Spring in Ginobili's step tied to summer

[tinysands]

NBA: Spring in Ginobili's step tied to summer

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA110907.SpursHornetsAdvance.en.33ac9d7.html

Web Posted: 11/08/2007 11:04 PM CST
Mike Monroe
San Antonio Express-News

NEW ORLEANS — After the first five games of the Spurs' season, Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) leads the team in points scored, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers made, free throws made and practical jokes.

Teammates have noticed, some with a modicum of pain.

Ginobili took a summer off from international competition, watching with relief as his national team from Argentina finished second in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas and earned a spot in next summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. After a championship run that extended the Spurs' season to June 14, Ginobili needed rest and relaxation more than Argentina needed its team captain.

Now Ginobili's fresh legs have carried the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to a 4-1 record they will test tonight at New Orleans Arena against the Hornets. New Orleans also is 4-1 after losing Wednesday night in Portland.

"His summer off obviously helped him a lot," said Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker), the point guard who is right behind Ginobili in points and assists. "It looks like he's got a lot more energy. He's being very aggressive and shooting the ball very well.

"Everybody remembers 2005, when he was on fire. So if he can do that again, that can definitely help us."

Maybe Darius Washington, a sophomore at Memphis in 2004-05, doesn't recall the 2004-05 Ginobili. The rookie is learning about his new teammates each day.

On Wednesday, Washington discovered that Ginobili is as sly with a practical joke as he is with a no-look bounce pass. He fell prey to that wit when Ginobili convinced him he had committed a fineable violation of league policy by listening to music on a headset in the team's locker room while an ESPN camera crew filmed him.

"Bones (Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry)) was fined $10,000 for that last season," Ginobili deadpanned, whereupon the gullible rookie begged the camera crew to videotape someone else.

Ginobili got a good laugh at the flustered rookie's expense, but it was no joke when Washington got some time at point guard in the second half of Wednesday's 88-78 victory over Miami.

Washington, who had been backing up Parker in the first four games, didn't see the court until the final 29 seconds. Parker played 41 minutes, 25 seconds on Wednesday, just 24 hours after going 40:18 against the Houston Rockets.

Ginobili played 34:51 against the Heat, his longest stint of the season.

Neither Parker nor Ginobili figure to get much rest in tonight's game, either. The Hornets have one of the Western Conference's most potent backcourts.

Third-year point guard Chris Paul dropped 21 assists on the Los Angeles Lakers in New Orleans' Tuesday night victory. Shooting guard Morris Peterson, signed as a free agent this summer, is finding his comfort zone. Backups Bobby Jackson and Rasual Butler are solid and consistent.

"Eighty-one minutes in back-to-back, that's nothing," Parker said. "Remember when we went double overtime in back-to-back against Golden State and Sacramento? I played 99 minutes."

That was April 9 and 10, 2005, and the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) were on their way to the 2005 title. Now Parker relishes the added playing time Popovich is giving him after a pre-season of relative inactivity that was part of coach Gregg Popovich's pre-season plan.

"I think Pop is just trying to get me back in shape because the first three games I was feeling out of rhythm," Parker said. "I'm playing a lot of minutes and trying to get back in my normal shape. Obviously, I'm feeling pretty good right now."

Parker respects Paul's game, though he wondered how many of his 21 assists against the Lakers were a result of Stojakovic's 10-for-10 3-point shooting.

"I still put (Phoenix's Leandro) Barbosa or (Denver's Allen) Iverson ahead of him for quickness," Parker said, "but Chris is deceptive quick and changes speeds on you."

[tinysands]

Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) Mailbag: A vote for Bowen

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA1112.spurs-mailbag-ONLINE.en.203871b7b.html

Web Posted: 11/12/2007 11:57 PM CST
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News

We'll tip off this season's inaugural edition of The Mailbag with a question as irrelevant as it is impossible.

Seven games into an 82-game season, who is the Spurs' Most Valuable Player?

The leading candidate is Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili). Invigorated after a rare offseason of rest and relaxation, Ginobili is leading the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in scoring (19.9 points per game) and steals (17) and holy-cow-how-did-he-do-that circus shots.

He also ranks second in assists and third in rebounding.

Ginobili is the obvious answer to the Spurs' MVP question. We here at the Mailbag have never been big fans of obvious answers.

Our vote? Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen).

Yes, the guy who ranks dead last on the team in scoring, behind the likes of Ime Udoka (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/ime_udoka), Ian Mahinmi (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/ian_mahinmi) and Darius Washington.

Yes, that Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen).

If you've followed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) at all for the past five years, you know why.

Chant it with us: Dee-fense.

At 36 years old, Bowen is still a human padlock.

So far, he's faced five players who are averaging at least 20 points per game – Kevin Martin (28 ppg), Tracy McGrady (27.3), Michael Redd (21.7), Brandon Roy (20.7) and Rudy Gay (20.6).

Four of them endured their worst game while guarded by Bowen.

The only exception was Gay, who scored 13 in a Nov. 3 loss at Indiana. Bowen helped hold him 16 in a Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) victory on Oct. 31.

Bowen's contributions can't be ignored, even though they often are. When he is able to shut down a team's top perimeter threat, it forces an opponent to try to score inside against the Spurs.

That's easier said than done as well.

Bowen's season-long gauntlet continues Tuesday night, when the NBA's leading scorer comes to town in the form of Kobe Bryant.

If history, both recent and not-so-recent, is a guide, Bryant will have one of his most frustrating nights of the season.

Maybe he reaches his season average of 30 points per game. Maybe he doesn't.

Whatever Bryant does, rest assured Bowen will make life hard on him.

Speaking of making life hard, let's open up some of the mail that has piled up since we took over this cyber-office from Johnny Ludden …



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been a high school coach for over 12 years and love the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) because they do a lot of the same things that we do at our level -- top side defense for instance. But for the life of me I don't understand why Manu plays so little. Is it because a) Pop wants him fresh in the 4th quarter, b) because Manu plays year round, c) Pop is afraid of injury if Manu gets fatigued, or d) even Pop doesn't realize just how good Ginobili is? Because one thing is crystal clear, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) are not nearly as good when Manu's on the bench. All statistical analysis (like 82games.com) proves it.

-- Jonathan Walters, Costa Mesa, Calif.


There four questions that have tortured the human soul since the dawn of time: Is there a God? Why is the sky blue? Who are these people buying Britney Spears records? And, of course, why don't the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) play Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) more?


The answer lies in Gregg Popovich's unique approach to massaging his veteran's minutes. Popovich doesn't like to play any player too much, especially before February. It's a long season, and Popovich likes to keep guys fresh for the games actually matter. He is especially cautious with Ginobili, who only knows one way to play – full throttle. If Ginobili were allowed to play 40 minutes a game for 82 games, he would be one big bruise come playoff time.


You are correct that the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) are a better team with Ginobili on the floor, and here you and Pop agree. When the chips are down in a game that matters, not only is Ginobili on the court, usually the offense runs through him.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where is Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry)?

-- Lisa, Tomball


If you watch extra carefully, you can see Horry at every Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) game. He is the well-dressed tall gentleman sitting directly behind the Spurs' bench. It's kind of like "Where's Waldo?," if Waldo were a 6-foot-10 power forward with a clutch 3-point stroke.


Horry missed practically all of the preseason while tending to a family matter in Houston. As such, he is using the month of November as his preseason. He is traveling with the team, he is practicing with the team. But he probably won't get back on the floor for some time.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How are the rookies doing this year?

-- Ridge, Freeport, Grand Bahama


Ian Mahinmi (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/ian_mahinmi) and Darius Washington are both showing flashes of competence during their brief time on the court thus far. This much is certain: Their numbers will go up across the board when they begin playing for Austin.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the name of the first-ever coach of the Spurs?

-- Ghady, Lebanon


And now, the Mailbag becomes the Media Guide. The Spurs' first coach was a man named Tom Nissalke, who led the team to a 45-39 record in its inaugural season of 1973-74. He was replaced by Bob Bass in the middle of next season.


Twenty-five years later, the foundation Nissalke laid finally paid off when the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) won the first of four NBA titles.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This may be the deepest bench the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have ever had. Is there certain time when you want the rotation to be set?

-- Tim Kratz, Spring Branch


Personally, we'd like the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to have their rotation set by 3 p.m. (CST) on Dec. 12. But knowing Popovich, he will probably wait until sometime in February.