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Glad to know I'm not the only one who got lost in San Antonio before I figured my way around.
Spurs' Mason more interested in where he's heading
Jeff McDonald
In a brief but meandering career that has taken him from Toronto to Chicago to Washington to San Antonio, Roger Mason Jr. has learned much about the game of basketball.
He has also been reminded of another game he's been playing since childhood.
“Guys play musical chairs all the time,” Mason said. “It's just part of the league.”
What Mason really means is musical teams and musical cities, and in a five-year NBA career, he has become adept at playing it.
That's why tonight's preseason game between Mason's new team, the Spurs, and his most recent former team, the Wizards, carries little nostalgia for him. At least six times a year, he is sure to look across the floor during the regular season and see a uniform he used to don.
“I've done it before,” said Mason, who signed a two-year deal with the Spurs in July. “When I was with Washington, I played against Chicago. When I was with Chicago, I played against Toronto. It's just part of the league.”
Mason spent the past two seasons with Washington, his hometown team. He enjoyed a career breakthrough last season, averaging 9.1 points after injuries to Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels resulted in increased playing time for him.
Yet Mason won't waste much time ruminating on any of that tonight. Tonight's preseason game at the AT&T Center will be like the previous five he's played in a Spurs jersey.
His aim is still to learn the Spurs' system, and earn his minutes.
The Spurs expect Mason to play a key role on the wing this season, especially with Manu Ginobili likely to miss the first month of the season recovering from ankle surgery.
“I'm still trying to get adjusted,” said Mason, a 6-foot-5 guard. “For me, it's another opportunity to get out there, and another opportunity to learn. I'm looking at it like that.
“I'm not really looking at it as (playing) my old team.”
The adjustments are coming one day at a time for Mason, not all of them relegated to the basketball court.
His move to San Antonio, in every way, is still a work in progress.
He's moved into a new house near Stone Oak, for instance, but still drives a car with Maryland plates.
Sometimes, he spends more time in that car than he cares to admit.
“I've been around (Loop) 1604 a few times,” Mason said. “I've done a few laps by accident.”
Mason's gas-guzzling excursions aside, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been impressed with how quickly the 28-year-old has transitioned to a new environment.
“Roger's had a great training camp,” Popovich said. “He's been a big-time scorer in camp. He's learned the defense. He passes to the open man. Again, a great teammate.
“He's been outstanding, and we're thrilled we were able to bring him here.”
Still, Mason hasn't yet begun to reap one of the major benefits that caused him to sign with the Spurs in the first place: All the open looks sure to come with a Hall of Fame big man distracting defenses.
Tim Duncan has sat out two preseason games, and played less than 18 minutes in two others, so Mason's floor time with the All-Star forward has been minimal.
“Playing with the big fella makes a big difference,” said Mason, who has averaged 7.8 points in four preseason appearances. “It's a whole different ball game out there.”
With two preseason games to go, culminating with Friday's exhibition finale against Miami, look for Popovich to begin to play more of his regulars, giving them a chance to get acclimated with each other.
Starting with Mason.
“It's just a matter of giving (the veterans) the correct minutes so they're in good enough shape come game time,” Popovich said. “And that some of the new guys, who we think are going to get minutes, are on the court so they get used to the core players.”
Mason should see plenty of minutes tonight against a team he knows well. When he looks at his friends on the opposing bench, Mason won't be thinking so much of where he's been, but where he's ended up.
If life in the NBA is one big game of musical chairs, in San Antonio, Mason feels like he's already won.
“I've got a seat right now,” Mason said, “so I'm happy.”
^^ "camp" in that context means the practices.
Great news“Roger's had a great training camp,” Popovich said. “He's been a big-time scorer in camp. He's learned the defense. He passes to the open man. Again, a great teammate.
“He's been outstanding, and we're thrilled we were able to bring him here.”
The Spurs really, really need Mason to be better than expected.
don't be cheap Mace... buy a GPS!
I hope Mason can bring the energy off the bench while Manu is still out.
I have a good feeling about this guy. I hope that feeling is correct.
I think according to one of his training camp diary videos, he said he does have some sort of navigating device in his car. Maybe he just didn't believe it.don't be cheap Mace... buy a GPS!
i can't wait to see this guy play, Wahoowa!
-Mars
Where have you been all this time, Mars?
we just have to be patient..he still needs to learn the system, and he still needs to get accustomed to playing with Tim, Tony and Manu when he returns..Mason was extremely solid in replacing Gilbert last year, but we need patience..he's also a STREAKY shooter, so we're going to see some inconsistency from his shooting, just like we see with Manu, and especially with Finley..
Pop said he's learnED the defense? Wow -- good news.
I wonder if his time in training camp last year will help his learning curve of the system.
I wasn't really high on this signing when it happened. I thought it wasn't a bad signing, but not was I was hoping for. However, having watched this guy play a few times with the team I'm convinced that he'll be a contributor and will make us better.
Good to know that Mason is quickly learning the system, especially D. I hope he can be a big scoring punch through the season.
And who hasn't taken a few spins down 1604 (or 410) just for the fun of it?
I havent seen him play at all. I just trusted Pop & Co. when he said theyve had their eye on him, same goes w/ Hill. I AM glad to hear good things about him from someone that has actually seen him play w/ his new teammates.
He looks pretty good. He was sold to me as just a spot-up shooter type but he seems craftier with the ball than I think he received credit for. He has a decent handle on the game though and doesn't look bad handling the PG slot. If paired with a guy like Hill or Stoudamire he could definitely help in handling the PG duties. Or he might even come into play with Tony, allowing him to play off the ball more.
I hope we finally have a guy who rips his old team a new one (Fin dog has done ok)
On the heels of the anticipated Corey Maggette signing, the Mason signing was kind of "first-glance" letdown. Especially to those of us who didn't know who the this kid was.
I've not seen the guy play either, but I like what I've heard. I figure if Pop and staff had their eye on him for a while, I can keep an open mind about him. I hope he exceeds expectations. Appreciate the "live-look" insight.
Last edited by SenorSpur; 10-22-2008 at 12:01 PM.
Dittos to all who think that Mason will be a contributor. I believe he will be, too. But time will tell. So far so good - being better at handling the rock and picking up on the system are +s. As Timvp has already stated as well as many others we will need for him to really contribute this season. Needs to plug Manu's hole until he comes back.
When I lived there, the only things on 1604 were County Line barbecue, Sea World and that deserted mall where they were originally going to build Sea World. They started building Fiesta Texas before I left.
I hope he hasn't driven allllllll the way around 1604 cause that's a long ass drive LOL
Damn sure is. Used to make that drive around the loop when I was joyriding as a teenager. It's quite long.
With his awesome ass ride, you'd think he'd have a working gps.
If he can shoot well and handle the ball well, expectations should be met.
His rebounding is almost non-existent from what I read. Hopefully someone else on the wing can contribute in that regard.
Popovich is something of a straight shooter, and not prone to Phil Jackson-esque head games. But occasionally, you can catch him in subliminal ploys. 2008's camp has seen the words "score," "scorer" or "scoring" cross his lips quite a bit. It's not head game, but he is trying to set a mood and make his shooters comfortable letting it fly. For a variety of reason, I think this will be the highest scoring team of the Popovich era. That's my big prediction, at least.^^ "camp" in that context means the practices.
Great news
The Spurs really, really need Mason to be better than expected.
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