Emphasis on Small at Small Forward

[Solid D]

With Linton Johnson III on the mend, the Spurs have been forced to try some things. Versus Seattle, the Spurs reaped the benefits of no Rashard Lewis to defend, instead drawing a Charmin soft, 0-11-shooting Vlad Radmanovic. Bruce Bowen made the best of his 14 minutes with 9 points and he was backed up by 6-5 Devin Brown and 6-3 Romain Sato. The Spurs actually closed out the game with Udrih and Perry sharing the backcourt, Sato and Thomas at the 3 and 4 spots and BoumtjeX2 in the pivot.

The Spurs certainly have some talented swingmen, but let's face it...without LJIII, they' short. Do the Spurs have enough options with the current lineup to get away with what eerily appears to be Nelly-type options at the Wing?

[timvp]

I think they can manage. Bowen has never really been burned by the "Big Threes" ... well, other than Glenn Robinson and Jamal Mashburn. Devin is strong and will hold his own against most small forwards.

But you are right, The Third is a must on this team. If they get into a game, or more importantly a playoff series, against a lanky small forward ... he'll be very important.

Hopefully he can go out there and play a game before the regular season begins.

[E20]

I'm so stupid. When I was first introduced to the game I thought Small Forwards were actually supposed to be small everybody laughed at me. It scarred me for ever :(

[Kori Ellis]

I thought it was interesting that Bowen wasn't assigned to guard Ray Allen -- that was left to Manu/Barry. Ray was 6-for-10 in the first half, but didn't do anything in the second half.

Bowen (then Devin) was guarding Radmanovic, who finished 0-for-11.

[xcoriate]

Yeah got no real explanation for that one...

Pop didn't wan't to listen to Allen whining in the media in the pre-season?

[BronxCowboy]

You can bet that Bruce will be on Ray Allen like stink on shit in the regular season.

[TwoHandJam]

I agree that we'll need more height at that position. Bowen may be able to stymie most tall 3's but not even he can gaurd all of them. Devin may be strong but that doesn't matter much when your opponent just shoots over you all night.

[slayermin]

Being small at the three might mean that Bruce will finish many more games than he did the past two seasons. He can defend pretty much any small forward in the west.

I hope he improved his free throw shooting because the hack-a-Bowen could rear it's ugly head again.

[timvp]

I agree that we'll need more height at that position. Bowen may be able to stymie most tall 3's but not even he can gaurd all of them. Devin may be strong but that doesn't matter much when your opponent just shoots over you all night.

Enter The Third.

[Marcus Bryant]

It'll be backup by committee this year unless LJ3 can lock that spot down for himself. If height is a problem, I suspect Horry will see spot minutes there. Otherwise it'll be Barry, Ginobili, and/or Brown.