Manu Down

There is no question Ginobili has fought the
injury bug most of his career.

The San Antonio Spurs road to repeating as the top seed in the Western Conference just got a whole lot harder. In the team's 106-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night, guard Manu Ginobili broke his shooting hand and will be out indefinitely.

Ginobili, a southpaw, injured his hand late in the second quarter after fouling Minnesota center Anthony Tolliver on a shot attempt.

After being taken back for X-rays, it was revealed to the Argentinian native that he'd in fact broke the fifth metacarpal, right below his pinkie.

Prior to the injury, Ginobili had been 3-for-6 from the field, scoring 8 points in 12 minutes on the floor. Averaging 19.8 point per game thus far, the two-time All-Star has started all four games for San Antonio this season, after spending most of his career better served off the bench for three championship teams.

Ginobili captured the Sixth Man of the Year Award back in 2008 after setting career-highs in point per game (19.5), field goal percentage (.401) and minutes (31).

Despite Ginobili being hampered by injury much of his career, the now-34-year-old veteran set career-highs in games played (80) and games started (79) a year ago, helping the Spurs to the best record in the Western Conference (61-21) and an impressive 36-5 home record.

With Ginobili averaging just 66 games a year the last three seasons and no time table for his return, a mix of young players and talented veterans will need to continue the tradition thats has been laid.

Odom For Sixth Man

Odom's versatility makes him
a prime candidate for the
Sixth Man of the Year.

Los Angeles Laker forward Lamar Odom is enjoying the most consistent season of his 12-year playing career.

Over the last couple of seasons Odom has been widely considered the X-factor on the Lakers during their recent title runs and given the label of the most versatile big man in the game today. 

At 6'-10", Odom runs the floor like a point guard and poses the inside presence of a center. He was snubbed at this year's All-Star Game in Los Angeles after averaging 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per contest. The 14.3 points per game is the most since his first season in Los Angeles, were he averaged 14.2 points per.

Despite Odom starting 34 of the Lakers' 73 games this season, he has been the best player off the bench in the NBA. Odom has showed he can put his ego aside for the opportunity to win another NBA title. The southpaw could be a starter on any other NBA team including the Lakers, but as we have discovered the Los Angeles is a better team when he is coming off the bench. 

Dallas Maverick guard Jason Terry seems to be the one to give Odom the most trouble in capturing the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Terry is averaging 16. 4 point per game, but does not give the same value to Dallas as Odom does to the two-time defending champions.

If Terry were to win the award it would be his second in three years, after taking home the honor in back in 2009.

It would be the first time Odom has won the award and a huge honor at that, knowing he would have done his job to put Los Angeles in a position to win their third NBA title in as many years.