Jeff McDonald: Ginobili a no-go vs. Lakers

[Spurs Brazil]

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...onald_g_7.html

Jeff McDonald: Ginobili a no-go vs. Lakers
As expected, Manu Ginobili will not play for the Spurs against this afternoon as he continues to nurse a strained groin.

Ginobili worked out at the Staples Center earlier this afternoon, and was pleased enough with the results to pe ion Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to play him.

"He didn't win that one," Popovich said.

Popovich's reasoning, despite Ginobili's best efforts to convince him otherwise, was twofold. One, groins are tricky. And two, the playoffs start in a week.

Ginobili , the Spurs' leading scorer du jour, tweaked his groin in Wednesday's loss against Phoenix. He did not play in the Spurs' victory over Seattle on Friday.

"We're better off to be a lower seed with a healthy Manu, than to be a higher seed and not have Manu available," Popovich told reporters during his pre-game press briefing this afternoon.

This does not mean Popovich has no timetable for getting Ginobili back in the lineup.

"He'll definitely play the first game of the playoffs," Popovich said.

[spursfan09]

I see he's a no go. I'm watching the game.