Spurs' Answer To J.J. Barea? Bruce Bowen

[duncan228]

Spurs' answer to J.J. Barea? Bruce Bowen (http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/spurs-answer-to-jj-barea-bruce-bowen.html)
Tim MacMahon
Dallas Morning News

Starting J.J. Barea in the second half of Game 1 was a stroke of genius by Rick Carlisle. But Gregg Popovich had an answer in Game 2.

The Spurs also tweaked their starting lineup at the beginning of the second half last night, putting Bruce Bowen on the floor instead of Roger Mason. That change played a major role in the Spurs putting the game away, stretching their lead from 11 to 25 in the eight minutes Barea played in the quarter.

Bowen's presence on the floor meant Tony Parker didn't have to chase Barea around on defense. Barea, who was such a spectacular sparkplug in Game 1, made only one of six shots during his third-quarter stint.

It's not that Bowen, who has lost a step since his days as one of the league's elite defenders, locked down the little Puerto Rican. Barea got good penetration five times in the quarter, but big men Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner prevented Barea from capitalizing on those opportunities. He missed four contested shots after getting inside -- two of which were blocked by Duncan -- and committed a turnover after making a poor decision when he was swarmed under the basket.

Parker, having saved some energy while guarding Jason Kidd (only one post-up?), pick-and-rolled the Mavs to death on the other end. He turned the corner too quickly, and when the Mavs made him give the ball up, their defensive rotations were too slow. The pesky Barea was no match for Parker at his best. Carlisle, after calling a timeout in an effort to halt an 8-0 Spurs run, went to a 2-3 zone, which didn't work any better.

Carlisle fooled Popovich with a curveball in Game 2. Pop knew it was coming last night, and he hit it out of the park.

[tp2021]

Carlisle fooled Popovich with a curveball in Game 2. Pop knew it was coming last night, and he hit it out of the park.Does he mean Game 1?

[DPG21920]

Was waiting for this article.

[SA210]

It's not that Bowen, who has lost a step since his days as one of the league's elite defenders, locked down the little Puerto Rican.


:pctoss

This is crap, and I hate when people assume that because it's the popular uneducated thing to say about Bruce these days.

:bang

[Viva Las Espuelas]

well he did look like he lost his step against him. hell, pop laid into him in that timeout so hard one of the commentators mentioned it.

[Obstructed_View]

well he did look like he lost his step against him. hell, pop laid into him in that timeout so hard one of the commentators mentioned it.

Bowen made a stupid mistake. If he'd lost a step Pop wouldn't have yelled at him. If he'd lost a step he wouldn't have been able to shut down the quickest guy on the floor.

[z0sa]

:pctoss

This is crap, and I hate when people assume that because it's the popular uneducated thing to say about Bruce these days.

:bang

yeah, there's really nothing like dogging on roleplayers when you have no clue what you're talking about. Bowen has lost, at the very very most, one "step" since 2003. I would personally opine that he has lost essentially nothing. It won't stop others from reiterating time and time again that he's lost a step because some one fucked up on a rotation (or he just made a mistake)

[GSH]

The answer for Barrea is to enforce the fucking rules of the game. Give him credit for playing aggressive defense. But if the refs call the blocks and hand-checks, he's not going to be in the game long enough for it to matter.

[z0sa]

btw Spurs answer to __________'s offense is always Bruce Bowen.

[Morg1411]

btw Spurs answer to __________'s offense is always Bruce Bowen.

:toast

[hater]

well he did look like he lost his step against him. hell, pop laid into him in that timeout so hard one of the commentators mentioned it.

I saw that.

but on the next few plays after that Bowen was masterful. Pop is a genius

[Morg1411]

I think it's a sign that the Playoffs have arrived when Pop delivers a good ass-chewing or two.

[BillMc]

He might be slightly slower at 37, but he's still more agile than Matt Bonner:

(apologies for posting this vid twice):

5jY-T5iZfwo

[LEONARD]

The answer for Barrea is to enforce the fucking rules of the game. Give him credit for playing aggressive defense. But if the refs call the blocks and hand-checks, he's not going to be in the game long enough for it to matter.

:whine

[Borosai]

Bruce leading the Spurs to another championship!

[HarlemHeat37]

it's funny that this guy doesn't understand how playing the angles works..Bowen didn't get "beat" by Barea..he gave him a horrible angle every time, leading him into Duncan..it's called playing smart defense..

[BillMc]

it's funny that this guy doesn't understand how playing the angles works..Bowen didn't get "beat" by Barea..he gave him a horrible angle every time, leading him into Duncan..it's called playing smart defense..

Good point!

[FuzzyLumpkins]

They started playing off Barea and cutting under screens. Berea bricked 2 of his 3 3's and couldn't get into the lane. Bruce just doubled off him leaving him at the wing all game long.

[Findog]

Bowen made a stupid mistake. If he'd lost a step Pop wouldn't have yelled at him. If he'd lost a step he wouldn't have been able to shut down the quickest guy on the floor.

Yeah, seems to me like on the play in question, he did a poor job of fighting through a screen set by Dampier.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah, seems to me like on the play in question, he did a poor job of fighting through a screen set by Dampier.

I think some folks fail to realize that "losing a step" isn't something you can yell at a guy to correct.

[SpursDynasty]

J.J. Barea is a non-factor in this series and isn't a player that any team needs an "answer" to. For a 5'10" guy to come out and hit 6 shots vs. the Spurs in Game 1, that gained about 5 minutes of fame, but he won't be doing anything of note the rest of the series. It was one of those games where any player on any given night can come out and hit a couple of shots. That's all Barea did. So, non-factor here.

[Spursmania]

btw Spurs answer to __________'s offense is always Bruce Bowen.


Hell yeah :toast

[crc21209]

Bruce Bowen will NEVER truly get the credit he deserves. He is the defensive engine of this team and has been for years. It's gonna be sad when the day comes that he has to step away from the game. We gotta appreciate him right now while we have him because players like him just dont come along every day...he is a special one. Tell me who else in this league could cover almost every position of the opposing team? No one. Bruce has guarded everyone from Kobe to Dirk to Pierce to LeBron...and now Barea. The man is simply amazing. :toast.

[onarollbaby]

bruce is still an effective perimeter defender eventhough others may argue that he lost a step. Against barea in that particular play, Pop was mad at him because he went under a screen instead of going over it, that's why Barea got away. But after that he played brilliant defense.

[Spursfan092120]

Bruce is a Boss.

[Strike]

Bruce Bowen will NEVER truly get the credit he deserves. He is the defensive engine of this team and has been for years. It's gonna be sad when the day comes that he has to step away from the game. We gotta appreciate him right now while we have him because players like him just dont come along every day...he is a special one. Tell me who else in this league could cover almost every position of the opposing team? No one. Bruce has guarded everyone from Kobe to Dirk to Pierce to LeBron...and now Barea. The man is simply amazing. :toast.

He could do a lot of good coaching defense once his playing days are done.

[VaSpursFan]

well he did look like he lost his step against him. hell, pop laid into him in that timeout so hard one of the commentators mentioned it.

he didn't lose a step. Pop was pissed because he went under the screen and gave up an open jumper instead of going over top and forcing the drive into the bigs. that was a mental error on Bruce's part which he recovered from and played a masterful defensive game going forward.

bruce hasn't lost anything...and he's fresh since he didn't play many mins this season!

[LEONARD]

J.J. Barea is a non-factor in this series and isn't a player that any team needs an "answer" to. For a 5'10" guy to come out and hit 6 shots vs. the Spurs in Game 1, that gained about 5 minutes of fame, but he won't be doing anything of note the rest of the series. It was one of those games where any player on any given night can come out and hit a couple of shots. That's all Barea did. So, non-factor here.

You haven't watched many Mavs games this year obviously...

[triple t's]

Barea will never get the credit he deserves it seems. For some players, its something they deal with their entire careers ... But to say he's going to be a non factor in this series is idiocy and whomever said it must have gone to the dampier school of logical thinking.

But it doesn't suprise me. These are the same types that call Dirk "No-wit-ski" and JJ "Barrera"; says that Dirk only shoots 3's and jason terry is the teams point guard ...

Ignorance is at its peak now more than ever in this day and age.

[samikeyp]

:lol @ people taking SpursDynasty seriously.

triple t's, you get a pass because your new but Leonard, you know better!!

[Chieflion]

:lol @ people taking SpursDynasty seriously.

triple t's, you get a pass because your new but Leonard, you know better!!
Leonard = SpursDynasty

[samikeyp]

Leonard = SpursDynasty

Ahh..now that makes sense! :lol

[xtremesteven33]

George Hill couldve been a better defensive answer for Barea. Bowen belongs on Howard/Terry.

[MoSpur]

I think hill should spend some time on the floor guarding Barea. If Pop tried him on Kobe that one game with the game on the line, why not TRY him on Barea for a few minutes just to see how it works and let Bowen guard Dirk/Howard/Terry.

[LEONARD]

but Leonard, you know better!!

It's called a BIT...look it up.


Leonard = SpursDynasty

Also a BIT

[samikeyp]

It's called a BIT...look it up.



Also a BIT

Oops...struck a nerve. Sorry bro.

:lol

[LEONARD]

Yea...I'm so pissed off right now... :lmao

[LEONARD]

J.J. Barea is a non-factor in this series and isn't a player that any team needs an "answer" to. For a 5'10" guy to come out and hit 6 shots vs. the Spurs in Game 1, that gained about 5 minutes of fame, but he won't be doing anything of note the rest of the series. It was one of those games where any player on any given night can come out and hit a couple of shots. That's all Barea did. So, non-factor here.

Whoops!

13 pts (5/8), 7 asts, +36

:downspin::downspin:

[kace]

Whoops!

13 pts (5/8), 7 asts, +36

:downspin::downspin:

Dampier is at + 37 (with his 2 points), best +/- of the team. Was he the best mav tonigh ? this stat means nothing.

the mavs kicked our ass and this dwarf was just a part of the equation. We've got bigger problems.

[LEONARD]

The "dwarf" is a factor...

[Obstructed_View]

Moving him to starter was a great move.

[Creation88]

Pop freaked out and killed our momentum as soon as he decided NOT to start Bruce when he looked over and saw Barea there.

good move Rick.

[Spursmania]

George Hill couldve been a better defensive answer for Barea. Bowen belongs on Howard/Terry.
:tu