duncan228
01-07-2009, 12:04 AM
Mason, Bonner lobby to join 3-point Shootout (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Mason_Bonner_lobby_to_join_3-point_Shootout.html)
Jeff McDonald
As a basketball-loving kid growing up in the suburbs of Washington, Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. would make a point each year of watching the NBA's 3-point Shootout associated with All-Star weekend.
One of his lasting childhood memories is of Larry Bird winning the 1988 contest, confidently walking away before his final attempt swished through the net. It is one of Mason's goals to follow his 3-point shooting heroes onto the All-Star weekend stage.
“That would be a dream for me,” Mason said. “If they decide to put me in, I'd be thrilled to go.”
The NBA won't announce the field for this year's contest in Phoenix until next month, but if Mason keeps doing what he's been doing, he should be a shoo-in.
Mason is shooting 47 percent from the 3-point line and leads the Spurs with 77 3-pointers made. Heading into Tuesday's slate of games, he was the only player in the league to rank in the top six in both categories.
One of Mason's prime competitors for a spot, meanwhile, can be found just across the locker room. Matt Bonner, the Spurs' center, ranks second in the league in 3-point accuracy at 48 percent (47 of 98) — just ahead of Mason.
It is highly unlikely the league would select two players from the same team, meaning one Spur will probably make the contest at the expense of the other.
Mason good-naturedly says it should be him.
“He's a great shooter,” Mason said, “but I've got the makes.”
Bonner thinks it should be both of them. Barring that, he believes his numbers should be graded on a curve.
“I'm a big man,” Bonner said. “I think they need some diversity.”
R&R at last: The Spurs finished up another grueling stretch of the schedule with three victories in four days, capped by Monday night's 91-84 victory at Miami.
Two of those victories came on the road.
Now, the schedule loosens a bit, with the Spurs getting multiple days off between each of their next three games, all of them at home.
“It seems like we've been playing every night lately,” Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said. “Hopefully, we can use this time to rest our bodies, because we've got another tough stretch of games coming before the All-Star break. We definitely need to take advantage of it.”
The Spurs face the L.A. Clippers on Thursday before welcoming red-hot Orlando on Sunday and the conference-leading L.A. Lakers the following Wednesday.
No doubting: Thomas signed a two-year deal worth $8 million to return to the Spurs, then the 36-year-old showed up at training camp with a strained hamstring, missed most of the preseason and spent the first two months of the season working himself into shape.
“I wondered what the hell to do with him, why we signed him,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Then he came to me one day and said, ‘OK, I'm ready to go now.'”
Since that day, Thomas has been a fairly useful weapon off Popovich's bench.
He logged 17 minutes in his most recent outing against the Heat, providing two points, four rebounds and a steady dose of interior defense.
“He's been great for us,” Popovich said. “He's been a real pro and a leader on the team. He's been fantastic.”
Jeff McDonald
As a basketball-loving kid growing up in the suburbs of Washington, Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr. would make a point each year of watching the NBA's 3-point Shootout associated with All-Star weekend.
One of his lasting childhood memories is of Larry Bird winning the 1988 contest, confidently walking away before his final attempt swished through the net. It is one of Mason's goals to follow his 3-point shooting heroes onto the All-Star weekend stage.
“That would be a dream for me,” Mason said. “If they decide to put me in, I'd be thrilled to go.”
The NBA won't announce the field for this year's contest in Phoenix until next month, but if Mason keeps doing what he's been doing, he should be a shoo-in.
Mason is shooting 47 percent from the 3-point line and leads the Spurs with 77 3-pointers made. Heading into Tuesday's slate of games, he was the only player in the league to rank in the top six in both categories.
One of Mason's prime competitors for a spot, meanwhile, can be found just across the locker room. Matt Bonner, the Spurs' center, ranks second in the league in 3-point accuracy at 48 percent (47 of 98) — just ahead of Mason.
It is highly unlikely the league would select two players from the same team, meaning one Spur will probably make the contest at the expense of the other.
Mason good-naturedly says it should be him.
“He's a great shooter,” Mason said, “but I've got the makes.”
Bonner thinks it should be both of them. Barring that, he believes his numbers should be graded on a curve.
“I'm a big man,” Bonner said. “I think they need some diversity.”
R&R at last: The Spurs finished up another grueling stretch of the schedule with three victories in four days, capped by Monday night's 91-84 victory at Miami.
Two of those victories came on the road.
Now, the schedule loosens a bit, with the Spurs getting multiple days off between each of their next three games, all of them at home.
“It seems like we've been playing every night lately,” Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said. “Hopefully, we can use this time to rest our bodies, because we've got another tough stretch of games coming before the All-Star break. We definitely need to take advantage of it.”
The Spurs face the L.A. Clippers on Thursday before welcoming red-hot Orlando on Sunday and the conference-leading L.A. Lakers the following Wednesday.
No doubting: Thomas signed a two-year deal worth $8 million to return to the Spurs, then the 36-year-old showed up at training camp with a strained hamstring, missed most of the preseason and spent the first two months of the season working himself into shape.
“I wondered what the hell to do with him, why we signed him,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Then he came to me one day and said, ‘OK, I'm ready to go now.'”
Since that day, Thomas has been a fairly useful weapon off Popovich's bench.
He logged 17 minutes in his most recent outing against the Heat, providing two points, four rebounds and a steady dose of interior defense.
“He's been great for us,” Popovich said. “He's been a real pro and a leader on the team. He's been fantastic.”