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He's right that DPOY award is a joke. Duncan and Bowen should have several additional trophies on their mantle. Next thing you know they'll start giving the Finals MVP to players that show up for 2-3 games out of the series.
SAN ANTONIO – The way Tony Parker sees it, two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard owes a debt of thanks to teammate Tim Duncan and former Spur Bruce Bowen.
Duncan has been named to the league’s All-Defensive team 15 times, the most in NBA history, and Bowen, who retired in 2009, earned a spot on the squad in seven of the eight seasons he played with San Antonio. But Leonard is the only Spur in franchise history who has been honored as Defensive Player of the Year.
While Parker expressed joy Monday for Leonard, who has won the defensive award the last two years, he made it clear that it doesn’t sit well with him that Duncan and Bowen never received the honor.
“I think Kawhi can say thanks to Bruce and Timmy for those defensive awards,” Parker said. “I felt like before, Bruce definitely should have won one of those years and I’m surprised Timmy never won the defensive (award). But I think back in the day, the Spurs didn’t get that much respect. We had to earn that respect. Now everybody respects the Spurs, so they don’t forget Kawhi. That’s just my personal opinion.
“I felt like Bruce and Timmy should have won before, but it’s just like that. Everybody who won deserves it, that’s for sure, but I felt like we’ve been a great defensive team for a long time, and Timmy and Bruce, they never won it, so that’s weird. And now Kawhi, he gets all the awards. It’s great because he deserves it, too, but he can say thank you to Timmy and Bruce.”
Parker, who is in his 15th season with the Spurs, made his comments after Leonard received the defensive award during a news conference at the team’s practice facility. Leonard, a forward, is the first player to win the defensive award in back-to-back years since Dwight Howard won three in a row (2009-11). Leonard, 24, is also the first player other than a center to be named the league’s top defensive player in consecutive seasons since Dennis Rodman (1990-91).
Leonard had four steals and three blocks in the Spurs’ 106-74 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday night at the AT&T Center. The Silver and Black also will host Game 2, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Veteran guard Manu Ginobili was asked if Leonard is the best defensive player he’s ever seen during his career.
“Well, it’s not a big compe ion. It’s him or Bruce,” Ginobili said. “Bruce was remarkable. He did less plays that draw highlights, but he was as consistent as it gets. With Kawhi, the fact that his blocks, his steals and dunks, and that type of play, he draws more attention. But both are just incredible and it’s not easy to get a defensive player of the year award.”
The Spurs never quite had a player like Bowen, a relentless lockdown defender who always guarded the opposition’s best perimeter shooter. In short, Bowen embodied the Spurs’ philosophy that winning basketball is grounded in outstanding defense.
“We think if you’re going to be the last team standing, you have to be a heck of a defensive team,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “It doesn’t mean you’re going to win it, but it gives you an opportunity to be in the ballpark, for sure. We’ve always believed that, right or wrong, and probably always will, because I’m still here. I’m still standing.”
So who’s the better on-ball defender, Leonard or Bowen? Popovich drew laughter from the media with his reply.
“Bruce who,” he joked. “What have you done for me lately? Is that the world we live in? Absolutely.”
(© 2016 KENS)
http://www.kens5.com/opinion/contrib...ards/142183173
He's right that DPOY award is a joke. Duncan and Bowen should have several additional trophies on their mantle. Next thing you know they'll start giving the Finals MVP to players that show up for 2-3 games out of the series.
Poor Cat Crew...Getting fat and drinking alone at home.
Leonard is unquesionably the better defender than Bowen. Hes also the best defender for the best defensive spurs team ever whilst not having a Tim Duncan to cover up for him.
Tim Duncan not winning one, specially in 09 is a joke. If the new age media existed then, he would have won..
Parker is salty as though. What a great temate he is
Get that out of the team.now
It hurts your chances for any award to have compe ion from one of your own teammates. Bowen's entire Spurs career was spent during the Duncan era. They probably diluted each other's support and votes.
I guess Mr. Spur, David Robinson doesn't count?Idiot.
Parker can off with this, too. We all know Timmy and Bruce got robbed, that has nothing to do with Kawhi. He earned these.
This is after RC basically said Kawhi revived this team.
Tony should say thanks to Kawhi for carrying that fat SOB.
Poor Cat Crew...Getting fat and drinking alone at home.
Very unspurslike. Hes basically ranting the moment kawhi won. Can you imagine what that got would say if kawhi gets mvp? Ship his ass to houston..He.belongs with all the losers there.I guess Mr. Spur, David Robinson doesn't count?
Parker can off with this, too. We all know Timmy and Bruce got robbed, that has nothing to do with Kawhi. He earned these.
I got love for Bowen and especially Tim but Kawhi did this on his own hard work and won the awards, he doesn't owe anyone a thing for what he EARNED........ Bowen should have won one yes, Tim one or a few of them but Kawhi does not owe them.
This is after RC basically said Kawhi revived this team.
Tony should say thanks to Kawhi for carrying that fat SOB.
Wow.
Idk if it's the ty writing, and he's just trying to put on for Timmy and Bruce too hard and it comes across wrong... Or if he's really as much of a bitter little towards Kawhi as he seems sometimes. I honestly got a little pissed reading it... It's like the interview version of dribble-dribble for 4-5 straight possessions while Kawhi never touches the ball. It's his team now bro. Move over, or sit the down.
Sit the down, tony.
ing 34 years old still bitter about his role when he should be towelwaving for a team like the sixers
thisI guess Mr. Spur, David Robinson doesn't count?
Parker can off with this, too. We all know Timmy and Bruce got robbed, that has nothing to do with Kawhi. He earned these.
thisThis is after RC basically said Kawhi revived this team.
Tony should say thanks to Kawhi for carrying that fat SOB.
This
and THIS TP BALLHOG forlife
It's just Parker being Parker. Nothing new.
He can't stand his teammates get the credit/the spotlight...and not him.
Reporter: Danny has been pretty amazing all the series shooting 3's
Parker: I can't believe he's still open at this moment of the series...
Sad.
Somebody should call him out in twitter or FB .... He a in bitter lil
Parker is the saltiest little french haahah
What a punish
Dumbass. Kawhi didn't revive team. Splitter and Kawhi did. Having a big like Splitter not able to play in last years playoffs is what cost us home court advantage and a second ship. That's why PATFO traded for Aldridge.This is after RC basically said Kawhi revived this team.
Tony should say thanks to Kawhi for carrying that fat SOB.
Splitter is hurt again this year too, glad they made that move tbh. Splitter when in had potential and could change a game I admit but Kawhi trade draft night was the key to keep the window open and I will always believe that.....
Parker is right that Timmy and Bruce deserved DPOY award as well, but Kawhi does not need to thank them for actually winning it
But RC said otherwise.
"Kawhi’s given our team and our organization a lift that has put us back in position to compete for championships.
That’s a special gift to receive from a player. Especially at a point in time where the world didn’t expect that to happen for the Spurs again"
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...e-spurs-hopes/
He's right. Kawhi fans are trying to spin this and I get it, but TP is simply saying that there is a long history here. TD should have won DPoy and Bowen too. But the Spurs got no respect back then. Those that were around back then remember. our team got overlooked back then time and time again. It was Laker this, did you see what Vince did last night thAt? Now we are the NBA's NE Patriots and everybody shows respect. He could have said it a little differently but you have a reporter taking a couple of comments and trying to make it into a story. He is sticking up for history and showing that the respect given to the Spurs and Kawhi in 2016 was fought for with blood sweat and tears in the 2000's...
IMO, it's a combination of Parker wording it poorly and ty writing, tbh.
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