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^nice article. Bogans is really a pleasant surprise for me.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...rritation.html
By Jeff McDonald - Express-News It is a general truism that every NBA player possesses at least one NBA skill. It didn't take long for Keith Bogans to discover his.
He's built a career on his uncanny ability to be the most annoying guy in the room.
“I want to annoy guys,” said Bogans, the Spurs' latest starter at shooting guard. “I want guys to know when I'm guarding them, it's going to be a tough night. I don't want anybody to think it's going to be a walk in the park. See me, and put a smile on your face? No, that's not me.”
An afterthought for much of the preseason, Bogans has emerged as perhaps the biggest early-season surprise for the Spurs. His defensive prowess earned him a spot in the starting lineup three games ago, and he has done little to relinquish it.
In the Spurs' shorthanded 92-83 victory over Dallas on Wednesday, the 6-foot-5 Bogans was instrumental in helping to hold the Mavericks' four best perimeter scorers — Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea — to a combined 12 of 39 shooting. The 13 points Bogans scored himself were mere icing.
“That's what Keith Bogans does,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He knows his role. He takes pride in it.”
It was a breakout game for a player who was still looking for a job just two months ago.
After finishing last season in Milwaukee, Bogans, 29, entered free agency against the backdrop of an uncertain economy. With revenue down, teams were holding their purse strings tight. More than half planned to keep less than a full roster to defray costs.
It left players like Bogans — an established, six-year NBA veteran — scrambling to find work. It was Sept. 21, barely a week before the start of training camp, before Bogans signed with the Spurs.
“We stayed persistent, and they stayed persistent,” said Bogans, who will make the veteran's minimum of $1.03 million this season. “It only takes one team to like you. I like the team that liked me.”
The Spurs first emerged on Bogans' radar on June 23, when they struck a deal with his old team, the Bucks, for Richard Jefferson. Included in the Spurs' package for Jefferson was Bruce Bowen, an annual fixture on the NBA's all-defensive team.
Bowen's departure left a void Bogans longed to fill.
“Once I saw Bruce leave, I thought it was a perfect opportunity for me,” said Bogans, who has also played for Orlando, Charlotte and Houston. “I do basically the same thing he did. I'm not as good of a defender yet, but I'm trying.”
Rescued from the NBA's unemployment line, Bogans was somewhat of a forgotten man in camp. He logged a total of 25 minutes in the first five games of the regular season, sitting out a loss at Chicago entirely.
On Nov. 6 in Portland, Bogans' role changed. Hoping to beef up the Spurs' defense, Popovich inserted him into the starting lineup. He's been in it ever since.
Spurs forward Antonio McDyess, a former Detroit Piston, was familiar with Bogans' work in the Eastern Conference. When he began to see Bogans on an everyday basis, McDyess began to appreciate Bogans' art of irritation.
“That dude is a monster,” McDyess said. “I knew he was a good defensive player, but I didn't know he was that good.”
McDyess likens Bogans to former Detroit teammate Lindsey Hunter, another player who built his reputation as a tenacious defender. Well-versed in Hunter's body of work, Bogans considers the comparison the ultimate compliment.
“Lindsey was a bulldog, one of those guys who would get into guys and annoy them,” Bogans said. “That's my job, too. I take pride in playing defense. When a guy scores on me, I get mad.”
More often than not, the guy Bogans is guarding is the one feeling frustrated these days. That is life as the most annoying man in the room.
^nice article. Bogans is really a pleasant surprise for me.
Good article.
I want more defense, which means I want to see more Bogans on the court. I also love Hill's comment the other day and Bogans and himself trying to bring a defensive intensity to the team.
hes not as long or as quick as BB but the fact hes willing to try and live up to the legend of bowen is a good enough start for me
He plays good defense. That's more than you can say for half A team who prides itself on defense. Hope he keeps it up.
I like that quote.“Once I saw Bruce leave, I thought it was a perfect opportunity for me,” said Bogans, who has also played for Orlando, Charlotte and Houston. “I do basically the same thing he did. I'm not as good of a defender yet, but I'm trying.”
Anyone saw his nice block on marion??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Tk5MKJbXg
skip to 2:30
Nice block, and he found exactly the right words to please Spurs fan.
Another part I liked in this video, around 02:00-02:15, Jefferson makes a thunderous dunk and doesn't even celebrate because he is already rushing back to defend - that's the spirit!
I could watch that game over and over again.
It was a fun game to watch..great hustle + improved defense by our guys
haha,Parker should know lindsey hunter!
Bogans actually has very quick feet. Pretty damn close to Bruce's foot speed.
That is a key factor in a great defender.
He was giving Kidd, Terry, Howard, Barea all problems. Him being able to crowd them and keep them infront of him at the same time and then contest effectively speaks volumes about his defense.
He's been a pleasant surprise. Kind of reminds me of a more athletic Mario Elie.
I would like to hold my judgement until he defenses Kobe.
Of course let's wait to see how he guards the best perimeter player of the past decade. I guess if he can't hold Kobe to 5 for 30 shooting then he is terrible.
“I want to annoy guys,” said Bogans, the Spurs' latest starter at shooting guard. “I want guys to know when I'm guarding them, it's going to be a tough night. I don't want anybody to think it's going to be a walk in the park. See me, and put a smile on your face? No, that's not me.”You gotta love these comments“Lindsey was a bulldog, one of those guys who would get into guys and annoy them,” Bogans said. “That's my job, too. I take pride in playing defense. When a guy scores on me, I get mad."
For the past few years, many of us, have been clamoring for the Spurs to identify an heir apparent to Bowen. Then suddenly, in the offseason that Bowen leaves, one falls into the Spurs lap. This is not to say Bogans is in the elite status of Bowen, as a defensive stopper, but it's clear that by him having the right mindset, at ude and a similar reputation as a pesky defender, he's halfway there.An afterthought for much of the preseason, Bogans has emerged as perhaps the biggest early-season surprise for the Spurs. His defensive prowess earned him a spot in the starting lineup three games ago, and he has done little to relinquish it.
The Spurs first emerged on Bogans' radar on June 23, when they struck a deal with his old team, the Bucks, for Richard Jefferson. Included in the Spurs' package for Jefferson was Bruce Bowen, an annual fixture on the NBA's all-defensive team. Bowen's departure left a void Bogans longed to fill.
At some point, perhaps Bruce will share some tips and instruction with Bogans. Of course, when he's not doing his thing as the newest, big-time TV analyst.“Once I saw Bruce leave, I thought it was a perfect opportunity for me,” said Bogans, who has also played for Orlando, Charlotte and Houston. “I do basically the same thing he did. I'm not as good of a defender yet, but I'm trying."
Last edited by SenorSpur; 11-13-2009 at 10:30 AM.
I love how humble his is... when he says he is trying to be a good as Bruce... I don't think he realizes how much that means for us Spurs fans...
Meh...needs more dropkicks before we start the Bruce comparisons.
Meh...needs more dropkicks before we start the Bruce comparisons.
Bruce Bowen>>>Keith Bogans>>>>>>>>>>>>Ime Udoka
I need to qualify this observation with the fact that I've only seen a couple games so far this year, so maybe there are some defensive schemes that have been changed, but:
Is anybody really surprised that a defense that was built around Bowen on the perimeter and Duncan in the post becomes more effective when a player with some of Bowen's defensive characteristics and at ude (specifically being a constant pest; never letting the player he is guarding get into a groove) like Bogans is inserted in the lineup?
It sucks that Bogans couldn't be 2 inches taller like Bruce, because he is going to get destroyed by LeBron or any of the bigger, stronger SFs. But, on most SGs, smaller SFs, and combo guards, the man can defend like a beast.
Insert Richard Jefferson into that equation?
Very pleasantly surprised with Bogans. If he keeps this up ..
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