Because He is Manu Ginobili...

He's a lefty, a deceptively athletic and tremendously skilled basketball player from Argentina; has a nice first step, surprising leaping ability and can score in a number of different ways. His body control is amazing as he seemingly able to twist and turn in styles unimaginable and yet so effective. Maybe that is why he is sometimes called 'El Contusion' and he plays good defense too. Drafted 57th overall (that's one of the greatest steals in NBA draft history right?) in 1999 by the Spurs, he played over in Italy before coming to the NBA and used that experience to his advantage. That same year, the Spurs won their first title....

What makes Ginobili more admirable is his ability to accept his role perfectly as he comes off the bench despite his status as a star player. Most players will NOT agree to that; ask Iverson. And the funny thing is, he is much more effective that way (Coach Pop knows this very well). Manu understands that in order for the Spurs to win it all, he needs to be effective and play at a high level.

His will and desire to win games (and titles more importantly) is unquestioned. He has proven that he can deliver when the title is on the line. This was evident in the 2005 Finals when he probably played his best playoff basketball. In 2006 Western Conference Finals, he almost willed the Spurs to win the series against Dallas although he failed in part because of his infamous foul on Nowitzki. But that's just Ginobili, that is how he plays the game, a lot of heart; a lot of passion...

But despite all his contributions, he doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is; part of the reason might be playing along side Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Although it's noteworthy to mention that he led Argentina to the Olympic gold in 2004 beating Team USA along the way. He was also named the tournament's MVP. Some could argue that Manu is San Antonio’s most important player right now. He has been one of the key players during the Spurs championship run in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Also last season's playoffs accentuates how valuable he is to the team.

Manu is also a very aggressive player that doesn't shy away from contact and he simply outsmarts his competition; he will dunk the ball at the rim, hard, even in traffic when he gets a running start and his explosiveness allows him to draw contact with the other teams defenses. He is also a good passer able to create for his teammates when the defense does not allow him to penetrate and yes he can also shoot the 3 at a fairly descent rate.

On defense, he knows how to read the game and makes plays (spectacular plays?!) when needed because he is able to position himself to take charges in crucial situations (some even accused him of being a flopper because of this but I don't agree) He also get a lot of deflections because he plays the passing lanes fairly well. His stat line will not wow you but the way he impacts the game is entirely a different story (much like Duncan).

Injuries and age (he's already 32!) are the main reason why some (or most?) people think Ginobili is in a decline and his durability is in question. He might have peaked in 2005 and his ankle issues are a cause for concern. But Coach Pop sounds very optimistic when he said: "He is healthy, He'll come back out of shape but healthy." Being a great (ultimate!) competitor that he is, I certainly believe Ginobili will bounce back strong from his recent injury and once again prove his critics wrong.

If that holds true, with key acquisitions in Jefferson, McDyess and Blair; this coming season could be a big one. And with a healthy core, we have every reason to believe that the Spurs just might get it done again this coming season. After all, he plays for the Spurs and he is Manu Ginobili...