Manu Ginobili Could Miss Start of Playoffs

During the San Antonio Spurs game last Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili tweaked a hamstring which ultimately led to him missing last night’s loss to the Miami Heat. While Ginobili was out of the line up for Sunday’s game, it looks like the team could be without one of their stars for a much longer time frame.

Before the game, Spurs head coach Greg Popovich addressed the media and expressed that Ginobili’s recovery could stretch into the beginning of the playoffs.

Here is what Popovich told the media, via the San Antonio Express News.

"“It’s more than days,” Popovich said. “It’s more like weeks, unfortunately. It’s a huge blow for us because he’s the guy that allows our second team to do what they’ve been doing all year long. It’s a huge loss for that group, and in game situations, it’s a tough one because he’s one of two guys, he and Tony (Parker), are the creators who make things happen for everybody else on the court.“It’s an unfortunate loss at this point of the season…”“It could (stretch into the playoffs),” Popovich said. “We don’t know how his leg is going to react. We’re doing everything we can.”"

It could be a concern for the aging star. Hamstring’s are always a tricky situation and the team needs to be careful that they do not rush him back.

If San Antonio makes the decision to rush Ginobili back so that he can help them in the first round of the playoffs, it could prove to cost them even more if he tweaks the hammy once again. In that instance, Ginobili’s season would be done.