New article by Manu Ginobili - La Nación newspaper
by jalberto on Oct 24, 2009 10:37 AM CDT
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PrintThe Only Objective is to win the championship
by Manu
San Antonio – The most important thing I would like to tell you is that I am healthy, pain free, finally healed and now just trying to recover my game. I think I am eight points at this stage. I have to better my shooting and have a quicker response on defense, but considering that the pre season just finished, this is also normal for the majority of the players. More so, it’s always harder for me to get into a rhythm. I’m going slowly. I’m also lacking penetrations to the hoop. I have tried it a little and I don’t know if by lack of power or confidence but it’s been tough to get to the basket.
In addition, I’m happy with the playing time that I played on the pre season; against Oklahoma I had 23 minutes on the court. I don’t know how that will work for the beginning of the regular season, but I would like to play a lot of minutes to feel useful and start to tune up with our new teammates.
Truth is that it’s gratifying to be able to travel with the team again; it has been a while since I did it last, but I still don’t have that adrenaline that you feel before a final. I would say my expectations are double because next season starts on Tuesday and I will be playing back again after a long time. It will be nice to have my jersey on and feel the fans twice as loud.
About our team’s performance on the pre season, you have to highlight that Pop generally uses the substitutes not to wear down the rotation players. But I would like to mention both George Hill and DeJuan Blair. They were the best. I think Blair will be a huge surprise. He barely surpasses 6 feet 7 inches, but he has a lot of attitude, a special grit to pull down the rebounds and he scores easily. He is very intense and fights fiercely for every ball. If you are going after a ball with him, he pulls your arm down… It has been a while since we last had such an athletic and intense bigman in the team. Though he is the 4th of them off the bench, there is a lot of hope on what he could contribute. Anyway, I think the starter will be Matt Bonner, because with his long range shots, he opens up the floor for Tim and the rest of us.
The game style will be freer, with a more fluid game and lots of pick and rolls. We will no longer be waiting for Tim to arrive and establish himself in the paint as it has been historically with us. Though I guess that will also depend on the games we’re playing. The running style adapts better to what Tony proposes. I am not saying something new if I say that this is now more Tony’s team than Tim’s. How that will benefit me or not? I truly don’t know. We will see it on the court and it will depend on the games individually.
There are no doubts that this year more than ever, the only objective is to win the championship. The franchise has done a great effort to put together this great roster. It is the very first time that the salary cap is exceeded. Almost 13 million past the limit. Since I have been here, it's never happened before. The Spurs understand that this is the moment to pursue another title. They want to take advantage of Tim’s and my last years being able to compete at this level. With the arrival of players like Richard Jefferson, Antonio MyDyess and Theo Ratliff, plus the investment in young talent like Blair, San Antonio saw the chance and decided to do the big investment.
Anyway, the road will be hard because there are other strong teams that got better with the arrival of great players. Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Denver, the Lakers, Portland and Dallas are all in as well.
Lastly, I have to recognize that this will be a key season for me. A window season because next year I will be a free agent and I have to show my best to have a great future. My next contract will depend on how I play this season.
I do not want to forget to mention Fabricio Oberto. Even though I will miss him as a friend because we would share a lot of time on our trips and those long weeks when we go out on the road, also the franchise will miss him. It has been mentioned already by the assistant coaches and my teammates. He has always been a beloved guy and his absence will be felt.
Translation - urunobili
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Thanks, jalberto – and thanks, urunobili, if you’re reading this.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
I like the way Manu put this whole article
he sounds confident, but it’s not over-confidence. He feels this team can win the championship, but he’s not so overly confident in that, that it would make him arrogant.
Manu has such a fascinating way of speaking and writing that really portrays so much.
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
Lovely article by Manu and thanks for the translation guys. It will be hard to recapture the reckless abandon of his game from a few years ago. But for his sake and ours, i hope there will be flashes when we need it.
Oh man. I can’t believe he said Bonner might start. I know Pop is no fool. But too much proximity has blinded him.
muddbutt! I don’t like him starting, but I don’t hate it, as long as he’s not closing games.
thanks for the article jalberto.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 24, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions
McDyess will close games either way
he’s a great defender and rebounder. They might start Bonner if only to get more points early on, then have a defensive rotation come in and protect the leads.
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
Bonner has proven capable in starts and has shown some effort in D. I just hope he continues in this path to solidify his spot. Dice/Ratliff/Yawn coming off the bench will be such a luxury. I’m just not comfortable if it’s Bonner & Finley starting but that’s just me. Though still fun to watch them shoot the lights out. Still there will be some nights when they’ll be colder than a zombie. When that happens, opponents then to cheat on D.
But come the post-season, there’s certainly gonna be some changes on the starting five depending on whom we face. This team has so many options right now, we might finally take off that boring label.
To Manu belongs 999 names. 1,000 – 1. One must keep the names hidden in the deep recesses of the soul. Only by uttering the names in utter reverence and sheer terror shall one experience sublime ecstasy. And as one meditates upon each divine name, one ascends into a higher state of enlightenment. Upon reaching the 999th level, one enters Nirvana and comes into the presence of the Immortal One and gorges on alfajores to your heart’s content.
Ehh…when Manu was kidding when he said Bonner would be starting…right ?
Whatever. Success is what counts .
The boogie man checks his closet for DeJuan Blair before he goes to sleep !
I dont care who starts. Really. If pop wants to put Mason, finley, bogans, Bonner and Theo as our starters im ok with it. The important thing is minutes. I have no problem with Bonner as a starter as long as he plays no more than 12 minutes as a specialist.
My only worry would be with Bogans and Finley. I dont want any of the two playing at all. Just use them as our 11-12th man as options to have in the playoffs.
"Rock and Roll angels bring that HardRock Hallelujah"
So you are saying that a guy who hit 42% of his shots from 3-point range has no role on a team that will need guys to knock down shots from the outside?
I think it is worth noting that not every team has a pair of dynamic scoring wings. There are plenty of guys in the league that Finley can cover. He can cover Shane Battier. He can cover James Posey. Hell, I can cover Peja at this point. He’s also an intelligent help defender who knows where to be. Those guys can be useful.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 24, 2009 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hey, do you have a link from early PTR threads so we can see at what exact moment you turned into a Finley apologist?
If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross
I think you could just go to the first one. I’ve been all FinDog since day one. Hell, I think it was a running joke for half the season that I loved him no matter how poorly he was playing.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 24, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I’m all for Finley having a role in this team, but if he’s playing more than 10 mpg during the playoffs, we’re in trouble.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
Thats my point. He has value as a 42% 3 point shooter (also clutch shooting) but at this point guys like Hairston, Hill and Mason deserve the minutes as they can do a lot more than make open jumpers and “rotate well on defense” (translation: end up on a poster). Im ok with him not playing at all or getting 10 mins max.
BTW, Dont fuck with ATS, he has a very good reason to be a Finley apologist: he sees a lot of Finley in him (that is, being old)
"Rock and Roll angels bring that HardRock Hallelujah"
BTW, Dont fuck with ATS, he has a very good reason to be a Finley apologist: he sees a lot of Finley in him (that is, being old)
Gol!
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 26, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions
You might want to take a look at my avatar before the next time you start making comparisons between me and the FinDog.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 26, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Yup. it’s so different as night & day.
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 26, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Excuse me
This place is beginning to sound like Spurs Talk! And there’s a reason I don’t log in there anymore.
Haha.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 26, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
It’s all in good nature & I excuse you, teach.
peace yo
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 26, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions
If you guys were my students, you would have gotten “the lip” and that’s NOT a good thing. It’s a much feared facial expression, half sneer and half snarl and it could stop a kid in mid-sentence.
Nice. Bringing back memories of my high school days…
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
I believe you teach. Underneath that warm and gracious welcoming smile is a sneering snarl just waiting to explode. You have endeared yourself to me.
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 27, 2009 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions
hey dsl, not sure if you know this yet, but if you use the blockquote feature when commenting, your comment will appear blocked, kinda like this
Help me I’m blocked!
that way, readers find it easier to know that you are quoting, and also know what you’re quoting. The blockquote button looks like this " and it is in between the dached S and the chain buttons on the top of a comment that you are writing.
Of course, this is purely for the benefit of the reader, not the writer of the comment, so use at your own expense for the enjoyment of others.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 27, 2009 1:14 AM CDT up reply actions
LatinDease
did i mention i you’re awesome! keep it up!
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 27, 2009 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Like this? I haven’t tried pictures yet. You make my blog life so much richer and real life wasted.
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 27, 2009 1:26 AM CDT up reply actions
ouchies! that one hurt a little. Perhaps I should stop this helping introducing others to the little that I know of the blog world, so that they’ll have richer, more plentiful real lives. Hmm… what a conundrum:
Help people, or help people. This one’s a toughey.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 27, 2009 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions
oh don’t mind me. I’m responsible for the consequences of my own blogsphere indiscretions.
You are an enabler. the mother to a hen. the pusher to an addict. the pornographer to a maniac. Well, you get the point. Continue with your mission…Bon voyage!
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 27, 2009 1:44 AM CDT up reply actions
the pusher to an addict
Well I’ve certainly pushed that before, and I didn’t feel that bad. So I’ll just think about it that way. Thanks for making me feel better dsl. merci beaucoup monsieur.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 27, 2009 2:28 AM CDT up reply actions
You are an enabler
This kind of discussion of TLO’s codependent behavior certainly sounds familiar to me. Let’s see. Where in the world have I heard something like that before?
Consider the gun jumped
5 in 10
it seems i cannot escape my fate, even if I wanted to try.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 27, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
We need Findog. We rescued him from the shelter and he got a lot left in the tank as far as nailing high pressure shots go. Just can’t ask him to run through 5 screens and knock it down.
Bonner on the other hand, even statistically, I don’t know if he brings more than he gives up in confidence to the other team. I mean, if yer playing the Spurs and you see Bonner trying to guard, its gotta boost your confidence right.
I dont care who starts. Really. If pop wants to put Mason, finley, bogans, Bonner and Theo as our starters im ok with it. The important thing is minutes.
I feel absolutely the same way.
My only worry would be with Bogans and Finley. I dont want any of the two playing at all. Just use them as our 11-12th man as options to have in the playoffs.
Here I disagree. FinPerro has looked really good i the preseason games I’ve attended.
WWTD?
because corpses dont get old
"Rock and Roll angels bring that HardRock Hallelujah"
by Chilai on Oct 26, 2009 1:55 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Zombies never die. They only decompose into cocktails
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 26, 2009 2:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I am not saying something new if I say that this is now more Tony’s team than Tim’s. How that will benefit me or not? I truly don’t know. We will see it on the court and it will depend on the games individually.
So basically Tony, pass it to Manu!
If you haven't lived with a squirrel, you haven't lived. - Bob Ross
that’s manuspeak for ball-hog
To Manu belongs 999 names. 1,000 – 1. One must keep the names hidden in the deep recesses of the soul. Only by uttering the names in utter reverence and sheer terror shall one experience sublime ecstasy. And as one meditates upon each divine name, one ascends into a higher state of enlightenment. Upon reaching the 999th level, one enters Nirvana and comes into the presence of the Immortal One and gorges on alfajores to your heart’s content.
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 24, 2009 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Manuspeak
it can make the deaf hear and orphan children smile.
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
by KA1Z3R on Oct 25, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
It can make the dear hear the orphan children smile?
That’s impressive.
Consider the gun jumped
5 in 10
it's okay, we've all been there before
but your’s was just……………wow
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
Agreed.
Also, no apostrophe is necessary in “yours”.
Yes, I’m being petty this morning.
Consider the gun jumped
5 in 10
Yes you are dear.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Oct 26, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions
tat's how my english teacher taught it to me
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
i meant to put tat's by the way
West Virginia hood-speak
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
Theres a hood in WV?
9.20.21.24.34
ACLs are like crutches. They’re only for the weaklings who can’t get along without them. -jollyrogerwilco
aw yeah!!!!
starts playing gangsta rap
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
i live in a small town
which is in itself a hood.
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
wow.....................
Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.
loved that. He really did visit them orphans in Argentina for U.N., I believe. He has a heart of gold
Blair's the third quarter kick in the opponent's balls - the little o
The Spur's "Los Cojones Grandes"
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 25, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions
fin
I mean even against the thundr he had 20 points. That’s prettty good for his age. He even saved us against the suns 2 seasons ago first round first game in the playoffs when he made the three in the fourth to tie the game. And then timmy made that epic three pointer for double overtime and then manu closed out the game in double ot. He has been a valuable asset for the past seadon and is still a cluth shooter.
I’d love for the new guys to rob Fin of playing time, but I hope it’s because they’re that much better. I don’t think Pop’s gonna give the newbies PT just to see what they’ve got. They have to earn it. And if they earn it, then hey. I heard Fin makes for a sick cheerleader. But unless the new guys really bring it, I’d vouch for ol’ reliable Fin.
By the way, since this was written by Manu, shouldn’t it be versed and chaptered?
"Yes, it's important that I have good numbers, and I'm well-respected as a player. But I think it's more important that I'm respected as a man." - Some Tall Guy Who Wore #50
versed and chaptered
Too true. TLO, looks like you have a job to do.
Consider the gun jumped
5 in 10
why me!? romeo’s the one with the idea. At most, I’ll help with the specific separation between testaments.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 28, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I already contributed the idea. Can’t do much more. I eschew individual accomplishments in favor of team success.
"Yes, it's important that I have good numbers, and I'm well-respected as a player. But I think it's more important that I'm respected as a man." - Some Tall Guy Who Wore #50
by theonlyromeo on Oct 28, 2009 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions
well I eschew individual requirements in favor of blog success.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 29, 2009 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Blog success is built on individuals requiring the best of themselves.
Just like DeJuan Blair.
Consider the gun jumped
5 in 10
“I don’t really don’t have to do a lot on this team… just go in there and rebound, and that’s all I did” – DeJuan Blair
hmm… seems like he only gave a half effort too.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 29, 2009 2:54 AM CDT up reply actions
I saw that last night.
You’re confusing half effort with false humility.
Consider the gun jumped
5 in 10
I’m not confusing anything, I was hoping it would confuse you.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 29, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I believe what he really meant was that he did not force anything and played to his strength. He let the game come to him. Quite unlike during his Pitt days where he was one of the focus of the offensive sets.
Even Pop thinks so in the post game interview. He had a couple of assists. It’s always a good sign that a playa has team first mentality.
There are no sacred cows for DSL except for holy cow Blair.
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 29, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah i know what he meant. I"m glad he’s not forcing stuff either. And sometimes, he didn’t get the assist once he passed out of the post, but the ball movement created an open shot, so that’s great too.
Like the new sig, hehe, holy cow Blair. I’m surprised ATS said that still.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Oct 29, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Ok so you were just doin a Euro move on JRW.
Like the new sig, hehe, holy cow Blair. I’m surprised ATS said that still.
now it’s chiseled in digital stone
There are no sacred cows for DSL except for holy cow Blair.
by 'DSilverlining on Oct 29, 2009 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions
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