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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>hi. I took the time to translate an interview with Ginobili,published by the italian magazine "Domani". Hope you find it interesting</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
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Emanuel Ginobili,how did the debut at the Staples Center feel,against the NBA Champions L.A.Lakers?<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"Although it wasn't an everyday situation for me,I believe I was able to keep my cool,ultimately. It was an intense day,especially before the game,but I released the tension as soon as I walked on the court. I wasn't nervous anyway; I felt much more tense before the finals I played with Virtus Bologna,or before the World Championship games. It was undoubtly a special "first time",but in the end it became a game like any other game I've played. We'll see if I'll ever play a Final with the Spurs on that court"<br>
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You step on the court and immediatly face a certain n.8 in purple and gold. How does it feel playing against Kobe Bryant?<br>
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><br>
"I was very focused; my main goal was to avoid cutting a poor figure. Bryant is able to ridicule you,if he wants to; he plays at another pace,another level. I think I held my own after all,looking back i think i did ok"<br>
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You sound very self-confident.<br>
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><br>
"It was the issue of the game: i was calm,although my ankle was still bothering me and I wasn't 100%. I wasn't ok,but I was patient and now that I'm feeling better my self-confidence is growing and so is the confidence of the people surrounding me,moreso because i'm learning to know the league,after a few games played"<br>
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So much confidence that Popovich has opened up the door to the starting line up,after the injury occurred to Steve Smith<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"Honestly,I didn't expect it. I thought we would have started Claxton or Ferry. Maybe starting later into the season would have been an advantage for me,I'd have had more time to let myself be recognized,be respected by referees too: presently,they only see a skinny pale face in me. And they consequently show very little respect,for now..."<br>
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A very similar situation to the one you experienced at Bologna,when you substituted Danilovic<br>
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><br>
"Maybe. The impact has been drastically different though. But I don't worry,I know Popovich and Buford have enormous confidence in me. That's fundamental"<br>
</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
You're in the same team with a certain Tim Duncan...<br>
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em><br>
"A great one. As I player,I couldn't tell you anything you don't already know. You can rely on him 1000%. Off the court he's a very quiet person,but we don't hang out together. I think in this regard our team is a little different from others: although we don't see each other much in our free time,we have more team spirit than other NBA squads. Here in San Antonio the training schedule is different than in Europe: we work at the gym from 9am to 1pm,then we have the whole afternoon for ourselves"<br>
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Conversely from you,Marko Jaric (ex-teammate at Virtus) is not doing very well<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"Marko and I are different type of players: he needs more attention,he needs the ball in his hands,and with these fellas playing at 2000 miles per hour,it ain't easy. He has to adapt to a new role,or interpret the old one in a different way. It's not easy,but he has the qualities to succeed. Among the others (european newcomers) I'm optimistic about Giricek; he's aggressive,fears nothing and no-one. Nachbar conversely will have to fight for a spot,maybe it's going to be harder for him"<br>
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How is the american lifestyle?<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"I didn't change my lifestyle that much,since i'm home most of the time. As I said,the schedule is quite different,because we're very often on tour. And the food,mamma mia..."<br>
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Why did you pick n.20 for your uniform?<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"I needed a new one since mine were taken already. I like it,the number was suggested by some friends of mine in Bologna and a scout from here who played with n.20 in his days,and I took it. It has no particular meaning though"<br>
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What are you missing of Bologna?<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"The people,my friends,the food and some restaurants. I'm obviously missing the atmosphere,the passion,the chants of the fans. I've received a perfect welcome here,and like I said,I can feel the same pre-game electricity in the locker-room that we had back in Bologna. Yet,here if you lose a game it's no big deal,in Bologna it was a drama"<br>
</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
Do you keep updated on your countryman Delfino,now playing for Skpper Bologna?<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"I check the stats,they're certainly good but I don't watch the games,obviously. I think he can do well,he has talent,is physically very powerful. And he's young. His potential is exceptional,everything seems to be on his side; if I can make a suggestion,that would be to remain calm,to work with serenity. Everything depends on himself alone"<br>
</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
Let's relive the WBC final. If you could turn back the clock,would you sit on the stands this time?<br>
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<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>"I don't even conceive the option. Only thing i could have done would be telling coach Magnano to put Palladino back in the game,when he had let me in,since he could offer more than I could. But I'd play again,on one leg eventually!<br>
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