Daily Tapas: Ginobili and Turiaf Hurt, Acie Law Done In Partizan

Nick GibsonJanuary 3, 2012

A pair of Olympians injured, Partizan doesn’t fight the Law, an international conflict resolved and of course, a little love for Señor Rubio awaits…

Tough Breaks for Ginobili and Turiaf

Manu Ginobili is out indefinitely after breaking the fifth metacarpal in his left hand in the Spurs’ 106-96 loss to Minnesota last night. He’ll miss at least a month, but since it’s his shooting hand the Spurs will likely exercise caution.

Gregg Popovich on the loss: “Manu’s pretty important to us.”

Yeah. Pretty.

No word yet as to how this might affect Ginobili’s chances of playing in the London 2012 Olympics for Argentina, likely the last chance he, Pablo Prigioni, Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni and Argentina’s Golden Generation have at locking up a third Olympic medal (gold in 2004, bronze in 2008).

Ronny Turiaf’s caught the broken hand bug as well, as the French center went down in the Wizards’ 94-86 loss to the Celtics. The injury should keep him parked for five or six weeks.

It’s the same hand that kept Turiaf out of EuroBasket, paving the way for Kevin Seraphin’s semi-emergence (4.7 points and 1.9 boards in nine minutes per game). Same story this time around, as Seraphin—now Turiaf’s teammate on the Wizards—should fall in behind JaVale McGee as Washington’s primary back-up down low.

Acie Law and Partizan Say Their Goodbyes

With Partizan eliminated from Euroleague contention, the Serbs and Acie Law have gone their separate ways. Although there was no opt-out clause in Law’s deal, Partizan officials reportedly accepted Law’s resignation. After a 6-point, 3-of-10 Euroleague debut, Law rebounded nicely over his next eight to finish with 12.7 points, 3.4 assists and over a steal per game, though he did miss one week due top injury. Law, the former Hawks lottery pick, is now a free agent.

Os Davis over at BallinEurope says the Knicks might have interest in Law. With rookie Iman Shumert hurt and Baron Davis yet to play a game, that leaves Toney Douglas and the rickety Mike Bibby as the Knicks’ options at point, with Harvard grad and new signee Jeremy Lin rounding out the rotation. It’s not crazy to think New York could use Law’s help, but these reports are unsubstantiated as of now (which BiE also points out).

Nihad Djedovic to Murcia. Finally.

After the back and forth between Virtus Roma and UCAM Murcia, it appears guard Nihad Djedovic is finally set to arrive in Spain for Murcia’s game this Saturday against Real Madrid. UCAM Murcia Sports Director Paco Guillem, however, says that wasn’t the deal. “There was an agreement between the four parts of the deal: the player, Regal Barcelona who owns his right, Virtus Roma and UCAM Murcia,” Guillem said. “But Virtus Roma didn’t respect the agreement.”

Murcia, 4-9 and 14th in the ACB, wanted Djedovic to play in Wednesday’s game against Manresa. Roma, 6-7 and 12th in LegaBasket, instead will keep him until after today’s game against Olimpia Milano.

Brian Roberts Bails Out Bamberg

One of Europe’s most proven clutch scorers nailed another big ‘un yesterday, as Roberts’ bucket with 0:05 left hoisted Brose Baskets to a 68-66 win over BBC Bayreuth. Roberts finished with 11 and Predrag Suput led all scorers with 16 for the now former Euroleageurs.

Bamberg (13-2) needs another German championship to make it a third straight year in the EL, and this win ensured first place for at least another week. Ratiopharm Ulm sits at 12-3 and plays the 9-6 Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Elsewhere in germany, s.Oliver Baskets got 20 apiece from Jason Boone and Ricky Harris and thumped ALBA Berlin 84-65. The win put s.Oliver in the 8th and final playoff position with a 9-7 record.

The Artlad Dragons came into the week as the BBL’as highest scoring team and they didn’t slow down Tuesday, hanging 109 on Phoenix Hagen, who could only muster 59. Artland sits in third place with a 12-4 record and is now averaging 87.2 ppg.

Rubio to Williams

After a pair of sizzlers in which Rubio averaged 13 points and 9.5 assists, he came back down to earth with six points, two boards and just three assists in 23 minutes, all season lows. There’s a bright side or two: Minnesota beat the Spurs 106-96.

Here’s the or two:

Tapas Variadas

-Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress shows some love for Galatasaray center Furkan Aldemir, the last draft prospect receiving regular Euroleague minutes. The Galatasaray big man has impressed—mask and all—in his first EL season, putting up 7.1 points and 4.7 boards per game, helping the Turks to the Top 16. Galatasaray will share a group with CSKA Moscow, Olympiacos and fellow Istanbulers, Anadolu Efes.

-One of ELA’s original bloggers is heading to Fenerbahçe. Four-time WNBA All-Star Cappie Pondexter is returning to the Turkish side, for whom she played in 2006-07. The New York Liberty guard had been playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg, but her contract only ran through December 20.

Congratulations on that new deal, Cap. Once ELA Familia, always ELA Familia.

-Finally, read Julio Chitunda’s piece on the retirement of 40-year-old Angolan legend, Miguel Lutonda. Honored to have seen the man play. Angola won’t be Angola without him.