ARG - Ginobili is sparkplug for Spurs

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - It doesn't bother Manu Ginobili that he gets under the skin of opposing players. He just continues to win.

In his fifth season with the San Antonio Spurs, Ginobili has already won two championships and is targeting a third. And it is no accident that the guard is at the center of the franchise's success.

Ginobili has been a winner his entire career. He was a two-time MVP in the Italian League and led Argentina to the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, where he was MVP of the tournament. In the 2005 NBA Finals, the 6ft 6in guard nearly outpolled Tim Duncan for MVP honours.

With the Spurs on a collision course with the Pistons for a reprise of their 2005 championship series, Ginobili continues to be the X factor for San Antonio, who are 9-0 this post-season when he scores at least 15 points.

According to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Ginobili's aggressiveness is the catalyst for San Antonio's offense, especially when it is sputtering.

It was no different Monday as Ginobili scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Spurs bounce back from a blowout loss in Game Three for a 91-79 victory over the Utah Jazz and a commanding 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

"Manu was very aggressive in the fourth quarter and got himself open a couple times, made some shots and free throws," Popovich said. "His aggressiveness always helps us at the offensive end because we didn't score much in the third quarter.

"I don't remember exactly what, but I think we were about 13 points in the third quarter, what we scored. We needed to score in the fourth, and he helped us do that."

Despite his unquestioned success, Ginobili has a different reputation with his peers. On many occasions, he can be mistaken for a flopper, an actor or even an instigator, which inevitably raises the ire of his opponents.

Down the stretch of Monday's win, he drew a technical foul from the normally even-keeled Derek Fisher, who purposely bumped Ginobili while running up the floor.

"I don't know why he got upset," Ginobili said. "I can't recall doing anything for that to happen, but if that helps the team win and gets a couple of easy free throws, I'm ready to do it.

"But I guess he got a little upset in the last couple minutes and made a couple extra fouls that really got us to the free-throw line and have a couple easy baskets."

Overall, Ginobili made four of 10 shots - including two three-pointers - and 12 of 15 free throws. With baskets at a premium in the fourth quarter, he had two daggers and also was 10 of 13 from the line.

Ginobili's first bucket was a 3-pointer that gave San Antonio some breathing room at 70-66 with 9:19 to go. He also baited Fisher into a foul while shooting a three-pointer and made all three free throws, pushing the lead to 82-72 with 3:57 left.

"At that point it was getting really tough for us," Ginobili said. "They had a nice streak. Fans were going nuts and they looked inspired."

Just over a minute later, Fisher tried to draw an offensive foul from Ginobili and fell to the floor. There was no whistle, and Ginobili drove for a layup and an 85-73 bulge.

On the ensuing trip, Fisher bumped Ginobili and was whistled for a technical foul, and Jazz coach Jerry Sloan argued and was ejected. Ever the antagonist, Ginobili stepped to the line and made both technical foul shots, effectively sealing matters at 87-73 with 2:34 to play.

"I am very proud of what we did in the fourth quarter because it was looking ugly for us and we really stepped up and did a great job," Ginobili said.

Ginobili's performance could not have come at a better time for the Spurs, who had been 0-9 all-time at Salt Lake City in the post-season prior to reclaiming their hold on the series. After impressive performances in the first two games, many declared San Antonio a runaway winner in the best-of-seven matchup.

But Ginobili is very familiar with winning and knows the Spurs have won nothing yet.

"We got to stay humble," Ginobili said. "We got to know that (the Jazz are) not going to give us anything. If we are going to win Game Five, it is going to be because we played hard and we really fight through it and have a good game. "But we know these guys are not going to give us anything. It is going to be another tough battle."

Anthony Olivieri
FIBA