what could manu have been?

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what could manu have been? 

Post#1 » by kingofcomedy » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:52 am

What could manu have been in a different system as the feature player? For the bulk of his prime he fluctuated between starter and sixth man but as a frontline player is 25-5-5 a possibility?
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#2 » by -Kees- » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:58 am

Yeah, he could've been. But he was really put in the perfect spot, playing off of a HoF big man, making clutch shots, smart plays and doing a lot of things. But yeah, he could've put up numbers similar to like James Harden this year maybe, maybe a bit better. But he isn't a 1st option on a title team.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#3 » by Ito » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:06 am

Definitely not a 25 ppg player..
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#4 » by Stolen Team Fan » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:15 am

-Kees- wrote:Yeah, he could've been. But he was really put in the perfect spot, playing off of a HoF big man, making clutch shots, smart plays and doing a lot of things. But yeah, he could've put up numbers similar to like James Harden this year maybe, maybe a bit better. But he isn't a 1st option on a title team.

Pretty much.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#5 » by Br0ken_Sp0ke » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:36 am

Ito wrote:Definitely not a 25 ppg player..


Of course he could. He was better at his prime than Harden is right now and Harden’s putting up 25 ppg…
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#6 » by justinandimcool » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:40 am

With an organization that didn't sign players that fit him, and a coach that didn't take care of him and get on him about his constant turnovers?

He would've had 3 or 4 years of all-star numbers, and would have retired early due to injuries.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#7 » by peja drobnjak » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:42 am

it depends on the quality of his teammates imo. he could probably chuck his way to gil type numbers but i don't think he has it in him to dominate the ball to get more than 23/5/6 or so but he would def have superstar impact or close to it
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#8 » by Sedale Threatt » Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:04 am

I don't see him having the durability to handle a No. 1 role. He could hardly stay healthy as it was/is.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#9 » by lukekarts » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:42 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:I don't see him having the durability to handle a No. 1 role. He could hardly stay healthy as it was/is.


This, pretty much. He might have a higher PPG / lower efficiency season in a different scenario, but actually the Spurs system has allowed him to maximise his talent & preserve his health.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#10 » by deliriousmouse » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:59 am

He could of been a 25/5/5 player

Or a 16/4/3 with 3 rings with maybe a 4th comming.

Not bad for a second round pick

I feel he would be happier with the latter.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#11 » by justinandimcool » Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:03 am

let's face it, if he's a team's best player- that team's going nowhere. Knowing and inferring Manu's personality he's a great teammate as long as he's winning. Winning first over rah rah. He would definitely diva out and request a trade to a winning team, even if it meant being 2nd or 3rd fiddle. So the parallel universes kind of intersect, lawlz.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#12 » by No-Man » Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:28 am

He's better as team player than in franchise mold, and he knows that, because of this he didnt left the Spurs when he could, he knew that he isnt 1st option material.

He's a great player, but there were at least 6 guys in his position way better than him last decade, Bryant, Wade, Iverson, Allen, Carter and McGrady.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#13 » by Mirjalovic » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:13 am

He has nice fundamental & real skills, also very smart bball player. If he healthy enough to play extended minutes, i believe he doesnt far away from Kobe, even sometimes in burst i think he is the best player in the game. You guys underrating him.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#14 » by Young_Star11 » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:24 am

Similar numbers and situation to what Harden finds himself in at the moment.

Similar players too!
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#15 » by YFZblu » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:53 pm

justinandimcool wrote:He would've had 3 or 4 years of all-star numbers, and would have retired early due to injuries.


This.

Also, we would be asking ourselves: What could Manu have been on a team with talent?
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#16 » by Spurtatcus » Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:05 pm

He was the man for Argentina when they destroyed the Olympics in 2004 including the US team. Ginobili entered the NBA when he was 26, so it's hard to say what he could've been, but as a #1 he definitely would average 25/5/5 or so but he would probably miss 20 games a season
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#17 » by Frankie23 » Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:07 pm

Manu has something that no SG has: He makes his teammates better.
Why? Cause he's the best playmaker among SG, he's unselfish and always do things to help his team win (rebounds, steals, charges, intangibles).

So maybe he's not making 25-5-5, but his team would be better..
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#18 » by No-Man » Fri Dec 14, 2012 3:14 pm

Seriously, McGrady, Carter, Wade, Iverson,... all of them where great playmakers as SGs too.

Devin Harris was an All Star just because of Carter.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#19 » by DanTown8587 » Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:12 pm

Completely depends on guys 2-12, but his teams could have been top 3-4 seeds in their confremce and competing for conference championships.

Better cast as a #2 or #3 option of course, but definitely for a time was a top 20 player in the league. He's this generation's McHale or Worthy: successful because they had an all-time great ahead of them but still incredibly talented players.
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Re: what could manu have been? 

Post#20 » by NashtyNas » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:16 pm

Fischella wrote:Seriously, McGrady, Carter, Wade, Iverson,... all of them where great playmakers as SGs too.

Devin Harris was an All Star just because of Carter.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think I died a little. Manu could have been a great first option, put up big numbers, but what he chose was much greater than what he 'could have' been. His legacy now is greater than what it would be under those circumstances. He is currently the only player to have medals/championships in 4+ competitive leagues and possibly the most clutch 6th man the NBA has ever seen.
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