You are right on the money bub. The Lakers made more of their wide open jumpers than the Spurs did. Its as simple as that. What Shaq does for the Lakers and what Duncan does for the Spurs both allows their teamates to get wide open looks. If Horry and Fisher were on the Spurs instead of Bowen and Smith, then the Spurs could have beaten them. I agree that Genoboli's driving skills do not matter. The Spurs offense require Duncan's teamates to be better shooters than passers or drivers.
Gino doesn't look like the potential star that everyone has marked him to be. I'll give him one credit; he looked better on the court than Boki did. So really, that's not giving much. It's too early to tell how both these guys will do in the NBA. Time will tell.
I watched the game and I think that Gino is going to be a fine player. From what I saw is that he has a real quick first step but lucky for the Rockets he was missing his shots. I think it's funny how some people can say a player sucks during one preseason game and not look at his overall talent. How good was Francis during the preseason of his rookie year? Didn't he average around 7 TO per game. I am also tired about hearing how good Gino will be from all of the reporters and from the Spurs but I saw some aspects of what they where talking about last night. Man, typing this was painfull... I hate defending a Spurs player.
Some omnicient being damn....Once again, no one said Ginobili "sucked." We said the reports of him being a star are so far unfounded, not based on stats, but based on his inability to drive past Cuttino. A star-type driver should have been able to test Cat's defense better than that. we also said that you cannot compare a 25yr old, very mature player, to rookies like Francis and Langhi and Boki. People are acting like Gino needs time like Nitwitz and Tsiki did when they came out at ag 19. Gino is the same age as Peja and Francis and Kobe, and older that Nitwitz! Gino should have an immediate impact like a 24yr old Tinsley did and like 25yr old Adrian Griffin did his first few months, if he indeed has star skills. Also, every preseason game I've ever seen Oscar Torres play in he has impressed me more than this game by Moses.
If Geno proves he can't hit an outside shot to save his life, then he is absolutely no good to the Spurs while Duncan is there. He is greatly overhyped by the Spurs media because all they look at is his athletic ability when in reality, its his jump shooting that matters most. Geno would beat Steve Kerr in a one on one game because of his athletic ability, but Kerr is much more valuable from a team chemistry stand point because of the damage he can potentially do when he is wide open.
okay okay, I overeacted to your saying that Gino better learn to shoot 3's because he's not driving by Cat. I agree with all the points you set out. Eddie Munster got way too much hype for that WC performance, and what y'all are saying about his age is on the money I think. 25 year olds typically don't get more footspeed when they turn 26, 27, ... until they reach the horrible slowing effects of 35. Seriously, Ginobli is as quick as he's going to get, for what it's worth. Does anyone else enjoy saying "Mobley - Ginobli" over and over, as in the Mobley-Ginobli matchup wasn't even close? The two words together make me think of old Iron Butterfly songs or some such.
It's interesting to see how heypee posts some highhorse single preseason game dramatization about gino and doesn't get burnt for it... whereas i'm sure any "newb" poster or assumption on spurs guards abusing boki would be chewed up, spit out and flushed. ... it was one game... one game... get over it and post a few games later when he can really be picked at dirk
Its funny how you guys are making predictions about this guy after one Pre-Season Game. The guy played 17 minutes--probably still proabbly wasn't 100% ankle wise. The bottom line is this guy needs to get into the flow before you start compairing him with Mobley. And since when is Mobley such a great defender? Also last time I checked MOBLEY had 9 turnovers in the pre-season game. IMO Manu will be a fine NBA player--whether hes 25 or not. My precition is he makes the all rookie team and is major contibutor for SA by the seasons end. I predict him to be a nice sparkplug for a team that needs someone to make clutch baskets and actually HAS the balls to take 4th quarter pressure shots. I could be wrong--but I honestly beleive this guy will be a nice player in this league. I also like Nachbar's game but I think its gonna take him a little longer to adjust to the game than it will Manu because Nachbar probably won't get as much time due to Rice/Griffin/MoT etc... Logjam (somewhat). Also Nachbar is 22 NOT 21.
Before you guys get busy writing off Gino and Boki, let's just remember that Ming might also look pretty terrible his first few games. If he does, all the Ming doubters will write similar threads with topics like "x abused Ming"
Easy, Seeing Gino not being able to drive past Cat is equivalent to finding out that Yao really can't shoot or pass. You can tell in one game. Or at least, I like to believe I can. anyhow, many players only get one look by scouts. there are things to look for beyond the box score. Like Griffin's jumper sucked last year, but the stroke was good, it was there. And he shot it without Langhi fear. It will come. crossover and Nikos, I made no predictions. rewind please. I reported that Ginobili never once drove past Cuttino, and he damn sure tried. He tried. One game or not, he tried and failed embarrassingly, from my seats. and as B-Bob's pagan god said, we freaking did not call Gino a bust, rather we called him overhyped. And one game can indeed tell you that....ummmm fellow South American stud, Oscar Torres, outplayed him...and he always plays well in pre-season and in all regular season starts. So, what's Gino's excuse again. btw crossover, you're a good sport. I like to read your posts. be fair though, don't throw the "highhorse" garbage at me. Just talk basketball and admit that you didn't see the game... Fair enough???
Oh yeah Torres is the better player?..How much could Torres possibly out played Manu? Also if Torres outplayed him in 17 min, how much opportunities did Manu actually TRY and drive on Mobley?Oh and btw back in the summer time I read that he schooled Ocsar Torres when their NT played each other (forget about that? Or does it not matter?) Heypartner its obvious you hate this guy cause people are making a big fuss about him. Admit it. I will admit I am a fan of Manu, but I have seen him play and I say it like I see it. Manu is not the fastest guy in the NBA, but he has great speed and quickness and athleticism for a Euro and is on par with many starting NBA Sg's in terms of overall athleticism and intensity. I also remember you saying he couldn't get to the basket in the WC against the USA--well you obviously did not watch the game cause he made 3-4 nice driving plays (2 on finley and 2 SWITCH THE HAND LAYUPS on Ben wallace the NBA's defensive player of the year--who was right in his face). The bottom line is Manu will play much better when hes accustomed in the San Antonio system. Hes not some slow Euro whos simply gonna be USELESS because he plays against some guys who are quicker than him. Finley may be quicker--but Manu sure as hell had no problem scoring on him in the WC in limited minutes. Then again I guess it doesn't count because Argentina was already a team and TEAM USA was so disorganized it didn't matter that they lost at all right ? Look I am a Manu/Spurs fan--but its obvious the guy has potential to be a nice role player for the Spurs and a sparkplug. Speed and age are not everything--Manu has the conviction and experience, and skills to be a good NBA player and thats the BOTTOM LINE. Wait until playoff time before you can say Manu is USELESS in the NBA (which is the impression I am getting from you). You seem to say Manu is slow and can't shoot--therefore what can he do? Nothing in your opinion? I guess the fact that hes clutch and wants to take the last shot and is a FEARLESS driver accounts for nothing right? What exactly do you think Manu will do in this league please tell me your opinion.......Instead of just saying he sucks after watching him in one pre-season game (in which he hasn't even gotten much chance to even scrimmage prior to this point) and acting like he is barely good enough to be a role player. My prediction is he will be a sparkplug for the Spurs THIS season (get around 12ppg 4apg 4rpg 1spg)and eventually will become borderline All Star at the SG in this league (by 2004). I am not afraid to say that is my prediction. The bottom line is I think he will more than be an OK role player in this league, but a very good SG in the NBA (top 10 material by 2004). Now please tell me your opinion, so I can understand what you really think of him--cause right now I am getting the impression you despise the hype he is being given (which is not that big of hype). Many Spurs fans expect him to be a nice sparkplug and maybe even a second/third option by next year. Are you saying he won't do this and has no chance. Please let me know.
Nikos, I never said Gino sucks. You apparently don't like to hear that he isn't a star is all. so, who's next for saying that anyone said Gino Sucks. man, we were never this defensive about Dan Langhi...except for DaDakota, of course. Such defensiveness is a sign of knowing when one has overhyped a player and one is trying to reinvent him back into reality. man, Spurs fans are sooo lame around here. Now I know how CriscoKidd, BrianKagy, and verse feel being around them all the time.
HP how do you think he will fair in the league. In every single post of yours you say that he couldn't hold his own with an averagre SG and he can't shoot? So what makes you think he will do anything at all? I say he will be sparkplug for the Spurs--what do you say?
Nikos, I already answered that question to CriscoKidd on the first page of this thread, and to that lottery number guy. ...next
Hp the reason I am defensive is cause your saying Manu didn't drive on anyone at all in the WC, which is total BS. And you say HE TRIED to score on Mobley and you come up with these generalizations as if you think Manu is nothing but a scrub in the NBA. Please tell me what you really think of him, since you seem to know so much about his weaknesses.
HP I don't see any predictions you made on him--alls I saw was you saying how much he struggled against Mobley along with all these details on his weaknesses..
I never said he didn't drive on anyone in the WC. I said he didn't drive on Mobley, and tried. ....next.
No I am reffering to the OLD THREAD back during september not this one, you said basically he couldn't even get to the rim ....and I replied and you never answered back.... ..next
I made no predictions in that thread. I said watch out...he's showing too much ball on his drives. and sure enough, Mobley stripped his ass and steered him on a drive from the strong side to the weak side, and you know what Gino did once Mobley converted his ready for prime-time athletic drives from the strongside to the weakside without Gino closing any distance to the rim...? Gino picked up his dribble...well done Ginoooo ...next.
Nikos, Can you in good faith deny that Manu looks like a big version of Eddie Munster when he wears those ugly black socks with black shoes and a black Spurs uniform and when he combs his hair with that point in front? Here, for comparison to Eddie, is Manu on his way home from Spurs practice:
