The NBA Finals are set as the San Antonio Spurs will face the Miami Heat for the championship. The Spurs have had time to rest following their four-game win in the Western Conference finals. With several aging players on the roster, rest came at the right time. As the Spurs prepare for the Heat, Manu Ginobili is preparing to pull out his reserved energy for a run at the title.
While Ginobili is averaging respectable numbers throughout the postseason, the Spurs expect there is another level to his game that he is saving for the Finals.
"I still feel like Manu is saving his best for last. I can feel a big final for him. That would be nice; we are definitely going to need it," Tony Parker said.
Tim Duncan agreed with Parker, knowing that Ginobili still has a lot left in the tank. At 35, Ginobili is no longer the type of player that will sprint down the court. In his 11th season, he is averaging a calm 11.5 points and 5.4 assists per game.
Ginobili missed 22 games during the regular season due to a strained hamstring. At this point in the season, the veteran says he feels fully healthy and prepared to take advantage of being in the Finals.
"It's great to have had this opportunity to keep playing. I feel better. If we had lost in the first round, I wasn't even back. I'm feeling good now. We're in the Finals, so who cares? No one is going to remember I missed 20 games during the regular season," Ginobili said.
Both Duncan and Parker are fully aware that a healthy Ginobili will be crucial for the team's chances at winning the championship. After 16 seasons in the league, he knows what it is like to compete at this level in this league.
"Manu is one of the ultimate competitors in our league, and has been for a long time. He has been a big factor in us winning games and winning championships," head coach Greg Popovich said.
Speculation has been building over what Ginobili's future holds. The veteran's current contract is expiring and he and the Spurs must decide what direction to go in. He has gone on record saying he intends on playing at least one more year if healthy, but if the Spurs win the championship this season, going out on top would be a nice way to end a career.
