Ginobili lays blame on Spurs' confidence

[Kori Ellis]

Ginobili lays blame on Spurs' confidence

Web Posted: 03/18/2007 01:12 AM CDT

Mike Monroe
Express-News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...i.3c8bdbf.html

Calling the Spurs' performance in their last three games a big step backward with the playoffs looming, guard Manu Ginobili challenged his teammates to stop being y and forget their 13-game winning streak that seemed to breed overconfidence.

"Nobody gives a (damn) about those 13 games," Ginobili said after the Boston Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 at AT&T Center on Saturday. "We've really got to start doing things better and be more humble."

Just as coach Gregg Popovich warned when the Spurs struggled Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers in what turned out to be consecutive victory No. 13, a lack of focus and mental intensity caused the Spurs to suffer their first back-to-back losses in nearly five weeks.

"I think the three games are a step back," Ginobili said. "We beat the Clippers, but we didn't play good at all. We've really got to go back to play the way we were playing two weeks ago."

After a loss in Milwaukee on Thursday and a practice on Friday, Ginobili expected the Spurs to open Saturday's game aggressively and crisply. Instead, they missed their first five shots and trailed by 10 after just 6:35 had been played.

"I really can't understand it," Ginobili said. "We started very slow. We came back and brought the game to five, and then we started the third quarter again with a 10-0 (Celtics) run. We can't allow that to happen. We've got to step out and play with more aggressiveness, knowing that we've got 16 games to the playoffs. We should be in way better shape."

It wasn't hard to pinpoint one reason for the Spurs' struggles at the outset of both the first and third quarters: horrid shooting. They made only 6 of 19 shots in the first period, only 7 of 21 in the third. For the game they made only 1 of 17 3-pointers.

No Spur struggled more thoroughly with his shot than Bruce Bowen, who missed 7 of 8 shots and clanked both his 3-point attempts. He even air-balled a layup on a four-on-one fast break.

"What a time to struggle," Bowen said. "There's one thing in struggles: You don't want somebody to start shooting shots they're not capable of making or start trying to do too much. I missed shots that I'm capable of making tonight. But of all nights, I knew I'd get shots tonight, and that's usually enough to make you feel good. I got them and just didn't do well with them."

Bowen also committed a key crunch time turnover, losing the ball as he started a dribble from the top of the key with the score tied at 85.

"I pump-faked a pass into Tim and (Gerald Green) jumped," Bowen said, "so I had that whole lane in front of me. I want to see the replay of what happened. I know he had a hand on the ball, but how did he get a hand in? Was he riding me? That's all I want to see."

[SpursDynasty]

Also, the Spurs are allowing other teams to get too confident against them as well.

When Boston and Milwaukee get WIDE OPEN jump shots that my 10 year old cousin could make against them, it gives them confidence and they keep sinking a bunch of jump shots that shouldn't be going in. That's the problem.

Milwaukee and Boston are a combined 45-87 in the regular season right now. SA has more wins than both of those teams COMBINED. And yet they come out, gain some confidence that the Spurs allow them to get, by taking a bunch of wide open jump shots that fall in.

I guarantee you this won't be happening in one month.

[boutons_]

We've been hearing the sames repeated too many times.

This team is a collective head case. It's like they've never played together, like they've never won 2 championships together, like they don't know to play basketball. ing amazing.

[whottt]

Also, the Spurs are allowing other teams to get too confident against them as well.

When Boston and Milwaukee get WIDE OPEN jump shots that my 10 year old cousin could make against them, it gives them confidence and they keep sinking a bunch of jump shots that shouldn't be going in. That's the problem.

Milwaukee and Boston are a combined 45-87 in the regular season right now. SA has more wins than both of those teams COMBINED. And yet they come out, gain some confidence that the Spurs allow them to get, by taking a bunch of wide open jump shots that fall in.

I guarantee you this won't be happening in one month.

Is this like you guranteed an 18 game winning streak?

What a wonderful bit of inspriation that was...coincidentally your divine foresight just so happened to see one more win than the Mavs won...lame.

You got 170 posts and the most notable of them is you being wrong...if it is your intent to make a spalsh on this board as a clown, congrats...you've succeeded already.

Guranteeing that we won't see this in the playoffs only proves to me that you weren't watching last years playoffs.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

"Nobody gives a (damn) about those 13 games," Ginobili said after the Boston Celtics beat the Spurs 91-85 at AT&T Center on Saturday. "We've really got to start doing things better and be more humble."



"I really can't understand it," Ginobili said. "We started very slow. We came back and brought the game to five, and then we started the third quarter again with a 10-0 (Celtics) run. We can't allow that to happen. We've got to step out and play with more aggressiveness, knowing that we've got 16 games to the playoffs. We should be in way better shape."

So Is Ginobili becoming more vocal towards the team??

I think the Spurs maybe were riding high off their streak? Spurs always get complacent, and Pop probably got pissed about that.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

Is this like you guranteed an 18 game winning streak?

What a wonderful bit of inspriation that was...coincidentally your divine foresight just so happened to see one more win than the Mavs won...lame.

You got 170 posts and the most notable of them is you being wrong...if it is your intent to make a spalsh on this board as a clown, congrats...you've succeeded already.

Guranteeing that we won't see this in the playoffs only proves to me that you weren't watching last years playoffs.

I don't think y predictions of some of the Spurs fans on here, with that stupid 18 streak thread. (it was so stupid and random) is reason to worry about how the Spurs were y themselves a little. At least playing with less urgency and focus, as they were when they responded to their slump.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

i applaud ginobili for calling out this sorry excuse for a team (at time) but he needs to step up himself and lead by example. He's been playing terrible the past few games, and it's almost hypocritical for him to call out teammates if he isn't doing much himself.


Having said that, it's about time players started taking responsibility

[whottt]

i applaud ginobili for calling out this sorry excuse for a team (at time) but he needs to step up himself and lead by example. He's been playing terrible the past few games, and it's almost hypocritical for him to call out teammates if he isn't doing much himself.


Having said that, it's about time players started taking responsibility

I don't know what game you were watching tonight but I saw Manu drawing multiple defenders on many of his penetrations and making beautiful passes to wide open Spurs who bricked time and time again...

Manu should have had about 19 assists tonight...he got 6.


Edit: And I don't think it's a case of him calling out his teamates and excusing himself anyway...Manu always speaks in terms of the team...I don't think I've ever heard him single a teamate out.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

i applaud ginobili for calling out this sorry excuse for a team (at time) but he needs to step up himself and lead by example. He's been playing terrible the past few games, and it's almost hypocritical for him to call out teammates if he isn't doing much himself.


Having said that, it's about time players started taking responsibility

yeah I was wondering about that, but I think Ginobili probably includes himself, and he's usually pretty hard on himself when he plays poorly.

Maybe Manu should talk to Pop about it. I think Manu is usually right and calls things like he sees 'em. He's a weird guy, in that he's never fooled or swayed away from his one goal, from frivolous celebrations. Or will admit when there's some overconfidence in whatever squad he's playing for in the season..(The Argentinian Team, or the Spurs)Tim may lead by example on the court, but Manu can be another leader in his own way. And I'm glad he's calling them out again, I think he said something earlier, where he was vocal to the press this year.

It's a little bit newer to hear, because I don't remember him doing it so explicitly like now.

Supposedly Finley is the Spurs leader according to Pop.

also, did Manu say "give a damn" ? or was it worse...or did he curse in spanish? He must have been angrier than usual.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I don't know what game you were watching tonight but I saw Manu drawing multiple defenders on many of his penetrations and making beautiful passes to wide open Spurs who bricked time and time again...

Manu should have had about 19 assists tonight...he got 6.


Edit: And I don't think it's a case of him calling out his teamates and excusing himself anyway...Manu always speaks in terms of the team...I don't think I've ever heard him single a teamate out.

we must have seen different games because manu's offense was atrocious.


but he always bounces back and has more heart than any other player in the league

[SpursDynasty]

Is this like you guranteed an 18 game winning streak?

What a wonderful bit of inspriation that was...coincidentally your divine foresight just so happened to see one more win than the Mavs won...lame.

You got 170 posts and the most notable of them is you being wrong...if it is your intent to make a spalsh on this board as a clown, congrats...you've succeeded already.

Guranteeing that we won't see this in the playoffs only proves to me that you weren't watching last years playoffs.

I was watching last years' playoffs. Their first round series with Sacramento was very similar to their first round series with Phoenix in 2003: The underdog team gains confidence, hits a couple of wide open jump shots, ties the series at 2-2, SA comes out and takes the next two and advances to the next round.

What else is new?

Teams that have beaten SA in the playoffs from 1999-2007: Phoenix got us with Duncan injured in 2000, LA Lakers, and Dallas in the closest possible series ever between two top teams. Only two different teams, not counting Phoenix. I have been watching the playoffs. Shows you how consistent we've been and will continue to be. We have never let some sub-par team kick us out of the playoffs. That won't change this year.

I mean, come on, am I really saying anything that is false?

[aaronstampler]

They were trapping him aggressively and as long as we play smallball his only option is to pass to the corners because Duncan is his screener and therefore not open because he's behind Manu once he starts driving.

When we don't play smallball the other big is the screener and Tim can still hang out on the lane and occupy other people, giving Manu an easier path to the basket.

[whottt]

I was watching last years' playoffs. Their first round series with Sacramento was very similar to their first round series with Phoenix in 2003: The underdog team gains confidence, hits a couple of wide open jump shots, ties the series at 2-2, SA comes out and takes the next two and advances to the next round.

What else is new?

Teams that have beaten SA in the playoffs from 2001-2007: LA Lakers, and Dallas in the closest possible series ever between two top teams. Only two different teams. I have been watching the playoffs. Shows you how consistent we've been and will continue to be. We have never let some sub-par team kick us out of the playoffs. That won't change this year.

Pop's crappy coaching has just about killed my desire for arguing on the messageboard...

But I'll just say this...

The series with Phoenix was nothing like the series with the Kings, and the Kings were a of a lot closer to beating us than the Suns ever were.


That was an 8 seed nearly bumping off a 1 seed...I mean it was like a Brent Barry roll was the difference.


Bonzi was putting up Bill Russellesque rebound totals against us...

[Kori Ellis]

I don't see that quote by Ginobili as really calling out the team more than how all the Spurs players talk after every loss.

"We've really got to start doing things better and be more humble."

He usually says something very similar after each loss of the season.

[SpursDynasty]

Pop's crappy coaching has just about killed my desire for arguing on the messageboard...

But I'll just say this...

The series with Phoenix was nothing like the series with the Kings, and the Kings were a of a lot closer to beating us than the Suns ever were.


That was an 8 seed nearly bumping off a 1 seed...I mean it was like a Brent Barry roll was the difference.


Bonzi was putting up Bill Russellesque rebound totals against us...

Both series were 4-2, in 2003 and 2006. No difference there. Marbury hits some cheap wild jump shot in Game 1 in 2003, Martin hits a cheap layup that shouldn't have happened in 2006 to make it 2-1. It was more PHX/SAC luck than anything else.

Just because the Spurs lost to the Bucks and Celtics, does not mean that Sacramento should have won the series last year, maybe in 2002 when Sacramento actually played real basketball. Some people REALLY freak out when we lose to non-playoff teams.

"We feel like we should be up 3-1 in the series, but we're not" - Mike Bibby

[Kori Ellis]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn"

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/loca...videoId=372968

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn"

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/loca...videoId=372968

Oh, that makes a lot more sense! That puts it in a much more REGULAR context. I thought he was madder than usual, heh.

Then yeah! he always says "they" (collectively) have to try to be more humble after games. For a while now.

For a moment I thought he just brought up out of the blue, that the Spurs were riding high off the 13 game win streak. Not answering a question.

"We shouldn't give a damn about those 13 games!" - Manu Ginobili immediately, after being asked to comment on the loss to Boston at home

[Clutch20]

I'm glad there was no reference here made to the officiating that took place, it saves time when the focus is on specifics and input tells immediately what went wrong.
Spur's ID is defense, then offense feeding off of defense.

Remember the wild sequence when trapping, stealing, deflections took place and Celts got rattled and those turnovers trans to points.

Defense.

It lacked solidness, like wet cement that never hardened until latter half of the game.

[Clutch20]

Defense has to happen BEFORE the game starts

[wildbill2u]

This year's Spur team is a good team--but not a juggernaut. They have the potential to win every game, but are subject to bad luck and their own mistakes and bad play.

They came from 19 down and could have won this game. If they had won, everyone would be talking about how much 'heart' they had. But they didn't and all the armchair coaches think their play last night in the final seconds means they're crap.

Well, that's crap. They are what they are. They may not win the championship, but they are still in the top echelon of the league and have a better chance than most teams who are going into the playoffs.

[mikeanthony21]

Pop's crappy coaching has just about killed my desire for arguing on the messageboard...

But I'll just say this...

The series with Phoenix was nothing like the series with the Kings, and the Kings were a of a lot closer to beating us than the Suns ever were.


That was an 8 seed nearly bumping off a 1 seed...I mean it was like a Brent Barry roll was the difference.


Bonzi was putting up Bill Russellesque rebound totals against us...

He was rebounding for a contract.

[JamStone]

If his rebounding was for a contract, what was his scoring for? A lead role in a hardcore porno movie?

Because aside from rebounding, he was also putting it in the hole a lot.

[leemajors]

If his rebounding was for a contract, what was his scoring for? A lead role in a hardcore porno movie?

Because aside from rebounding, he was also putting it in the hole a lot.

agreed, he was even hitting from three against us. dude really couldn't miss.

[1Parker1]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn"

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/loca...videoId=372968

Damn, that completely changes my interpretation of the quote. I was excited to hear Manu sound fired about about losing by saying "Damn!" and was thinking, wow we finally got a leader in that lockerroom....

[angel_luv]

That quote by Manu is actually a complete misquote.

He says, "That 13-game streak doesn't count for anything. We need to be a little more humble and come to compete every single night."

He doesn't even say "damn"

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/loca...videoId=372968

That sounds much more like him. I was taken aback by that first "quote".