Kirk Hinrich on Bowen's Defense

[1Parker1]

SAN ANTONIO — Last season when the Bulls won in San Antonio, Spurs defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, 35, looked old and slow against the Bulls’ small guards.

On Friday, Bowen defended Kirk Hinrich and seemed to be on a mission to pester the Bulls’ guard into a quiet night.

“That’s what he does,” Hinrich said. “He tries to frustrate you and gets away with a lot of stuff, just with his reputation. He’s a good defender, don’t get me wrong. He’s got real active hands and he’s always bumping you or hitting you, egging you on. Then as soon as you touch him, offensive foul.”
Hinrich finished with 12 points, 6 assists and 5 turnovers. During the first half, when the Spurs pulled out to a lead, Hinrich scored just 5 points. He began the night tied with Luol Deng for the team scoring lead at 17.6 points.

“He’s a great defender,” Hinrich said of Bowen. “He’s been doing it for a while and I kind of got a little bit frustrated. If that’s what he was trying to do, he succeeded.”

Wallace heals quickly: Before Friday’s game, Ben Wallace said his right upper arm felt “like a fat lip at the dentist’s office” — more numb than painful.

Wallace suffered a biceps strain early in Thursday’s game at Houston, but it didn’t slow him down Friday. The Bulls center produced 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals in the loss to San Antonio.

“We were fairly shocked this morning that he wasn’t symptomatic really at all,” Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. “He said he felt good. So he must be an incredibly quick healer I guess. We thought it was going to be very sore this morning.”

Checking Deng’s defense: The Scott Skiles pregame challenge on Friday went out to Luol Deng, who didn’t have much success defending Houston’s Tracy McGrady or Dallas’ Jerry Stackhouse the previous two games.

“He’s giving up way too much penetration and doesn’t seem like Lu on the defensive end,” Skiles said. “He’s got to go back to where he was in containing people and using his length and being smart.”

Bull horns: Rookie Tyrus Thomas was the lone Bulls player who did not see action against the Spurs. … The Bulls are now 7-40 against the three Texas teams since 1998.


http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/story.asp?id=251381

[Spurologist]

The Bowen's Bitches club just added a new member

[Spursfury]

Kirk Hinrich was so frustrated last night it's sad.Bowen was all over him like white on rice.I was laughing how every night Bruce has someone crying to the refs.Why can't they stop crying like little bitches...

[boutons_]

"Then as soon as you touch him, offensive foul.”"

exaggeration, a common fault expected of recent inductees into Bruce's Fan Club.

[blackbucket]

I liked Hinrich. Very disappointing to hear him whine like a bitch. Oh well! As bad as Kobe is on and off the court, I respect the hell out of him as a player. He always gives Bowen props and views it as a challenge. He knows if he whines or lets him get in his head, Bowen has won. Kobe is a fierce competitor. Not a little puss like Carter, Francis, RayRay, Thomas, and Hinrich.

[Spurminator]

This is pretty tame, I don't think it qualifies as Allen or Carter-Tier bitching.

[flipcritic]

This is bitching??? It's sounds more of frustration than harping on Bowen's defense. Christ, he calls him a great defender and never calls him dirty. I hardly think this is sniping.

[pjjrfan]

Kirk is just telling it like it is and adding a few digs to go along. Bruce is an awesome defender. And Kirk is exactly right in how Bowen defends people, I just marvel at Bruce's foot speed, his quick hands and how he just gets into the opponent taking away his space with each backward move that they make. And all these guys that whine about Bruce would love him as a teammate, just ask Fin a guy who came at Bruce just the year before he got here.

[lefty]

I don't think he is whining ; he is just explaining Bruce's strategy ; he aknowledges Bowen's great D, unlike some WNBA players (Vince, Ray,....)

[Borosai]

And Francis never complained about Bruce.

[jmard5]

Wow. Another one, huh? The list keeps growing.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

It's always nice to see Bowen getting into the heads of a younger generation.

[phyzik]

To me it seems like more a compliment to Bruce's defense then any type of complaint, then again words in print are subject to the readers preceptions..... I'd actually like to hear the inflection in his voice when he made those comments.

Example: I could tell a friend "you fucking asshole!" and be totally friendly about it....But I could tell the same friend "you fucking asshole!" and be totally serious about it.

[dimsah]

It's definitely a back-handed compliment.

[joeyjfive]

Yeah I dont think Kirk is bitching I think this is more of a compliment then complaining. But if you saw just the first quarter of the game you could already see Kirk was frustrated.

[carina_gino20]

i don't think it's bitching. guy's just frustrated.


Then as soon as you touch him, offensive foul.” i always thought this was reserved for manu, not bruce. :lol

[miss paxton]

I don't read this as Hinrich calling Bowen dirty at all. He admits Bowen is frustrating and he fell for it, but doesn't say there was anything dangerous or uncalled-for about Bowen's tactics. The offensive foul comment was a little whiny, but I guess I'm to the point where if a player doesn't accuse Bowen of trying to take him out for the season I read it as a compliment.

[THE Dr. Evil]

If that many players are saying it, it must be true.

[spurs_in_7]

hinrich is just telling the truth; bowen is a dirty beatch and his defense is not that good.

[dknights411]

There is a fine line between "Dirty" and "Frustrating". People seem to forget that when they talk about Bowen.

[Obstructed_View]

There is a fine line between "Dirty" and "Frustrating". People seem to forget that when they talk about Bowen.
Precisely. I doubt even the staunchest Bowen supporter wouldn't agree that he's very physical and attempts to crowd and frustrate opponents.

I wish Bowen could draw offensive fouls. Kirk is on crack.

[xamila rey]

gallinas. they cry like babies

[Jimcs50]

Players of today are spoiled by all the new rules that almost handcuff the defenders, and they are not used to the contact. 10 yrs ago, players would not have complained about Bruces' D.