The splint has been removed and the San Antonio Spurs star
can probably see the light at the end of the tunnel. Manu Ginobili, who
suffered a broken left hand on Jan. 2, was recently cleared to start shooting.
"He's shooting mid-range shots, lefty," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich
told The San Antonio Express-News on Monday. "He'll be
cleared to go one-on-one in a week or so."
Ginobili is on track to return some time during San Antonio's nine-game road
trip that begins on Feb. 5, according to the Express-News.
Without the 34-year-old the Spurs are 10-7 and sitting at second place in the Southwest
Division with a 13-9 record.
Ginobili injured his shooting hand in the fifth game of the season when he
fouled Minnesota's Anthony Tolliver on a jump shot attempt. He was expected to
be out six to eight weeks after having a plate inserted to mend the broken
fifth metacarpal.
In five games this season, Ginobili is averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0
assists.
