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Pop was opting to go in a new direction for offense over defense, and Bruce's defensive abilities started to slip a bit.
He was still a good defender, but definitely not in his prime anymore. It signaled the beginning of the end for the Spurs.
Does anybody know the real answer as to why Bruce Bowens minutes were reduced the last year he was with the Spurs? I never understood the reasoning. I remember when he would get playing time he played very well...
Pop was opting to go in a new direction for offense over defense, and Bruce's defensive abilities started to slip a bit.
He was still a good defender, but definitely not in his prime anymore. It signaled the beginning of the end for the Spurs.
Really? The real question is why they started reducing the minutes of Frank brickowski. Now that was absurd!
Pop was saving him for the playoffs.
He was done. Proven by the fact no team has offered him a contract since then. No conspiracy here.
Bowen had no intentions of playing anywhere outside of SA. He probably wasn't thrilled with the trade and felt it was time to call it a day.
.. no. Believe it or not, Bruce still had plenty left in the tank.
In fact, he was 3rd in all-star Forward voting in 2009, with 1,392,398 votes. That's right. He beat Dirk, Melo, and co by tens of thousands of votes.
One of the greater mysteries in Spurs history, tbh.
Matt Bonner
Most of the Spurs mysteries of the last several years could probably be explained if we knew of who and what kind of pics Bonner had in his possession.
Bowen bit that hand that fed him, out he went.
Stupidity is what it was. Bruce was still shutting people down before that. Let's not forget he helped the Spurs less than 2 seasons prior to shutting down Lebron in the Finals. Bruce complained about his reduction in playing time and Pop sent him away because of it.
And why did Pop reduce Bowen's minutes? Because Bowen's production was in decline, due to age maybe? Or Pop just wanted to because he hates Bruce's bow ties?
He was a few weeks shy of 38 at the end of the season in 09
Definitely had lost a step.
Still decent but definitely lost a step.
To my mind the Spurs big mistake was not blowing up (well at least rearranging the team) after the 07 season.
They won with several aging parts. Instead out of loyalty they resigned Oberto, Bonner etc.
If I'm not mistaken I believe even Kori suggested back then that Bruce wasn't in decline really, especially the way people tried to portray.And why did Pop reduce Bowen's minutes? Because Bowen's production was in decline, due to age maybe? Or Pop just wanted to because he hates Bruce's bow ties?
Pop sold out. He wanted to go against his own beliefs and go for offense over defense. I hope he's glad about the success since that decision.
No one has mentioned the absolute truth here...
Pop sold out Bowen in favor of in' Michael Finley...
Bowen was still leagues above Finley DEFENSIVELY and Pop just mysteriously handed the job to Finley....
Even after Finley would prove to be a in' turnstile defensively---Pop would just look the other way...
Bowen would come in off the bench and Pop would tear into Bowen during timeouts and yank Bowen ...
This was the treatment Bowen endured after being a vital cog in the Spurs les....
Pop.
It was Pop's strange an ridiculous fascination with Michael Finley. REmember that Pop signed Finley to a TWO-YEAR agreement even after it was abundantly clear that Finley was done.
Meanwhile, he benched Bowen clearly before he was done. Bowen knew how horrible Finley was, so (rightfully) complained. Remember that Bowen's 3-pt% was never below 40%, and Finley's was barely that. Plus, Finley hurt us tremendously on defense.
Pop's premature benching of Bowen cost us at least one more le during the Duncan-Manu-Parker era. Without question.
The man was 38 years old!!! How effective were you expecting Bruce was going to be chasing around the Kobes and Nashes of the league at 38? Pop sold out on offense, because he longer had the personnel to play defense. The team got old. It happens.
Absolutely not. I disagree completely. It does happen, thing is it DID NOT happen yet to the Spurs at the time. Pop screwed Bruce over while Bruce would still have been very effective. He was still the best perimeter defender in the league at the time. 38 or not. Again, how has Pop's decision gone since then to choose offense over defense? I refer you to timvp's graphs
Dumbass Pop couldn't even keep Bruce on for a FO job, Assistant Coach, nothing? Yea, he got personal.
lol blacklisted Bruce
I think Bowen should have stayed on in some form as an assistant coach. He knew so many tricks as a defender such as how to move your feet position yourself. He could have really have helped the younger guys get better.
I'm pretty sure the Celtics wanted him, but Bruce declined. If there was an offer, he should have went there as Doc Rivers would have appreciated him IMO.
Pop must have thought we lost that '08 Lakers series because we didn't have enough offense. He must have partially blamed Bruce for that loss.
Why don't you answer why he choose offense over defense? No Bowen, DRob, no prime Duncan= no defense. Simple math tbh..
The Spurs got burned regularly by the players he was guarding his last season, and he wasn't a good offensive player either.
No, I believe he just saw the NBA going in that direction and he stupidly bought into it.
How about recruiting players and holding them accountable to not missing plays on D like old times. You missed that defensive play = no playing time. Simple math tbh..
WTF, recruiting? He can hold them accountable, yell at them till hes blue in the face, but bottom line, expecting them to perform at a elite level, is asking quite alot. Improve, hustle, go, 100%, absolutely, but this team, currently, at its peak, is medicore defensively.
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