Manu Ginobili is an agitator.
“It’s a great thing to have when you can just put your head down, flail your arms, push off and do all types of other things and nothing happens,” the Nuggets’ said. “You know what I mean?”
And he’s a Ginobili fan.
Nuggets coach George Karl? Not a fan. At least not in this playoff series, where Ginobili has shredded the Nuggets’ defense with jumpers and drives, with toughness and reckless abandon. And yes, sometimes with elbows.
“I’m just going to put it on tape, give it to my son and tell him this is how to play basketball,” a frustrated Karl said of the Spurs’ guard from Argentina after the Nuggets’ 86-78 loss Saturday night in Game 3. “Just put your head down and run into people. I guess that’s the new brand of basketball.”
There’s more to it than that. Ginobili is the star NBA player no one thinks about until they see him up close. He is the player who insiders across the league easily identify as a premier guard, but to outsiders gets lost in the fray of the Dwyane Wades, Kobe Bryants, Vince Carters, Allen Iversons and others.
Danny Ferry was incensed by Karl’s comments, and not just because he played alongside Ginobili with San Antonio in 2003 and now is the Spurs’ director of basketball operations.
“I think George’s comments don’t even deserve a response,” Ferry said. “He’s trying to say Manu Ginobili is not good for basketball. That’s crazy.”
He’s not good for the Nuggets, that’s for sure. Ginobili’s 32 points Saturday night vaulted him into the series spotlight, but he has been the best player on either team throughout.
With the Spurs holding a 2-1 series lead, Ginobili is averaging 24 points in 28.7 minutes while shooting 51.2 percent from the field (including 45.5 percent from 3-point range) and 85.2 percent at the free- throw line. He is third among the Spurs in rebounds (5.7) and second in assists (3.3).
And he hasn’t started two of the three games.
“What I do with him, more than anybody I’ve ever been around, is I laugh when he’s playing because I’m like, ‘I can’t believe he just did that. That guy is unbelievable,”‘ Ferry said. “He makes you smile. It’s so much fun to watch. It really is. For us being able to see him play night after night is a treat.”
Ginobili has been described most often by those involved in this series as an Iverson- type athlete. Ginobili’s quickness allows him to get to the rim. His disregard for his body allows him to toss himself into bigger bodies to create contact and get fouls. His shooting touch keeps defenders honest and makes him one of the NBA’s most versatile players.
“Manu is a guy who is continuously moving,” teammate Bruce Bowen said. “He’s looking to attack, attack, attack. He just does it to a degree that others may not do it because he constantly goes at it. It’s kind of like Michael Jordan with his scoring. He was constantly in attack mode. I’m not comparing Michael Jordan to Manu at all, but as far as the attitude of continuing to attack, they have that.”
Still, said Karl, “Personally watching it, it kind of makes the game ugly.”
Tim Duncan isn’t complaining. The San Antonio power forward loves Ginobili’s game – for the most part.
“I didn’t enjoy him (last) summer,” said Duncan, whose U.S. Olympic team lost to Ginobili and gold medal-winning Argentina at the 2004 Athens Games. “No.”
Nobody’s perfect.
Staff writer Adam Thompson contributed to this report.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
Under the Nuggets’ skin
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has frustrated the Nuggets in the first three games of the playoff series, averaging 24 points and shooting 51.2 percent (22-of-43).
Pts. Min. Reb. Ast.
Game 1 23 37 4 5
Game 2 17 18 4 2
Game 3 32 31 9 3
