As he makes his final stay in his native country of Argentina, San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili spoke with LaNueva.com on a variety of topics as he prepares for the upcoming 66-game shortened season.
In the interview, Ginobili discusses the lack of rest teams will play on, the expectation of poor shooting percentages, and his finals days in Argentina before returning to San Antonio for another NBA season.
Ginobili gives little agreement when asked if teams with core pieces returning will have a slight advantage in a shortened season,
I think so, because games remain heavily on the players who remained in competition. Teams with players who know each other, like us, have a small advantage over the rest of the league.
Ginobili is referring to the fact that by the time training camp opens next week, the Spurs will have 11 players from last seasons returning discounting Antonio McDyess who is still questionable for retirement.
But though his club is back together, Ginobili knows the team’s physical ability will be tested quickly.
Anyway, we’re going to pay physically, because it can weigh a little more (to) play five games in a week. So, as always in some ways (we) will win and lose in others.
Ginobili then brought up the fact that shooting percentages were at one of their worst times in the 99′ shortened season.
The worst shooting percentage in history was in 1999, after (the) lockout, so obviously it will cost. It will be exhausting but in February, March we will forget everything and the playoffs will be great.