.png&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "By the numbers: A quick look at the Grizzlies")
Manu's injury: A blessing in disguise
Horror. 
Sheer terror.
Uncontrollable sadness.
Those are some of the feelings you may have experienced when San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili broke his left hand last night, but there is a silver lining in this cloud. To be honest, I don't think this is necessarily a cloud at all.
Honestly, how much of a chance did you give the Spurs to win an NBA championship this year?
If you gave them more than a puncher's chance, I'd call you a fool.
Even at full capacity with everything falling their way, I don't think the Spurs could beat whatever team came out of the Eastern Conference.
So if they weren't going to win a title what does this season matter? Nothing. As Spurs fans we know it's the Larry O'Brien trophy or bust.
That's why this couldn't have happened at a better time for the franchise.
With the decline of the "Big Three" in full effect, the Spurs have been searching for their next star and this could be the year they find him.
Let's say the Spurs miss the playoffs. If that happens, they'll be entered into the draft lottery.
The Spurs have won the number one overall pick EVERY SINGLE TIME they've been in the lottery in recent years which netted them David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Now I'm not saying it's a slam dunk they would win this year, but there are a handful of bigs that could do a lot for the Spurs in the future.
As of now, the top five of the projected top six picks are power forwards or centers.
You think the Spurs might need one of those guys to step in and take on the mantle of the next great big man. We all know it's not Tiago Splitter.
This is a time that Spurs fans should be hoping that they go into full "tank mode."
Who knows, this could be the best break the Spurs have gotten in a while.
What the columnist is forgetting is that Manu or no Manu the Spurs have Pop and a solid scouting core that has players you no little or nothing about to fill the void when a player goes down. That, with Popovich and the Spurs veterans the Spurs aren't going to bow completely out because of an injury. In fact most likely they'd be in the top five in the West so other than the fact that with Manu out we'll get a look at some younger players we wouldn't have with Manu playing there isn't much positive about Manu getting hurt. The timing of it is early so that's good, keep him fresh for the playoffs but a Championship is something I can't see at this time. It almost hurts watching the Spurs this year because before our eyes Duncan is fading away and with no David Robinson or Timmy Jr in sight it looks like the Spurs are only gonna get worse before they get better.
Tanking to draft Duncan is a bad example to use, even without Manu the Spurs are to good a team to have a realistic chance of getting a top 5 pick . They either make or narrowly miss the playoffs therefore are long shots to get a top 5 pick
Andre Drummond, anyone? While I don't think all is lost bc of the injury, I like getting a fresh viewpoint in here every so often. If anything, this allows James Anderson to get some good playing time and show us what he can really do. It'll give us a look at what could be the future of the team. I've been impressed with him so far. This is certainly more pressure than being the second guy off the bench, but it gives him the opportunity to grow.
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This may not be that bad. I still think with Manu out for a month and a half we can win enough games to make the playoffs. If we get him back healthy and fresh for the playoffs, WE will be the team like Memphis was last year that could be an 8 seat that no one wants to face. We just need TP to step up in scoring and we really need prodcution from Blair, Anderson and Neal to pick up the scoring. We are not going to be as good without Manu, but I still think we can make the playoffs and he shoudl be back by late February. I do not think we are in Tank Mode. Maybe you should run the Project Cavs Web site. Quitter.
so just curious who is expected to be the #1 pick this draft? is he a TD/DR type game changer? this seems to be our win the lottery year doesnt it?
@JohnAbney No. Not even close. There are a half dozen forwards in the lottery projected as borderline all stars (if that plays out, it'll be one of the greatest drafts in history- fat chance). Andre Drummond, Jared Sullinger, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Davis, Harrison Barnes, Michael Robinson, Terrence Ross. None of them blow anyone away with their overall abilities, they just look like good, solid NBA players. No one looks like a world beater, the closest was Sullinger in high school before Enes Kanter shredded him and dominated the USA v World game. For those of you who love Drummond; he averages less than 10 boards in college despite overwhelming athleticism. Does that sound like a good sign to you?
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Great let's tank the season and get the next great big man. Who are we drafting? Blake Griffin? Dwight Howard? Yao Ming? Shaquille O' Neal? How bout Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? David Robinson is not coming through that door Humbie. But what we do have is a PF/C named Tim Duncan. A man who has given this city 4 championships. A man who made Kobe Bryant cry on the bench as we beat the hated Lakers in 03 at the height of their power. A man who drained his only 3 pointer of the season to beat Shaq when he was with Nash in Phoenix. I dare you to go to Gregg Popovich and ask him to go into full "tank mode" yourself. Good luck! The only option for the Spurs is not to panic and neither should you.
Hmmm.... Even without Manu the Spurs are still a playoff team. It would take the entire big 3 to go down for the Spurs not to make the playoffs. I'm sure there are a lot of teams that would kill for 2 out of our big 3. While no one is like Manu, that boy Gary Neal is a scorer and he will just have to do in the mean time. THE BLESSING IN DISGUISE is that Manu will get some more rest in those legs which will be very useful come playoff time.
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Such a dark view expressed. It reminds me of the usual, "everybody else's players are better than ours" blindness. No one, even the Heat have a large compliment of great players. So, we have league where teams that are really teams and share the ball, have as much chance to win. TD is not retiring next year, TP is 29yrs, and the younger guys are very close in skill to anybody else's . I doubt, even with out Manu for a few months, the team will play below 500 ball. Remember, any team can lose a star player., it is what happens next that decides how things play out. Mav's lost Caron and Dirk for stretches last year. The Heat had Wade out for stretches, and kept winning, the Bulls, lst Boozer, the Lakers Bynum...No ne knows how this plays out, so you maximize all your options and see how it turns out.
This is a perfect time for it. Gives manu a chance to rest an get his legs in shape. Plus also gives the young guys a chance to step up. If we get the young guards to play well without him. When have a chance.
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We don't discount the possibility that the spurs could still win. TD is playing his last year and without him, the spurs is practically nothing. TD is retiring so that leaves TP and Manu to carry the team. Neal, Anderson or Leonard are far from supplanting Manu and Joseph will not be a viable substitute for TP. So many holes to plug. Maybe the next move is the draft next season. Start the rebuilding process before TD and Manu go. TP can be shipped elsewhere. Maybe not. If they sign additional personnel, they could still win preferably 2 pf/c. Spurs?
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this article does have some legitimacy; however, this doesn't mean we should stop trying. i don't think the mavs gave up when their best player wasn't doing so good in the finals - a dirk-less mavs doesn't mean no championship. who would've predicted the mavs beating the heat in the finals at the start of last season? we should start rebuilding when 1 or 2 of the big three retire (namely duncan or ginobili), until then, if you want to give up on the spurs, go join the bandwagon and become a heat fan. i still believe we are an elite team at full capacity.
