duncan228
03-28-2009, 11:45 PM
Mason hopes Manu will help beat the blitz (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Mason_hopes_Manu_will_help_beat_the_blitz.html)
Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS In his moonlighting role as the Spurs' backup point guard for most of the month, Roger Mason Jr. has spent much of his time being outnumbered.
He'd come off a pick and the opposing team with seemingly nothing better to do would blitz him with a pair of defenders. For Mason, it led to a rash of turnovers and a little bit of self-doubt.
Mason has three words for blitzing defenders now: Bring it on.
Now, there's another shooter over there, Mason said. And it's Manu Ginobili.
Ginobili recently returned from a month and a half layoff while dealing with a sore right ankle. No individual Spurs player stands to benefit more from his comeback than Mason.
For the past 14 games Mason, the team's starter at shooting guard, has been running the point with the second unit. The experiment has been inconsistent Mason's scoring has been down over that stretch, and his turnovers up.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has defended Mason's work at the point, saying he just needed more time to become comfortable with his new secondary role. It turns out, Mason only needed more time with Ginobili.
One thing it does automatically is it brings another shooter there, Mason said. When I pass him the ball, I know he's a threat. It opens it up for everybody. Recently, we've been calling a lot of pick-and-rolls, a lot of plays for me. It will actually help me more.
Parker's 10K: Barring something unforeseen and potentially disastrous for the Spurs, Tony Parker should become the fourth player in franchise history to reach the 10,000-point plateau tonight in New Orleans.
Parker, 26 years old and in his eighth season, needs just seven points to hit that milestone.
George Gervin, David Robinson and Tim Duncan are the only other Spurs enshrined in the 10,000-point club. In NBA history, only 25 other guards have reached that milestone.
Parker is averaging a career-best 21.9 points and 6.9 assists this season, and has been instrumental in the Spurs' survival as Duncan and Ginobili have been slowed with injuries.
It's the most he's had to carry us by himself for so long, Popovich said. He's played so well for so long. He deserved his All-Star status, for sure, and he's played better after his selection, actually.
Oberto skips trip: Center Fabricio Oberto did not accompany the Spurs on their trip to New Orleans. He remained in San Antonio while dealing with a heart ailment.
If all goes well, he is expected to be cleared to play by the end of the week.
Jeff McDonald
NEW ORLEANS In his moonlighting role as the Spurs' backup point guard for most of the month, Roger Mason Jr. has spent much of his time being outnumbered.
He'd come off a pick and the opposing team with seemingly nothing better to do would blitz him with a pair of defenders. For Mason, it led to a rash of turnovers and a little bit of self-doubt.
Mason has three words for blitzing defenders now: Bring it on.
Now, there's another shooter over there, Mason said. And it's Manu Ginobili.
Ginobili recently returned from a month and a half layoff while dealing with a sore right ankle. No individual Spurs player stands to benefit more from his comeback than Mason.
For the past 14 games Mason, the team's starter at shooting guard, has been running the point with the second unit. The experiment has been inconsistent Mason's scoring has been down over that stretch, and his turnovers up.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has defended Mason's work at the point, saying he just needed more time to become comfortable with his new secondary role. It turns out, Mason only needed more time with Ginobili.
One thing it does automatically is it brings another shooter there, Mason said. When I pass him the ball, I know he's a threat. It opens it up for everybody. Recently, we've been calling a lot of pick-and-rolls, a lot of plays for me. It will actually help me more.
Parker's 10K: Barring something unforeseen and potentially disastrous for the Spurs, Tony Parker should become the fourth player in franchise history to reach the 10,000-point plateau tonight in New Orleans.
Parker, 26 years old and in his eighth season, needs just seven points to hit that milestone.
George Gervin, David Robinson and Tim Duncan are the only other Spurs enshrined in the 10,000-point club. In NBA history, only 25 other guards have reached that milestone.
Parker is averaging a career-best 21.9 points and 6.9 assists this season, and has been instrumental in the Spurs' survival as Duncan and Ginobili have been slowed with injuries.
It's the most he's had to carry us by himself for so long, Popovich said. He's played so well for so long. He deserved his All-Star status, for sure, and he's played better after his selection, actually.
Oberto skips trip: Center Fabricio Oberto did not accompany the Spurs on their trip to New Orleans. He remained in San Antonio while dealing with a heart ailment.
If all goes well, he is expected to be cleared to play by the end of the week.