Kawhi Leonard + Danny Green > Bruce Bowen?

[Chinook]

Green's shooting is exactly the type of shooting Prime Duncan needed around him. The fact that Danny always moves to keep a passing lane open would have helped Duncan even more than it helped Parker. Leonard's cutting probably would have worked well with Duncan, but most of his offense would have been dampened, as the Spurs were a slower team back then. His defense and rebounding would have been huge assets though.

I'm sure in a decade or so we'll wonder how Prime Leonard, Prime Robinson and the Prime Big Three would have been as as lineup together. The fact that Leonard could get the three spot on the All-Spurs team when it's currently occupied by a Hall-of-Famer is definitely a testament to his potential, though.

[Sean Cagney]

If the Spurs had the Green and Leonard of now on the 04 and 06 team, the Spurs would of 5peated tbh.

That is kind of scary to think of, but lets throw 99 D ROB In there too while we are at it! Since we are bridging teams together now of different times! We would have 6 peated!

This is funny though, how would have 06 Green cut into Finley and Manu, Finley was huge in that 06 Dallas series with threes and dunks! Are you discounting what he did in that series? He was clutch too, so was BOWEN! ON D! He rotated to Dirk etc., so you are taking them away now? They all played key roles that year and our comeback in the 7 game series. Green was not clutch in the last two games this year, what makes you think he goes FINLEY on them in the last few games? Seriously.

04 we had HEDO ehhhhhhhh of course I take Leonard over that there, but Green over Manu that year? We had Manu then that year so if you plug in Green that means Manu gets less mins there! Stupid to compare different teams and say so and so on them when you had BOWEN who was the best at covering KOBE at the time when nobody could and helped us in a few of our runs on D! Apples and oranges, so just stop that there right in your tracks.

[T Park]

Defensively Leonard nor Green are at Bowen level.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

It's no coincidence that Bruce Bowen's five most formidable years in the NBA were marked by 3 Spurs les. Bruce owned the court from a defensive standpoint and put fear in the opponents he was guarding. San Antonio had the hard edge you need to win playoff games with him on the roster. He was every bit as important as the Big 3 during those le runs. When you average 6 points a game on offense, but other teams still have to game plan against you, you know your defense is something special. Bruce probably could have scored a lot more points on another team, but he knew his role and carved out a great career as a defensive specialist.

I love Leonard's ceiling. He's become one of my favorite Spurs. I think he can be everything Bruce was and more. Unfortunately he's got superstar teammates who are 8 years older than the versions that Bruce got to be on the court with, so we may never really be able to compare the two. Bruce was never asked to be much of an offensive player, and he didn't need to be with Manu, Duncan and Parker all in their primes. He could concentrate completely on D, and as long as that corner three was falling through the hoop 40% of the time all was golden. Leonard doesn't have that luxury. He's going to have to carry much more of the overall burden than Bowen ever had to during his Spur career.

Green is more of a situational player at this point I think. He's not particularly great on defense, although he surprised me at times in the playoffs. He's not a great finisher. He's not a rebounder. But, like Leonard, he has a lot of room to improve certain parts of his game. We'll see.

In a hypothetical world, if I owned a team and had 2008 Bowen I'd trade him for the current Leonard+Green in a second. 2005 Bowen I'd have to think about, but I'd very likely do that trade as well.

[HarlemHeat37]

Leonard is obviously a much better overall player than Bruce, tbh..defensively, Bowen was much better, but Leonard is levels above as an offensive player and rebounder..

Defensively, Bowen's mental edge was vastly superior to Leonard/Green, tbh..opponents feared Bowen, the thought of him breaking your ankle was always prominent, tbh..Kawhi is a much better disruptor in the passing lanes with his freakish arms, but as an individual defender, neither Kawhi nor Green are comparable at this point, tbh..

Leonard is already a better overall player, though, and Green is a solid player, so the answer to this thread is a no-brainer..the Leonard/Green combination is arguably the best wing defensive combo in the league today, tbh..

[Spursfan092120]

I started this thread a year and a half ago, and talking about overall talent, I feel I am on the road to being, if not already, correct. Kawhi Leonard is the future of this team..could we have ever said that about Bruce? Even if we didn't have Tim, Tony, or Manu? I'm talking talent...sheer talent. Yes, Danny and Kawhi are not on Bruce's level defensively...but Bruce couldn't touch Kawhi OR Danny offensively. While I think currently the duo is at least even with Bruce, I think in the near future, it will be obvious that as a duo, they are better than Bruce. Love him all you want, and I do, but his lack of offense puts him below the two.

[Spursfan092120]

90210... tin' in a bag...leavin' it in the bushes...per his usual, tbh, fwiw.

sup man?

[Spursfan092120]

Defensively Leonard nor Green are at Bowen level.

Agreed 100%...but I'm talking about combining the two. But if you want to break it down to singles, could Bowen touch Kawhi offensively?

[Spursfan092120]

It's no coincidence that Bruce Bowen's five most formidable years in the NBA were marked by 3 Spurs les. Bruce owned the court from a defensive standpoint and put fear in the opponents he was guarding. San Antonio had the hard edge you need to win playoff games with him on the roster. He was every bit as important as the Big 3 during those le runs. When you average 6 points a game on offense, but other teams still have to game plan against you, you know your defense is something special. Bruce probably could have scored a lot more points on another team, but he knew his role and carved out a great career as a defensive specialist.

I love Leonard's ceiling. He's become one of my favorite Spurs. I think he can be everything Bruce was and more. Unfortunately he's got superstar teammates who are 8 years older than the versions that Bruce got to be on the court with, so we may never really be able to compare the two. Bruce was never asked to be much of an offensive player, and he didn't need to be with Manu, Duncan and Parker all in their primes. He could concentrate completely on D, and as long as that corner three was falling through the hoop 40% of the time all was golden. Leonard doesn't have that luxury. He's going to have to carry much more of the overall burden than Bowen ever had to during his Spur career.

Green is more of a situational player at this point I think. He's not particularly great on defense, although he surprised me at times in the playoffs. He's not a great finisher. He's not a rebounder. But, like Leonard, he has a lot of room to improve certain parts of his game. We'll see.

In a hypothetical world, if I owned a team and had 2008 Bowen I'd trade him for the current Leonard+Green in a second. 2005 Bowen I'd have to think about, but I'd very likely do that trade as well.

99% of the time, I agree with what you say. But you'd really trade a young Kawhi Leonard with a HUGE ceiling and a young confident Danny Green off a huge NBA Finals for a Bruce Bowen with only one year left in the tank? Come on, man. No offense, but that's insane.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

99% of the time, I agree with what you say. But you'd really trade a young Kawhi Leonard with a HUGE ceiling and a young confident Danny Green off a huge NBA Finals for a Bruce Bowen with only one year left in the tank? Come on, man. No offense, but that's insane.

You read it backwards, my friend.

[Spursfan092120]

You read it backwards, my friend.

You are correct sir...I apologize...and it seems to be closer to 100% now...lol.

[apalisoc_9]

Danny Green > Bowen

Kawhi Leonard>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bowen

[Kool Bob Love]

Danny Green > Bowen

Kawhi Leonard>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bowen

Bowen: 3
Green: 1
Kawhi: 1

lettuce proceed.

yooo it's Valentine's Day so Canadian is bumpin up all the kawhi threads. That's love b. <3

[barbacoataco]

Bowen was a great player. I'm not sure people remember how good of a defender he was. He could guard fast perimeter types like Kobe and even bigger post up players like Zach Randolph. He also shot over 40% 3pt in all of the Spurs playoff runs. Yes he was a role player, but had was as good as role players get.

[barbacoataco]

Also, I disagree that a one dimensional player can't be better than a more well rounded player. If that one dimension has such an effect on the game, that player is great. There are plenty of one dimensional scorers who played no defense in the HOF. Defense wins games. Having a "defensive stopper" is one of the hallmarks of championship teams. You need a defender to put on hrs other team's best scorer when they get hot, and almost all championship teams have one.

[wildbill2u]

Bowen shot a better % on 3s than on 2s. He hated to attack the paint and seldom did it. In fact he normally shot about half fewer 2s than 3s in a season. And since he only took less than 3 shots from 3pt land on average, his point production was usually much below the average for a first string player.

He made up for it with his defense. In fact, the whole Spurs concept at the time was keyed toward winning with defense. Our scores per game average were much lower than today. It's hard to say whether Pop changed the concept because he lost Bowen or because the league changed to more offense and the much higher use of the 3pt. shot.

Green is not anywhere near the defensive stopper that Bowen was, but when he is 'on' he is a much better and more willing shooter of 3s. On 2s and layups he reminds of Bowen--just not very good at it.

Kwahi is a better and more diversified shooter than Bowen or Green. He can and will drive into the paint and post up--something that Bowen and Green simply had no talent for. He's a better defender than Green whether he is better at this point than Bowen is still unproven. I think he may not have the footspeed of Bowen and so cannot be matched against many guards in the league--but he is very very good against the players he is matched up with.

Overall, you'd have to give Kwahi the nod over Green or Bowen as better.

[gospursgojas]

Bowen could guard the 1-4 positions. Kawhi is limited to 2 and 3s.

[apalisoc_9]

Bowen could guard the 1-4 positions. Kawhi is limited to 2 and 3s.

that's a flat out lie

[FkLA]

Yep Kawhi has guarded his share of 1s. Could probably guard many 4s too. Fortunately Danny and Tiago make Kawhi's ability to do that a luxury rather than a necessity.

[TheGreatYacht]

Disrespectful to Bruce and Green.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Lol here we go again, people saying lies like Bruce could guard power forwards and kobe. 

[Chinook]

Lol here we go again, people saying lies like Bruce could guard power forwards and kobe. 

, or even all PGs. Bruce handled Nash about as well as Hill did.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

, or even all PGs. Bruce handled Nash about as well as Hill did.

Yep, old mainstream spurfan tends to overrate the past.

[hater]

Lol here we go again, people saying lies like Bruce could guard power forwards and kobe. 

Nowitzki averaged 31.3 points against the Grizzlies and worried that the long layoff might take him out of his rhythm.

He scored 13 points in the first half and felt pretty good about it. Then Bowen began playing what Dallas coach Avery Johnson called "bear-hug defense," and the big German couldn't break free.

He was 3-for-11 in the second half, getting to the line only once (missing one of two) and scoring only seven points.


smh young spursfans. disrespecting our best defender ever

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Dirk 2006 wcsf stats: 27 pts ppg on 52% shooting. Lock down!