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He might get some minutes as a disrupter but I'm not expecting anything more than that.
Bruce hasnt looked horrible this year at all, he looks like he still has gas in the tank left, thats what is most frustrating about all of this. If Pop threw Robert Horry out there who did not contribute in the Playoffs at all except for Game 7 of the Hornets series then why wouldnt he throw Bruce out there this year? He has to!
He might get some minutes as a disrupter but I'm not expecting anything more than that.
I think Duncan needs to talk to Pop about Bowen.
I dunno.. I've thought about bowen not playing and the only thing that makes sense is that pop is saving him for the playoffs. Maybe hes getting all these other teams used to the spurs weak ass defense and when the playoffs start.. the spurs will play at their highest level in defense with bowen back in the starting lineup. Most likely I am wrong but thats what I want to believe.
I agree, I have stuck by this even when people ride the "Bowen has lost a step and is a liablity on offense" wagon. It's funny, it seems that people hear someone say that, so they go along with it just for the of it, with no proof.
Bruce shut down Lebron year before last and in my opinion should have been considered MVP of the Finals, he's NBA All Defense last year, and he doesn't even play now???? WTF? On a team that practiced and lived on Defense 1st principles. A defensive team that doesn't play their best defender??
Please, again, SOMEONE MAKE POP READ THIS FORUM!!
I posted this in the Pop thread, but it belongs here too. All of us who have faith that Bowen will be playing in the playoffs are going to be sorely disappointed. I keep hearing maybe Pop is saving Bowen's legs, etc... Give me a break. I no longer believe that at all.
I mean the guy is not a cripple. He is in one of the best shapes around the league, and Pop is afraid he'll wear him down by playing a few minutes in these regular season games? Bull .
Either Pop has an epiphany now and begins to set his damn rotations that include Bowen or we can kiss ever seeing Bowen much during the playoff goodbye. Expect to see fricking Ime and Finley take all of Bowen's minutes. Why Pop believes Ime deserves all of these minutes over Bowen is beyond my comprehension.
I'm hopeful but it's as if the dye has been cast, and we are in denial about the kind of playing time Pop will give Bowen. I hope I am wrong.
When Jacque Vaughn gets more minutes than Bruce, George Hill, and Drew Gooden combined, you're not going to beat anybody, INCLUDING OKC.
there's really no legit reason for him not to play..
for offense? no..our offense isn't significantly better than last year at all, but our D is definitely worse..
old age? no..look at Finley, and now Vaughn..
yes, Bowen has lost a step..but look what he fell off from..he was a top 5 perimeter defender in the NBA last year..Bowen losing a step means he's still a GOOD defender..he's EASILY our best perimeter defender along with George..
he's shown it MANY times this year..
vs. Houston: completely shut down Artest after he was dominating us..too bad Pop didn't bring him in until the 4th..his ball denial was a thing of beauty..
vs. Minnesota: played an all-around great defensive game..did a great job on both Gomes and Foye..
vs. Boston: completely shut down Paul Pierce, including a memorable weak side block..
vs. Portland: shut down Brandon Roy, annoyed him all game..
vs. Detroit: vintage Bowen in this game..one of his best of the season..
vs. NJ: shut down Carter, after Vince was dominating our entire D..
vs. NO: played only the entire 2nd quarter, but obviously it ended up being New Orleans lowest point total by quarter and FG% by quarter for the game..
vs. Utah: came in and completely shut down Mehmet Okur, after Okur was dominating us for the first 3 quarters..
vs. LA: played solid D against Kobe, making him go 4-11..Pop doesn't put him on Kobe the rest of the game though..
vs. NJ: shut down VC again..
vs. Indiana: very solid performance against Danny Granger..
vs. Chicago: held Ben Gordon scoreless for the last 10 minutes of the game..
vs. Miami: played great D on Wade, forced a lot of turnovers, got him off his game..
vs. Memphis: played great D on both Mayo and Gay..actually, in all the Memphis games this season, they've managed to dominate all of our defenders outside of Bowen IIRC..
so these are just Bowen's GREAT games since January..obviously he's had some bad games, good games, and decent games..but these are just his GREAT games in the past few months..
And if he doesn't play against Grainger again on Friday, he might go off for 30 or 40
just incredible. im speechless. what the is pop thinking. 'hey bruce is stopping the offensive threat, let me bench him and put in more bonner instead'....just unbelievable.
Good points and research.
I just have no clue what Pop is thinking. If Pop is looking at some stats that say the offense struggled with Bowen on the court, those stats are useless at this point because the Big Three are back. If one or two of the Big Three are missing, they yeah Bowen may be an offensive liability. But now back in his customary role where he shoots open three-pointers, he should be fine. And with the way he has shot this year and every year in the playoffs, I trust him with an open three more than I trust anyone on the team.
Defensively, I'm not even ready to concede 100% that he has lost a step. We haven't gotten a chance to see him get enough consistent playing time to make a fair judgment. Considering his age, he's probably lost a step. But that is more hypothetical than fact at this point.
It's just amazing that 36-year-old Michael Finley who has never been a big part of a winning team and is currently a soft, inconsistent, no-defense-playing choker has been elevated into the Big Four and 37-year-old Bruce Bowen who is still hands down the best perimeter defender on the team, the most fearless player on the team, historically the best and most consistent clutch shooter on the team and who has played his best basketball on the biggest stages is unceremoniously being forced into retirement right before our eyes.
Add the Monster block on Nowitzki on our only home win on this year's series...
Man, I have been saying this forever. I don't understand people saying he's lost a step.Good points and research.
I just have no clue what Pop is thinking. If Pop is looking at some stats that say the offense struggled with Bowen on the court, those stats are useless at this point because the Big Three are back. If one or two of the Big Three are missing, they yeah Bowen may be an offensive liability. But now back in his customary role where he shoots open three-pointers, he should be fine. And with the way he has shot this year and every year in the playoffs, I trust him with an open three more than I trust anyone on the team.
Defensively, I'm not even ready to concede 100% that he has lost a step. We haven't gotten a chance to see him get enough consistent playing time to make a fair judgment. Considering his age, he's probably lost a step. But that is more hypothetical than fact at this point.
It's just amazing that 36-year-old Michael Finley who has never been a big part of a winning team and is currently a soft, inconsistent, no-defense-playing choker has been elevated into the Big Four and 37-year-old Bruce Bowen who is still hands down the best perimeter defender on the team, the most fearless player on the team, historically the best and most consistent clutch shooter on the team and who has played his best basketball on the biggest stages is unceremoniously being forced into retirement right before our eyes.
Anothere thing, as for people saying that Pop is saving Bowen for the Playoffs, NO, I don't buy it, it is NOT true. If for some reason Pop plays Bowen in the Playoffs, or starts him as he should be, it was NOT his plan, he may have just opened his eyes, that's all. But I doubt he opens his eyes.
I'm telling you, Phil Jackson LOVES the fact of Bruce is not starting. He must laugh at Pop and ridicule him. He knows that Kobe's going to get off early and kill us with Bruce on the bench. It just disgusts me. Can we start a pe ion to Pop on this crap??
He has to hear what the we are saying before it's too late. This is recipe for major disaster. Pop mostly sticks to his guns though when he's criticized. It's like he gets offended so he's gonna keep to it on purpose. That's when we lose, and the argument is then, again, "We didn't make our shots, the other team did".
PE ION the lineup.
@ the thought of what the Lakers would do to the Spurs with the current starting lineup that would start Finley on Kobe.
If Bowen has lost a step then its pretty obvious Kobe has lost a step also. Many reports are saying he is feeling the fatigue already and its showing in his play.
Kobe was such a tough cover cause he was so quick back in the day but now (hes still quick) but not as much so 4-5 years ago. Bowen could certainly give him problems catching the ball and setting up for his shot.
We'll know by the next game, IMO, how the rest of the season and post season will go. If after that game last night, Bowen still does not get significant time I do not see any cir stances that will allow him back into the rotation. I don't pretend to understand why he's riding the pine so ing hard, but we'll see.
If last night doesn't shake Pop I'm not sure what will.
Bruce is our secret franchise and has done nothing to award him the bench. play him and get back to Spurs basketball.
...and remember..those games I listed were just his great games since JANUARY..not counting November and December, where he had a number of great games as well, including his epic game vs. Carmelo Anthony..
I'll never give up on this team, but I'll be VERY dissapointed if Bowen doesn't play signficant minutes in the playoffs..
I can't argue with any of that. He's had some bad games, but he's had good ones too. And I don't doubt that he would have had more if he had gotten the minutes. And even if he has lost a step, I believe we are a better defensive team with Bruce in the lineup. So with Pop's fanaticism about defense, why wouldn't he be playing him more?
Maybe he knows that Bruce doesn't need the minutes during the season - he knows his job so well that he can jump into it any time and be 100% effective? So he feels like the team is getting the most benefit by giving the new players more minutes?
Maybe management doesn't believe they can win it all this year, so they are focusing on developing younger players?
Keeping Bruce under the radar until the playoffs, so nothing happens to make him a target of extra whistles?
None of the thoughts I've heard really hold water. The only thing that really makes sense is that, regardless of what we all think, Pop doesn't think he's up to the task anymore.
exactly..and I would believe the "management wants to go younger" reason if Hairston was playing right now, but Ime and Finley?..
that's the problem with this..none of our reasons hold any water..there's no legit reason for Bruce Bowen not to get minutes in the playoffs..
the answer that makes the MOST sense, is your first point GSH..that Pop already knows what Bowen brings, he believes he doesn't need time to adapt to the team, and he can instantly fit..
that's the most LOGICAL answer..but would Pop go THIS far with all this? this would be going extreme, hardcore CIA..
I'm wondering if he is simply saving Bowen, perhaps he and his staff know that Bowen only has so many good games left in him and he wants him to be as fresh as possible for the playoffs?
I agree wholeheartedly that Bowen should be on the floor. And right now so his legs and lungs are in game shape. I'd rather see Bowen's goose-eggs than seeing them from 3 starters...Finley, Bowen & Mason, on nights they seem to be playing with their heads up their rears (along with Pop having his own stuck there lately). At least Bruce can stop or hamper the other team's star player. Pop should shave his beard and go back to being the good ol' Pop. Maybe he thinks he is the second coming of Phil JackASS.
Yeah, He'll be fresh... Rusty as well. Lately, Pop is more into "Offense against Offense". I hope come playoffs, Pop will do it the "Spurs way.. Defense then Offense". Put Bowen back into the starting lineup and let him set the tone on defense.
This enrages me! I am so ing pissed at Poopavitch that I may not even ing watch the playoffs if Bowen isn't getting solid minutes. Seriously.Good points and research.
I just have no clue what Pop is thinking. If Pop is looking at some stats that say the offense struggled with Bowen on the court, those stats are useless at this point because the Big Three are back. If one or two of the Big Three are missing, they yeah Bowen may be an offensive liability. But now back in his customary role where he shoots open three-pointers, he should be fine. And with the way he has shot this year and every year in the playoffs, I trust him with an open three more than I trust anyone on the team.
Defensively, I'm not even ready to concede 100% that he has lost a step. We haven't gotten a chance to see him get enough consistent playing time to make a fair judgment. Considering his age, he's probably lost a step. But that is more hypothetical than fact at this point.
It's just amazing that 36-year-old Michael Finley who has never been a big part of a winning team and is currently a soft, inconsistent, no-defense-playing choker has been elevated into the Big Four and 37-year-old Bruce Bowen who is still hands down the best perimeter defender on the team, the most fearless player on the team, historically the best and most consistent clutch shooter on the team and who has played his best basketball on the biggest stages is unceremoniously being forced into retirement right before our eyes.
AARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! STUPID POOPAVITCH!!
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