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Buck Harvey: NBA fix: Getting Ginobili in Denver
Web Posted: 01/27/2005 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
The NBA should fix the All-Star voting that ended Sunday. If Yao Ming sells the game globally (and exactly who really likes watching Yao?), then Manu Ginobili would sell more.
If not that, then league officials should lobby head coaches who fill out the All-Star rosters. The league's best argument to the Western Conference coaches: Vote for someone who regularly has beaten you.
Or? The league simply should create an automatic roster spot for anyone who has won both an NBA le and an Olympic gold medal.
The NBA should want Ginobili in its All-Star Game.
That much.
Maybe it's better if Ginobili isn't bothered. He needs the rest and, besides, he's not wired for a who-cares-who-wins, look-at-me, sponsor-driven game.
His flash, of course, would fit with the show in Denver next month. After all, why does anyone tune into an all-star game? To see the stuff Manu does every night.
One moment came Sunday in Sacramento, when he flipped in a no-look layup over his head after getting bumped. Another came Friday, in Phoenix, when he ended the first half with a wraparound pass, finding Devin Brown for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Bodies had blocked out Gregg Popovich's view of the play. So, Popovich saw the pass for the first time at halftime, on a TV monitor, then stood stunned for about the 973rd time.
"Why did he do that?" Popovich asked then.
Why?
As Ginobili once said, "It's what I do."
What-I-do isn't contrived. Ginobili doesn't go behind his back to look sweet, and he doesn't make faces when he does something special. He doesn't attempt anything with the idea that he will get attention for it.
What-I-do is just the way he plays, and it comes with the toughness of a boxer. Ginobili is not afraid of being hit, and he's not afraid to take it to bigger guys.
A lot of people are mesmerized by it. More than one sportswriter around the country — cynical ones, too — have announced Ginobili is their favorite player.
And then there's Charles Barkley, who will work for TNT tonight during breaks between the Spurs-Kings game. Barkley was ahead of the national crowd when he long ago expressed his amazement with one, animated word.
"GINOBILI!"
Barkley, at some point tonight, will yell it again.
About a half-million others have caught on to this cult figure, the reason Ginobili's fan-vote total is high considering this is his first year as a full-time starter. He's fifth among Western Conference guards, and those above him are bigger names with bigger stats.
Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Ray Allen. They are the reason the coaches likely won't choose Ginobili to fill out the team.
But McGrady admits he didn't always play hard, and Bryant tears apart his franchise, and Nash couldn't stay in front of Greg Ostertag on defense, and Allen said this week — while he's still in contention as a Sonic — that he could see being a Laker next season.
Meanwhile, Ginobili takes the ball, puts his head down and attacks. Sometimes he's as electric as anyone in the game, such as in Phoenix last week. Ginobili scored 48 points, more than any Spurs guard in history except for George Gervin, and in overtime Ginobili got by his defender and soared over two other Suns for a two-hand dunk.
Ginobili played all but two minutes in the second half in that game. That means, exhausted but determined as usual, he dunked for his 45th and 46th points.
What happened two days later, however, defined Ginobili and his view of how the game should be played. He took only eight shots in a rout of the same Sacramento that the Spurs play tonight.
How many scorers in the league have an ego that would allow them to go from 48-point superstar to role player?
But these are the nights that skew his stats and his worth, keeping him below so-called star status. It doesn't matter that the Spurs go to him at the end of games or that he remains their fearless constant or that he excites the fans without that as his goal or that he wins.
That isn't good enough to be an All-Star, is it?
The NBA should do everything it can to answer that.
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It sounds like the Spurs are pushing Manu for All-Star. Lance Blanks comes out with an article and then this?
My guess is the Spurs think if Parker is named an All-Star, he would start putting too much pressure on himself to play like an All-Star every night and he'd go back into his funk.
Pop's really going to have a heart attack if he coaches the all star game then
...because he can't shout "Manu!!!!"
BTW, Yao sucks he shld not be an All-Star.
Great article. Do it NBA. Do it coaches. Put the NBA's Human Joystick in the All-Star game.
Kobe and
Allen on the same team. See article. These two have history of hate but would be a dangerous combination but still there is only one ball.
MadDoc
That won't happen Rummpd, Allen's just using LA as a bargaining chip to get what he wants in Seattle (mo' money).
while he's still in contention as a Sonic — that he could see being a Laker next season.
What a joke.
If I was Nate McMillan id be one pissed off dude.
Ginobili wont make it, cause hes too "nice"
Heaven forbid quality guys go.
We need more adultering accused rapists, and players like Jermaine Oneal who punch out fans for just standing on a basketball court. Or All Star point guards who chase there wives out of there houses naked, and with a gun.
YES!!!
LETS PROMOTE THEM!!!
Who? Ginobili? Sure he looks flasy, errrr wait wait wait, hes a Spur.
Sorry, no tats, big stats, but no AS Mano ( Stockton)
Kobe got a lot drama this yr-Kobe/ShaQ, Kobe/Karl & Kobe Allen, who's next?
LOL! Stockton and his old ass cant even call the Spurs their correct name! lol
Maybe is getting a little forgetful in his later years, but he still knows the difference betw self sacrificing hustle and self aggrandizing, look at me bull , that is all too common in sports today.
Lance Banks and Stockton suck. They have no clue to what is going on out on the court 3/4s of the time. Elliott is an awsome color guy. Even when he does games that aren't the Spurs he has such funny takes on the game and the players.
I can't believe Yao is gonna be an all-star, these stupid people vote for him...
Ginobili is way more exciting than Yao.....
Manu should get Ray Allen's spot. He's a better player, and better defender, and more exciting to watch. Ray Allen is only playing well this year to get money next year. Hey, Ray, Milwaukee wants to know where the you were a few years ago when they wanted to win?
Ray's stats are up in scoring, but down in shooting % this year. But he is the leader of the team with the 3rd best record, so he deserves to be a starter.
I'm Manu's biggest supporter but...hey.... let's not get carried away.
Sure... Ray Ray might be playing harder this year because of his contract but he is still the league's best shooter... hands down. And he's the leader of a Sonics team that no one expected would even contend.... that has to count for something. Do I like him.... I wouldn't say so... he publically dissed the BRUCE....
Anyways, Kobe shouldn't even play in that game until his ankle fully heals... and if that were the case, the coaches would pick Ginobili.......
Ray Ray .425 FG% .375 3G%Ray Ray might be playing harder this year because of his contract but he is still the league's best shooter...
Manu .478 FG% .389 3G%
There you have it.
I would call Ray more of a scorer than a shooter.
He does not have good technique in his shooting. His feet are not under his body when he shoots, they are off to one side...this is not a classic jump shot by any means.
I never said Ray was more efficient than Manu.... that is Manu's strong point .... he knows when the team needs him to score, and he knows when the team needs him to pass....
The point I was trying to make was that Ray is an All-Star because he has the Sonics playing like contenders...
And like I said before, I really don't like him becuase of the cheap shot he took at Bruce.... The one time I do root for him is when he plays against Kobe....
Peja doesn't have perfect form either, nor does Barry... but they are all considered great shooters....
"Why did he do that?" Popovich asked then.
A better question might have been, "How?" Like it is with most of the other spectacular things he does.
"Ohhh, Mama!"
(Spurs TV announcer: Bill Land)
Manu Ginobili
FG% .478
2FG% .525
3FG% .389
PPS 1.51
ADJ FG% .545
RAY ALLEN
FG% .425
2FG% .455
3FG% .355
PPS 1.27
ADJ FG% .494
TONY
FG% .479
2FG% .508
3FG% .270
PPS 1.18
ADJ FG% .495
Wow, I didn't know Tony's 3 point % was that low...
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