The Ginóbili dilemma: should Kochorashvili and Koné come off the bench?

“It’s probably the most important thing we did in our franchise over this whole span. It sounds like a small thing, but it made us so much deeper, so much more powerful and dangerous.”

That was San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich speaking at the retirement ceremony of Manu Ginóbili, who called an end to his long and illustrious career in 2018, after winning four NBA Championships, playing in two All-Star games and winning Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. And what was that small but most important thing the Spurs, or more precisely, Manu, did? Simple - agree to come off the bench.

It was an example of selflessness and sacrifice never before seen by an NBA star, all in the name of maximising the Spurs’s chance of winning. He certainly made the decision grudgingly, as Popovich remembers, and at the expense of his individual numbers. A teenager looking up the stats today would see 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists and wonder what the big deal was. But winning was all that mattered to the Argentine, and he certainly did that - he has the highest winning percentage in NBA history of anyone with 1,000 or more games played1.

All of which leads us to what I’m calling the Ginóbili dilemma, or the decision to play starting quality players/stars off the bench, in the interests of winning. What attributes make a starting-calibre player someone who actually starts, or someone who might be better suited to come off the bench? In the Spurs case, why did they choose Manu Ginobili, and not point guard Tony Parker? And why am I choosing to focus on Giorgi Kochorashvili and Abdoul Koné, when we turn our attention to CD Castellón?

Both have been starters at different points in the season so far. They have started 12 games each, representing over half the games they were available for selection, although the Ivorian hasn't played since January due to injury issues. The Georgian even started 11 games in a row between October and January, under former manager Ruben Torrecilla.

"In winning drive and intangibles, he was right there with Jordan, Kobe, Magic and Bird.”

The reason that Popovich saw Ginóbili’s value as being maximised coming off the bench, was his style of play, attitude and creative flair. His intangibles and intensity were as good as any player in NBA history, and the Spurs coached realised the potential damage and problems he could cause opponents playing in the second unit off the bench. The more the other players tired, the more his abilities and strengths would be amplified, maximising the Spurs chances throughout all four quarters.

Football is a different game, but the logic remains similar. Giorgi Kochorashvili is the quintessential box to box midfielder - strong, powerful runs, linking midfield and attack, and exactly what an opponent wouldn’t want to face with 60 minutes played. Castellón have a number of high quality midfielders, but as the only one really fitting that profile, the impact that the Georgian can have off the bench is perhaps more than any other.

Until the signing of Adri Fuentes in January, Koné was perhaps the most physical winger in the team, and you can make the case even now that at his peak he is the player who can really create something from nothing. Like Kochorashvili, he is the kind of player who really don’t want to see coming on when you have tired legs and you’re early in the second half.

The stats also show the added impact of both players in substitute roles, especially in the case of the Georgian. There are increases across the board in the second half numbers, compared to the first half. Kochorashvili more than doubles the number of progressive runs he makes in the second half, with a significant difference in offensive duels won as well.

Kochorashvili

Koné

Putting it into practice

It seems, at least with Kochorashvili, that Albert Rudé is trying it out. In the six games he has been in charge, Castellón’s manager has only started the Georgian once, in his first game against Osasuna. In the subsequent games, Kochorashvili has always come on as his first substitute, around that 60 minute sweet spot, to give him enough time to make a significant impact. And the results have been promising.

He got the second against Eldense, after making his way into the box and converting Jesus De Miguel’s headed pass after the defence had left him unmarked. Against Atlético Baleares, he had some nice pressing and attacking sequences, even as his team were slightly taking their foot off the gas pedal.

When Koné is fit once again, it will be interesting to see what role Rudé puts him in, but the option to have him play the second half and make an impact should give Castellón the chance to cause their opponents a lot of problems.

The “impact sub” is traditionally not a role players aspire to. Everyone wants to start at all costs, very few have been willing to make the “sacrifice”. However a game is 90 minutes. You need to be as good in the first half as you do in the second. If a great player coming off the bench can be the difference between winning and losing, is that not worth it? Four NBA rings later, Manu Ginóbili might agree.