Manu Meets Manu Statue

Manu Ginobili is not playing in Spain right now for Fiba World Cup this year. Most probably he is done playing for Argentina. Still recovering from a stress fracture in his leg, Manu admits that he still feels pains; that's why the Spurs did not allow him to play. For the Spurs fans; that's good news, he can fully recover and be ready to go before the start of the training camp.

But he is still a legend in Argentina.  Ginobili did lead Argentina to their only Gold Medal in their Olympic history in Greece in 2004. He is the best basketball player that country has ever produced. With four NBA titles and an extensive list of international accomplishments, there is no question a statue in his honour in his home country is the correct decision. The statue is in Buenos Aires.

List of Ginobili's Accomplishments:

Awards

Italian League MVP: 2001, 2002

Italian League All-Star: 1999, 2000, 2001

Euro league Finals Most Valuable Player: 2001

FIBA Americas Championship Most Valuable Player: 2001

Italian Cup Most Valuable Player: 2002

All-Tournament Team, FIBA World Cup: 2002, 2006

Olimpia de Oro: 2003, 2004 (shared with Carlos Tévez)

NBA All-Star: 2005, 2011

50 Greatest Euro league Contributors: 2008

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: 2008

Diamond Konex Award 2010, most important sportsman of the decade in Argentina

All-NBA Third Team: 2008, 2011

Titles

Italian League Championship: 2001

Italian Cup: 2001, 2002

Euro league: 2001

Triple Crown: 2001

Americas Championship: 2001, 2011

NBA Championship: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014

Summer Olympic Games gold medal: 2004

Summer Olympic Games bronze medal: 2008

FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament gold medal: 2008

For that list, He really deserved that statue and even the NBA hall of fame as well once he retires.

ESPN: Spurs will Repeat as NBA Champions

Finally ESPN show some love for the Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs have just been tapped by an ESPN panel of over 200 experts to be next year's NBA Champions. The Spurs got 65 more votes (186) than the second-place Cavaliers (121). The top five were rounded out by the Thunder (115), Clippers (36) and Bulls (28). This is new for the Spurs fans, we're used to hear almost every year that the Spurs are done because their old. But after back to back final appearance (which they could have won both) and demolishing Miami in this year’s finals, we could not blame those experts for voting for the Spurs to win it all again.

Spurs had four chances to win back to back title, but they failed, the closest San Antonio has ever come to a repeat was a conference finals run in 2008 but again they loss to the Lakers. But if it wasn’t for Rey Allen’s 3’s in last year’s finals in game 6, we’re not having this conversion. But again the question still remains the same “can the Spurs win back to back titles?”

Given the fact that the Spurs big 3 is a year older,  specially Tim and Manu, I know that GPop will do everything to preserve those two come playoff time. With their kind of system that is not hard to accomplish. And I think the younger core of the Spurs will get better specially Kawhi. And with the addition of Mesina and Hammon, their system might get even better. My only concern is their health. Anything can happen in basketball we saw that in Paul George. But if (I pray) the Spurs will be healthy come playoff time that back to back title is within reach. Like Duncan said “we do it this time”.

Spurs Offseason Moves: Same Old Same Old

The 2014 NBA offseason is one of the most exciting offseason in recent years, especially for the Cavs fans and other teams. But we can't say that to the Spurs fans. Like the old times we did not get any big names in the market. And I find it very strange it seems that they don't want to play for the Spurs. As I remember the only player that choose to play for us is Michael Finley back in 2005, and it turns out to be a great choice, because he get his only ring with the Spurs in 2007. Anyway we don't need to sign big free agents to win championship, and we already proved that.

Last season we witness how good the Spurs can be. Despite of many injuries, the Spurs still manage to win 62 games in the regular season, best overall in the league. Although we need 7 games to beat the Mavs, the Spurs cruise past the tough Western Conference without much of a problem. And we all know what happened in the finals. Last season was one the best season (if not the best) for the Spurs. They really have a good team, and that's the priority of the management for next season, bring back the whole gang. 

San Antonio re-signed Boris Diaw and Patty Mills, two players that played a large role during the Spurs success last season. Mills had a breakout season last year. He averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent on 3-pointers, while Diaw continued to revive his career with San Antonio, with his high basketball IQ and versatility on both ends of the floor. They also re-signed veteran shooter Matt Bonner; they also guaranteed the contract of Austin Daye who could have a breakout next season. Then on the draft night Spurs pick Kyle Anderson a versatile player who can play multiple position, an exceptional passer with high basketball IQ. He seems like a perfect fit for the Spurs. All he needs is to improve his defence, but knowing Gregg Popovich he will find ways to hide Anderson's weakness, and take full advantage of his strength.

The Spurs have the best coaching staff in the league, led by Greg Popovich, and it will get even better with the addition of Ettore Messina, He is a four-time Euroleague champion and two-time coach of the year in the same league and was named the one of the “50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors” in its history. That says it all. Many say that he will take Greg Popovich spot when he retires.

The Spurs never won back to back championship. After a dominant season they will have nearly the same roster that won it last year. It does not guarantee that they will win again, but I really like their chances. Did the Spurs have a great offseason? I must say same old same old...