and BTW, im sure Tim,Tony and Manu miss #12 right now...
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and BTW, im sure Tim,Tony and Manu miss #12 right now...
I think this quote is out of line. Pop is in effect claiming that no team even wanted Bruce. To justify his decision, he is saying that the whole league agreed. I think Bruce did not want to play elsewhere. It's not like there were no teams interested in him. Why the need for Pop to get so defensive-- pun intended.Quote:
“If Bruce was able to continue to do what he does, he'd be doing it for us or someone else right now,” Popovich said.
Amen. :clapQuote:
Originally Posted by xtremesteven33
It's very easy for Bruce's on-court contribution to go virtually unnoticed by the average fan. I don't think people really appreciate just how hard Bruce's job was from game-to-game. And how good he was at it.
Think about it. Having to basically take on the opposition's best perimeter scorer, shadowing them the entire game, running and fighting through screens and picks in an effort to either deny them the ball and/or close out or contest every single shot.
Bruce's responsibilities, along with the skills and abilities that it took to perform that job, were akin to that of a premier NFL "shutdown" cornerback. It's a job no one wanted to do. Yet, he built a career off doing the "dirty work" - every game - all game long.
I will always argue that his contributions to those champioships were just as important and critical to the Spurs success as anybody. All Spurs fans, and coaches for that matter, need to worship at the "Church of Bowen" and be thankful that he was a Spur. Furthermore, Pop needs to "get over himself".
Pop's definitely right. Bruce Bowen of any form would only make this team slightly better defensively - the problems lies with everyone and not just at one position.
Pop is not taking anything away from Bruce and he's not saying he wasn't important to their success - just that he was too old last year and that the current struggles aren't due to a lack of a single player. Pop's mainly using this opportunity to motivate his current squad than to insult Bowen.
The Spurs defensive system has been all about helping eachother and funneling opposing players to Duncan; something that really hasn't happened on a consistent basis.
Amazing logic, but I agree.:rollin:rollin:rollinQuote:
Originally Posted by Blackjack
:lmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by Cane
:toast :hatQuote:
Originally Posted by benefactor
Pop is right every once in a while. :king
There is a lot of truth in this statement. Other than Tim, both McDyess and Blair lack the height to bother guys like Kaman who when Blair was on him began scoring at will, both of the Lakers big men. McDyess has been a good defender against bigger guys in the past but this season he hasn't really shown that, although last night he did a good job on Kamen, and I believe that Blair once he is allowed to use his body without getting called will also be able to counter bigger opponents, but right now he lacks experience. I also don't think that Pop has a negative thing for Bruce, the fallout with Avery was much much bigger and Pop still welcomed him with open arms when his number was retired. I certainly would love to see Bruce's number up there as a symbol for the great defenders for this league that get no due for their valuable play.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doctor J
Yea it'd be awesome if all this team needed was a great roleplayer like Bowen for the entire team to get to defensive speed.
Unfortunately for us thats just not the case. Duncan's not the force he used to be and doesn't have the bigs to make up for it and just about everyone else has been less intense and energetic defensively than all other squads in the history of the Duncan era.
Amen to that. When you run a 6'8'' guy against a 7 footer, you will give up easy shots and thus a higher fg percentage. You cannot train small forwards and guards to defend centers consistently. NBA players are too smart.Quote:
Originally Posted by ElNono
It would be a huge mistake to not retire Bruce in my opinion. That is the kind of thing that the fan base should not tolerate.Quote:
Originally Posted by timvp
This is also Holt's team and Holt should step in and do something about it.
The Spurs hubris and subsequent struggles have come from a belief that you could just plug anybody into the system around Tim, Manu, and Tony and that it would work.
The problem isn't not having Bruce out there. It's that when someone gets around his replacement(s), there's one of Bonner, Finley, or Jefferson down there on the low block playing 'help' defense at the rim.
And that's on you Pop.
...that along with the outdated belief that "championships are won only with time-tested veterans". How's that working out for Boston? How's that working out for the Mavs? Two of the oldest teams in the NBA.Quote:
Originally Posted by ploto
Fakers won the title last year with one of the younger rosters in the NBA. The Magic reached the NBA Finals with one of the younger rosters in the NBA.
Yup. Agreed. Pop with his own foot in his mouth.Quote:
Originally Posted by timvp
You bet it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
It could easily take 2 or 3 adequate defenders to do the job of Bruce. While elite defenders are hard to find, good defenders can be grown.
If Pop truly wished to hedge himself against such a dramatic dropoff in team defense, he should've ensured there were better defenders on this roster. Instead he chose spot-up shooters, who are terrible defenders.
Not necessarily. Bowen was out there and put the locks on the " chosen one" in the 2007 Finals with Oberto defending the paint. That said not having anyone close to the ability of Bowen does hurt this years' team to some extent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggie Hoopsfan
Pop is doing crazy things this year. First with pathetic lineups and then with those lame quotes about Bruce
Put Bruce starting in place of soft Jefferson and we'd have 3-5 more wins.
RETIRE #12 Pop
This team didn't have a Big 3. It had a Big 4.
Tim was the do-it-all superstar big. Tony was the lightning quick, penetrating points-in-the-paint guard. Manu was the energetic, crafty, x-factor with all the intangibles and clutchness. Bruce was the guy who, along with Tim, was indispensable to the defense. He took out the opposing team's best perimeter scorer, while stretching the other team's defense with his outside shooting.
That's all in the past. Tim is still incredible, but he limps more and gets tired on defense. Manu has basically been injured for two years, but he's still crafty and makes big plays. Bruce can still play limited minutes, IMO, but he's not the same guy who gave Kobe and Ray Allen and Dirk and Vince Carter fits every time they saw him. The only one who could be what he used to be---better, in fact---is Tony. His injuries have slowed him a little, but when healthy he's in championship form.
This team is just different, and Pop is trying to put the best product out there. We need help from RJ and McDyess on both ends to cover the deficiencies of Manu and Tim and the lack of Bruce. We need promising youngsters like Blair and Hill to step up to keep Tim and Tony and Manu rested. This isn't a team built on 4 amazing and durable stars who carry the load with an assortment of role players whose role is pretty much the same night in, night out.
I don't believe this.Quote:
Originally Posted by timvp
Pop unexpectedly abandoned Bowen last year from the rotation. It seemed obvious that it was something personal. Bowen showed in the playoffs that he could still play, so the "lost two steps" argument didn't seem valid considering he played better than most of our other players.
Disappointing to see Pop take this approach. At one point he was ready to get rid of David. Then he throws Bowen under the bus. Lame. I wonder how he deals with Manu when the time comes to it.
Yeah, I am sure Pop would take Bogans inferior defense and consistent miscues over a tad bit slower Bowen. Add in the drop in 3pt shooting and it doesn't make sense. Bowen must had spoke some truth that hurt Pop's ego last season.
Bowen could still teach heads a thing or two bout D.
Imagine defense with Ratliff/Dice, Duncan, Bowen, Hill, Gino.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by cane
how does bowen go from defensive team one year to not good enough to play over finley and ime the next year.
Pop is doing the right thing. Motivating our team to play better instead of thinking of what could have happened if Bruce was here. Past is past.