some_user86
10-27-2007, 01:29 AM
Spurs notebook: Elson frustrated, plans to play without face mask
Center will work minus protective gear in practice to see if he can do without.
Web Posted: 10/27/2007 01:09 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News
Frustrated with a protective face mask that impairs his vision slightly, Spurs center Francisco Elson discarded it for a brief stretch at the start of the fourth quarter of the team's preseason game against the Houston Rockets.
Elson had worn the mask throughout training camp after breaking the orbital bone around his left eye in the European Championships on August 30. But he played without the mask for the first 5 minutes, 48 seconds of the fourth period and said he would play without it in the Spurs' final practice sessions before Tuesday's regular season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers.
"I was really frustrated with it, sitting on my face like that," Elson said. "I was trying to play a little free, but it was too short to really tell."
The mask served its intended purpose on Thursday night in Orlando, however, protecting Elson's face from an elbow thrown by the Magic's Adonal Foyle.
"Thank God it was there," Elson said of the mask softening the blow he took from Foyle, "so it's good for something. But I don't have to wear it any more. They said the time is up already."
Nevertheless, Elson prefers to play without the mask.
"I'm going to try it in practice and see how it goes," he said. "Practice is more contact and pushing around than in the games I think."
A big test: Rookie Ian Mahinmi finished off his first NBA preseason with 24:36 of court time that showed Spurs coach Gregg Popovich he may one day be able to compete against the likes of Houston's 7-foot-6 Yao Ming.
But for now, it appears Mahinmi is headed for the Spurs' National Basketball Development League affiliate, the Austin Toros.
"He's been very aggressive throughout training camp, and this was just what the doctor ordered, to face this kind of competition," Popovich said after Mahinmi scored six points and grabbed five rebounds.
"Having him be here this year is really going to help him, playing against quicker guys down in Austin. Starting to be able to compete at that level is going to improve him more than any kind of drills, or anything else. We're thrilled for him. He's shown a lot of improvement since he's arrived."
Mahinmi understands he needs to work on his game in the NBDL.
"That is a possibility, a good possibility, and I'm ready for that," Mahinmi said. "If I have to do that I will go there and try to be a better player. And if I stay here, I will be happy about that, too."
As for his first encounter with Yao, Mahinmi believed he was "not that bad."
"I was more focused on the defensive plays," he said. "I was doing the best I can to stop Yao. I know he's tall and he's big, but I have to move my feet and contest his shot. I think I was not that bad and did a decent job on defense."
Beno coming back: Injured point guard Beno Udrih had the cast removed from his broken left index finger Thursday, essentially fast-forwarding his recovery time by a week.
He was not supposed to lose the cast until next week, but got good news when doctors discovered the fracture was healing faster than expected.
Udrih still needs a few days of rehab before returning to basketball activities. It remains unlikely he will play in Tuesday's opener against Portland.
[email protected]
Staff writer Jeff McDonald contributed to this report
Link: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA102707.06C.BKNspurs.notebook.3cc601c.html
Center will work minus protective gear in practice to see if he can do without.
Web Posted: 10/27/2007 01:09 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News
Frustrated with a protective face mask that impairs his vision slightly, Spurs center Francisco Elson discarded it for a brief stretch at the start of the fourth quarter of the team's preseason game against the Houston Rockets.
Elson had worn the mask throughout training camp after breaking the orbital bone around his left eye in the European Championships on August 30. But he played without the mask for the first 5 minutes, 48 seconds of the fourth period and said he would play without it in the Spurs' final practice sessions before Tuesday's regular season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers.
"I was really frustrated with it, sitting on my face like that," Elson said. "I was trying to play a little free, but it was too short to really tell."
The mask served its intended purpose on Thursday night in Orlando, however, protecting Elson's face from an elbow thrown by the Magic's Adonal Foyle.
"Thank God it was there," Elson said of the mask softening the blow he took from Foyle, "so it's good for something. But I don't have to wear it any more. They said the time is up already."
Nevertheless, Elson prefers to play without the mask.
"I'm going to try it in practice and see how it goes," he said. "Practice is more contact and pushing around than in the games I think."
A big test: Rookie Ian Mahinmi finished off his first NBA preseason with 24:36 of court time that showed Spurs coach Gregg Popovich he may one day be able to compete against the likes of Houston's 7-foot-6 Yao Ming.
But for now, it appears Mahinmi is headed for the Spurs' National Basketball Development League affiliate, the Austin Toros.
"He's been very aggressive throughout training camp, and this was just what the doctor ordered, to face this kind of competition," Popovich said after Mahinmi scored six points and grabbed five rebounds.
"Having him be here this year is really going to help him, playing against quicker guys down in Austin. Starting to be able to compete at that level is going to improve him more than any kind of drills, or anything else. We're thrilled for him. He's shown a lot of improvement since he's arrived."
Mahinmi understands he needs to work on his game in the NBDL.
"That is a possibility, a good possibility, and I'm ready for that," Mahinmi said. "If I have to do that I will go there and try to be a better player. And if I stay here, I will be happy about that, too."
As for his first encounter with Yao, Mahinmi believed he was "not that bad."
"I was more focused on the defensive plays," he said. "I was doing the best I can to stop Yao. I know he's tall and he's big, but I have to move my feet and contest his shot. I think I was not that bad and did a decent job on defense."
Beno coming back: Injured point guard Beno Udrih had the cast removed from his broken left index finger Thursday, essentially fast-forwarding his recovery time by a week.
He was not supposed to lose the cast until next week, but got good news when doctors discovered the fracture was healing faster than expected.
Udrih still needs a few days of rehab before returning to basketball activities. It remains unlikely he will play in Tuesday's opener against Portland.
[email protected]
Staff writer Jeff McDonald contributed to this report
Link: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA102707.06C.BKNspurs.notebook.3cc601c.html