Ludden: Manu's moxie carried Spurs

[Kori Ellis]

Manu's moxie carried Spurs
Web Posted: 01/23/2005 12:00 AM CST

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....34f6f40d.html

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Manu Ginobili could only watch as Shawn Marion lunged between his defenders, double-clutched in the air and released a 25-footer that fell perfectly through the net.

Ginobili had spent a good portion of the previous 2 1/2 hours driving his already bruised and battered body into the Phoenix Suns' defenders. Brent Barry had just buried two 3-pointers in the final minute to finish erasing the Suns' 17-point lead. Tim Duncan had even made two free throws.
And then, just like that, Marion threw in his own remarkable 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Friday's game into overtime. After the referees confirmed the shot was released in time, Ginobili trudged to the Spurs' bench, his shoulders sagging slightly.

"I was so tired," Ginobili later said with a half laugh. "I wanted to go back home and rest for a little bit."

Fortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili found the stamina to stick around. He didn't leave until he had finished scoring a career-high 48 points and the Spurs had completed their unlikely comeback in overtime.

Less than two hours after the sellout crowd at America West Arena emptied onto the streets in downtown Phoenix, NBA.com labeled the Spurs' 128-123 victory an "instant classic." Duncan, not prone to hyperbole, called both the game and Ginobili "incredible."

"Manu just took over and led us the whole way," Duncan said. "We were kind of playing up and down, up and down, but he was playing at such a high level, he just kind of carried us along until we caught up with him."

The Spurs had to wait a little longer than expected to get some rest after their taxing victory. They did not arrive in Sacramento until 3:30 a.m. Saturday after heavy fog at Sacramento International Airport forced the team to land in Oakland and bus the remaining 90 miles.

Tonight, the Spurs return to Arco Arena, where they lost 86-81 to the Sacramento Kings three weeks ago to the day. For the first time in two seasons, Duncan will line up without Rasho Nesterovic next to him.

The Spurs' starting center suffered a second-degree sprain of his left ankle in the second quarter Friday and is expected to miss at least five games, though coach Gregg Popovich said he could be sidelined up to three weeks. On Saturday evening, the team was leaning toward placing Nesterovic on the injured list and activating Sean Marks.

The Spurs also are hopeful Robert Horry will return tonight. Horry did not play Friday after injuring his right kneecap two nights earlier against the Los Angeles Clippers. Either he or Malik Rose likely will start tonight.

For now, the Spurs don't plan to make any additions to their roster. Two people who spoke with free-agent forward Karl Malone in recent weeks said he was leaning strongly toward not playing this season but had not completely ruled out signing with the Spurs. As a result, team officials feel no need to rush Malone into a decision he is not ready to make.

Nesterovic, meanwhile, has been one of the league's most durable centers. In his seven-year career, he has had only one previous injury that has caused him to miss time: a sprained right ankle that sidelined him for five games in the 2002-03 season. He also sprained his ankle in the final game of last season's Western Conference semifinals, but he continued to try to guard Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal.

"It will be tough playing without him," Duncan said. "He really anchors our defense. But we'll adjust and guys will step up and fill his position like we always have."

Though the Spurs value Nesterovic's length, especially on defense, they proved Friday they can also play small. After Phoenix took an 88-71 lead into the fourth quarter, Popovich put Ginobili, Brent Barry, Devin Brown and Beno Udrih next to Duncan.

With the Suns forced to spread their defense, the Spurs scored 40 points in the fourth quarter, their most in any quarter this season.

"That's one of the reasons (Friday) was great," Popovich said. "With Rasho not there, we had to come up with a completely different way to win. Shoot, I think we've done the small lineup in two games for a total of 10 minutes, maybe."

With Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen shooting a combined 1 for 16, Popovich stuck with his unconventional lineup for all but about 10 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni left his starting five on the floor for almost as long. The teams also called only two timeouts in the final eight minutes and one in the final four, increasing the drama.

Duncan played a season-high 43 minutes and fought through fatigue to score six of his 30 points in overtime.

"I'm not going to lie to you, I was tired as anything," Duncan said. "I hadn't played 40-something minutes in, like, 61/2 years, it feels like.

"But in a situation like that, where you see guys playing their hearts out, playing every possession, you're not worried about what you feel like."

Ginobili led the charge, scoring 23 points after the third quarter. Early in overtime, he froze Suns guard Joe Johnson with a left-handed crossover dribble, then threw down a vicious dunk over Marion and Amare Stoudemire.

"He's so compe ive, it's scary," Popovich said of Ginobili.

Ginobili glanced at the scoreboard after the dunk. The number next to his name surprised him.

"I've had games where I felt really confident and feeling like I was making all the shots, but not like this," Ginobili said. "Those were too many points for me.

"I was very happy mostly because it's not nice to score 40 points and lose."

[pjjrfan]

"He's so competive, it's scary." Pop about Manu. This is the one aspect of Manu's game that has stood out since I first saw him in the world games in Indianapolis, when he led Argentina to the first upset ever of a pro team of all stars. The first 5 mins of that game were dictated by Manu and his energy and drive. I thought that he would come with many moments like that, but to my delightful surprise, he comes like that for every game, he may not always have it, but the fight is always there, and that desire to win. In a way I want and I don't want to see him play in the all star game, because as exciting a player as he is to watch, I don't believe Manu knows how to play without that drive to win, so that his style will always be the same. All out, reckless, fearless and a sight to see. Beautiful and scary.

[TMTTRIO]

He's one of the few that comes out and pretty much plays with 100% hustle and passion. In fact, last night when he twisted his ankle a little bit the commentators were saying that he was trying to hide it so that he didn't get pulled out . That's also funny how he said that's too many points for me. Shows that he doesn't care about stats but what he can do to win and that's why I love the guy along with his exciting plays.

[TwoHandJam]

No one should undervalue the dimension Manu brings to our team. He may not be the best or even second best player but of all the Spurs on the roster right now, he has the most killer instinct and he is the most clutch.

[boutons]

"too many points for me"

... Words you'll never find the mouth of a balla. It takes a enormous and natural self-confidence, with humility and without the aggression, to make such a statement. Manu got his head screwed on and his feet on the ground.

hmm, is Manu letting his hair grow so it will be long enough for corn rows?

Some photoshop ace give us a pic of Manu with cornrows, a la Richard Hamilton.

[Phenomanul]

"too many points for me"

... Words you'll never find the mouth of a balla. It takes a enormous and natural self-confidence, with humility and without the aggression, to make such a statement. Manu got his head screwed on and his feet on the ground.

hmm, is Manu letting his hair grow so it will be long enough for corn rows?

Some photoshop ace give us a pic of Manu with cornrows, a la Richard Hamilton.

I try not to make any 'personal' shots but this one was too much to refuse.... (on a lighter side of course...)

Didn't boutons give like a one-hour discourse on the proper gamma correction for photo editing????

P.S. boutons don't get mad... It's just you set yourself up pretty bad.... although I do feel the same curiosity to see your suggestion carried out (the whole Manu-n-cornrolls thing)

[boutons]

"Didn't boutons give like a one-hour discourse on the proper gamma correction for photo editing"

yes, did you take notes? the info was golden

"It's just you set yourself up pretty bad"

Since when is asking for "sacrilegious" joke makeover of Santo Manuel with cornrows "setting myself up"

[Solid D]

Nesterovic, meanwhile, has been one of the league's most durable centers. In his seven-year career, he has had only one previous injury that has caused him to miss time:

A 9-inch vert and never falling down to dramatize a charge wouldn't be the reasons for this, now would they?

[timvp]

A 9-inch vert and never falling down to dramatize a charge wouldn't be the reasons for this, now would they?

So true.

It's hard to get injured when you don't jump or ever try to draw a charge.

[T Park]

when you don't jump

Could say the same thing for Duncan.

He doesnt exactly jump like Shawn Marion his ownself.