tinysands
2007-03-01, 03:18 PM
Spurs' Ginobili shines whether as starter or sub
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030107.01C.BKNspurs.ginobili.38416a4.html
Web Posted: 02/28/2007 11:21 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Three seasons ago, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich replaced Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) in the starting lineup with Hedo Turkoglu in an effort to boost Turkoglu's confidence. At the time, Popovich might as well have announced he was removing steak from the menu of every restaurant in Argentina.
In addition to their love for all things beef, Argentines share a deep passion for Ginobili, and Popovich's decision didn't settle well in their stomachs. In the weeks that followed, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) officials and San Antonio media members received a torrent of e-mails from the South American country questioning Popovich's sanity, as well as a few of his other mental faculties.
So it came as a surprise last month that when Popovich again asked his frenetic guard to go to the bench to help the team, nary a complaint was heard from Ginobili's countrymen.
"They got used to it, too; I'm not the only one," Ginobili said, laughing. "Before they took it like it was degrading. I tried to explain it to them, but I guess they didn't understand it at that point.
"But with time, after a championship season, they realize I'm doing good coming from the bench, too. They just don't care."
Ginobili insisted he also doesn't mind. What matters, he said, is the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have won six consecutive games and are playing their best ball of the season.
Ginobili has played a large role in the success, averaging 16.9 points and shooting 40.2 percent from the 3-point line, both career bests. But neither he nor Popovich can quantify how much his move to the bench has helped. Or how long it will last.
"It's definitely subject to change," Popovich said.
In addition to debating whether to resume starting Ginobili, the coaching staff also has discussed keeping him on the bench and starting Michael Finley in place of Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry). But with the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) on their longest winning streak of the season, Popovich has held off making another lineup change.
"It's probably a more potent attack night after night after night," Popovich said of Ginobili coming off the bench. "I think it makes our bench longer."
Ginobili has been slightly more productive as a reserve, despite playing fewer minutes. Popovich also thinks Ginobili looks to score more quickly when coming off the bench.
While Popovich still occasionally hangs his head in frustration when Ginobili forces a shot or dribbles into a turnover, he values his aggressiveness.
"I just want Manu to be Manu more than anything else," Popovich said. "I want to make sure I'm not limiting him in anyway. It's always way more good than bad, so I just try to leave him alone and let him use his judgment."
Ginobili, who typically enters midway through the first quarter, said he tries to assume more of a scorer's role once Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) goes to the bench. With Parker struggling last week in Atlanta, Ginobili scored 40 points, 24 of which came in a 4-minute, 47-second burst.
"I'm just in a period where I'm feeling good with my shot, so I'm trying to use it," Ginobili said. "I'm still trying to get comfortable with my midrange, so I try to take a couple more a game. So far, it's been working good."
Although Ginobili's minutes have dipped recently because of the Spurs' lopsided victories, Popovich tries to play him for longer stretches off the bench, particularly in the second half.
"A lot of times when he's starting, or like I'm doing now, you play the first six minutes and by the clock you're coming out," Barry said. "There are some games where he might score 14 points in the first six minutes and his number will be called and I don't think he was all that happy coming out of the game.
"Now, he sits there and gets ready to go, and if he gets it going the minutes are just going to be extended. That's a good thing, because once Manu finds his rhythm he's going to have that kind of confidence the whole game."
More than one opposing coach also thinks the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have become more productive by using Ginobili as a reserve.
"Having their top three guys on the court together for 25, 30 minutes was unbalanced," Denver's George Karl said. "Now that they only have their three best players on the court together for 15 or 20 minutes it's easier to balance out the egos and the touches, and that's part of basketball."
Only Chicago's Ben Gordon has averaged more points as a reserve than Ginobili's 18.1. Ginobili would need to come off the bench for at least 23 of the Spurs' remaining 25 games to be eligible for the NBA's Sixth Man award, though that, he said, is the least of his concerns.
"Pop told me that sooner or later I was going to go back to the starting lineup, so I think it's going to happen," Ginobili said. "But I just don't care."
* * *
BETTER OFF THE BENCH?
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili)'s individual numbers are better this season as a substitute, but the Spurs' winning percentage is higher when Ginobili starts. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) are 2-3 when he hasn't played.
G MPG FG% 3Pt% RPG PPG Team record
Starter 36 28.9 45.1 38.9 4.5 16.4 26-10 (.722)
Sub 16 25.2 50.8 42.9 4.2 18.1 11-5 (.688)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030107.01C.BKNspurs.ginobili.38416a4.html
Web Posted: 02/28/2007 11:21 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
Three seasons ago, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich replaced Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) in the starting lineup with Hedo Turkoglu in an effort to boost Turkoglu's confidence. At the time, Popovich might as well have announced he was removing steak from the menu of every restaurant in Argentina.
In addition to their love for all things beef, Argentines share a deep passion for Ginobili, and Popovich's decision didn't settle well in their stomachs. In the weeks that followed, Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) officials and San Antonio media members received a torrent of e-mails from the South American country questioning Popovich's sanity, as well as a few of his other mental faculties.
So it came as a surprise last month that when Popovich again asked his frenetic guard to go to the bench to help the team, nary a complaint was heard from Ginobili's countrymen.
"They got used to it, too; I'm not the only one," Ginobili said, laughing. "Before they took it like it was degrading. I tried to explain it to them, but I guess they didn't understand it at that point.
"But with time, after a championship season, they realize I'm doing good coming from the bench, too. They just don't care."
Ginobili insisted he also doesn't mind. What matters, he said, is the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have won six consecutive games and are playing their best ball of the season.
Ginobili has played a large role in the success, averaging 16.9 points and shooting 40.2 percent from the 3-point line, both career bests. But neither he nor Popovich can quantify how much his move to the bench has helped. Or how long it will last.
"It's definitely subject to change," Popovich said.
In addition to debating whether to resume starting Ginobili, the coaching staff also has discussed keeping him on the bench and starting Michael Finley in place of Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry). But with the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) on their longest winning streak of the season, Popovich has held off making another lineup change.
"It's probably a more potent attack night after night after night," Popovich said of Ginobili coming off the bench. "I think it makes our bench longer."
Ginobili has been slightly more productive as a reserve, despite playing fewer minutes. Popovich also thinks Ginobili looks to score more quickly when coming off the bench.
While Popovich still occasionally hangs his head in frustration when Ginobili forces a shot or dribbles into a turnover, he values his aggressiveness.
"I just want Manu to be Manu more than anything else," Popovich said. "I want to make sure I'm not limiting him in anyway. It's always way more good than bad, so I just try to leave him alone and let him use his judgment."
Ginobili, who typically enters midway through the first quarter, said he tries to assume more of a scorer's role once Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) goes to the bench. With Parker struggling last week in Atlanta, Ginobili scored 40 points, 24 of which came in a 4-minute, 47-second burst.
"I'm just in a period where I'm feeling good with my shot, so I'm trying to use it," Ginobili said. "I'm still trying to get comfortable with my midrange, so I try to take a couple more a game. So far, it's been working good."
Although Ginobili's minutes have dipped recently because of the Spurs' lopsided victories, Popovich tries to play him for longer stretches off the bench, particularly in the second half.
"A lot of times when he's starting, or like I'm doing now, you play the first six minutes and by the clock you're coming out," Barry said. "There are some games where he might score 14 points in the first six minutes and his number will be called and I don't think he was all that happy coming out of the game.
"Now, he sits there and gets ready to go, and if he gets it going the minutes are just going to be extended. That's a good thing, because once Manu finds his rhythm he's going to have that kind of confidence the whole game."
More than one opposing coach also thinks the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have become more productive by using Ginobili as a reserve.
"Having their top three guys on the court together for 25, 30 minutes was unbalanced," Denver's George Karl said. "Now that they only have their three best players on the court together for 15 or 20 minutes it's easier to balance out the egos and the touches, and that's part of basketball."
Only Chicago's Ben Gordon has averaged more points as a reserve than Ginobili's 18.1. Ginobili would need to come off the bench for at least 23 of the Spurs' remaining 25 games to be eligible for the NBA's Sixth Man award, though that, he said, is the least of his concerns.
"Pop told me that sooner or later I was going to go back to the starting lineup, so I think it's going to happen," Ginobili said. "But I just don't care."
* * *
BETTER OFF THE BENCH?
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili)'s individual numbers are better this season as a substitute, but the Spurs' winning percentage is higher when Ginobili starts. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) are 2-3 when he hasn't played.
G MPG FG% 3Pt% RPG PPG Team record
Starter 36 28.9 45.1 38.9 4.5 16.4 26-10 (.722)
Sub 16 25.2 50.8 42.9 4.2 18.1 11-5 (.688)