FlAVaK
09-23-2012, 03:50 PM
"It's been five years since the last championship ring for the Spurs. The franchise still has faith in the Big Three to win it all one more time. Has it been a good decision?
Bruce Bowen: Yeah, absolutely. I think when you have those players that have been together that long, what they do is they enhance other people's game. You look at Danny Green; he had a great season, the best season of his career, but a lot of it was because of the Big Three – Manu, Tim and Tony – being able to understand the game and set guys up to be successful. You look at Kawhi Leonard, who had a fantastic rookie season... You know, when you're able to blend in guys with a core like that, it's not about the egos, it's more about helping the other guys become better. You know, Tim Duncan is no longer the Tim Duncan of five years ago. His role has changed a bit. So if you're able to sustain groups longer, then you have guys that are willing to no longer be the man and do whatever they can in order to help the team.
David Robinson told me recently that the Spurs should have won it last year but the supporting cast failed against the Thunder. Now you have the Thunder with one more year of experience and the Lakers again looking mighty with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash. Do the Spurs have a chance?
BB: I think they will always have the chance to be in the Top 3 of the West. I think it was a telltale situation last year as far as experience winning out over everything else. As Robinson said, the supporting cast of the Spurs didn't have that kind of playoff experience. They weren't really tested in the previous rounds. With the Thunder they needed to do some necessary adjustments. Green and Leonard, they had never been in that position before... It was a little different. In this game you can't just say 'Oh well, next year we'll get it'. You have to take advantage of your opportunities when you have them. And that was a huge opportunity for the Spurs. They just got beat by a younger version of them in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They are a Big Three, defensive minded, young athletic team. You can't teach youth in the NBA. In essence, the pupil surpassed the teacher.
Will the Spurs regret that missed opportunity down the line?
BB: Well, that last year is in the past. Now you have to try to take advantage of every opportunity you have."
...
The whole interview (http://hoopshype.com/interviews/barrigon/catching-up-with-bruce-bowen)
Bruce Bowen: Yeah, absolutely. I think when you have those players that have been together that long, what they do is they enhance other people's game. You look at Danny Green; he had a great season, the best season of his career, but a lot of it was because of the Big Three – Manu, Tim and Tony – being able to understand the game and set guys up to be successful. You look at Kawhi Leonard, who had a fantastic rookie season... You know, when you're able to blend in guys with a core like that, it's not about the egos, it's more about helping the other guys become better. You know, Tim Duncan is no longer the Tim Duncan of five years ago. His role has changed a bit. So if you're able to sustain groups longer, then you have guys that are willing to no longer be the man and do whatever they can in order to help the team.
David Robinson told me recently that the Spurs should have won it last year but the supporting cast failed against the Thunder. Now you have the Thunder with one more year of experience and the Lakers again looking mighty with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash. Do the Spurs have a chance?
BB: I think they will always have the chance to be in the Top 3 of the West. I think it was a telltale situation last year as far as experience winning out over everything else. As Robinson said, the supporting cast of the Spurs didn't have that kind of playoff experience. They weren't really tested in the previous rounds. With the Thunder they needed to do some necessary adjustments. Green and Leonard, they had never been in that position before... It was a little different. In this game you can't just say 'Oh well, next year we'll get it'. You have to take advantage of your opportunities when you have them. And that was a huge opportunity for the Spurs. They just got beat by a younger version of them in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They are a Big Three, defensive minded, young athletic team. You can't teach youth in the NBA. In essence, the pupil surpassed the teacher.
Will the Spurs regret that missed opportunity down the line?
BB: Well, that last year is in the past. Now you have to try to take advantage of every opportunity you have."
...
The whole interview (http://hoopshype.com/interviews/barrigon/catching-up-with-bruce-bowen)