Ginobli off the bench?

[Gregorius]

I was just watching a Spurs-Sonics game and I was looking around at the start of the game and thought "where's Ginobli?" but I figured that he was out there but I just have bad eyesight. Then the commentators said something like, "And Ginobli is just a beast off the bench" and I was like, what?? Why is Ginobli coming off the Bench?

Why would San Antonio have an all star coming off the bench. I'm confused. Is he just coming back from an injury or something? Who is starting in his place? Has he been a sub all year or is this just a recent thing?

 

[Bricklayer]

I was just watching a Spurs-Sonics game and I was looking around at the start of the game and thought "where's Ginobli?" but I figured that he was out there but I just have bad eyesight. Then the commentators said something like, "And Ginobli is just a beast off the bench" and I was like, what?? Why is Ginobli coming off the Bench?

Why would San Antonio have an all star coming off the bench. I'm confused. Is he just coming back from an injury or something? Who is starting in his place? Has he been a sub all year or is this just a recent thing?

They made that switch for Game 2 of the denver series after they got surprised by denver in Game 1. And it worked out great, and so they stuck with it. Manu is absolutely thriving in the role, and is having a huge playoffs so far.

 

[hoopsfan]

Kinda like Van Exel would come off the bench?

 

[striker]

There were several reasons given. Best reason I saw is that with Ginobili coming off the bench allows the Spurs to have at least two of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili in the game almost all the time, so they have two creators/scorers on the floor. With Manu starting it was putting Duncan and him on the bench together about mid-way point in the first period and teams could then focus on Parker since the Spurs bench players coming in weren't strong enough to give consistent scoring.

Another advantage is that Duncan often goes out a little after Manu comes in. That means more touches spread around the Spurs good players and more touches for Manu is a good thing.

 

[Gregorius]

Oh, wow, yeah I never thought of it that way. I had always assumed you put your five best in the starting lineup, but now it makes lots of sense to switch things up like that. I wonder if we should try something like that... maybe, I dunno...

 

[LPKingsFan]

We had almost the same thing about six years ago when Peja was young and he came off the bench and Corliss started.

I actually think we may have been better off bringing Cat off the bench and starting Mo, to get the right balance of offense and defense. But his ego would probably get in the way.

We should wait and see who's even back next fall before discussion substitution patterns.

 

[sloter]

I actually think we may have been better off bringing Cat off the bench and starting Mo, to get the right balance of offense and defense. But his ego would probably get in the way.

Both are correct.

 

[Fillmoe]

SA has no bench so bringing Ginobili off the bench is a good idea... he still gets his 30-35 mins a game... so its no biggie

 

[striker]

Spurs have a bench. There best bench player creator-wise though was Devin Brown who's out with a bad back. Barry and Horry are solid scorers coming off the bench (Barry not as much as hoped for) but they're not individual creators.

There are very, very few teams with three players of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili's status when it comes to creating a shot for themselves or others. Having two of them on the court at all times is a BIG advantage. Hence Manu off the bench. Fortunately ego is not an issue with Spurs' players. If it's good for the team it's good for the player.

 

[Evenstar]

having manu come off the bench increases the bench scoring. manu finishes the game, one of those instances of it's not who start's it who finishes.

can't argue with there results so far.

 

[16to93]

Very smart by Poppovich.

 

[acisking]

SA has no bench so bringing Ginobili off the bench is a good idea... he still gets his 30-35 mins a game... so its no biggie

spurs have no bench? how is udrih, ginobli, devin brown (if healthy), glenn robinson, and robert horry not having a bench....not to mention nesterovic...they are a deep team with numerous weapons on both ends

 

[KP]

spurs have no bench? how is udrih, ginobli, devin brown (if healthy), glenn robinson, and robert horry not having a bench....not to mention nesterovic...they are a deep team with numerous weapons on both ends

He's right^... they are deep, and good. Horry is really playing well since he went to SA I thought he lost a step that last year in LA, he surprised me.