After poor performances, Manu Ginobili challenges himself before Game Three
It’s very unusual to see Manu Ginobili struggle. It was the first time I watched Ginobili and thought, “Wow, he looks tired.” And it didn’t help that he had the feisty, annoying Sasha Vujacic harassing him.
It was evident that something was off. However, I don’t want to credit Sasha Vujacic entirely for Ginobili’s struggles because I honestly don’t believe he is that great of a defender. I assert that Manu’s problems in the San Antonio’s first two games in Los Angeles were more Manu then anyone else.
And Manu is well-aware of how his performances thus far have contributed to San Antonio’s situation, so much that he blamed himself for the two losses, “I blame myself. I think that if I could have played at least OK these last two games it could have been 1-1. I am tough on myself, so I felt responsible.”
And like with all great players, Ginobili found a way to motivate himself further, as if playing badly wasn’t enough, Ginobili decided to place more pressure on himself to perform the next game by questioning whether he can overcome “Game 3 is going to be a good test for me.”
Ginobili isn’t the type of player that shrink in these type of situations. He is a proven winner and a has been called one of the fiercest competitors the league has ever seen. It’s no coincidence that Manu is three-time NBA Champion, a World Champion and an Olympic Gold Medalist.
“(Ginobili) understands what he’s done in games all his life, both in Europe and over here,” said Gregg Popovich, San Antonio’s head coach. “He’s got a lot of confidence in what he can do.”
If you know Manu’s game, as Popovich does, Manu was going to come out strong for game three. It doesn’t mean he’ll shoot well, or score 40 points as it does with other players. It’s isn’t about that. It isnt about effort or talent anymore, it’s Ginobili’s ability to impose his will and imprint onto the game as he has done in so many other games in his career.
“Manu’s pissed,” a San Antonio Spurs coach said before game three “that could be good for us.” And if I was a Los Angeles Laker’s fan, that would have me worried. Not once have I seen or heard Manu show anger. Generally, he’s always been composed, even in the most intense of situations. I don’t doubt that Manu will find the perfect way to channel that emotional energy in the right way.
Sources: Ginobili Feels Pain of Losses in LA (MySanAntonio.com), Ginobili turns Frustration into Fuel (Yahoo sports)
