Spurs' defense makes smooth transition
By Jeff McDonald
To the disengaged scoreboard watchers throughout the NBA, results of the Spurs' first two games look awfully similar.
One was a 103-98 loss to Phoenix, the other a 100-99 loss at Portland.
The first came down to a potential game-tying 3-pointer that missed, the second came down to a potential game-tying 7-footer that suffered the same fate.
To Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, however, those two losses were as disparate as night and day.
After the Spurs lost to Phoenix in the opener, Popovich left the AT&T Center seething about his team's lack of attention to transition defense — apathy that led Phoenix to score 15 points on dunks or layups. He was smiling as he left Portland's Rose Garden on Friday night, which should tell you all you need to know about his assessment of the Spurs' defense.
“Between the beginning and the end of the game, the defense was really solid,” Popovich said. “The first half, we really dug a hole with the boards and turnovers. But the defense was solid.”
The Spurs allowed 13 offensive rebounds and committed 14 turnovers against Portland. As a result, the Blazers attempted 14 more field goals than the Spurs, who lost despite shooting nearly 56 percent from the field.
Still, the Spurs finished the game better than they did against Phoenix, rallying from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter. They had a chance to win as time expired, but Michael Finley's 7-foot jumper skipped off the rim.
“That's a shot we would kill for any day of the week,” Popovich said. “Sometimes they just don't go in.”
Good start for Mason: Two games into his Spurs career, Roger Mason Jr. is proving himself to be a steady option off the bench.
Mason scored 14 points in the loss to Portland, connecting on 6 of 7 field-goal tries. That came on the heels of a 12-point outing in the opener against Phoenix.
Mason has logged at least 29 minutes off the bench in each of the Spurs' first two games. For the second game in a row Friday, he was in the game during crunch time.
Mason, signed from Washington in the offseason, says his acclimation to his new team is still “a work in progress.” Popovich expects Mason's role to grow as he gains confidence.
“Right now, he's trying to get comfortable and see where his piece of the pie is,” Popovich said. “He wants to fit in first, so he's tiptoeing around Timmy (Duncan) and Tony (Parker).
“I'd rather have to talk to him about taking a bad shot than have to beg him to shoot it.”
Chasing history: The Spurs are 0-2 for the first time in the Duncan era. When their season resumes Tuesday against Dallas, the Spurs will be aiming to avoid going 0-3 for the first time since 1973-74, when they started the season 0-4.
I was actually more afraid of Mason being too shot happy. He took a lot of bad shots when playing for the Wizards. (Then again, all the Wizards take bad shots -- that's what they do.)
Hopefully Pop doesn't do to Mason what he did to Stoudamire last year and turn him into such a ballhog that he couldn't play anymore . . .
I didn't want to completely steal your thunder 228, so I only posted Harvey's story.
Hope you'll forgive me.
“Right now, he's trying to get comfortable and see where his piece of the pie is,” Popovich said. “He wants to fit in first, so he's tiptoeing around Timmy (Duncan) and Tony (Parker).
My thoughts exactly.
People forget that Damon was actually helping the team at one point. Hopefully Pop learned his lesson from that. I'm not terribly optimistic.
To be expected. He has done a nice job all around. If he can continue to do what he is doing with some more aggression on both ends then the he will be a massive success.
I'm very pleased with Mason's performace so far. He seems to be fitting into the Spurs system faster than expected... you know - 1st year players and the Spurs system...etc.
Earnig Pop's confidence this early is impressive. Thsi is turning into a nice offseason signing.
I wouldn't worry too much about mimicking Damon.
He was at the end of his rope, plus Damon didn't pick up the system that quick.
Mason pretty damn clutch already and looks comfortable, but his D looks a little lost.
it could also mean Pop has gone lulu on us.
It's Hoopsworld, but it has a little more from Pop and Mason.
Mason, Jr. Feeling His Way in S.A.
By: Luke Byrnes
Following their season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs immediately tuned their attention to rebuilding a roster sure to be depleted by retirement and free-agency. With veterans Brent Barry (now in Houston), Robert Horry (retired), Kurt Thomas and Michael Finley (both re-signed) all in contract years in '07-'08, the Spurs were in need of a youthful infusion.
With little money to spend on the free agent market, outside of the mid-level exception, the franchise still had visions of making a splash in the offseason by bringing in free agent swingman and 20 ppg scorer Corey Maggette from the Los Angeles Clippers to help bridge the gap between the Tim Duncan and the Tony Parker eras, while making a run at a fifth NBA le in ten years.
Maggette took a $50M deal to play with the Golden State Warriors and suddenly the Spurs had to look elsewhere to find their man moving forward. Coach Gregg Popovich thinks they found a gem when the organization brought in Roger Mason, Jr.
After a couple non-descript seasons in Chicago and Toronto, the former Virginia Cavaliers star found himself out of the NBA, honing his skills overseas in such places as Japan, Greece and Jerusalem before inking a deal to return to the NBA with the Washington Wizards in July of 2006.
Mason, Jr. had a career year in '07-'08, making the most of his opportunity to get onto the floor when Gilbert Arenas went down early in the campaign, starting nine games, playing 80, and averaging 9.1 ppg, all career highs.
"This is a great opportunity," Mason said of his arrival in San Antonio. "I've worked really hard. I had a great opportunity last year. This is what you work for. So, for me, my big thing is to come in here, integrate to already great program and try to win another championship."
Popovich is confident the vagabond can provide some scoring punch for the squad coming off the bench and has been encouraged by his high basketball IQ.
"He's been a really quick study, really fine young man that has some talents that we really need and can use," Popovich said. "I think right now he is just trying to get comfortable and see where his piece of the pie is. He's the kind of guy where he wants to fit in first. He's just kind of tip-toeing around Timmy (Duncan) and Tony (Parker) right now and trying to figure it out. I want him to go out there, have a green light, and let it fly because he's a heckuva shooter and we need that, especially without Manu (Ginobili) being here."
Last season, in Arenas' absence, Mason got valuable time playing multiple positions and Popovich sees the versatility Mason displayed as a huge plus heading into the season.
"Arenas being out last year really helped him," Popovich continued. "He played one, two, and three, played backup point, and started at the point while Arenas was out and I think that has really helped his confidence."
That confidence has translated into early season success Mason, Jr., averaging 12 ppg in 30 minutes in the Spurs first two games, while shooting a robust .571 from the field while trying to find his way in a veteran locker room with championship experience and searching for a better understanding of his role on his new team.
"I think the hardest thing for me is trying to integrate myself in aggressively," Mason added. "Coming from Washington, I knew my role, I came in to score. Here, we need the same kinds of things, it is just really trying to get a feel for when Tony and Timmy get the ball and then when I can get my shots."
While Mason has played well through the first two games of the season, the team has struggled, falling to 0-2 and is one of only five teams in the league without a victory. As the newest Spur acclimates himself with his role and his teammates, and when Ginobili returns from his post-Olympic surgery, this club will likely find itself in the mix for s return to the Western Conference Finals, and perhaps more.
"I'm picking up the system," Mason said. "It is just a matter of when to go into attack mode and when to fall back and let the all-stars go."
And go they will.
Spurs Defense has not be that good, give me a break.
I saw him for the first time against Portland, and I have to say if that game gave any indication of what we can expect from Roger Mason (3's clutchness, great shooting, ability to create own shot, good d, smart decision making), we're on the right track. I don't know Roger well enough to be totally confident that that's the way he'll pan out for us. It might just be a fluke, but I hope it isn't.
I'm really anxious to see this team healthy. I think a mason, manu, parker, Td, oberto/thomas line up would find no problems scoring.
Man, I think if George Hill or Mahinmi or Tolliver can do well this season and be a difference maker we're as good as LA.
Pop's statement about shots not falling sometimes, that is the only reason we're not the NBA champs right now.
yes, four of those people can create for themselves, and that would leave Fab would sneak his way under the basket. I wish he was more of a show off, cuz he gets a good amount of dunk opportunities.
If Hill goes for 10pts,3 assists on Tuesday, ST will implode.
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