It's possible Pop goes with Bowen over Finley in the starting lineup but I don't see him inserting Gooden in place of Bonner. I think he'd go with Thomas or Oberto possibly but save Gooden for the 2nd unit with Ginobli.
Starting Five: Tim,Gooden,Bowen,Tony,Mason-that is all![]()
It's possible Pop goes with Bowen over Finley in the starting lineup but I don't see him inserting Gooden in place of Bonner. I think he'd go with Thomas or Oberto possibly but save Gooden for the 2nd unit with Ginobli.
Most definitely, but starting is not what I care about. Bowen just needs 30 or more minutes a night. Take it from whoever, however. Just do it. Without Bowen, this team's ceiling is somewhere inbetween finals contestant and WCF contestant.
A week ago Bowen was supposedly old, washed up, and needed to be benched....now he's supposed to be the Spurs best option as a starter?
The guy had a great game, but he's a huge liability when it comes to the offense. I like that he's being used to come off the bench and harass guys like Pierce, Allen, and possibly Kobe (in the PO)...that's his role right now and that's where he's best.
Everyone on the Spurs is a huge liability on offense these days.
If anything, the defense has stepped up tremendously. I agree that Bruce needs to start.
I just want know what did bowen do to lose his starter status, it's not like he was ever a scorer anyway. I hear Pop talk about this team not being defensively good as they were in the past. Well if you insert a guy that was not even in the rotation last year(Bonner) and a guy that is past his starter days(Finley) your not going to be a great defensive to start with.![]()
According to you maybe, not to me.
Most definitely. I was against him ever being relegated to the bench. The best scorers can't get one easy shot, and Bruce makes sure of that when he starts. Coming off the bench, he's much less effective trying to cool down a hot superstar than just keeping them cold from the beginning.now he's supposed to be the Spurs best option as a starter?
Does offense win the Spurs championships now?The guy had a great game, but he's a huge liability when it comes to the offense.
Read above. When Kobe's already on a role, putting Bruce on him to cool him off is not going to work as well as Bowen on him from the tipoff. Bruce does best at cooling off players he generally doesn't guard, who aren't used to being defended by him. He's a much better early on for guys like Kobe, making sure they never get in a rhythm because when they do, not even Bowen has the ability to cool them off.I like that he's being used to come off the bench and harass guys like Pierce, Allen, and possibly Kobe (in the PO)...that's his role right now and that's where he's best.
I agree on this. Defense wins championships. We won three les with him starting and going to war for us for 30 minutes a game. All of a sudden saying " hes too much of a liability offensively to start" is just ludicrous. Bowen will have a bigger role come playoff time. I'm convinced Pop is just trying to get everyone ready for the playoffs. He knows what he has in Bruce.
I honestly don't even buy that Bowen is this huge liability on offense..he still makes 3s consistently, and he even adds in a mid-range J from time to time..he also has good shot selection..
we haven't seen a consistent offensive effort from both Mason and Finley at the same time..Ime doesn't help that much offensively..I don't really see how Bowen is a significant offensive liability..
we haven't even been able to score lately with Bowen on the bench, so I don't see how having him on the court will make a difference for our offense..
The earlier we get Bowen 30 minutes a game and a starting spot, the better off we'll be...he was a beast last night...I was in attendance and watched him completely destroy Paul Pierce and when he was on Allen, he had problems also..he was a monster.
Bowen does not need to start. This thread is said in jest, right?
Um..no...Bruce Bowen has started on every championship team we've had since 2003. He's a defensive monster, and can hit the 3 in clutch situations. He completely shut down Paul Pierce last night, and when he was on Ray Allen, shut him down as well, and has been doing that in clutch situations all year as well. Why would it be in jest that a team known for it's defense would start it's best defensive player?????
Then why is he playing so little this year?...oh that's right, Pop's resting him for the playoffs. I think calling Bruce a "defensive monster" is a bit much. And who would you rather have shooting a 3, Bowen or Mason in the clutch. Basketball requires you to play offense and defense...
I like this better, of course hoping that Manu is healthy.
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I couldn't see the game,but I saw the box stats. Whoever was guarding Pierce and kept him to nine points did a of a job.
I saw him dismantle a team by himself in the fourth quarter the other night.
If it was a couple of guys taking turns. so much the better. And Ray Allen didn't exactly kill us either although he did better than Pierce.
You must have not been a fan for very long. First off, nobody knows why Pop hasn't played Bruce much this year..that's a mystery. Bruce IS a defensive monster. I would say being up for defensive player of the year every year and when Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady say you're the best perimeter defender in the game is pretty damn good, if you ask me. And you tell me something..I love RMJ, but how many clutch playoff threes has Mason hit, and how many has Bruce hit. Go ahead, I'll wait...................
I agree start bowen
harass scorer before they can get going
defense wins
bowen
bowen
Defensive team = starting your best defender?
You would think.![]()
Kurt Thomas has been playing very well as of late and def think that he should be inserted into the starting 5 over bonner. KT is the only player playing with any consistency these past few games recently IMO
You're living in the past man. I agree, Bruce is a great defender, but his inept offense has finally caught up to him, and the Spurs can no longer hide him. Mason Jr. needs to be on the floor because he can knock down a 3 from anywhere on the floor not just one small area. Why do you ask me to name clutch 3 pointers when Mason Jr. hasn't had the opportunity, he's had two this season against the Suns and Celtics? What point are you trying to make when you say I haven't been a fan very long? Don't you think Pop knows what he's doing, and to say that "Bowen is not playing is a mystery" seems pretty obvious to the fans that have been watching the Spurs for a long time and have confidence in Pop...
Bowen would replace Finley, not Mason. It is funny how Bruce's offense is a liability but yet Udoka gets a free pass for being worse. Bowen is useless on the bench. Starting Bowen will make the Spurs better defensively and will make our bench better with Finley.
How good was the big fellas block on Paul Pierce
If we are living in the past, well in that case Finley used to be a great scorer, one problem he got old. Matt Bonner used to be a great 12th man, he's a starter now, I'll let you think about that one.![]()
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