Kori Ellis
04-30-2006, 12:32 AM
Kings taking Spurs' Bowen out of his game
Web Posted: 04/30/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA043006.9C.BKNspurs.bowen.8199e3c.html
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Through the first three games of the Spurs' first-round series against the Sacramento Kings, small forward Bruce Bowen has taken only six shots and scored only 10 points.
Even for a defensive specialist who averaged 7.5 points per game, that is an alarming drop, but there is an explanation: After averaging more than 33 minutes per game during the regular season, Bowen has stayed on the court for an average of only 23:52 against the Kings.
Bowen's court time has been lessened because the players he most often matches up against, Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells, are bigger and stronger and prefer posting up and playing around the basket.
Bowen's forte is shutting down perimeter shooters, not muscling up against post-up players.
As good a defender as Bowen is, could it be the two Kings present a matchup for which he is not suited?
"That's a tough question to answer," Bowen said. "Something's got to change. We've got to do a better job on the defensive end, and that's doing a better job of sticking to the principles, things of that nature. For the most part, with what's been taking place, we haven't been doing the job."
If an analysis of his individual matchup with Artest and Wells was missing from Bowen's answer, it is because Bowen didn't intend to provide one.
"I danced around that question, didn't I?" Bowen said after the Spurs ran through a light practice session at Arco Arena.
Michael Finley got most of the minutes Bowen ceded in Friday's Game3, in part because the Spurs needed shooters rather than a defensive specialist during a second-half comeback. Having had the defensive assignment on Artest for much of the second half Friday, Finley empathized with Bowen's problems.
"I just think it's not your normal perimeter matchup," Finley said. "When you think of a perimeter guard in the NBA, you don't think of a guy who mainly likes to post up and do stuff down low.
"But I know Bruce has been in the league long enough and faced guys who like to play that way. It's just a matter of us, as a team, accepting that challenge and facing it head on."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Artest's and Wells' advantages in size and strength have not been cause for any loss in confidence in Bowen's ability to defend them.
"I think a lot of matchups are tough for Bruce," Popovich said. "He weighs about 90 pounds, and he does that every night against everybody, but he's got to guard somebody who is probably more athletic, heavier, taller.
"That's why I give him a lot of credit. He's used to that. That's his deal. He's got to do it for a lot of games, all year long and for the playoffs."
Bowen said his regret in Game3 was allowing Artest to get his offense untracked early.
"He got rolling early yesterday," Bowen said, "and a lot of times, when guys get in a rhythm, that's what they want, and there's not much you can do."
Bowen's mindset for Game4: "It's just more a matter of taking more pride in what you do. That's what I have to do. If it's Bonzi, if it's Ron, if it's (Mike) Bibby, if it's .... all of them."
Web Posted: 04/30/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA043006.9C.BKNspurs.bowen.8199e3c.html
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Through the first three games of the Spurs' first-round series against the Sacramento Kings, small forward Bruce Bowen has taken only six shots and scored only 10 points.
Even for a defensive specialist who averaged 7.5 points per game, that is an alarming drop, but there is an explanation: After averaging more than 33 minutes per game during the regular season, Bowen has stayed on the court for an average of only 23:52 against the Kings.
Bowen's court time has been lessened because the players he most often matches up against, Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells, are bigger and stronger and prefer posting up and playing around the basket.
Bowen's forte is shutting down perimeter shooters, not muscling up against post-up players.
As good a defender as Bowen is, could it be the two Kings present a matchup for which he is not suited?
"That's a tough question to answer," Bowen said. "Something's got to change. We've got to do a better job on the defensive end, and that's doing a better job of sticking to the principles, things of that nature. For the most part, with what's been taking place, we haven't been doing the job."
If an analysis of his individual matchup with Artest and Wells was missing from Bowen's answer, it is because Bowen didn't intend to provide one.
"I danced around that question, didn't I?" Bowen said after the Spurs ran through a light practice session at Arco Arena.
Michael Finley got most of the minutes Bowen ceded in Friday's Game3, in part because the Spurs needed shooters rather than a defensive specialist during a second-half comeback. Having had the defensive assignment on Artest for much of the second half Friday, Finley empathized with Bowen's problems.
"I just think it's not your normal perimeter matchup," Finley said. "When you think of a perimeter guard in the NBA, you don't think of a guy who mainly likes to post up and do stuff down low.
"But I know Bruce has been in the league long enough and faced guys who like to play that way. It's just a matter of us, as a team, accepting that challenge and facing it head on."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Artest's and Wells' advantages in size and strength have not been cause for any loss in confidence in Bowen's ability to defend them.
"I think a lot of matchups are tough for Bruce," Popovich said. "He weighs about 90 pounds, and he does that every night against everybody, but he's got to guard somebody who is probably more athletic, heavier, taller.
"That's why I give him a lot of credit. He's used to that. That's his deal. He's got to do it for a lot of games, all year long and for the playoffs."
Bowen said his regret in Game3 was allowing Artest to get his offense untracked early.
"He got rolling early yesterday," Bowen said, "and a lot of times, when guys get in a rhythm, that's what they want, and there's not much you can do."
Bowen's mindset for Game4: "It's just more a matter of taking more pride in what you do. That's what I have to do. If it's Bonzi, if it's Ron, if it's (Mike) Bibby, if it's .... all of them."