Manu's Injury

In the first two games of the NBA Finals Manu Ginobili was unstoppable for the Spurs. Ginobili scored 26 points in game one and 27 points in game two as the Spurs went up 2-0 on the Pistons. In game three Ginobili was injured early in the game. He banged up his knee and was a non-factor scoring only 7 points on just 2-6 shooting. The Pistons went on to win 96-79 allowing them to get back in the series. In game four Ginobili was again a non-factor scoring only 12 points as the Pistons destroyed the Spurs 102-71 to tie the series at 2-2.

The Spurs have said that Ginobili is not injured instead saying that his lack of scoring has been attributed to the Pistons great defense. Although the Spurs are saying he is not injured, we all know that his knee is bothering him. He could not go from 26.5 points per-game, in the first two games, to just 9.5 points per-game in the last two games. Ginobili's near absence on offense has greatly affected the Spurs as we have seen them getting blown out the last two games.

Although Ginobili is most likely injured, I do think that his injury has affected the Pistons getting back into this series. If the Pistons win the championship again people will say it was only because Ginobili was injured. If the Pistons win the championship it will not be because of Ginobili's injury. The Pistons have completely dominated the last two games on offense and defense. They have shut down the lanes that the Spurs were getting through during the first two games of this series. The Pistons have also been a lot more effective passing the ball and not turning it over so much. The bottom line is that whether Ginobili is injured or not, the Pistons have outplayed the Spurs in the last two games and have been the far superior team.