The Mask

[wadesworld]

For anybody who maybe works in the medical professional field and would have a better idea and/or has had to wear a mask while playing basketball, does it actually prevent anything/help?

I don't even care whether it is causing Markus to shoot worse or whatever (I'd personally imagine it'd be annoying as heck to try to play with on).  But what does it do?  I mean, if you take a hit to the nose with it on, the mask is just going to get pushed into the nose and it'll hurt like heck anyway (as we saw last night).  And wouldn't getting hit directly by the arm/elbow at least have a little bit of cushion on it, vs. having the hard mask pushed directly into it?  Plus, if you get hit somewhere else on the mask (say cheek or forehead), that'll still push the mask into your face and hit the nose, whereas your nose wouldn't have been touched without it.

If it were like the full on hockey cage mask where it's multiple inches off your face then yeah, it'd help because nothing would get to your nose to hit it.  But it seems to me the hard mask just gets pushed into the nose anyway, no?

I guess I'm just wondering, does it even help?

[Nukem2]

No doc her, but it certainly has to affect one's play.  Certainly peripheral vision is affected.  Markus dribbled the ball off his foot several times last night as he was moving around out on top.  His step back jumper has not been very good since the mask.  Just my take.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I should think there is a gap between his nose and the mask and the mask only touches the face, so if bumped in the mask, the hit is only distributed through his face and not the nose. 

[Jamo]

Markus is 11-18 from the FT line last 3 games. Clearly impacting him.

[wadesworld]

I should think there is a gap between his nose and the mask and the mask only touches the face, so if bumped in the mask, the hit is only distributed through his face and not the nose.

This makes sense.  So last night it hurt him because the mask got pulled down on his face, so the hard part of the mask did end up making contact with his nose, whereas if it was just getting hit straight on by an elbow or something the mask (at least in theory) never makes contact with the nose.

[CTWarrior]

Markus is 11-18 from the FT line last 3 games. Clearly impacting him.

I have to say, I don't know why a mask would affect your foul shooting.  Looking straight ahead, same distance as always.  I bet Markus could make 11-18 with his eyes closed in practice.  I get where it would impact you peripheral vision for live game play however.

[We R Final Four]

I thought I remember that some players in the past who have worn masks, would slide them to the top of their head for FTs. Anyone else recall seeing this? I think it was NBA in the 70s/80s.
MH hasn't warmed up with it on, he takes it off on the bench sometimes, so he clearly doesn't want to wear it more than he has to. The mask appears to be negatively impacting his FTs and 3s.

[Lighthouse 84]

I thought I remember that some players in the past who have worn masks, would slide them to the top of their head for FTs. Anyone else recall seeing this? I think it was NBA in the 70s/80s.
MH hasn't warmed up with it on, he takes it off on the bench sometimes, so he clearly doesn't want to wear it more than he has to. The mask appears to be negatively impacting his FTs and 3s.

I remember someone taking off their goggles to shoot free throws.  Moses Malone?  Kareem?

[We R Final Four]

That was probably it.

[CTWarrior]

I thought I remember that some players in the past who have worn masks, would slide them to the top of their head for FTs. Anyone else recall seeing this? I think it was NBA in the 70s/80s.
MH hasn't warmed up with it on, he takes it off on the bench sometimes, so he clearly doesn't want to wear it more than he has to. The mask appears to be negatively impacting his FTs and 3s.

Those guys wore goggles that covered their eyes, not masks.  The mask does not cover Markus' eyes.  You guys may be right, but I think it may be coincidence.  He has not been getting as good looks the last several games and I think that has the biggest impact on his three point shooting.

If it is the mask, he should practice pregame with it on.

[mileskishnish72]

I think he's been off since he hit the chair.

[Loose Cannon]

Markus is 11-18 from the FT line last 3 games. Clearly impacting him.

This is a strong indicator for me, Im in this camp.

[4everwarriors]

Wooda bin bedder ta just amputate da snaaz, aina?

[Johnny B]

Wooda bin bedder ta just amputate da snaaz, aina?

Voldemort style

[lawdog77]

new mask for Markus

[Johnny B]

Markus after nose removal:

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Just get rid of damn mask. We need Markus to play like he can.

[keefe]

Markus needs to man up and go bare back. Frankly, it's the only way to go.

[muguru]

Just get rid of damn mask. We need Markus to play like he can.

Aaaaand he will play today without it...

https://twitter.com/MarquetteMBB/status/1231249975511744512?s=20