So let's see, Bruce deserves his jersey retired the same season he retires. What are some of you smoking. The only players that deserve that kind of honor from this franchise are Ice, Admiral and Tim.
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So let's see, Bruce deserves his jersey retired the same season he retires. What are some of you smoking. The only players that deserve that kind of honor from this franchise are Ice, Admiral and Tim.
Our team was mentally retarded last year on offense. That is the main reason finley got "significantly" more pt than bowen. especially with manu being in and out.. our offense consisted of RMJ running the point and pulling up for 3. Bowen sitting in the corner would have been absolutely terrible last year. especially with manu out. only mistake pop made last year wasnt old man bowen but it was his playing time with Hill and pop owned up to that after the season.
As for this year you can say whatever you want, but Bowen didnt deserve 35MPG last year and people here would be starting 10+ threads a night about how we need to get rid of bowen if he was still playing those kind of minutes for us.
Defense is a team game concept. The spurs philosphy started in the perimeter. A Pg would try to run a top of the key pick in roll against the spurs. The old spurs would force him left or right at which time he would be picked up by the next perimeter defender and they would keep forcing the opposing Pg to whichever direction the baseline was. Then he would meet a 7footer at the paint(not at the rim like today) or he would have to drive under the basket (with no shot possiblity) and would end up at the top where he started. Basically the Spurs built a wall around the paint and it was always guarded by one or 2 big men. If there was a big man out on the perimeter then the other big would protect the paint and when he did block or alter a shot the Perimeter players would come in and secure the rebound since both big men were occupied defensively. Now the if you run a simple Pick n roll against the spurs you can pretty much get anything you want. If the spurs did return to defensive eliteness it would require Pop to play 2 big men (Duncan/Mcdyess or Duncan/Ratliff) Blair still needs a little work and and then Bonner........well ya know. Also It would require weakside Rebounding help from the Wing-men. I put that on RJ, especially since he is younger and athletic. Besides theres no need to try and run out for a dunk cause Parker really cant see him in transition.
Good post. This sums up the whole situation. Bowen had a falling out with Pop last year due to Pop wanting to give bowen less minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackjack
WTF Pop? Bowen was still the best defensive player on the Spurs last year. This is the kind of bullshit I expect to hear out of Larry Brown or Don Nelson, not fucking Gregg Popovich.
Agree. I don't even think he should have his jersey retired just like it was a mistake to have Avery Johnson's jersey retired. Bowen was a role player.Quote:
Originally Posted by DynastyBuilder
He didn't even play on the offensive side of the court and just hit an occasional wide open corner 3. Retired numbers should be for all star franchise type of players and Bowen is not be one of those. Not for players who were role player starters on championship teams.
I think all the theories about offense versus defense assume there was something rational going on last year. The simple answer: Pop loves Finley. Pop plays Finley.
I'm not saying someone like Bowen wouldn't help, or that Bowen didn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by MaNu4Tres
But elite defenders don't grow on trees.
This is more to me an indictment of small ball. Since Pop has embraced the Don Nelson-esque stupidity of it, Spurs have yet to sniff an NBA Finals.
I would love to see a statistical plot of points allowed in the paint by SA over the last say 6 years. I think you would see a significant uptick in the past 2-3 seasons since he embraced this idealogy.
When you couple it with his Larry Brown-esque fondness for veterans, you end up with old, slow, short people getting smoked on the perimeter with candy ass lane protection like Bonner, Finley, and Jefferson that do little to intimidate opposing perimeter players.
It wouldn't have bothered me to see Bowen back for another season, if not for his defensive expertise alone (aka "corporate knowledge"), but I personally feel like his most impactful days are behind him, and it's not wrong for the Spurs to evolve into a different team (albeit one that should still be defensive-minded). I didn't get anything too negative out of Pop's statement, more that he's saying clinging to the past isn't any kind of remedy for the here and now... It sucks that we couldn't even keep Bowen around as an assistant coach, like when Avery and Mario Elie (players also known for defense) retired and jumped right into coaching. At the very least he'd still be in our gym practicing and preaching Spurs defensive philosophies. I guess the offer or opportunity was never there, so, I can't blame him for getting into broadcasting as he nears his 40's.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by baseline bum
If Pop can be this brutally honest about Bowen (after three titles) please give Pop some truth serum about Matt Bonner.
Bowen would be an immediate upgrade over Bogans. I'm amazed Pop can be straight-faced when he claims that Bruce couldn't defend anymore.
Pride is a killer. I thought Pop is a philosophical guy, he should know the shortcomings of letting himself be ruled by his ego.
Retire jefferson and his jersey.
Bring back Bruce Bowen.
For all this talk about other team's "not wanting Bowen", I was specifically remember the Celtics making a strong push for him, but Bowen not being interested.
Hey Pop, you want to know why your defense sucks Jefferson (d!ck)?
It's stupid shit like RJ and Bonner taking turns guarding Lamar tonight, or going to small ball with 6'7" Blair at center with Jefferson as your "power forward."
Forget pounding the rock, I wish someone would pound some sense into that thick, conceded, belligerent skull of yours.
Maybe if Pop would play 2 bigs most of the time he might see a better defensive result.
I'm so glad Michael Finley is back. I really missed watching him try to front Lamar Odom playing power forward in crunch time. Woot. The only thing better was watching Ginobili, Mason and Hill trying to battle Pau Gasol for a rebound.
LOL... Manu actually had a great contest on Gasol late in the game... hit a three at the other end, and obviously was immediately benched. It's been that kind of season...Quote:
Originally Posted by Obstructed_View
:lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Blackjack
Btw, Pop is an idiot. I said we'd miss Bruce.