Mason Wants Out?

[ElNono]

To me it reads, Were not demanding a trade we love the Spurs, please don't say that were demanding a trade even though we are.

Saving face statements IMO.

Exactly. The whole 'if there's an answer to the problem of not enough minutes' is like

[scottspurs]

I think this thread is about Mason...
Mason never struck me as an unintelligent player, in fact he seems like a very smart guy.
When he arrived...everyone here loved him...tried to find him a nickname,praised his character,etc...

I always thought he was ---Spur material---

this latest development got me to thinking....

what IS going on behind closed doors...what happened with Bowen last season?...

what exactly is going on with team chemistry...

where DOES pop stand with his team---as far as RESPECT?

are the players losing faith?...

if I worked my ass off and Finley started over me to start the season...how would I feel?

Maybe Mason saw the writing on the wall and decided---what's the point? Pop is in control of this ship and pop would rather have the whole ship sink than actually give up control.

Maybe Pop would rather see the whole franchise go down the drain before admitting that maybe HE is the problem.

I once thought Pop was the BEST coach in the league...but he has really sucked this season---and last season.

Maybe Mason knows firsthand just how bad things have become.

I think we all wonder what happened with Bruce, but the truth probably is he had nothing left and Pop knew that while Bruce (deservingly so) refused to believe that.

As far as Mason goes we must trade him. Bruce would never of pulled a stunt like this.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

So all 2003 or earlier.

Just curious. Did anything come out about any of those players that was not true?

Oh yeah, and I forgot the biggest one of all - Bowen. He basically had a falling out with Pop at the end of last year over Finley getting all the run and Bowen being benched.

Pop trashed him within the last two weeks to the press, as well.

You think Bruce is a bad person too?

[EricB]

Exactly. The whole 'if there's an answer to the problem of not enough minutes' is like

Yeah were not getting many minutes with said team thats had said player on the block since last February, lets demand a trade!

Agents are geniuses.

[EricB]

Oh yeah, and I forgot the biggest one of all - Bowen. He basically had a falling out with Pop at the end of last year over Finley getting all the run and Bowen being benched.

Pop trashed him within the last two weeks to the press, as well.

You think Bruce is a bad person too?

Go there, please....

[slayermin]

Mason is the second best clutch shooter on the Spurs. It would be a loss. But I still think our need is at backup point guard. Without Mason, that pretty much gives Hill all the minutes he wants at the two. We need a playmaking point guard who can shoot. Someone who doesn't turn the ball over but is able to create for slashers.

I still don't think we need Thomas. I would like to see Ian or even Theo get some minutes rather than trade for Thomas.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

So that time he played PG in Washington doesn't count as a position he's never played in his entire life?

Just curious.

He stepped into Gilbert's spot in the starting lineup. Washington used Butler as a "point" forward and had Mason run as a shooting guard.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Go there, please....

Where do you want me to go? It was do ented ad nauseum in the 'Pop: Bowen isn't the answer' discussion at some point in the last two weeks.

[itzsoweezee]

I think we all wonder what happened with Bruce, but the truth probably is he had nothing left and Pop knew that while Bruce (deservingly so) refused to believe that.

What a completely asinine comment. You watched the Spurs last season and honestly believe Finley had more to offer than Bowen? Just admit that Popovich does a lot of stupid petty that makes no sense. You guys bend over backwards to provide logic to his completely nonsensical moves.

[ShoogarBear]

So that time he played PG in Washington doesn't count as a position he's never played in his entire life?

Just curious.

When Mason was in DC and Arenas was injured, Antonio Daniels was the point guard, and Caron Butler ran point forward. Mason never ran the offense for any significant of time.

[EricB]

Mason is the second best clutch shooter on the Spurs. It would be a loss. But I still think our need is at backup point guard. Without Mason, that pretty much gives Hill all the minutes he wants at the two. We need a playmaking point guard who can shoot. Someone who doesn't turn the ball over but is able to create for slashers.

I still don't think we need Thomas. I would like to see Ian or even Theo get some minutes rather than trade for Thomas.

Yeah those are LITERALLY very hard to find.

If they could get the Tyrus Thomas from the playoffs against the Celtics, I'd be hard pressed to pass.

[Mel_13]

Oh yeah, and I forgot the biggest one of all - Bowen. He basically had a falling out with Pop at the end of last year over Finley getting all the run and Bowen being benched.

Pop trashed him within the last two weeks to the press, as well.

You think Bruce is a bad person too?

I think Bruce is a great Spur and a fine person. I didn't take Pop's recent comments as bashing Bruce.

[EricB]

When Mason was in DC and Arenas was injured, Antonio Daniels was the point guard, and Caron Butler ran point forward. Mason never ran the offense for any significant of time.

The Washington Post article after he signed in SA was wrong then...

[EricB]

I think Bruce is a great Spur and a fine person. I didn't take Pop's recent comments as bashing Bruce.

Him saying "Bruce Bowen isn't the answer to our defensive woes" is of course bashing him.

Come on.

[ShoogarBear]

The Washington Post article after he signed in SA was wrong then...

Somebody had to bring the ball up when AD sat. That didn't make him a point guard. He averaged 1.7 assists in 21 minutes.

I guess in a world where people consider George Hill a point guard, maybe he could be called one, too.

[objective]

Him saying "Bruce Bowen isn't the answer to our defensive woes" is of course bashing him.

Come on.

I think what he might be talking about was Pop's assertion that if Bruce could still play someone would have signed him. It seemed to completely reject the idea that Bruce could have retired of his own free will.

[Mel_13]

Him saying "Bruce Bowen isn't the answer to our defensive woes" is of course bashing him.

Come on.

We disagree.

Even if the Spurs were able to somehow re-acquire a 2005 version of Bowen, Popovich said, it would make only a small dent in this team's defensive woes.

“Bruce was a great defender, but it's not just one guy that makes it,” Popovich said. “There's something called team defense, where five guys have to react appropriately. We just haven't reacted well.”

I don't read that as bashing Bruce in any way. I read that as an indictment of the current team, not a criticism of Bruce. If you hold a different view, that's fine. I certainly don't care to debate the issue.

[EricB]

Somebody had to bring the ball up when AD sat. That didn't make him a point guard. He averaged 1.7 assists in 21 minutes.

I guess in a world where people consider George Hill a point guard, maybe he could be called one, too.

The writer referred to him IIRC i probably don't, that he ran the point outside of AD when GA when down.

[EricB]

We disagree.

Even if the Spurs were able to somehow re-acquire a 2005 version of Bowen, Popovich said, it would make only a small dent in this team's defensive woes.

“Bruce was a great defender, but it's not just one guy that makes it,” Popovich said. “There's something called team defense, where five guys have to react appropriately. We just haven't reacted well.”

I don't read that as bashing Bruce in any way. I read that as an indictment of the current team, not a criticism of Bruce. If you hold a different view, that's fine. I certainly don't care to debate the issue.

I apologize, I meant that in complete sarcasm.

I agree 100% with you.

[ElNono]

I think what he might be talking about was Pop's assertion that if Bruce could still play someone would have signed him. It seemed to completely reject the idea that Bruce could have retired of his own free will.

This.

Plus Pop couldn't possibly say that with a straight face when he trots out Finley's skeleton on a nightly basis.

[Mel_13]

I apologize, I meant that in complete sarcasm.

I agree 100% with you.

Not the first time my sarcasm detector failed.

[EricB]

I think what he might be talking about was Pop's assertion that if Bruce could still play someone would have signed him. It seemed to completely reject the idea that Bruce could have retired of his own free will.

possibly.

[slayermin]

Yeah those are LITERALLY very hard to find.

If they could get the Tyrus Thomas from the playoffs against the Celtics, I'd be hard pressed to pass.

I'm thinking someone like Luke Ridnour, Kirk Hinrich type. I know Hinrich makes a ton of money and the Bucks probably wouldn't trade Ridnour. But there is a void at backup point. I love Hill and I hope he proves me wrong.

If RC and Pop trade for Thomas, cool. I'm with this team to the bitter end.

[EricB]

Not the first time my sarcasm detector failed.

No quite OK, I didn't do a good job conveying sarcasm

[EricB]

I'm thinking someone like Luke Ridnour, Kirk Hinrich type. I know Hinrich makes a ton of money and the Bucks probably wouldn't trade Ridnour. But there is a void at backup point. I love Hill and I hope he proves me wrong.

If RC and Pop trade for Thomas, cool. I'm with this team to the bitter end.

Damn Luke Ridnour would be great as a backup PG.

He'd just be a horrible defender.

HEY He fits right in!