duncan228
10-22-2008, 02:19 AM
Spurs' Mason more interested in where he's heading (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Spurs_Mason_more_interested_in_where_hes_heading.h tml)
Jeff McDonald
In a brief but meandering career that has taken him from Toronto to Chicago to Washington to San Antonio, Roger Mason Jr. has learned much about the game of basketball.
He has also been reminded of another game he's been playing since childhood.
“Guys play musical chairs all the time,” Mason said. “It's just part of the league.”
What Mason really means is musical teams and musical cities, and in a five-year NBA career, he has become adept at playing it.
That's why tonight's preseason game between Mason's new team, the Spurs, and his most recent former team, the Wizards, carries little nostalgia for him. At least six times a year, he is sure to look across the floor during the regular season and see a uniform he used to don.
“I've done it before,” said Mason, who signed a two-year deal with the Spurs in July. “When I was with Washington, I played against Chicago. When I was with Chicago, I played against Toronto. It's just part of the league.”
Mason spent the past two seasons with Washington, his hometown team. He enjoyed a career breakthrough last season, averaging 9.1 points after injuries to Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels resulted in increased playing time for him.
Yet Mason won't waste much time ruminating on any of that tonight. Tonight's preseason game at the AT&T Center will be like the previous five he's played in a Spurs jersey.
His aim is still to learn the Spurs' system, and earn his minutes.
The Spurs expect Mason to play a key role on the wing this season, especially with Manu Ginobili likely to miss the first month of the season recovering from ankle surgery.
“I'm still trying to get adjusted,” said Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard. “For me, it's another opportunity to get out there, and another opportunity to learn. I'm looking at it like that.
“I'm not really looking at it as (playing) my old team.”
The adjustments are coming one day at a time for Mason, not all of them relegated to the basketball court.
His move to San Antonio, in every way, is still a work in progress.
He's moved into a new house near Stone Oak, for instance, but still drives a car with Maryland plates.
Sometimes, he spends more time in that car than he cares to admit.
“I've been around (Loop) 1604 a few times,” Mason said. “I've done a few laps by accident.”
Mason's gas-guzzling excursions aside, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been impressed with how quickly the 28-year-old has transitioned to a new environment.
“Roger's had a great training camp,” Popovich said. “He's been a big-time scorer in camp. He's learned the defense. He passes to the open man. Again, a great teammate.
“He's been outstanding, and we're thrilled we were able to bring him here.”
Still, Mason hasn't yet begun to reap one of the major benefits that caused him to sign with the Spurs in the first place: All the open looks sure to come with a Hall of Fame big man distracting defenses.
Tim Duncan has sat out two preseason games, and played less than 18 minutes in two others, so Mason's floor time with the All-Star forward has been minimal.
“Playing with the big fella makes a big difference,” said Mason, who has averaged 7.8 points in four preseason appearances. “It's a whole different ball game out there.”
With two preseason games to go, culminating with Friday's exhibition finale against Miami, look for Popovich to begin to play more of his regulars, giving them a chance to get acclimated with each other.
Starting with Mason.
“It's just a matter of giving (the veterans) the correct minutes so they're in good enough shape come game time,” Popovich said. “And that some of the new guys, who we think are going to get minutes, are on the court so they get used to the core players.”
Mason should see plenty of minutes tonight against a team he knows well. When he looks at his friends on the opposing bench, Mason won't be thinking so much of where he's been, but where he's ended up.
If life in the NBA is one big game of musical chairs, in San Antonio, Mason feels like he's already won.
“I've got a seat right now,” Mason said, “so I'm happy.”
Jeff McDonald
In a brief but meandering career that has taken him from Toronto to Chicago to Washington to San Antonio, Roger Mason Jr. has learned much about the game of basketball.
He has also been reminded of another game he's been playing since childhood.
“Guys play musical chairs all the time,” Mason said. “It's just part of the league.”
What Mason really means is musical teams and musical cities, and in a five-year NBA career, he has become adept at playing it.
That's why tonight's preseason game between Mason's new team, the Spurs, and his most recent former team, the Wizards, carries little nostalgia for him. At least six times a year, he is sure to look across the floor during the regular season and see a uniform he used to don.
“I've done it before,” said Mason, who signed a two-year deal with the Spurs in July. “When I was with Washington, I played against Chicago. When I was with Chicago, I played against Toronto. It's just part of the league.”
Mason spent the past two seasons with Washington, his hometown team. He enjoyed a career breakthrough last season, averaging 9.1 points after injuries to Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels resulted in increased playing time for him.
Yet Mason won't waste much time ruminating on any of that tonight. Tonight's preseason game at the AT&T Center will be like the previous five he's played in a Spurs jersey.
His aim is still to learn the Spurs' system, and earn his minutes.
The Spurs expect Mason to play a key role on the wing this season, especially with Manu Ginobili likely to miss the first month of the season recovering from ankle surgery.
“I'm still trying to get adjusted,” said Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard. “For me, it's another opportunity to get out there, and another opportunity to learn. I'm looking at it like that.
“I'm not really looking at it as (playing) my old team.”
The adjustments are coming one day at a time for Mason, not all of them relegated to the basketball court.
His move to San Antonio, in every way, is still a work in progress.
He's moved into a new house near Stone Oak, for instance, but still drives a car with Maryland plates.
Sometimes, he spends more time in that car than he cares to admit.
“I've been around (Loop) 1604 a few times,” Mason said. “I've done a few laps by accident.”
Mason's gas-guzzling excursions aside, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been impressed with how quickly the 28-year-old has transitioned to a new environment.
“Roger's had a great training camp,” Popovich said. “He's been a big-time scorer in camp. He's learned the defense. He passes to the open man. Again, a great teammate.
“He's been outstanding, and we're thrilled we were able to bring him here.”
Still, Mason hasn't yet begun to reap one of the major benefits that caused him to sign with the Spurs in the first place: All the open looks sure to come with a Hall of Fame big man distracting defenses.
Tim Duncan has sat out two preseason games, and played less than 18 minutes in two others, so Mason's floor time with the All-Star forward has been minimal.
“Playing with the big fella makes a big difference,” said Mason, who has averaged 7.8 points in four preseason appearances. “It's a whole different ball game out there.”
With two preseason games to go, culminating with Friday's exhibition finale against Miami, look for Popovich to begin to play more of his regulars, giving them a chance to get acclimated with each other.
Starting with Mason.
“It's just a matter of giving (the veterans) the correct minutes so they're in good enough shape come game time,” Popovich said. “And that some of the new guys, who we think are going to get minutes, are on the court so they get used to the core players.”
Mason should see plenty of minutes tonight against a team he knows well. When he looks at his friends on the opposing bench, Mason won't be thinking so much of where he's been, but where he's ended up.
If life in the NBA is one big game of musical chairs, in San Antonio, Mason feels like he's already won.
“I've got a seat right now,” Mason said, “so I'm happy.”