Sorry to say but Bowen should just focus on his businesses

[Buddy Holly]

I don't mean that literally, but it's evident that he's no longer, Bowen. I like what Pop's doing in not playing him much anymore. Some will say it's because Pop is more offensively focused and they may be right. Whatever the reason, Pop needs to bench him already. The time has come.

[Harry Callahan]

Father time waits for no one. The Spurs are a sieve defensively right now.

[timvp]

Bowen was actually not that bad tonight. He defended Wade much better than anyone else who was put on him. Wade made Udoka look like Bonner was on him. RMJ had decent success.

Truth is, the Spurs can't win the championship without Bowen being at least 90% of his regular self. If he's done, then this team should start reading some more of Ghost Writer's posts.

That said, I've seen enough the last two games to think that Bowen still has some juice. He's still in defrosting mode but I finally see some glimpses of the real Bowen.

[Buddy Holly]

I didn't mean he should be shut down or inactive, just benched and in a reduced role.

[timvp]

I didn't mean he should be shut down or inactive, just benched and in a reduced role.Bowen is only useful defending the other team's best player and setting the defensive tone for the game. You bring him off the bench and he becomes pretty much useless.

If the Spurs would have listened and signed someone like Quinton Ross who can halfway replicate what Bowen can do, the Spurs would have other options. But they gave Finley $5M instead so I see no other choice than to keep starting Bowen and live or die with what he gives you.

[Kori Ellis]

Bowen struggles almost every November. He's looked better in the last two games than the previous few. I'm going to wait on him before making a judgment.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I am not throwing the towel for Bowen yet. It's early, and Pop has some lineup issues that require him to make some pragmatic coaching decisions. The consequences of which means Bowen will get less playing time. It makes no sense to play your 37 year old defensive stopper when your backcourt is completely depleted and you have a bunch of young undersized players that need experience in the system.

[Buddy Holly]

I agree that judgments shouldn't be made so early but from just watching all the games so far, I just don't see Bowen of any time before. His corner is worse than terrible. His defense, although best on the team isn't saying much and he just looks off.

Maybe that'll change with time and I hope it does but if it doesn't, well, give someone else those minutes.

[Buddy Holly]

It just reminds me of Horry. One season he's critical to our success the next he's down right bad and getting worse and now he's semi-retired.

[Kori Ellis]

Eh.. he didn't look that bad defensively in preseason. And I'm used to seeing his shot struggle at the beginning of each year. Bowen has always been someone who improves as the season goes on. Word from training camp was that he was still beating everyone's ass, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. By January if he's struggling, I'd be worried.

[SequSpur]

Bowen sucks. Bowen is done. You guys need to get out of the past and watch a game today.

The Spurs are 1 and 4 and Bowen is a huge contributor or noncontributor depending on how you look at it.

Bowen in the game tonight would've led to a 30 point lead. Bowen out, the Spurs cut it to eight and made a run at it.

The Spurs need to retool this team and Bowen's spot is one of the main problems.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

lol spurs cut it to 8 without Duncan as well

Bowen has not been given the chance to do his thing, and his function in the spurs system offensively is impaired with a missing ginobili, and especially so with a missing parker.

[Spurminator]

The game was 9-9 when Bowen was pulled. The Heat never looked back. Just saying.

[knee-knee-3]

It's too early to give up on Bowen. It's time to give up on Bonner. It's time to pray for Hill and Vaughn.

[timvp]

The game was 9-9 when Bowen was pulled. The Heat never looked back. Just saying.

Good point. 15-0 run by the Heat after Bowen came out of the game.

[itzsoweezee]

But they gave Finley $5M instead

are you serious? jesus christ. the front office is run by fucking morons. i can't believe this shit.

[underdawg]

Bowen was actually not that bad tonight. He defended Wade much better than anyone else who was put on him. Wade made Udoka look like Bonner was on him. RMJ had decent success.

Truth is, the Spurs can't win the championship without Bowen being at least 90% of his regular self. If he's done, then this team should start reading some more of Ghost Writer's posts.

That said, I've seen enough the last two games to think that Bowen still has some juice. He's still in defrosting mode but I finally see some glimpses of the real Bowen.

Udoka had a couple of good defensive stops against wade, but you're right Bowen did look like his normal self tonight - even if he wasn't that effective. Bowen's going to be fine and I think KT will be ok too - he had some decent plays tonight too. This team needs to find their identity now without TP and Manu.

[bdictjames]

Pop actually needs to play Bruce more. I feel more comfortable with our defense with him on the floor.

[Slippy]

Bowen didn't play that badly at all from the handful of mins that he did get. His defense on Wade was the best from the lot. The problem was he hardly played. He seems to have fallen out of favour with Pop. More offensive punch is probably the reason so far but for this game why not play him more in the second half. The spurs were getting a ton of open three's, while Wade was cutting sick on the other end. They needed to make in-roads into the margin and Bowen was the best man for the job. Didn't make much sense condsidering the mins Fin got. Go figure?

[mexicanjunior]

Bowen seemed better tonight but his shot is still off and his foot speed just isn't good enough to compete anymore. I was glad Pop gave Farmer, Mason, Tolliver and Hill so much run in the 2nd half. This needs to be the starting 5 while Parker and Manu are out...

If the Spurs don't make a major move before the February deadline to help Duncan with rebounding and interior defense...might as well give him the rest of the year off and start scouting the NCAA...

[Biernutz]

Bowen is getting old in basketball years and it takes more to get on track now. He has played a lot of games with out a break. he still does not look like Horry did last year. Horry never looked like he got loose with that stiff leg thing. Pop is probably starting to manage his time on the floor now.

[mrspurs]

This has nothing todo with Bruce. Some people dont have a clue. Bruce hasnt even played much and thats why we're losing games. We never have been a team that used 1 or 2 guys to win it all. We were a team that won it all. Without a team, the guys who struggle are guys like Bruce. The specialists are the players who suffer when the team isnt working right. If anything, what good does Ime do for the spurs? Bruce's so called replacement isnt nowhere near as good as most thought. Ime will never be as good as Bruce and Ime isnt gonna get better. Keep bringing in so so players and soon thats all you'll have is so so players. Without a doubt Bruce lost a big step last season for the first time. Some saw that, others refused. This losing thing shouldnt be put on one player whos playing. It should be put on the whole team thats playing. We win together, we lose together. You dont make excuses of come up with the.....what if's....you take your medicine and go out and play......Smart. Smart could mean looking for the lottery for the sake of your fans and the future of Tony.

[mrspurs]

Pop actually needs to play Bruce more. I feel more comfortable with our defense with him on the floor.

Hello someone knows basketball. Bruce is the best defender we have on the court. Pop knows what Bruce can do,(even thou he lost a step) but he has to see what the other guys can do. And this is the perfect scenario to do it. Now there is no pressure on any of the guys really. Just go out and make plays. If you cant make plays with Timmy on your team, then you will be exposed.

[SequSpur]

Bowen is 37 going on a 100. Come on!