Manu Ginobili, San Antonio’s super sixth-man, started his first game of the season Sunday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Ginobili’s designated role off the bench for all these years has always been a mystery. He’s a three-time NBA champion, has averaged 15 points, five assist and three rebounds in limited minutes over the course of his career, and will one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
But he’s never been able to elude that strange role off the bench.
If Manu had an entourage after this game they’d be telling him “see I told you he’s been holding you back for 10yrs w/this 6th man bs”
— Bernie Lee (@bleebasket) June 17, 2013
Ginobili’s postseason averages were down across the board, so much so that it’s been questioned if he’s retired already. He’s averaging 10.6 points on a dismal 37 percent shooting (29 percent from 3-point range).
At first this maneuver by Gregg Popovich could have been seen as a desperate attempt at delaying the inevitable. After all, Dwyane Wade finally found his stroke and LeBron James discovered his comfort zone against the Spurs defense in Miami’s Game 4 route. A game in which Manu scored just 5 points.
It appeared as if the Heat took back control of the series, and would eventually close the Spurs out back in Miami.
Until Pop threw down his trump card: the Manu Ginobili of old. The one we’ll remember him as.
“When Manu Ginobili plays like Manu Ginobili we’re a better basketball team,” Popovich said.
Manu answered the call and submitted a vintage Ginobili postseason performance Sunday night: a dazzling 24 points and 10 assists.
“We all knew how important this game was and we needed a win,” Ginobili said after the Spurs 114-104 win. “We couldn’t go to Miami needing to win both games. We’re one win away.”
Ginobili drained step-back jumpers and made fadeaway runners off of one foot. He knocked down threes and zipped the ball through the long-armed Heat defenders, setting his teammates up beautifully.
Manu’s 24 points were a season high. His +/- (until a late-game Miami run) was once at a ridiculous +21. He finished at +19.
A raucous crowd at the AT&T Center chanted “Manu! Manu! Manu!” in the third quarter. They were chanting “MVP! MVP! MVP!” by the fourth.
It wouldn’t be the first time, but it might be the last.
Manu Ginobili might be one win away from the last game of his career. But more importantly, Manu Ginobili is one win away from his fourth NBA championship.
Ben Baroff is a basketball journalist who blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter here.