Chris Chambers - Getty Images
The Return of the Jedi Argentine, opened on the third game of the RRT to rave reviews (and in nonsensical, faux-retro duds.)
And just like that, the Spurs find themselves in the midst of a seven game winning streak while holding the 3rd spot in the Western Conference. 22 games ago, Manu Ginobili broke his hand and the Spurs were left in an undesirable position; a rigorous schedule and injuries were sure to test the Spurs. Rather than sulk, this team took control of their destiny and recorded 15 wins and only 7 losses without their best player. Tonight, the Spurs were reunited with Manu and were able to cruise to their third victory on the Rodeo Road Trip. Such an event as the return of Manu demands FARS (Fred's Arbitrary Rating System) and thus shall have it.
Manu checks in! He looks bald, way bald. I've said this before, but we need to start the 'Manu Needs Hair And We Should Give Him the Money for the Cure' foundation: Rogaine, weird Chinese Medicine, whatever might work. We need to find the cure for him. Manu looked dynamic with long hair. He used his long hair as a weapon as he whipped it against his defender's face to create an exploitable seam in the defense. He looked great. We need long hair Manu back. Bald Manu = Contender. Long-Hair Manu = Favorite. FACT. Fred Silva +20, For expert analysis.
Spurs 12, Nets 5 1st 6:28
The Nets clearly know who Manu is as they attempt to keep him out of the play. Tony takes advantage of the defense on the opposite side of the floor as he drives to find an open Tim who draws the foul. "Chaps." We are wearing "Chaps" jerseys tonight. While I understand the history, I think it is one that everyone would like to forget. Yes, for a brief time the Spurs were the Dallas Chapparals. It did happen. But who cares? I hate Dallas. You hate Dallas. Who wants to relive this nightmare? Why do we have to do this every year? Exceptions should be made, David Stern. I blame Lebron, he sucks. Lebron -5
Tim slaps the ball away from Shelden Williams and Manu tips the ball forward so that he is able to recover it before anyone reacts. He races down the court and finishes a difficult fast break in traffic. He's so smart. He's so good. Manu +5
Shawne Williams drives down the lane and Manu reaches in. Manu gets a piece of the ball and it ricochets off Williams. The officials miss it and award the ball to the Nets. This is insignificant. Manu just reached. This is essentially the same play that happened 22 games ago. Five games into the season he reached and broke his hand. His first game back he reaches without hesitation. He wants to win. He wants the steal. He wants to defend. He lives for basketball. Many players would have played cautiously tonight, if they were in his shoes. But Manu is different and that's why we love him. He plays to win, always. It's great to have him back.
Manu and Splitter play pick and roll. Manu draws the attention of the defense and throws a no-look pass to Kawhi who drills the three pointer. Manu is the reason that Kawhi was able to hit the shot. This is one of those plays that deserves much more credit than the box score is capable of giving. Without Manu, this never develops. The respect that Manu demands created this opportunity. The assist credit does not fully give Manu the praise he truly deserves. Manu +5
Manu checks back in and is looking spry. First play, Deron WIlliams gives a shot-fake and jumps into DeJuan Blair for a shooting foul. Can we get this worked out? I thought jumping into the defender was supposed to be a no-call now. It seems the officials are not responding to the (S)stern mandate. Come on now; how hard is this? I know our players use this move, too, I just want it to be consistent. Officials -10
Manu receives the pass from Tim and initiates the fast-break. He drops a no-look dime to DeJuan who connects for the and one. Sean Elliott makes the comment, "You think DeJuan Blair is happy about having Manu Ginobili back?" He's not the only one, Sean. Manu +7
Spurs 55, Nets 40; 2nd 0:10.5
RJ inbounds the ball to Manu. Ginobili takes one dribble to his left and finishes with an impressive lefty layup. Oh man, It's so pretty.
Manu checks in for Danny "Big" Green. So, what's up with the soon to be Brooklyn Nets? Their owner has clearly been mixed up in foul play throughout his career. Is anyone else concerned about this? He obtained his fortune greatly through blackmail and bribery. I'm not making this up. How is the NBA pretending this never happened? David Stern -10, +100 (wink, wink).
Manu and Tim run the pick and roll. Manu attracts the defense for just the right amount of time and dishes the ball to Tim who makes the wide-open layup. Manu is such a great player. Manu +5, David Stern +10 (wink wink),
Splitter has the ball on the right block and squares up. Manu sets a back screen on Farmar, and then dives into the paint; Splitter hits Manu for a wide-open layup. It's simply great basketball. It's a play that never culminates without a guy like Splitter and Manu. It takes two players with high IQs to pull this off and we are extremely fortunate to witness such grace. Tiago +5, Manu +5.
Manu glances at the shot clock and sees 7 seconds. He dribbles backwards, egging Kris Kardashian on. He takes a dribble right, crosses left, and hits a one-handed floater in the paint. This is what we have been missing. The low percentage shot that always seems to drop when we need it most. Manu +10.
Well, that's it for Manu. The Spurs put it in cruise-control and secured their third victory on the the Rodeo Road Trip. Comfortably, just like we like it.
Manu looked like Manu. My only fear was that he would come back in a passive form; this he did not. Manu does not know passive, and he never will. Manu +Infinity
In his somewhat brief appearance, Tony played well. He controlled the defense and kept our guys in line. A very admirable game by Parker.
Tim is an All Star. His minutes and the national bias kept him out of the conversation, but have no doubt. Tim is playing better than most at his position. It always seems insane to me that dudes that get paid to follow the NBA somehow do not catch any Spurs games, yet it happens every year. If we had the LA spotlight, Tim would be the one featured in those awkward Kia ads, and there would be peace in the Middle East. Oh well, GO SPURS!
My man was on fire; as he nearly always is. His shot is so pure, Brita is suing him. His shot is incapable of missing . And for this, we thank you. -- Tosh.0
8 recs | 57 comments
Great read, fantastic to see Manu back.
BlazingDeath - February 12, 2012
Fred, I was under the same impression. During a telecast, I did hear a more clear explanation that had come down from the refs. It’s not the jumping forward into the defender that’s called (unless it’s blatant, that’s always been called), but if you get your man up in the air and you have to jump to the side to get the contact, that’s when it gets called an offensive foul.
xman130 - February 12, 2012
You coming to Phoenix for a game this year?
alamobro - February 12, 2012
I have to give credit. Blair looked so much better tonight even when manu was off the floor. I hope he keeps it up.
Spurs Yoda - February 12, 2012 via mobile
Blair should watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZskMzn0CS6s every day
I like the move on KG
cuentaluis1 - February 12, 2012
He should watch this twice every day.
SpursCupcake - February 13, 2012
Have it on loop before games.
J.R. Wilco - February 13, 2012
that guy #20 and #21 had the two lowest +/- , should we trade them?
forrestgump52 - February 12, 2012
Yes and fire Pop!
Big50 - February 12, 2012
Yep.
Big50 - February 12, 2012
Wreck’ed for this alone:
Big50 - February 12, 2012
Yup, that was a nice one.
J.R. Wilco - February 13, 2012
Impressive how Manu was able to play the entire 48 minutes after such a long layoff :)
Brita is suing him, LOL!
doggydogworld - February 12, 2012
I love how the recap ignores ALL parts of the game that Manu wasn’t involved in until the “Four Stars” section.
That’s just brillian.
J.R. Wilco - February 13, 2012
This is the best game recap of the season! Bravo!
JonnyJam - February 12, 2012
In his second game back with the L.A. Dfenders, Malcolm Thomas went 12-12 shooting to wind up with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocked shots versus Reno. The Toros own 6’9" starters Leo Lyons and Eric Dawson wound up in their game last night against Rio Grande with 18pt/18rebs and 19pts/13rebs/6blocks respectively. Toros All-Star Lance Thomas who received a call up recently from the Hornets scored 7 points with 4 rebounds in 8 minutes against the Trailblazers Friday evening, giving him 12 rebounds over the past 3 games in 30 minutes of play.
Alamo - February 12, 2012
Yea, too bad those monstrous D-League stats translate to the pros as often as college does. (Basically never)
alamobro - February 12, 2012
Particularly when they don’t play.
Alamo - February 12, 2012
I hear you man. Despite my occasional complaints about his coaching, I just trust Pop most of the time on personnel decisions. I think if this guy could help, he would be on the team right now.
alamobro - February 12, 2012
It is hard enough to find playing time for those that have earned it, so there weren’t a whole lot of opportunities to give Thomas a try. Pop may feel he is set enough with his lineup and I wouldn’t argue with that. Others are suggesting the Spurs could use another veteran big, I’d rather they just take a bit of an extended look at what they have first.
Alamo - February 12, 2012
I’d argue that it’s a money decision above all, since they do have a lot on the books. He might have enough, but Spurs are going to take a chance that no one grabs him.
grego21 - February 13, 2012
Tim Duncan per 36 min: 11 Rebs 3.6 Assist 18.2 Pts
Not bad
cuentaluis1 - February 12, 2012
I was trying to figure out three stars, and I thought Blair, Green and Parker contributed the most. But you could pretty much put any three names without making an evident mistake. I don’t think anyone played bad really. It was total team effort, even more than usual. I thought, Manu was a bit rusty, solid, but not spectacular.
Kondor - February 12, 2012
It was definitely a team effort. It makes picking “stars” a little tricky. It’s a sign of good Spurs basketball when singling out players proves difficult.
Fred Silva - February 12, 2012
THIS
rank - February 12, 2012
When no players stand out enough, then we should always have the Three Stars be Pop, RC and Holt: Coach ’em, Acquire ’em, Pay for ’em.
Then add a “Noteworthy Contributors” section for however many guys the recapper wants to point out — yeah?
J.R. Wilco - February 13, 2012
I like it.
Fred Silva - February 13, 2012
Nice. Rec’d.
Kondor - February 12, 2012
Lebron sucks LOL. We know.
RJSpurs20 - February 13, 2012 via Android app
We won in NJ?!?!?! Woohoo!!!
ironm8 - February 12, 2012
They are not throwback jerserys, they are throw away jerseys
Galfusica - February 12, 2012
+1
Joe deLarios - February 12, 2012
HAH
alamobro - February 12, 2012
Hahaha.
Tim C. - February 12, 2012
I made the same joke in the game thread….you owe me money or something
Chilai - February 13, 2012
How about a rec ?
alamobro - February 13, 2012
Green’d
Ayatollah - February 13, 2012
First of all, I HATED the throwback jerseys. Even though I knew they were coming, my mind still rejected the idea that the Spurs were wearing white on the road. Simply not right. And hearkening back to Dallas roots? That’s a sordid past I think we’d rather ignore. My
infantileperfectly justified indignation aside, it was GREAT to see Manu come back looking like……MANU. Can Fred give him a +50 for just being Manu?That’s the reason why he became my favorite player :)
Trey Felder - February 12, 2012
I hope this team turns out to be a little like the 2003 title team, which was stacked on the perimeter. ( Yes, I am aware Robinson was on the team and Duncan was in his prime. Thats why I said a little)
That team could do it all, they could run you out of the building on offense, but could flip the defensive switch for genuine lock down D when needed.
alamobro - February 12, 2012
We have now Duncan on the team and Splitter in his prime. I thought, 2003 team was supposed to be rebuilding after three forgettable exits from the playoffs.
Kondor - February 12, 2012
wow just saw the games after detroit, toronto and its brutal…
@clippers, @utah, @portland, @ denver (4 games/6 nights) followed by chicago at home
get a break with charlotte
and then again vs denver, vs the lin/knicks, vs the clippers (wizards) and then orlando, okc, dallas, minnesota, dallas
wow 15 games, 12 of them against playoff teams and 1 against a pretty good minnesota team. were gonna have a good idea of how far this team can go in the playoffs after these games.
forrestgump52 - February 12, 2012
Check this out. Up to the Denver game, we have a crappy schedule but it seems like the opposing teams dont have it any easier. That Orlando, OKC, Dallas, Minny, Dallas stretch seems brutal though.
LasEspuelas - February 13, 2012
The Spurs have played the Clippers, Jazz, Portland and Denver once each at home. They won those 4 games by 25, 15, 16 and 4 respectively.
Alamo - February 13, 2012
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
(Wait for it.)
J.R. Wilco - February 14, 2012
But at least there’s som rest in there. Way more than January, at least.
J.R. Wilco - February 14, 2012
I watched the game while I was at a bar. It was incredible. Just an easy win in which everything we tried worked.
We Spurs fans are very lucky.
LatinD - February 13, 2012
Yes, it was a casual win. The Spurs now have the ability to win in cruise control. It’s a promising sign of a potentially great team.
Fred Silva - February 13, 2012
NJ is just a really really really bad team though. This is more like a easy practice. I like that it was Manu’s first game because it allowed him to ease into game shape without taking a pounding. It also gave guys like Green a chance to find a rhythm. And it was like a slump buster for Neal, who now has a lot more confidence.
grego21 - February 13, 2012
So, now Manu has had two practices since he was cleared by the docs to play. Wonder what we’ll see tonight agains the Pistons.
J.R. Wilco - February 14, 2012
I think it’s going to be another good practice for Manu and company.
grego21 - February 14, 2012
They sure treated much of the 2nd half like one.
J.R. Wilco - February 16, 2012
Love how it’s all about Manu and then you head straight to your 4 stars. :D
carina_gino20 - February 13, 2012
Me too.
Hey, long time to see. How you been? How’s the art?
J.R. Wilco - February 14, 2012
Loved the read, the tosh.0 reference was the icing on the cake
i'mwithstupid - February 13, 2012
Sorry about the typos. This was a Saturday night game and I treated it like one by watching it at a bar. Bars and typos are apparently quite fond of one another.
Fred Silva - February 13, 2012
Nothing could have messed up this recap.
indiancharlie - February 14, 2012
I blame Lebron, too. For everything.
eastbaysd - February 14, 2012
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