duncan228
11-30-2008, 10:56 PM
Self-confidence lets Spurs' Bonner raise game (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Self-confidence_lets_Spurs_Bonner_raise_game.html)
By Jeff McDonald
It took Spurs forward Matt Bonner a little more than four NBA seasons to figure out his biggest character flaw as a basketball player.
“I have a conscience out there on the court,” he says. “I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and that can cause me to be hard on myself.”
Bonner's penchant for self-criticism often could be self-defeating. It would make him tentative on offense, which in turn would make coach Gregg Popovich tentative about playing him.
Bonner's note to self over the past few weeks: Don't worry, just shoot.
“Whether I'm making them or missing them, I have to keep shooting,” Bonner said. “It's the one thing I can do to help the team.”
Life without a conscience seems to suit Bonner well.
In the nine games since failing to see the floor in a Nov. 12 loss at Milwaukee, Bonner is averaging 9.2 points off the bench and shooting a sizzling 57.8 percent (33 of 57).
Bonner is coming off his best game of the season in Saturday's 103-84 loss at Houston, in which he scored 17 points and made 6 of 7 shots, including 3 of 4 3-pointers.
Bonner even sparked a first-half rally with a rare defensive gem, stripping Houston's Luis Scola of the ball near the top of the arc and racing the other way for a fast-break dunk.
“I think Matt's done a wonderful job for us,” Popovich said. “He's gotten the minutes that Robert (Horry) used to get, and he's really played well.”
Ahearn to Austin: The Spurs on Sunday assigned point guard Blake Ahearn to the Austin Toros, their affiliate in the NBA Development League.
Ahearn appeared in three games after the Spurs signed him on Nov. 16, but was rendered superfluous this week when Tony Parker returned from an ankle injury.
Century-mark streaks: The Spurs had a couple of notable defensive streaks end in Saturday's loss to Houston.
It was the first time the Rockets had topped 100 points against the Spurs in 29 games, a streak dating to March 17, 2001. It also broke a string of 11 straight games this season in which the Spurs had kept opponents below the century mark.
“We were just plain bad on defense,” guard Manu Ginobili said. “We gave away too many points. We just weren't as intense as we needed to be.”
Roger that: One month into his Spurs career, guard Roger Mason Jr. has been one of the NBA's deadliest 3-point shooters. After 16 games, he has made 43 3-pointers, second-most in the league behind Orlando's Rashard Lewis (44).
Mason is shooting 52.4 percent from 3-point range, also good for second in the NBA.
Golden State rookie Anthony Morrow is first at 53.3 percent.
“The coaches have done a good job of putting me in position to get some good looks,” Mason said, “and I've been able to take advantage of it.”
By Jeff McDonald
It took Spurs forward Matt Bonner a little more than four NBA seasons to figure out his biggest character flaw as a basketball player.
“I have a conscience out there on the court,” he says. “I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and that can cause me to be hard on myself.”
Bonner's penchant for self-criticism often could be self-defeating. It would make him tentative on offense, which in turn would make coach Gregg Popovich tentative about playing him.
Bonner's note to self over the past few weeks: Don't worry, just shoot.
“Whether I'm making them or missing them, I have to keep shooting,” Bonner said. “It's the one thing I can do to help the team.”
Life without a conscience seems to suit Bonner well.
In the nine games since failing to see the floor in a Nov. 12 loss at Milwaukee, Bonner is averaging 9.2 points off the bench and shooting a sizzling 57.8 percent (33 of 57).
Bonner is coming off his best game of the season in Saturday's 103-84 loss at Houston, in which he scored 17 points and made 6 of 7 shots, including 3 of 4 3-pointers.
Bonner even sparked a first-half rally with a rare defensive gem, stripping Houston's Luis Scola of the ball near the top of the arc and racing the other way for a fast-break dunk.
“I think Matt's done a wonderful job for us,” Popovich said. “He's gotten the minutes that Robert (Horry) used to get, and he's really played well.”
Ahearn to Austin: The Spurs on Sunday assigned point guard Blake Ahearn to the Austin Toros, their affiliate in the NBA Development League.
Ahearn appeared in three games after the Spurs signed him on Nov. 16, but was rendered superfluous this week when Tony Parker returned from an ankle injury.
Century-mark streaks: The Spurs had a couple of notable defensive streaks end in Saturday's loss to Houston.
It was the first time the Rockets had topped 100 points against the Spurs in 29 games, a streak dating to March 17, 2001. It also broke a string of 11 straight games this season in which the Spurs had kept opponents below the century mark.
“We were just plain bad on defense,” guard Manu Ginobili said. “We gave away too many points. We just weren't as intense as we needed to be.”
Roger that: One month into his Spurs career, guard Roger Mason Jr. has been one of the NBA's deadliest 3-point shooters. After 16 games, he has made 43 3-pointers, second-most in the league behind Orlando's Rashard Lewis (44).
Mason is shooting 52.4 percent from 3-point range, also good for second in the NBA.
Golden State rookie Anthony Morrow is first at 53.3 percent.
“The coaches have done a good job of putting me in position to get some good looks,” Mason said, “and I've been able to take advantage of it.”