Manu Ginobili Injury Update – Fantasy Impact

Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs is sidelined once again with an ankle injury. The good news is that the injured ankle isn’t the same one that required surgery this summer. However, the stress reaction in his ankle is expected to keep him out 2-to-3 weeks.

Since Ginobili will have two “bad” ankles once he returns, his fantasy value the rest of the way takes a major hit. Additionally, you can expect head coach Gregg Popovich to play him even fewer minutes than usual to make sure that Ginobili will hold up come playoff time.

With Ginobili out, the player who will get the most added touches is Roger Mason, Jr. The starter at shooting guard for the Spurs should see his scoring average rise around a half dozen points or so with Ginobili sidelined.

Other players who will get more minutes with Ginobili out include veterans Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka. If you want to take a chance on a sleeper, consider George Hill. Although he’s the team’s backup point guard, he could see some minutes at shooting guard with Ginobili sidelined.

As could be expected, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker will also have to shoulder a larger part of the role until Ginobili can return. Once the Argentine sensation is back on the court, follow him closely to see how healthy he appears and if he gets to play enough minutes to warrant a spot on your fantasy roster.