Battle Blogs
Ginobili will be an All-Star again next season
By Spurs Fans
Apr 4, 2005, 00:16

We continue the series of Point-Counterpoint articles in which two people debate different aspects of Spurs basketball.

In this edition, fans from Spurstalk.com message boards Ginobili_is_God and MannyIsGod discuss if Manu Ginobili will be an All-Star again next season.

Ginobili_is_God: Ever since I saw Manu Ginobili put on a San Antonio Spurs jersey his rookie year, I knew he would be an All-Star in the near future. I told my friends here in Sacramento, and they said, "Manu who!?". They had never even heard of the guy; neither had anyone except those people living in Italy, Argentina or San Antonio. Ginobili quickly became recognized as an excellent player, one that gives his all every single second he is on the court and the type of player who has the knack for always coming up with the key rebound during the final minutes of a huge game. Despite injuries during his rookie campaign, Ginobili showed many glimpses of the star player he would eventually become. Keeping this is mind, I pose the question, "Will Manu Ginobili be recognized as an All-Star next year?"

I firmly believe that Ginobili will notch his second straight All-Star appearance. There are many reasons why I believe this. First of all, the Argentinean sensation has increased his statistics every single year. Despite not starting most of his first two seasons in the NBA, Ginobili became one of the most efficient players in the league. He has already won an NBA Championship and a gold medal in the Olympics after only three years of playing for the Spurs. I feel that the sky is the limit for this guy and as long as he is healthy, he will become an NBA second or third team member for the rest of his career. He was recognized as an All-Star this year and I feel that he will keep this up for years to come.

MannyIsGod: I’m a firm believer that Ginobili is not only the second best player on the Spurs, but also the most exciting. He seems to be the exact kind of player you would want to participate in the NBA’s annual extravaganza of flair, the All Star Game.

You might then find it interesting to note that I believe Ginobili has been to his one and only All-Star Weekend as a participant in the All-Star Game.

It has nothing to do with excitement. Ginobili has a knack for the dramatic, outstanding play. It’s not for a lack of desire, as Ginobili is arguably the Spur most driven to win. It’s not for a lack of talent, because as stated above, he has plenty of that.

No, the two main obstacles Ginobili will have to overcome are as follows:

1. A large number of superior guards in the West.
2. An inability to play extended minutes.

A look across the rosters of the Western Conference will bring up names such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Steve Nash, Michael Finely and Jason Richardson. Even on his own team, Ginobili faces competition for a slot from Tony Parker.

As this season wears on, it becomes more apparent that Ginobili’s minutes must be carefully monitored in order to maintain his freshness. While this strategy will bode well for the Spurs in the win column, it will not give Ginobili the playing time needed to attain All-Star numbers.

Ginobili_is_God: You cannot honestly say that Ginobili will only play in one All-Star game the rest of his career. He made the team after three years (one which he was injured, the second came off the bench half the year). He is only going to get better. Ginobili is fearless and draws admiration from players all around the league, including even the Big Aristotle. That type of player is what the fans want to see. His country loves him and so do people all around the nation. The votes will always be there for the guy and the coaches love him.

His stats weren’t even that great this year yet he still got in. The All-Star game is about fast pace basketball players who make the fans get their money's worth. He is one of the top five most fun to watch players in the entire league.

Carmelo Anthony, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Bibby and many other players from the West had equal if not better numbers than Ginobili, yet the Argentinean was the one chosen to play in the Mile High City.

Frankly, I'd rather have a player give his all for 30 minutes than a player like Vince Carter who plays a lot but is lazy on the defensive side. Clearly Ginobili will make the All-Star team next year and for years to come.

MannyIsGod: Ginobili plays with the reckless abandon that inspires teammates and makes him a local fan favorite. He has even gained celebrity fans such as Charles Barkley through this manner. But the fact remains is that this same style that endears him to many people will also be the main factor in his minute limitations through out his career.

One look at Ginobili late in a game will tell you all you need to know. He is tired, exhausted and takes days to recover from playing in excess of 35 minutes. Earlier this week, he could not even finish a practice after a 37 minute game against Houston.

In a conference filled with athletically gifted guards and small forwards expecting to make the All-Star game consistently while playing under 35 minutes is a grasp for straws. One 48 point game does not a consistent All-Star make.

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