Was Bruce Bowen a dirty player?

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Originally Posted by z0sa

Define dirty.

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This. Because when I think dirty I think guys like Karl Malone, who clearly had no respect for their opponents bodies. Bruce may have skirted that line on occasion but I don't think he ever really crossed it. So many people harp on the stepping under shooters shit and how many twisted and mangled ankles did this guy have to show for it? As far as I can recall Steve Francis landed on Bowen's foot and missed a few games. By and large the things that he did that bent the rules were just the counterpoints to the equally illegal but far less vilified tricks of the trade that scorers use out there. For every uncalled hand check or jersey grab or body bump there are just as many if not more uncalled palming and push offs and moving screens.

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Originally Posted by SpursFan313

Exactly.


And to everyone mentioning his stout defense, that doesn't have anything to do with the question either.

There's no way you can believe he never purposely tried to put his foot under a shooter. At least a couple times.

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if you already know the answer to your own question, why'd you make a thread asking that very same question?

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Originally Posted by spurraider21

if you already know the answer to your own question, why'd you make a thread asking that very same question?

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He was probably interested in other peoples opinions on the subject.

Yes, Bowen was "dirty". Elite defenders resort to the ol' jersey grab and other "dirty" tactics. Ray Allen openly accused him of being a dirty player a number of years ago (I think after the incident when Bowen kicked Allen) and as already brought up there was the incident with Steve Francis.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...nba&id=3293748

He can't have been that dirty if he managed to play 500 straight games without getting suspended by the league.

He's not dirty in the sense that he'll cheap shot a player given the chance. However, he'll play many players very physical, and people known around the league as defensive stoppers get a lot more leeway in terms of calls.

He was dirty, but he never injured anyone seriously. The Spurs were really big 4 during the 03, 05 and 07 'ships. Bowen was extremely important for the team.

He was definitely dirty but every championship team has guys like him on their rosters. Always need that one player willing to get physical with the other team

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Originally Posted by Johnny RIngo

He was definitely dirty but every championship team has guys like him on their rosters. Always need that one player willing to get physical with the other team

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Nearly every championship team has a physical role player.

it was different back then

Yeah, I think Bowen had some dirty play in him. It's hard to deny. But to win a championship teams need some of that in them. I would like to see the Spurs get more physical. That is not a player on this team that anyone fears being guarded by. No one to make someone's day hell.

it was different back then

Bowen's game was ugly and a big reason why the Spurs were labeled as boring.

Bowen was an elite defender and a big reason why the Spurs won three titles.

Fans of other teams regarded him as dirty and his game as ugly.

I think he was a little dirty. He was one of those guys that needed any edge he could get because he was never very talented. I don't know that he wanted to badly hurt someone but I do think he liked the idea of someone thinking about rolling an ankle as they rose up for a jump shot. He may have seen that as a mental advantage.

He was most defiantly a dirty player, he also maximized his talents.

Yes he was, but I loved him anyway. He is the definition of a perfect role player.

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Originally Posted by Spurs and Mavs fan

That doesn't answer the OP at all.

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Same could be said about your post as well tbh.

Does a bear shit in the woods and wipe his ass with a fluffy white rabbit?

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