Ginobili talks his way into playing, despite Pop's rest plan

NEW YORK - Gregg Popovich's plan to give some rest to one of his veterans hit a snag.

Chalk it to Manu Ginobili's persuasion. Or blame the ''bunch of cowards'' Popovich has for assistant coaches.

Either way, Ginobili was set to play for the San Antonio Spurs on Monday against the Knicks in New York on the second half of a back-to-back.

The Spurs won in Boston on Sunday and Popovich says he told the 38-year-old Ginobili he would sit out Monday, following a plan he says they discussed earlier this season.

Popovich says Ginobili didn't recall agreeing to the plan, and when Popovich grew tired of the player's lobbying, he told the Argentine star to discuss it over breakfast this morning with the Spurs' six assistants.

Popovich says when the meeting was over, Ginobili was playing.

But Popovich adds that he controls the playing time, so Ginobili will ''play like three minutes a half.''