What Happen to Roger Mason Jr.

[ElNono]

The upside is that he can't be playing any worse. I've set my expectation so low with him at this point that whenever he hits a shot he makes me laugh.

Can't get rid of that deadweight quick enough.

[SCdac]

I have nothing crazy personal against him, he was big for us last season (and I have no reason to think he won't be good for another team), but he's really turned into a unreliable black hole out there. 2-5, 3-9, 1-4, those are the kinds of lines I expect out of him nowadays. The combination of low minutes per game, dropping in the totem pole, and probably some eagerness to play for his next contract, all contributes to the fact that Mason shoots very many times when the ball is in his hands more than once in a single possession. You can almost tell when a shot is coming, can see it in Mason's eyes so to speak. I agree it's never to late to get out of a shooting slump, but by this point if I'm Mason I'd be using those driving/slashing skills I practiced so much in the off season more often. I'd be doing my best George Hill/Manu Ginobili impressions and trying to gain more minutes, gettin to the line showing the team how efficient and clutch of a FT shooter I am. That kind of mentality has been working well for... Matt Bonner. And I'm not even a fan of his. Matt from the first half of the season was a gunner, didn't have the confidence in his in between game after missing that buzzer beating hook, BUT it hasn't stopped him from now taking the ball off the dribble every game and not being defined as just "a three point shooter". That's what we need from Roger. Not 5 pick-and-pops, and bricks, and that's it.

[MaNu4Tres]

Jaren faded into obscurity after he signed his big free agent contract.

Him not doing a damn thing after his 3 year deal worth 9 million reward for the 99' run was the reason why Spurs were skeptical at giving Stephen Jackson the 4-5 year deal worth 20-22 million after the 03' le unfortunately.

[jjktkk]

Him not doing a damn thing after his 3 year deal worth 9 million reward for the 99' run was the reason why Spurs were skeptical at giving Stephen Jackson the 4-5 year deal worth 20-22 million after the 03' le unfortunately.

Not quite. The Spurs also knew they had Manu waiting in the wings and that Manu was gonna need to be resigned.

[MaNu4Tres]

Not quite. The Spurs also knew they had Manu waiting in the wings and that Manu was gonna need to be resigned.

Not quite. That off-season they signed Rasho to a 48 million dollar contract and picked up Ron Mercer's last year worth 7 million.

Not to mention giving Brent Barry exactly what Stephen Jackson wanted the following year.

Them not signing Jackson had nothing to do with resigning Manu.

[MaNu4Tres]

If that is true then the front office is really stupid

since that isn't the case because they seem to constantly get good players... so much so that a throw away...Theo can be a difference maker on another teams home stretch ...

the establish reason as why they didn't sign Jackson has to do with a guy name Jason Kidd....

Jackson was spiting major minutes all year with Manu and eve more so in the play offs...



but good story bro...

Jason Kidd was the first domino to fall that off-season. The Jackson negotiations didn't began until Kidd made his decision as with the rest of the negotiations.

[Ditty]

hairston>mason

pop needs to relize that if mason aint hitting nothing hes no use hes slow and lazy on rotations but not a bad one on one defender but besides that hes no use besides making shots

[Obstructed_View]

He had two years with 100 plus trey made and he made 50 in the shortened season.

So, no Mason shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as this lump

Jaren was a big part of a le run, so that seems perfectly fair to me. I'm disappointed that JJ didn't continue to play to his potential, but I'm still grateful that he stepped up for a while, because it was so huge for the Spurs.

[Obstructed_View]

Him not doing a damn thing after his 3 year deal worth 9 million reward for the 99' run was the reason why Spurs were skeptical at giving Stephen Jackson the 4-5 year deal worth 20-22 million after the 03' le unfortunately.

I agree.

[dbestpro]

Mason's problems began the day he started trying to be something he is not, that being a point guard. His game collapsed last year as he tried to man the point. When left as a catch and shoot shooting guard he was an integral part of the team. Trying to make up for last year he focused his off season on driving to the basket. This again affected his catch and shoot game. If RMJ is left to be a catch and shoot three point specialist who occasionally has the ball in his hands then he can be very valuable (aka the microwave). Ask him to do more and his entire game suffers. When his game suffers the Spurs suffer.

[TJastal]

Mason's problems began the day he started trying to be something he is not, that being a point guard. His game collapsed last year as he tried to man the point. When left as a catch and shoot shooting guard he was an integral part of the team. Trying to make up for last year he focused his off season on driving to the basket. This again affected his catch and shoot game. If RMJ is left to be a catch and shoot three point specialist who occasionally has the ball in his hands then he can be very valuable (aka the microwave). Ask him to do more and his entire game suffers. When his game suffers the Spurs suffer.

Well its not like the spurs have a choice right now, last year it was because Pop refused to play George Hill, this year its because everybody and their brothers, nieces and nephews is injured.

[5in10]

Well maybe with the injury to George hill is a blessing in disguise. Maybe we can finally get mason rolling with the extra playing time. If he finally gets rolling with the rest of the team, its going to make the team even harder to play defense against with the spacing issues gh3,manu,Bonner, and mason provide.

[BillMc]

NO a young Finley was an all star

Of course, you're right. Young Fin was great.

What I meant was Mason was like a younger version of our OLD Finley who wanted more playing time even though he couldn't hit a shot.

[mingus]

he was better last year when he looked a little thicker. he def. lost some weight coming into the season and maybe that's affected his shot. it's either that or confidence. but can you have no confidence for a whole year? i don't believe that. i think the weight loss hurt him. either way he just sucks. it's crazy how he looked like he could be a key player off the bench (or maybe even starting, w/ Ginobili off the bench) last year, and now he looks like he doesn't even belong in the NBA. i mean he did absolutely nothing other than bring the ball up against LA. any d-league guard could do that.

[phxspurfan]

I think he has poor form. Chip was brought in to help the jump shooters. His shoulder-fire, on-the-run jumper should be the next project, along with Hill.

No matter how hot you get -- for the most part -- if you have poor form the odds will catch up with you and you will go a ridiculous cold streak.

[Spurs7794]

I don't think he needs to get with Chip. He needs a new team where his confidence will come back. In 08-09, he came here with no expectations and proceeded to play GREAT where every off balance shot and buzzer beater felt like it was going to go in. Then Pop played him at pg (because George Hill clearly wasn't ready for the playoffs ) and Mason started to struggle and ended up playing bad in the playoffs.
Then this year happens and he watches Finley start the first couple of games for no reason, and then get replaced with Bogans as the starter and he's gotta be thinking "WTF". Annnnd his confidence plummeted. Then he asks for a trade, Finley leaves the team, Parker gets injured and suddenly, minutes are just dropping onto him annnnnd he promptly shoots 1/10 against Cleveland. And thus, the complete removal of Roger Mason Jr.'s confidence.

[TJastal]

I think he has poor form. Chip was brought in to help the jump shooters. His shoulder-fire, on-the-run jumper should be the next project, along with Hill.

No matter how hot you get -- for the most part -- if you have poor form the odds will catch up with you and you will go a ridiculous cold streak.

Have you ever watched Matt Bonner shoot a basketball? That's got to easily take the cake of worst form on the team.

[JR3]

I hope Roger Missin Jr. Turns it around soon. We can use a few corner 3s since Hill will be out the next couple of games.

[TJastal]

I don't think he needs to get with Chip. He needs a new team where his confidence will come back. In 08-09, he came here with no expectations and proceeded to play GREAT where every off balance shot and buzzer beater felt like it was going to go in. Then Pop played him at pg (because George Hill clearly wasn't ready for the playoffs ) and Mason started to struggle and ended up playing bad in the playoffs.
Then this year happens and he watches Finley start the first couple of games for no reason, and then get replaced with Bogans as the starter and he's gotta be thinking "WTF". Annnnd his confidence plummeted. Then he asks for a trade, Finley leaves the team, Parker gets injured and suddenly, minutes are just dropping onto him annnnnd he promptly shoots 1/10 against Cleveland. And thus, the complete removal of Roger Mason Jr.'s confidence.

Yup, its a lack of confidence and insecurity about his role and minutes I think that is causing him to rush shots and misfire. He went from 45% last year to under 40% this year.

He's got till the end of the season to prove he still has some confidence going forth into the playoffs (and his ball handling is sorely needed)

[Obstructed_View]

What Mason needs most to snap out of his shooting slump is to take one step closer to the basket. He was expected to be a good 20 foot shooter when he joined the team, and his three point shooting last year was a pleasant surprise. He should go back to what he knows and then try to increase his range once he gets his touch back.