Bruce Bowen

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Has really worked hard at improving as a commentator. When he first started I actually changed the channel because he was so hard to listen to, and you guys know how much I love the guy. He's in there at halftime tonight by himself and he's excellent. The best part about him is he never has anything disprespectful or mean to say about anyone. I expect him to keep getting more and more work with them as he improves.

[DMX7]

Thank god, I thought this was going to be another bring back Bruce Bowen thread.

[Sigz]

Bow. Tie.

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Thank god, I thought this was going to be another bring back Bruce Bowen thread.

At first, he was so bad, I figured he'd be trying to get a contract somewhere before long. Someone deserves some credit for being patient with him.

Jalen Rose isn't great, but he's WAAAY better than he was when he started. His first couple of years the best thing he did was get hit in the head by NVE's towels.

[EricB]

At first, he was so bad, I figured he'd be trying to get a contract somewhere before long. Someone deserves some credit for being patient with him.

Jalen Rose isn't great, but he's WAAAY better than he was when he started. His first couple of years the best thing he did was get hit in the head by NVE's towels.


Cue the GIF

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Yeah I was hoping someone would get the hint.

[DesignatedT]

I've noticed this also.

[dknights411]

Bow. Tie.

http://image.aimoo.com/ForumImages/99f022aa-7053-440c-a0d7-c2f94c8366f5/100406_070459_16562978.jpg

Bowties are cool.


Ok, so I'm a nerd. So what. Doctor Who is still cool!

[VBM]

Bruce is no Emmitt Smith behind the mic, but he's decent

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Bruce is no Emmitt Smith behind the mic, but he's decent

Not yet, but he's gone from fucking horrible to about as good as anyone talking NBA for ESPN right now. There's no reason not to think he's going to continue to get better.

[SA210]

Thank god, I thought this was going to be another bring back Bruce Bowen thread.

Not a bad idea

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The Sportscenter crew just referred to Bruce as "former defensive player of the year". I cried a little.

[SA210]

He was robbed of that award several times
:pctoss

[VBM]

He was robbed of that award several times
:pctoss

If it kept him pissed off and motivated, it's for the better that he kept getting overlooked

[Gagnrath]

Hey he still has the best flying ninja kick in NBA history, Sure Karreem might have trained in Jeet Kun Doe with Bruce Lee himself but Jabar never did it in game. You don't need DPoY when you have that.

[Shifty]

Thank god, I thought this was going to be another bring back Bruce Bowen thread.
I was worried too then I saw it was OV who started the thread. Anyway, I haven't had the chance to hear a lot from BB12 but knowing most analysts he should be better than most by now.

[lefty]

Bring back Bruce Bowen

[SenorSpur]

The Sportscenter crew just referred to Bruce as "former defensive player of the year". I cried a little.

Further indication that perhaps Bowen was quite possibly overlooked for this award - on at least two occasions. I did a bit of research and the default winners of the DPOY award during Bowen's prime years were as follows:

2006-07 Marcus Camby - Denver (5th in rebounds; 1st in blocks)
2005-06 Ben Wallace - Detroit (4th in rebounds; 9th in blocks)
2004-05 Ben Wallace - Detroit (2nd in rebounding; 5th in blocks)
2003-04 Ron Artest - Indiana (3rd in Steals)
2002-03 Ben Wallace - Detroit (led NBA in rebounds & 2nd in blocked shots)
2001-02 Ben Wallace - Detroit (led NBA in rebounds & blocked shots)

Many, including myself, certainly believe that Bowen was overlooked during the '03-'04 and '04-'05 seasons.

Another example of a gross oversight for this award was Kevin Garnett. He led the NBA in rebounding 4 straight seasons ('03-'07), yet didn't win the award any of those years. Instead, he won the award a year later, in '08, when his rebounding, blocked shots and overall stats took a significant drop.

Of course, the Bowen oversight probably has more to do with Bruce's unquantifiable impact on the game. While his contributions could not be measured in statistics, his impact and deserved reputation as the NBA's most feared perimeter defender on one of the NBA's best defensive team's was undeniable.

Since it's hard to know exactly what the criteria for this award actually is, I'll always believe the voters for this award simply "mailed it in" and selected either the player who either, collected the most blocks or the player, who campaigned the hardest (Artest).

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/TD_is_the_MAN/fw2clu.gif

Better late than never.

And +1 to the OP. Bruce Bowentie has come a long way as a broadcaster.