Spurs' Ginobili doesn't mind being sixth man
By ELIZABETH WHITE, Associated Press Writer
June 9, 2007
AP - Jun 9, 1:55 pm EDT
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SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- "Here comes Manu!"
Usually heard midway through the first quarter of home games, the refrain that Manu Ginobili is coming off the bench makes San Antonio Spurs fans respond unlike almost any other time during the game.
It also often means great things are about to happen for the Spurs.
"He gives that team a totally different dimension and a totally different look and those are big elements coming off the bench that really help teams win," said Cleveland's Daniel Gibson, who has emerged as the Cavaliers' top reserve during these playoffs.
Ginobili scored 16 points in the Spurs' 85-76 victory in Game 1 of the NBA finals. Game 2 is Sunday in San Antonio.
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Along with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, Ginobili is the final piece of the Spurs' top-scoring trio and the team's beloved sixth man, a role he's more than happy to fill.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich moved Ginobili to the bench midway through the season in hopes of getting more offensive energy from his reserves. That helped the Spurs overcome some midseason struggles and go 23-6 after the All-Star break.
"It hasn't been tough. I took it very lightly since the first moment he told me," said Ginobili, in his fifth season with the Spurs. "Not very big changes for me, only the fact of not playing the first 5 minutes."
The Argentine star was runner-up for the Sixth Man award to the Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa. He started 36 games and played the reserve role for 39.
Among players who came off the bench for a majority of their games during the regular season, Ginobili, with an average of better than 16 points, ranked behind only Barbosa, who averaged about 18.
Ginobili has averaged 16.4 points during the playoffs. He made half of the Spurs' six 3-pointers in 28 minutes Thursday.
"I know that even when I start, I'm not a player that plays 38 to 40 minutes, so my minutes didn't drop," Ginobili said. "I still play the last 5 to 6 minutes, and I feel like I'm a very important player in this franchise."
Ginobili's relaxed at ude about being a reserve stops there. He's known as physical player, even if a bit of a flopper, who called the bloodied and bruised eye he got during the Western Conference semifinals with the Suns "no big deal."
While Ginobili can be somewhat inconsistent from game-to-game scoring-wise, when he's hot, he's often responsible for big runs and big wins.
In February in Atlanta, Ginobili came off the bench to score 24 consecutive San Antonio points in a 10-minute span of the first half. He finished the night with a season-high 40 points as the Spurs beat the Hawks 103-96.
After he got raked across the eye on a drive to the basket in Game 3 of the series with Phoenix, he went on to score eight of his 24 points in about the next 1 1/2 minutes.
"They taught me to release the reins a bit, and their play, their random play and their aggressiveness, their passion on the court meant an awful lot," Popovich said, also referring to Parker.
Popovich called the decision to bring the 29-year-old Ginobili off the bench a "seat-of-the-pants sort of thing."
"The bench wasn't really producing a whole lot. I thought maybe it would be easier for Michael (Finley) or Brent (Barry) to play with the starting group," Popovich said. "And I'm fortunate in that Manu is the kind of guy that obviously cares more about the team. Sure, he'd rather start, but he'll do whatever he's got to do for the team and would take it well and not moan and groan about it."
How many more times do people have to write articles about his topic? I swear, I've read probably 100 hundred articles that Ginobili comes of the bench and doesn't care about it. OMG why is it so hard to believe that somebody will do this? , is this such a rare gem in today's NBA that it an article has to be printed every 2 months.
I think it is such a rare gem in today's NBA.
So many players are about the money, the fame, the spotlight, that a guy like Manu is a breath of fresh air.
Spurs fans aren't surprised about his team first at ude because it's the same at ude that permeates the team.
The rest of the world is surprised that a starter, a champion on so many levels, would actually be okay with coming off the bench for the good of the team. It's foriegn to them. It doesn't jive with the "me-first" at ude of most major league players.
Remember when Duncan and Iverson were both out for a few games with injuries?
The Sixers tried to play Iverson off the bench the first game back and he pitched a fit.
A couple of days later the Spurs did the same thing with Tim, and of course he didn't say anything.
Manu Ginobili = best off the bench in the NBA???
I remember that.that was all on the news. That I can agree with writing an article on, but Ginobili isn't as high on status like an AI or Duncan in the NBA. International Ball? Yes.
It's all bull . We won in 05 with Manu starting and he even almost got Finals MVP. There is no difference on the team whether he starts or not as long as he gets the same minutes. He's just not starting cause Pop's being an asshole about it.
Last edited by rob5; 06-09-2007 at 11:45 PM.
I think Ginobili's importance to the Spurs over the last 5 years has yet to be fully appreciated. He is about as good of a 'big game player' as I have seen in this league over the last decade. There are a handful of players I would rank above him in that category. When Manu retires or is unable to play at the level he has before then this team will be hard pressed to reach the Finals, let alone win more championships.
I agree, he's a unique player, and is sometimes underrated (sometimes overrated) he gives the team an edge.
of the planet you should say
Most important fact: Manu is on the floor to close out games and the ball is put in his hands to win them, especially at the line.
6th man, my ass!
Yeah, let's just turn the reins over to you, asshat. I'm sure you know MUCH more about how to run an NBA team than Pop does.
Are you still one of those who hates Pop and pines for Bob Hill?
[QUOTE=duncan228]I think it is such a rare gem in today's NBA.
So many players are about the money, the fame, the spotlight, that a guy like Manu is a breath of fresh air.
Spurs fans aren't surprised about his team first at ude because it's the same at ude that permeates the team.
QUOTE]
It's the strength of the team, IMO. Most players are obsessed with their stats, because people get paid according to their PPG. If you don't get stats, you don't get paid. Somehow the Spurs have created an environment where people play hard and do the little things despite this dynamic.
it does feel a bit weird not having him in the starting lineup in the Finals intros.
anyway, most superstars would think that because they've gotten so much adulation and ac ulated individual honors, coming off the bench is an insult. somehow, the spurs got lucky with manu because it seems to work backwards for him--he is confident and assured and without insecurity and knows that starting or coming off the bench is not what matters.
thanks Manu.
You. You're probably laying in bed with Pop right now. I was only stating my opinion about that issue. So If you wanna attack me personally like that, do it like a man and give me the when and where. Not hiding behind a keyboard you little .
Last edited by rob5; 06-10-2007 at 12:33 PM.
Actually, I'm bangin' away on your .
Just a little lower babe...ah yeah, that's it.
2005 is irrelevant to this discussion, because we didn't have Finley then. Finley never really did adjust to being an off the bench player and he and Brent both performed much better when they started. I think it has less to do with who gets their name announced when vs. who they are playing with.
It's a better solution all around, because Manu was getting fewer touches with both Tony and Timmy on the floor, and he performs better when he can be the first option (as he generally is in fourth quarter situations). Finley/Barry, as shooters benefit from being in position for a kick out on a double.
I don't understand why it has to be Pop being an asshole - this is clearly something that works best for the team in terms of optimal performance and energy. Will Manu's fans ever be happy? He starts and doesn't get enough touches. He comes off the bench and gets more touches but then he's not starting. WTH? Can't you just be happy that everyone is winning with this strategy?
if your bangin away on my you must be ing your mom.Actually, I'm bangin' away on your .
Just a little lower babe...ah yeah, that's it.
Kudos, dude!! Most men can't avoid the orderlies in Shady Acres, but "quick" may not be a problem for you. She's 75, plump, and wrinkly, but obviously, that's where your tastes run.
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