Mason Wants Out?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

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

Come on.

Um, as was discussed in the other thread, it wasn't that. It was Pop's comment that if he could still play someone would have signed him.

Yep, nothing insulting about that. Nevermind the fact that other teams were on record as wanting him, but Bruce instead chose to retire.

And I guess you ignored the part of that thread where LJ shed some light on the Pop-Bowen relationship.

But care on with the defense of Pop, it's what you do best on this site.

[Mark in Austin]

I don't think Mason's failure against the Mavs was a choke -- as in he couldn't handle the pressure mentally.

Roger just happened to be a very limited player playing on a beat up team, which in turn allowed their opponent to completely neutralize his one real strength by forcing him into a role he was incapable of playing -- namely taking him off the three-point line and making him create off the dribble offensively (rendering him baffled and ineffective).

If you've got a dominant, healthy Tim and Manu that series, I'm sure Mason would have acquitted himself much better . . .

I have no problem with the Spurs letting him go or Roger and his agent even advocating for a trade -- it's in both parties best interest, imo. The Spurs need a more well-rounded player than Mason and Roger deserves the opportunity to play for his next contract -- it clearly won't be with the Spurs.

well said.

[EricB]

Um, as was discussed in the other thread, it wasn't that. It was Pop's comment that if he could still play someone would have signed him.

Yep, nothing insulting about that. Nevermind the fact that other teams were on record as wanting him, but Bruce instead chose to retire.

And I guess you ignored the part of that thread where LJ shed some light on the Pop-Bowen relationship.

But care on with the defense of Pop, it's what you do best on this site.

Keep on with the Pop bashing its what your laughed at when your not around and what you do best.

[SenorSpur]

Don't see why so many are trying to defend Pop on this. It's not as if he's above being an asshole at times.

[Obstructed_View]

As long as we are talking about the past, the Spurs not giving DA a contract turned out to be one of the best moves this FO ever did. 2001 was his absolute peak and he was pretty damn horrible the rest of his career. The Spurs had to suffer through 2002 but not having DA's bloated contract on the books was a big help ... not to mention it allowed room for Manu to step in and play right away.

At the time I thought letting DA go and getting so little in return was a mistake. But the FO turned out to be 100% right.

We're talking about the past, not about hindsight. If you fall out of a moving car before it happens to be hit by a meteor, it doesn't suddenly make you smart, it just makes you lucky.

[Blackjack]

And in' awesome.

[Mel_13]

We're talking about the past, not about hindsight. If you fall out of a moving car before it happens to be hit by a meteor, it doesn't suddenly make you smart, it just makes you lucky.

Much as having RJ turn into a terrible disappointment doesn't make the FO stupid for making the trade, just unlucky.

[EricB]

And in' awesome.

[Obstructed_View]

Him playing point for an injured Arenas and pretty much getting thrown into the fire was what got him that amount of minutes that season in Washington.

Mason did a really good job IIRC (and no telling with my memory), but I really have a hard time agreeing that stepping in for Gilbert Arenas somehow cons utes running the point. Mason's shown that his strength is shooting off his own dribble. Getting Arenas' minutes fits his game like a glove. Getting Tony Parker's minutes and being expected to penetrate, draw fouls and get the ball to Parker and Manu is not remotely the same thing.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

And in' awesome.

[Chieflion]

Much as having RJ turn into a terrible disappointment doesn't make the FO stupid for making the trade, just unlucky.

No. It is just the Spurs getting the ultimate ass-kicking by the Bucks again.

[Obstructed_View]

Much as having RJ turn into a terrible disappointment doesn't make the FO stupid for making the trade, just unlucky.

Very true. Although a point could be made that expecting him to turn into a defender that could take Bowen's assignments was at very least unrealistic. It's still not too late for RJ, and there's not anybody on this team that couldn't benefit from some urgency. I'm still hoping that the Denver game was a springboard.

[EricB]

Very true. Although a point could be made that expecting him to turn into a defender that could take Bowen's assignments was at very least unrealistic. It's still not too late for RJ, and there's not anybody on this team that couldn't benefit from some urgency. I'm still hoping that the Denver game was a springboard.

Unrealistic, but, with his athleticism, you thought it could be done.

[EricB]

No. It is just the Spurs getting the ultimate ass-kicking by the Bucks again.

??

Trading away a 14 point a game guy for Kurt Thomas was a good trade?

Yeah ok.

[Obstructed_View]

Unrealistic, but, with his athleticism, you thought it could be done.

Losing a defender like Bowen, the options were pretty sparse. One had to hope that his better offense would help offset the defense. Again, it's still not too late for him to turn it around, so in that sense, I still think it could be done.

[timvp]

We're talking about the past, not about hindsight. If you fall out of a moving car before it happens to be hit by a meteor, it doesn't suddenly make you smart, it just makes you lucky.

At the time, the Spurs questioned DA's durability and his work ethic. Turned out they were right.

More than blind luck.

[Chieflion]

??

Trading away a 14 point a game guy for Kurt Thomas was a good trade?

Yeah ok.

It was sarcasm. The Spurs did the right thing at that time. The Bucks got what they want and they do not regret it. And a little play on the Bucks somehow beating the Spurs in regular season games.

[EricB]

Losing a defender like Bowen, the options were pretty sparse. One had to hope that his better offense would help offset the defense. Again, it's still not too late for him to turn it around, so in that sense, I still think it could be done.

Yeah while Bowen played IIURC the threads about the "Bowen replacement" were infinite with guys that were barely NBA level and everyone from you me TIMVP Kori and everyone tried to explain, when Bruce retires, it will be a HUGE hole to fill.

Its like everyone is stating that now and were doing one big no ing duh.

[Mel_13]

Losing a defender like Bowen, the options were pretty sparse. One had to hope that his better offense would help offset the defense. Again, it's still not too late for him to turn it around, so in that sense, I still think it could be done.

This sums it up well.

Even if the defense was average, the reasonable expectation was that he would be a reliable 3rd/4th option on the offense. Since we may never be able to trade him, let's hope for steady improvement during his tenure with the team. This may not be the team we want, but it is the team we have.

[objective]

At the time, the Spurs questioned DA's durability and his work ethic. Turned out they were right.

More than blind luck.

I think they also questioned his loyalty.

[Russ]

No. It is just the Spurs getting the ultimate ass-kicking by the Bucks again.

Ever since the Paul Pressey trade . . .

[EricB]

Ever since the Paul Pressey trade . . .

DAMNT!

Don't remind me of trading Brickowski for that stiff....

[Mr. Body]

Pop screwed things up with Mason. He's the extra scorer we needed, but got in the doghouse.

[Blackjack]

Frank Brickowski ... I loved that dude.

I was watching the Legends Brunch the other day and I couldn't help but be reminded of some of our stellar big men from back in the day (Charles Smith was there -- I'm still pissed how the media lead me to believe they were acquiring Oakley).

[EricB]

Frank Brickowski ... I loved that dude.

I was watching the Legends Brunch the other day and I couldn't help but be reminded of some of our stellar big men from back in the day (Charles Smith was there -- I'm still pissed how the media lead me to believe they were acquiring Oakley).

Yeah but still, they got him for JR Reid and Brad freaking Lohaus....

Although Charles Smith getting pissed at Bob Hill and turning over the gatorade Table though cause his knees wouldn't let him play anymore is funny to think about kinda...