How well could his 3pt ability translate to the NBA level? No doubt he'll get many open looks in the Spurs system.
Not really because the only thing Mason brings to the table is his shooting ability, which Raja Bell has. The difference in the two players regardless of what their age is, is that Raja can still have an impact on the game if he's not hitting from the outside. Mason can't do that.
IMO Bell> Mason
How well could his 3pt ability translate to the NBA level? No doubt he'll get many open looks in the Spurs system.
I agree. Id rather have Bell over Mason. Mason is a bit of a one trick pony. Bell, though has maybe lost a step, looks to be a streaky shooter and a smart defender. More of a need for the Spurs right now.
If you're talking about spot-up shooting, then maybe Mason and Bell are similar.
But pull-up shooting? Mason has Bell beat by a mile.
once again you are only focusing on when he's not hitting his shot, as if you expect that to be the norm, he will be a great shooter most of the time, much better then Raja, and his D isn't going to be a whole lot worse than Raja's, Raja was an overrated defender, and isn't even going to be as good as he once was.
Mason and Bell's stats were identical last year. Not to mention both shot 42 percent from three.
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/raja_bell/
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/roger_mason/index.html
I hope James didn't eat too much Spaghisti in Italy
He's not much better than Raja in terms of shooting. They shot the same percentage last year from three. And if you think Mason isn't going to be that much worse than Raja on the defensive end. You need to lay down the crack pipe. Mason is a horrible defender.
I agree that masons d needs work. But he will flatout outshoot raja. If you need A big bucket at any point of the game who will you entrust that duty to. My mothers sofa is on Roger. But if the chips fall and we get raja I wouldnt complain.![]()
Mason may have a nice one dribble -two dribble pull up whenever the defense goes under on pick and rolls and gives Mason breathing room. That's irrelevant now that we have Manu and R.J on our team. Mason's role will not be to be the creator of the offense by getting the pick and roll called while he's handling the ball. His role will be spot up shooting.
Like against Dallas ? Whenever the games mattered?
Theres room for gist.
Its a 15 man roster. you have your shooting big in Bonner, your post big in Blair, your energy shot blocking big in Gist, add in 1 veteran big and then Duncan and your good.
RC said there would be no more trades more than likely.
plenty of guys have been "horrible defenders" when they first came to the Spurs, they get whipped into shape. once they start playing with effort and discipline, and know all their rotations, they get a lot better.
Bell shot well as a rhythm shooter, thats a little different then shooting it when you have to in our structured offense. mason's % was more impressive in that respect. mason will be better this coming year, while Raja is on the decline and is more expensive.
if we're to give up Mason and Bonner, our only marksmen left, we'd better get something far better than Raja in return
So now a couple bad game makes a guy?
What big games has Raja Bell had big games in ?
Do you forget how stupid he would play down the stretch in big games with bad fouls bad hots and what not?
Plus he's older, lost a step, and is not as good a shooter.
I don't get the infatuation with getting rid of Roger Mason Jr.
What about The Big Unkown?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOm7-f76h0s
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I'd like to say that if Mason is kept, making him a simple spot-up shooter is a waste of his skills.
As evidenced by this past season, Mason's greatest strength seems to be that pull-up J. Trying to shoehorn him into a role that doesn't play to his strengths will end up just like what happened to Turkoglu before.
Thats assuming Mahinmi stays healthy, but, yeah theres room for him too.
but going into next season you can't depend or rely heavily on Ian Mahinmi.
I'd say signing a vet big as the starter, and adding one more veteran would make the frontcourt set.
damn where have YOU been?![]()
Our front court has the potential to be really sick.
Duncan/Blair/Gist
FA big/ Mahinmi/ Bonner
![]()
Yeah if the players play to said potential, thats a pretty nice bigman set thats very versatile.
I'm curious to who they are gonna go after with the MLE.
There's no infatuation with getting rid of RMJ. I just think Bell would be better for this team. Bell shot the same percentage from three as Mason last year. I just think Mason is a very one -dimensional player that is expendable with the addition of RJ. Whether we test the trade waters, by packaging him with Bonner to improve our starting 2 spot or package him with Bonner to get our starting big man if the targets with the MLE fall through.
And i think your getting Raja Bell confused with Amare Stoudamire in terms of the bad fouls. Raja Bell performed quite well in the big stage ( playoffs) every year since he was in Dallas.
here's the link if you don't believe me just look at his shooting percentages:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/.../bellra01.html
Just scroll down to the playoff statistics. And remember he guarded the best perimeter player every game and still put up great efficient numbers. And his best numbers he put up were the most recent, against the Spurs in 2008.
Last edited by MaNu4Tres; 06-26-2009 at 12:14 PM.
Gist and Blair fill different roles. There's room for both.
People aren't thinking... we can give the youth more minutes during the regular season and have the vets more rested for the playoffs.
Hate to break it to you, but more than likely that's the role that Mason will have to accept due to the addition of a healthy Manu and Richard Jefferson. Mason's opportunities won't be the same.
Anyway I just hope Pop gives Gist/ Blair/ Mahimni a real opportunity, regardless of what Bonner did in the regular season last year.
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