This guy does a good job of reporting on the Spurs. The bolds & underlines are mine...let the fun begin!
Spurs ride Ginobili's hot return
Web Posted: 12/15/2006 11:02 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The spring in Manu Ginobili's step has returned, along with his shot. His 3-pointers are falling, his drives to the basket are as daring as ever. His coach doesn't even recall him playing this well a year ago.
So why now? How did Ginobili seemingly relocate his All-Star form the moment he returned from a painful back injury?
"With him," Tim Duncan said, "it's just a matter of time."
Since Ginobili made his return on Dec. 4, the Spurs have won six of seven games with an average margin of victory of 25 points.
The injury-depleted rosters of a few opponents have factored greatly in the routs. But Ginobili's contributions also have had a sizeable impact: He led the team in scoring in three of the games; in assists in one other.
"Everybody kept asking why we missed Manu so much," Tony Parker said. "It's because then I'm the only one who penetrates. You only have shooters on our team besides Manu.
"So when Manu plays we can alternate and have double weapons. It's never the same guy who penetrates. It's hard to guard because you never know where it's going to come from."
The New Orleans Hornets realized as much Thursday night. Ginobili and Parker combined for 43 points and 14 assists, though neither played much in the fourth quarter.
"When both of them are shooting like that ..." said Hornets point guard Chris Paul, shaking his head.
Ginobili didn't inspire such awe early in the season. Prior to bruising his back against Dallas on Nov. 24, he was shooting a career-worst 41.1 percent. During one five-game stretch, he missed 46 of 67 shots, including 19 of 25 3-pointers.
Ginobili has warmed up considerably since the injury forced him to the sideline. In the past five games, he's made 31 of 55 shots, including 15 of 26 3-pointers.
For the season, he's now shooting 45.1 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from the 3-point line and 90.1 percent from the foul line. His 3-point and free-throw percentages are the highest of his career.
"I don't think enough credit is given to a player's rhythm, just getting a little bit of confidence going again," Duncan said. "That's everything with him. He gets a couple shots, plays a good game here and there and all of a sudden he starts rolling."
Ginobili never really settled into a rhythm last season, when he missed 17 games. His production didn't drop much from his All-Star season the previous year, but every time he started to find some consistency, he sprained his right ankle or was slowed by one of his many quadriceps contusions.
"Last year I had a lot of slumps," Ginobili said. "I play very good for a part then I got hurt and didn't play as well and went back again.
"The only time I was doing good for a long period of time was against Dallas in the playoffs. Now I'm feeling good."
After missing four games with his latest injury, Ginobili admitted to being a little nervous when he returned against Golden State. Hesitant to attack, he instead distributed nine assists to his teammates. Near the end of the game, he used a behind-the-back dribble to get past a defender along the sideline, then tossed an underhand pass that Brent Barry banked in for a layup.
Ginobili's confidence continues to grow. He's still wearing a protective pad over his lower back, but that doesn't seem to have limited him. Though Spurs coach Gregg Popovich initially brought him off the bench and guarded his minutes, the team's lopsided victories have done more to cut back his playing time of late.
Thursday in New Orleans, Ginobili scored 24 points, 11 of which came in the opening quarter, jump-starting the Spurs' rout. Popovich praised Ginobili afterward, saying he is playing as well as he was two years ago. At least one of Ginobili's teammates agrees.
"When he starts playing confidently," Duncan said, "he's one of the best in the league."
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jludden@express-news.net
