Conversely, Ginobili had the most effective "ugly" game that I've had the pleasure of watching all season long. And it was a pleasure. If you've played enough schoolyard pickup games or maybe try to find 45 minutes during lunch to sneak away from work to shoot some hoops, you've probably had the fortune (or misfortune) of playing with "that guy"—the balding, somewhat-out-of-shape older guy who wears his shorts too short and his socks too high.
Invariably "that guy" takes the most ridiculous, ill-advised shots of anyone on the court...and reliably seems to hit each and every one. Manu Ginobili is often "that guy" and tonight was certainly no exception. Helped out by an extra step on every other layup and very generous foul calls, Manu carved out the line of the night and did so in an incredibly ugly fashion.
In fact, Ginobili's game was so ugly that it lead me to mutter comments such as, "I could play better than this bum" and "It's easy when you're reflecting light off of your bald spot into the defender's eyes." (Yes, I was watching this game alone and continually talking—and cursing—to myself.)
But the truth of the matter is that, Manu is simply "that guy" on a whole other level. He is the embodiment of this stereotype at the highest level of basketball that leaves the likes of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett shaking their heads in disbelief.
To return to the pickup game metaphor, that would make you and me...Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. The guys I ball with have called me a lot of names but "The Truth" isn't one of them.
The bottom line: Manu Ginobili is playing some of the best "ugly" basketball this league has ever seen, and on some level that's more crushing that a guy like Kobe sweet-stroking his way to these type of numbers, or LeBron muscling his way through a helpless defensive line. Every lucky bounce (or eight) on the rim and every missed traveling call is like a dagger through the heart.
Manu Ginobili—in this Celtics fan's humble opinion—was the best player of the game, but Rajon Rondo WON the game. I look forward to several more years of back-and-forth duels between Rondo and Ginobili and their clearly contrasting styles of play.
Andrew Palumbo
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