How to get Mason going

[Osiagledknarf]

I am beginning to really get frustrated with Mason. He has had two real good games this season and really has been average to below average in the others. Those two games I noticed that they put him on the post. I think going forward, Mason needs to be put on the post not out in the 15 foot plus range is where we seem to see him a lot.

I think we need to do this to get him going. Thoughts?

[DukeUsul]

It's going to be really hard for Mason to get too many minutes in the post the way Zoubek and Thomas have been dominating on defense and on the boards.

[greybeard]

I'd have to think that both would do very well in a high-low configuration.

However, conventional hi-low play--two man ball between them (the high guy catching and looking to fed the low, either behind the defender if he fronts, or in front if the defender protects the basket), having them set screens for one another, having them rotate to make receptions--is incompatible with the principal role Duke's bigs play in the offense, which is setting screens for the big three.

How to get either in the flow in the current set, which has Mason and Lance playing high but not on the foul line, I think might best be cracked by my previous suggestion. You get the older brother some baskets, the team's leaders make that a priority and commit to succeeding, I think is the best chance to jump start both of them. If Miles gets going, his kid brother just might follow.

This is just a guess. Tough problem.

[CrazieDUMB]

I am beginning to really get frustrated with Mason. He has had two real good games this season and really has been average to below average in the others. Those two games I noticed that they put him on the post. I think going forward, Mason needs to be put on the post not out in the 15 foot plus range is where we seem to see him a lot.

I would say that's not a very accurate use of the word average. Maybe, at this point in his career, he's just not that good. He hasn't been able to fully develop his talents and athleticism.

As for working in the post, it's tough for our offense to run two real post players, and given Z's production down low let's just be happy we've got one guy that can do the job.

Mason will come along, I just doubt it's going to happen significantly this year; he will, however, give us some decent production for a bench player. I hope I'm wrong and he becomes a beast, but that may be a year or two away.

[CDu]

Mason hasn't really shown any back-to-the-basket game to this point. If anything, he's looked much more comfortable getting the ball 15+ feet from the basket and attacking from there. So I don't think that dumping the ball to him in the post is a great idea. By contrast, Zoubek is much more comfortable catching it with his back to the basket.

Ultimately, I don't know that there's really a sure-fire way to "get Mason going" this year. He's fairly raw offensively. I think the bigger thing is to get him to understand where to be on the floor (offensively and defensively) and to stop fouling so much. But at this point, I think his major offensive contributions this season are going to come off of offensive rebounds, pick and rolls, and breakaways. That's not a bad thing - he can be a real difference-maker in that way.

[DukeUsul]

If I were to try to get Mason more offensive touches, I'd utilize him in the screen and roll. Scheyer passing to him as he rolls off a pick cutting to the basket might be the best way to "make a shot" for him. And it puts him in the face-to-the-basket situation he seems more comfortable in.

[Jderf]

I agree that Mason could probably use a few pick n roll plays designed to set him up for easy buckets. But personally, I'd say the thing Mason needs most is time. He is still a freshman and while the potential is obviously there, he needs this off-season with the coaching staff to work on polishing his game (learning where he needs to be on defense, footwork, stop reaching, etc.). Only then will he see a huge increase in playing time and thereby increase in production (more awareness, more savvy, etc.).

That's not knocking his contributions this season; I think he's been great. (Remember that reverse dunk vs UNC that completely turned the game around?) I'm just saying that the biggest strides we're going to see will be between this season and next season and not right before March (see: Miles Plumlee).

[Grta]

I was disappointed in all the freshmen. They missed all their shots. 0 for 7 I think!

[oldnavy]

I was disappointed in all the freshmen. They missed all their shots. 0 for 7 I think!

Be patient with these guys. They are all going to develop into impact players. The shots I have seen that they have missed were for the most part good shots. Andre for one had a very good look in the corner, but didn't seem to get set and it missed a little to the left, he also had one that went in and came back out from close range. I believe that has to do with the pace of his game. He is running a little hot right now and will slow down with more experience. Mason, pretty much the same. Very few what I would call bad shots. For comparisom, look at Zeller at UNC. Zeller throws up some really stupid shots. Our boys shots are, for the most part good shots within the flow of the offense. I do think they rush a little, but that is easily fixable as they get more and more PT. Ryan, has a beautiful shooting stroke, and again with more time, he will be an impact player.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I am beginning to really get frustrated with Mason. He has had two real good games this season and really has been average to below average in the others. Those two games I noticed that they put him on the post. I think going forward, Mason needs to be put on the post not out in the 15 foot plus range is where we seem to see him a lot.

I think we need to do this to get him going. Thoughts?

Mason is a freshman. Big men are notoriously slow to develop. He's got to follow his own learning curve. I'm willing to be patient because he's working hard and learning as the season progresses.

[duke=legacy]

Ryan would have had the dunk yesterday if he hadn't been fouled (with no call).

[roywhite]

A few points on Mason and the freshmen:

The usual difficult transition for freshmen to a high level program like Duke has been even harder for Mason (broken wrist) and Andre (late enrollment, not part of summer program, family tragedy).

The outstanding play of upperclassmen has put them ahead of freshmen in the rotation. Honestly, Lance and Brian are exceeding expectations.

Tournament time, especially the ACC Tournament, is often a time where a freshman can play a key role in a game or two.

All three of our freshmen can be excellent players; hard work and continued development is the key.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Ryan would have had the dunk yesterday if he hadn't been fouled (with no call).

How that was not called a foul is a mystery to me.

Miles has a couple of nice buckets yesterday, which was nice to see. Mason missed another ally-oop dunk, hitting the rim. At least it was the inside of the rim this time I don't know whether they (the Plumlees) are rushing the dunks or if they are nervous or if there is something else bothering them when they try to dunk, but it sure would help if they could get those through the net for a score.

[ChicagoCrazy84]

Mason is a freshman. Big men are notoriously slow to develop. He's got to follow his own learning curve. I'm willing to be patient because he's working hard and learning as the season progresses.

They're slow to develop unless your name is DeMarcus Cousins. Even Greg Monroe had some growing pains last year! Anyways, I have been disappointed, but I am slowly learning to be patient with Mason (not so much Andre). With so many big guys in our rotation, 2 of them being seniors, I think it is difficult for him to progress like we all want him to. Look at Cole Aldrich! His freshman year was so similar to Mason this year and Cole didn't miss a chunk of time with a wrist injury. Cole didn't foul as much as Mason, but his minutes, points, and rebounds were quite similar. We'll see progress from Mason, just not this year. I see no reason why Mason can't develop a good all-around offensive game as soon as he learns how to take contact.

[Devilsfan]

Good point about Monroe. He has really come on this year and I finally see what our staff saw two years ago. Mason is similar to McRob but I think will be alot better maybe by next year. I hope Ryan is another Zoubeck and develops in a year or two. He would of had a dunk last night if he were stronger and quicker regardless of the fact that he was fouled. I hope he has the meaness (toughness) to play inside in the ACC. The strength will come.

[OldPhiKap]

A few points on Mason and the freshmen:

The usual difficult transition for freshmen to a high level program like Duke has been even harder for Mason (broken wrist) and Andre (late enrollment, not part of summer program, family tragedy).

The outstanding play of upperclassmen has put them ahead of freshmen in the rotation. Honestly, Lance and Brian are exceeding expectations.

Tournament time, especially the ACC Tournament, is often a time where a freshman can play a key role in a game or two.

All three of our freshmen can be excellent players; hard work and continued development is the key.

DING DING DING! We have a winner.

The point about the ACC tourney is especially important as we will (hopefully) have three games in three days followed by a NCAA game on Thursday or Friday. I think you will see a lot of minutes for these guys, and a great opportunity to step it up for the final push.

But all the points above are worth re-reading.

[theAlaskanBear]

They're slow to develop unless your name is DeMarcus Cousins. Even Greg Monroe had some growing pains last year! Anyways, I have been disappointed, but I am slowly learning to be patient with Mason (not so much Andre). With so many big guys in our rotation, 2 of them being seniors, I think it is difficult for him to progress like we all want him to. Look at Cole Aldrich! His freshman year was so similar to Mason this year and Cole didn't miss a chunk of time with a wrist injury. Cole didn't foul as much as Mason, but his minutes, points, and rebounds were quite similar. We'll see progress from Mason, just not this year. I see no reason why Mason can't develop a good all-around offensive game as soon as he learns how to take contact.

Why would you be patient with Mason and not Andre??? Andre isn't allowed to struggle his freshman year?

[Chitowndevil]

Honestly I don't think Mason's offense is the problem. In my opinion the motion offense Duke is running right now is actually better suited to Mason's skill set than the offense earlier in the season. His biggest problem is committing silly fouls on defense, which is really cutting into his minutes, together with some careless turnovers. As others have said he is making a lot of freshman mistakes.

Just tossing out a few numbers, in the last 2 games, Mason has committed 6 fouls in only 19 minutes played. From the Georgetown game onward, he's committed 26 fouls in 125 total minutes played, or 8.3 fouls per 40 minutes. For comparison, Zoubek, who was ridiculously foul prone earlier in the season, has committed 12 fouls in 103 total minutes played over Duke's last four games, or 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes. (Yet another aspect of Zoubek's game that's gotten drastically better!)

[GODUKEGO]

I was disappointed in all the freshmen. They missed all their shots. 0 for 7 I think!

You are right 0-7, points 1, rebounds 2 against Tulsa.
0-7, 0 points and 1 rebound VA Tech.

We better stay injury free and out of foul trouble for the upcoming tournaments!!

[noyac]

The thing alot of people forget about young big men is that most of them have grown quite a few inches in the previous years and it takes time for them to get used to this change.

Mason has all of the tools I just think he needs to get used to his body.