What Manu Ginobili's Return Will Mean for the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are simply not the same championship-caliber team without Manu Ginobili in the lineup. The kind of intensity and spark he ignites when typically coming off the bench for the Spurs has been sorely missed in the Spurs first 12 games.

This was evident by the immediate impact Ginobili brought to the Spurs in Monday night’s contest with the Memphis Grizzlies. Ginobili came out very aggressive in his return, after his ankle injury this summer and surgery in September.

His first shot of the season against he Grizzlies was a clock-shot beating three-pointer and seconds later was followed by an aggressive driving slam dunk. Ginobili ended up with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in his return, and he looked almost in mid-season form. 

It is clear that the Spurs will be a much better team as Ginobili plays each game and continues to work toward getting completely healthy. He will help the Spurs win more games, which has been evident by the two consecutive wins this week, the second of which came Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

Ginobili will do the kind of things he always does for the Spurs, which is to bring energy and points off the bench. The Spurs haven’t been the same without him thus far this season and will be a much better team with him. If Ginobili can remain healthy, and Tony Parker returns soon, the Spurs will be a deeper and very dangerous team and will match up well against the best teams in the Western Conference.

Without Ginobili, the Spurs will not be as competitive, particularly in a playoff run. Ginobili has always been a team-player, simply wanting to do whatever he can to help the Spurs win games. Manu is Manu, and when he is healthy, he has been a winner everywhere, including 3 NBA Championships, a Euroleague Title, and an Olympic Gold Medal, and this kind of success will continue as long as he remains healthy.

It is clear that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will need to slowly inject Manu Ginobili into the mix in the next 5-10 games.The Spurs will not completely rely on Ginobili now that he has returned, and his minutes will be increased slowly each game. It is very important that he not be over-worked and potentially re-injure or aggravate his ankle.

What is also important in Ginobili’s return is how he will fit in with Roger Mason Jr. and George Hill, who have looked very impressive thus far this season. Both Mason Jr. and Hill have been getting a lot of minutes, and it will be interesting to see how Popovich will play them with Ginobili back, and in particular, when Tony Parker returns.

This is a good problem to have though at this point. This combination of the experience of the Spurs big three-Duncan, Parker and Ginobili mixed with the fresh look of Mason Jr. and Hill may just make the Spurs a better team than last year, and last years team made it to the Western Conference Finals.