because manu is to busy nursing his injuries
manu thinks he is all that now
that is fine
let him come off the bench then he would not get to play with tp and he should be fine
all this talk that manu has no ego is bull with a quote like that
tp carried the spurs last year and that has made manu upset
tp is the point guard and if tp does not do what pop wants he would be BENCHED

[ducks]

This exaggeration needs to die. It's a very extreme rarity that ever happens.

By the way, twice when Manu went up top and called for the ball, Pop had called a different play .. that's why Tony waved him off.

yep but that is tp's fault just ask manu and his church

[Kori Ellis]

I don't think either Manu or Tony are upset. They always laugh when fans speculate there is trouble between them, animosity, or problems with who is getting the ball/touches.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

whatever, you really have a knack for psychoanalysis Ducks.

Both of you talking about Tony and Manu friction on the court is a little bit of an exaggeration. Like Kori said, with a little more information on those particular plays from yesterday, these guys are professionals, and they've been playing together for 4 years now. I think it's easy to read into it too much, maybe on court there's a little bit of conflict on a specific play, because they both favor having the ball in their hands, then again, having two slashers and a Tony-Manu penetration is what gave us the complementary game to Tim, they've emerged as one of the best backcourts in the league! So why would there be a problem all of a sudden?
I don't think Manu cares if he doesn't get the ball from Tony, because he DOES, and has many times, I just think he'd rather have Pop call more plays for him in general.

Pop calls the plays for who handles the ball more, Tony being the point guard gets it more because he wants him to join Manu and Tim, hence giving him green light to do what he wants, encouraging him to shoot more and see him come into his role in decision making. That way come playoff time we'll have a better ability to make adjustments around the big three.

[ducks]

I still think manu off the bench to help beno out and let him still play his 30 minutes is what is best for the team

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I still think manu off the bench to help beno out and let him still play his 30 minutes is what is best for the team

If it continues to get wider margins of victory as a result, or rather, just more Spurs control then I'd prefer it too.

We'll just have to see what Pop does with that approach.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I don't think either Manu or Tony are upset. They always laugh when fans speculate there is trouble between them, animosity, or problems with who is getting the ball/touches.

Pop's a good scriptwriter.

[ducks]

clippers are a team that took the suns to 7 games last year in the playoffs and they killed them with manu off the bench

[TMTTRIO]

I really don't care if he starts or come off the bench he's going to play the same no matter what. Interesting what he says here. I know he's one of the best team players on our team but it sounds like he really kind of wants to start.

Notable: When asked whether he planned to start Ginobili as soon as he returns to full health, Popovich said he didn't know. Said Ginobili: "In every season, for a little bit of time, I was on the bench. I don't know if that's this time or not. We'll see. I would like to play a little bit more because I'm feeling good. But I understand his position and I'm just coming from an injury, so it's not a big deal."

[ducks]

ofcourse he does
he has a big ego but the church of manu would say not

[manu]

i saw in nbatv that he's starting tomorrow against the lakers