HoopsHype.com Rumors

Manu Ginobili is expected to miss three to four weeks with a strained right hamstring, the Spurs announced Monday. The timetable puts Ginobili’s availability for the first round of the playoffs in jeopardy. The Spurs, who lead Oklahoma City by 1.5 games atop the Western Conference standings, have nine more regular season games, including tonight’s road contest at Memphis. The postseason begins on April 20. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a strained right hamstring, the team announced on Monday. The injury occurred during the first quarter of the Spurs vs. L.A. Clippers game on March 29. USA Today Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

The right hamstring strain that knocked Spurs guard Manu Ginobili out of Friday’s game against the Clippers is going to keep him on the sidelines for weeks, rather than days, according to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The 35-year-old two-time All-Star suffered the injury on a drive to the basket late in the first quarter. He did not return, and the Spurs will be without him for an extended period, perhaps into the playoffs. “It’s more than days,” Popovich said. “It’s more like weeks, unfortunately. It’s a huge blow for us because he’s the guy that allows our second team to do what they’ve been doing all year long. It’s a huge loss for that group, and in game situations, it’s a tough one because he’s one of two guys, he and Tony (Parker), are the creators who make things happen for everybody else on the court. “It’s an unfortunate loss at this point of the season.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Popovich said Ginobili’s response to treatment will determine whether he will be ready to play by the time the playoffs begin. The regular season concludes April 17, with the first playoff games scheduled for April 20. “It could (stretch into the playoffs),” Popovich said. “We don’t know how his leg is going to react. We’re doing everything we can.” Ginobili has missed 14 games this season with a variety of ailments, including a strain of his left hamstring. Ginobili’s loss was felt in Sunday’s game against the Heat, who double-teamed Parker on nearly every pick-and-roll play. “Without Manu, Tony is a guy who has to generate things for us, and they pretty much took him out with all their double-teams and hard hedges,” Popovich said. “We didn’t generate offense anywhere else except through Timmy (Duncan).” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich puts Manu Ginobili’s timetable to return from a strained right hamstring at weeks rather than days, a significant setback to the team’s pre-playoff preparation. “It’s a huge blow for us,” he said, “because he’s the guy that allows our second team to do what they’ve been doing all year long. “It’s a huge loss for that group, and in game situations it’s a tough one because he’s one of two guys, he and Tony (Parker), are the creators who make things happen for everybody else on the court. It’s an unfortunate loss at this point of the season.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Reserve guard Manu Ginobili has been officially ruled out for Sunday’s home game against the defending champion Heat with a strained right hamstring, the Spurs announced Saturday. A timetable for his return was not immediately provided. Ginobili has already missed 13 games this season with back spasms, a thigh bruise and now strains in both hamstrings. He is averaging 11.9 points, 4.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds in his 11th season. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

He really didn't have much proof to the claims as the Spurs never advertise for the away team's fan base. They never said Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili were actually going to be there and such claims were going to be made by the Miami Heat. He wouldn't sue his favorite team of course, so decided to take his frustrations out on the away team. As of today, McGuinness has dropped his claim against the Spurs but has not replied to any attempts of being reached. McGuinness did not immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment about dismissal of his lawsuit. This lawsuit may have scared teams into playing some of their players in either a meaningless game or sacrificing rest for the playoffs, but it seems they can breathe a sigh of relief for now. After all, the Spurs are watching out for their organization and fan base and not the other team's. ProjectSpurs.com

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Law, Tim Duncan 

Do you consider yourself being a Spur for the rest of your career? Manu Ginobili: After this season I'll have a better idea, but my guess is that yeah, I'll be a Spur for life. reddit

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

What is the funniest story of Coach Popovich that you can think of? enlace Manu Ginobili: His end of quarter interviews are pretty funny to me. I don't get to listen to them live, but somebody always sends it to me afterwards. reddit

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Coaching, Gregg Popovich 

One of the NBA’s most social media-aware players, Ginobili will become the first NBA player to participate in reddit’s “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) discussion group when he hosts an online Q&A session at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. It won’t be Ginobili’s first “Ask Me Anything” session, just his first on reddit. “I’ve been doing it for a long time, but usually for a smaller target audience,” he said. “They are people that follow me and they know me already and they ask me different questions about different stuff. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

At 35 (Ginobili) understands the game better than ever and he still dunks, from time to time, but he knows the end of his career is nearing. "I want to play two more years, minimum," Ginobili said when asked about his future. His contract expires after this season and then it's time to start the negotiations. He's the highest paid Spur this season, with Parker ranking second and Duncan in a surprising fourth place after Stephen Jackson. Pounding the Rock

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

How much could Ginobili get in the open market as a free agent? The Spurs' front office doesn't even want to think about that and is trying to get ahead of the game by planning to offer a three year deal. It looks like number 20 will wear Silver and Black until 2016... Pounding the Rock

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

Anxious as they are to get Parker back, Manu Ginobili said he and the rest of the Spurs are happy to let Parker recover on his own terms. “He’s feeling good,” Ginobili said. “I talked to him and he’s confident. I don’t know if Pop is going to let him play tomorrow. I have no idea. But if we waited three weeks and he’s not sure, we can wait one more game or two. “The important thing…is to have him healthy and confident. If he needs one or two more games, no big deal. We prefer health than one more win.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Not surprisingly, Parker’s teammates are excited for what seems to be the imminent return of their floor general. “We need him, there’s no mystery in that,” Manu Ginobili said. “It’s great to see him close to being back. I haven’t talked to him, but he looked good. “He’s a little out of rhythm, but that’s the hardest part to resolve, the details. It’s going to take him a few days. But he looked fast as always, he looked confident. I just have to ask him how he felt.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Ginobili believes the new pope is about to put Argentina on the map in a way no sports star ever could. “Catholicism is the main religion in my country and, of course, it is a big thing,” Ginobili said. As for Pope Francis’ professed fondness for soccer, Ginobili said that merely makes him a true Argentine. “Not being a soccer fan in Argentina is being so awkward that, even if you’re not, you don’t say it,” Ginobili said. Ginobili also joked with close friend and compatriot Luis Scola, a forward with the Phoenix Suns, about the speculation that had surrounded the papal election. After all, Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Italy, had been considered a strong candidate. “It was a win-win for him: His ‘uncle’ or an Argentinean,” Ginobili said, laughing. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

Now the Pope is Argentine, too. Ginobili pronounced himself surprised and proud at the news that 76-year-old Buenos Aires native Jorge Mario Begoglio — from here on out to be known as Pope Francis — had been named the new worldwide leader of the Catholic church. “It is incredible,” Ginobili said after this morning’s shootaround. “We were watching and when we heard the name I said, ‘What? Did we hear it right?’ “We were all in shock. The country is going crazy.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was eating lunch Wednesday when he found out he’d been bumped down the list of most famous people from Argentina. Move over Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Eva Peron and, yes, Ginobili too. Now the Pope is Argentine, too. Ginobili pronounced himself surprised and proud at the news that 76-year-old Buenos Aires native Jorge Mario Begoglio — from here on out to be known as Pope Francis — had been named the new worldwide leader of the Catholic church. “It is incredible,” Ginobili said after this morning’s shootaround. “We were watching and when we heard the name I said, ‘What? Did we hear it right?’ “We were all in shock. The country is going crazy.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

Ginobili believes the pontiff is about to put Argentina on the map in a way no sports star ever could. “An Argentinean being in charge of a billion people is not something that happens often,” Ginobili said. “Catholicism is the main religion in my country and, of course, it is a big thing.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili 

Count Ginoibli among those hoping Parker can beat the four weeks the medical staff originally predicted he’d be out. “The team knew that even though we won the first two without him, it didn’t mean anything,” Ginobili said. “That’s usually what happens when you have a player down: Other players step up and there’s the emotion. But in the long term it is going to hurt you.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Injuries 

Manu Ginobili: Happy 40th birthday to my good friend @Michael Finley. Great player, teammate and person! (One day late). Twitter @manuginobili

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley