Ginobili to undergo surgery to fix injured ligament in heel

[dirno2000]

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel.

Manu Ginobili says the ligament injury didn't get any worse during the Olympics -- but it certainly didn't get better, either.

"They're going to operate on me," he told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper Friday. The 31-year-old doesn't know when he'll have the surgery or who will do it.

Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics, said an MRI exam of the injury showed no improvement.

"It's the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam," he said. "Now, the thing is, it's not better either, and it seems like the only way to repair it completely is arthroscopic surgery."

Ginobili hurt the ankle during the NBA playoffs, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had urged his player not to compete in the Olympics unless the injury improved.

[sike]

I don't root for injuries....but I also truly dislike Manu. I'm torn.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by sike

I don't root for injuries....but I also truly dislike Manu. I'm torn.

Let me field the bad karma for you:

[BGMaverick9]

He'll be fine, it's better he do it now instead of getting hurt again later in the year. They'll still manage his minutes just the same. It's a minor blip on the radar.

[Bayliss]

He'll be fine, it's better he do it now instead of getting hurt again later in the year. They'll still manage his minutes just the same. It's a minor blip on the radar.

They haven't even set the date yet. He will miss a couple of months. If he has the surgery today, he **might** make the first week of the season. But I doubt he has the surgery today. He will probably miss the first couple of weeks of the season. That is hardly a blip.

[sike]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

That is hardly a blip.

especially with Timmy looking older than ever (crosses fingers)

[LonghornDub]

I hope the surgeon accidentally slices a tendon in half, thus ending Manu's career.

[Bayliss]

Quit saying those things. It comes back to bite you in the @ss.

[LonghornDub]

That might be true, were it not for the fallacy of assuming that anything I say has any effect on anything.

[MavsFanFinley]

The Spurs won't rush him back. They know they need him for the playoffs when it really matters even if that means a lower seed.

[Dirkadirkastan]

^Image blocked. F*ck Ginobili and the entire organization.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by MavsFanFinley

The Spurs won't rush him back. They know they need him for the playoffs when it really matters even if that means a lower seed.

Exactly...I don't think it's a big deal at all. It's probably even a good thing this gets taken care of now, instead of maybe during the rodeo trip if they still have it. Just something in the meat of the season. They'll manage his minutes, like normal and he'll be ok.

[Bayliss]

Surgery Will Cost Ginobili Months, Not Weeks

Aug 30, 2008 10:21 AM EST

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili will have surgery on his left ankle next week to repair ligament damage and is expected to miss more time than initially thought, according to San Antonio Express-News.

Ginobili told an Argentine newspaper that he expected to miss six-to-eight weeks, but sources familiar with the procedure claim that he will be out for two to three months.

That means that Ginobili, the reigning NBA Sixth Man Award winner, is almost certain to miss all of the team's training camp and preseason.

If he misses 3 months, that puts him missing all of November. If he only misses two months then you can expect a gradual process in November of him getting back in shape. Either way that is hardly a blip. Especially when like I said before he will have the surgery later... anywhere from September 1-5.

(Btw, Dallas plays the Spurs in early November.)

[LonghornDub]

He should have the surgery in May. That'd be a good timetable for me.

[Caseman]

Spurs Dynasty is over.

[Underdog]

Q&A: Spurs are in tough spot with Ginobili

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Should the Spurs try to make a major trade? Being that Bruce Bowen is up there in age and obviously Tim Duncan isn't getting younger, it seems to me that TD needs to be surrounded with some younger players. I would try to move Manu Ginobili before he gets hurt again. Wouldn't packaging Ginobili with Bowen bring the Spurs a good return? — Kris, San Antonio

It's true that the Spurs are an aging ball club. Their list of overly-seasoned veterans include Bowen (37), Michael Finley (35), Kurt Thomas (36), Fabricio Oberto (33), Jacque Vaughn (33) and TD is 32! The plan is to replace Bowen with Ime Udoka, who's still at least a year away from being a consistent defender, but given his advanced years, it's hard to imagine any other team wanting to deal for BB.

Also, given that Duncan and Tony Parker are untouchable, there's no one else on their roster who could command a quality player in return.

It's also true that the full-speed-ahead style of the 31-year-old Ginobili often leads to stints on the injured list — during his NBA career he's missed an average of nearly 11 games per season. Even so, he remains the primary motor of the Spurs offense — simply because he can go get the ball while the ball has to come to Duncan. Make no mistake about Ginobili's skill level — he's a bona fide super star. So, then, for whom could Ginobili be traded? Who could possibly duplicate what he does for San Antonio?

Obviously, guys like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant are out of the question. So is Paul Pierce, who's rapidly approaching the 32nd anniversary of his birth. Perhaps someone like Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter could be had — but none of these guys fit Pop's unselfish game plan.

Would the Kings be willing to deal Kevin Martin (25)? Would Pop want anything to do with Tracy McGrady (29)?

Probably not.

Nor would the likes of Luol Deng (23), Gerald Wallace (26), or Rip Hamilton (30) be considered without additional inducements.

Indeed, the only semi-available player I'd trade Ginobili for would be Joe Johnson (27). Failing this, the Spurs would be advised to stand pat, hope that their elder statesmen can squeeze out another quality season, that Ginobili's rehab will be successful and that Roger Mason is a big surprise.

Moreover, having most recently won championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007, hopefully the Spurs should be the odds-on favorites to win again in 2009.

[EricaLubarsky]