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Samr<br>
SpursCentral.com<br>
March 18, 2005<br>
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Last night the Spurs played some of the best sissy ball of the season. Having left Seattle on a rather depressing note, they were determined to make amends on their home court. In order to do so, they needed to give all they had. They needed to come out like it was their last game, winning at all costs. With the Spurs facing a sink-or-swim situation, coach Gregg Popovich elected to place Manu Ginobili in the starting lineup- the biggest sissy of them all.<br>
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After winning the tip, the Sonics immediately went into their Ray Allen Offense. Running Ray past a screen almost proved effective, until Duncan jumped the pick and, along with Parker, ran down the stuck pig into a corner and forced an unanswered prayer. Throwing away the first pass of the game is never a good sign. <br>
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Going against a certain understood rule that the player guarding the person setting the pick will stay with his man, is awkward to say the least. Watching a 7’ (fine, 6’11”) forward scramble after a 6’5” guard is almost comical in nature. But it got the job done. <br>
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A few minutes later, Manu drove down the lane, dodging defenders like construction cones on a Driver’s ED course, and threw down an awkwardly powerful jam. Using a variation of Michael Jordan’s famous “scoop” dunking technique, then hanging on the rim like a baboon falling out of a tree, was by no means pretty. But once again, it got the job done.<br>
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After missing a shot late in the third quarter, Manu found himself on the wrong end of a Danny Fortson rebound. Not wanting to give up on the play, he did what any rationally insane man would do: he used his face. Swiping down at the ball, letting Fortson know there was someone who wanted to contest his possession, prompted him to clear out. <br>
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A common technique of clearing room, is swinging your elbows in such a manner that no one will get near you. Except Manu. Sticking his head into the flurry of deadly weapons drew the foul, and the return of the ball into Spurs’ hands. Even if it was on purpose, Manu certainly deserved the call simply for having the nerve to attempt it. Was it flopping? Barely. But it got the job done.<br>
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With the game long since decided- the final score being a mere technicality- the Spurs were in a waiting game. Waiting until the game was over. With a little over a minute remaining, Parker missed a jumper. <br>
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Scrambling for the rebound was Manu Ginobili. As the ball got loose, Tim Duncan- the two-time MVP, 8-time All-NBA First Team, two-time Finals MVP, 6-time All-Defense First Team, perennial All-Star and undisputed franchise player- dove to the floor, with a little over a minute remaining and a double-digit lead. Manu then took the cue and snatched the ball off the floor, dribbling and weaving his way to safety in the corner. The play didn’t matter, nor did the extra shot it allowed, but it showed Seattle the reason why the Spurs have taken a 3-2 lead: they find a way to get it done <br>
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You can call it sissy ball, you can call it whatever you want. But the Spurs just took the series lead. Did it work? Ray Allen, you tell me. <br>
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"NEVER underestimate the heart of a champion." -Rudy Tomjanovich</p><i></i>
