When is the DPOY announced?

[ObiwanGinobili]

what the ign tty is this?????

I'm not saying thta Ben Wallace is nto a great def. player.. but this year he was NOT DPOY. sorry, no.

God damn!! Ypou know this is it?? there is no chance in a frozen that Bruce will ever get the DPOY that he ing DESERVES??? This was really his last year to get it.After this he is too far over the hillo compete for it. He'll be top 5 def. player again next year and may be the year after....

jesh it's liek the end of a really bad dream.

I am so ign pissed off right now. I can't express it.

[SA210]

what the ign tty is this?????

I'm not saying thta Ben Wallace is nto a great def. player.. but this year he was NOT DPOY. sorry, no.

God damn!! Ypou know this is it?? there is no chance in a frozen that Bruce will ever get the DPOY that he ing DESERVES??? This was really his last year to get it.After this he is too far over the hillo compete for it. He'll be top 5 def. player again next year and may be the year after....

jesh it's liek the end of a really bad dream.

I am so ign pissed off right now. I can't express it.

I agree and have some more venting to do.

[pache100]

what the ign tty is this?????

I'm not saying thta Ben Wallace is nto a great def. player.. but this year he was NOT DPOY. sorry, no.

God damn!! Ypou know this is it?? there is no chance in a frozen that Bruce will ever get the DPOY that he ing DESERVES??? This was really his last year to get it.After this he is too far over the hillo compete for it. He'll be top 5 def. player again next year and may be the year after....

jesh it's liek the end of a really bad dream.

I am so ign pissed off right now. I can't express it.

Wow, Obi...tell us how you really feel! J/K...I'm with you!

Edit: You know what I hate? I hate when teams/coaches/owners CAMPAIGN for players to win these awards. I'm not saying that's what happened this year (at least I haven't heard anything about it if it was), but it's the reason Bruce has been beaten out for this award in the past (re: Artest a couple of years ago for DPOY, and Nash last year for MVP...D'Antoni WHINED Nash into that award - and I'm not saying he didn't deserve it, but he should have earned on his own merit). That sucks big time. The award should be given to the best defensive player of the year...period. No campaigning. If you (coach/team/owner) campaign or talk up a player, that player should be disqualified immediately. Just because the Spurs don't believe in that , I'm sick and tired of them being overlooked for awards.

[SA210]

Does anyone have a link to this bullcrap robbery?

Bruce = DPOY

[SA210]

This better not be true.

If it is, we all need to hold up signs at the games telling Bruce that he is our DPOY.



And write some letters to the NBA

[SA210]

Wow, Obi...tell us how you really feel! J/K...I'm with you!

Edit: You know what I hate? I hate when teams/coaches/owners CAMPAIGN for players to win these awards. I'm not saying that's what happened this year (at least I haven't heard anything about it if it was), but it's the reason Bruce has been beaten out for this award in the past (re: Artest a couple of years ago for DPOY, and Nash last year for MVP...D'Antoni WHINED Nash into that award - and I'm not saying he didn't deserve it, but he should have earned on his own merit). That sucks big time. The award should be given to the best defensive player of the year...period. No campaigning. If you (coach/team/owner) campaign or talk up a player, that player should be disqualified immediately. Just because the Spurs don't believe in that , I'm sick and tired of them being overlooked for awards.

I really just don't know what to say. I'm really so ticked off right now it's frickin' ridiculous. I don't care what anyone says to this, But the truth is, Bruce has been robbed before and if this is true, he was just robbed again.

He should have at least gotten it once when Ben got it in the past and it was Bruce's when Ron Artest got it. Bruce should at least be going for his 3rd or 4th right now, at least, I don't care what bs anyone tries to say to that.

Even Kobe thinks Bruce is, and that says alot coming from Kobe. He actually plays the game and should know and as much as I can't stand him, I respect his honesty. He wasn't like Vince and Ray Allen. He admitted that Bowen is the best.

And this year, Bruce quieted his critics while gaurding a 7 footer as well.

If he plays his heart out beyond any defender in this league like that consistantly as he has and doesn't get recognized, and what he has gone through in his career, and what a role model and great man he is, then the NBA just frickin' sucks beyond belief if they are gonna do this crap.

Do you realize that Bruce deserves this and he will never get it. All his work in the offseason, all season long doing what has been lost in basketball, Defense. It's his specialty, it's what he loves to do and he's the best at it, going after the best guy on the other team night in and night out. Better than anyone else. No debate about that. Bruce is DPOY of 2006.

I can't find a link to confirm this crap anywhere.
He deserves to get at least one damn frickin' DPOY award. DAMN!!

[FromWayDowntown]

I realize that it's not relevant to the vote, but the Sacramento Kings have done a pretty nice job of suggesting that Bruce Bowen might be a slightly overrated defender. I'm not saying that I agree with that assessment, but strong players who can post up on the box can really make Bruce look ineffective. Tuesday night, he was just guessing against Wells, and usually guessing wrong.

If Ben won the award again, props to him; I would have loved to have seen Bowen win the award just once, but I wonder now if he ever will. sigh.

[easjer]

Ben Wallace winning on reputation annoys the out of me, if it's true. You can't say (as someone did to me) that he deserves to win even if he has an off year - by that logic, Duncan deserves the MVP, because we all know he can be, but he had PF this year. Vote based on the year and what is happening, you know?

I'm still angry.

[FromWayDowntown]

Ben Wallace winning on reputation annoys the out of me, if it's true. You can't say (as someone did to me) that he deserves to win even if he has an off year - by that logic, Duncan deserves the MVP, because we all know he can be, but he had PF this year. Vote based on the year and what is happening, you know?

I'm still angry.

The problem is that there are very few statistics to give anyone an objective feel for the quality of a defender; those statistics that do exist (rebounds, blocks) tend to weigh heavily in favor of bigs, even if the numbers don't exactly prove defensive greatness. Carlisle fought the system a few years ago by proposing numbers to prop up Artest and the know-little lemmings in the NBA media bought it hook, line, and sinker. Pop takes a higher road than that, but as long as the media is infatuated with numbers (like chicks digging the long ball) they're going to give that award to bigs who put up numbers that the media can relate to. Some get it and see beyond the numbers, but most members of the media don't take much time to observe and appreciate things that aren't measurable in box scores.

I wonder sometimes if things like DPOY aren't better left to coaches and/or GM's, but that will never happen.

[Darrin]

I'll say this again - the NBA is going to wind up with its best perimeter player without a Defensive Player of the Year Award. This is a year that Tim Duncan is not in the running for MVP, Gregg Popovich didn't win Coach of the Year, there were too many candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, etc.

My concern over this comes from Vinnie Johnson. He's become the definition of Sixth Man - a man who can start who sacrifices for the team, is efficent in multiple facets of the game. The Pistons had one backup behind Isiah Thomas and John Long, later Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars - the Microwave.

Despite starting only 149 of his 798 games (4th all-time) as a Detroit Piston, he is 6th in scoring (10,146), 5th in assists (2,661), 6th in steals (708). More than that, he is known for the most infamous shot in Pistons history - known simply as 0.07, referring to the time left on the clock when Johnson hit a 15-footer to win the Pistons second NBA Championship.

1986: Bill Walton (7.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 bpg in 80 games/ 2 starts)
1987: Rickey Pierce (19.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, .8 spg in 79 games / 31 starts)
1988: Roy Tarpley (13.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.3 spg in 81 games / 9 starts)
1989: Eddie Johnson (21.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, .7 spg in 70 games / 7 starts)
1990: Rickey Pierce (23.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, .8 spg in 59 games / 0 starts)
1991: Detlef Schrempf (16.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, .7 spg in 82 games / 3 starts)

All of these are worthy candidates, but Walton receieved the award as a compensation for the lack of the Comeback Player of the Year. That year, Johnson averaged 13.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 1.01 spg for the 46-36 Detroit Pistons. He lost the next year (15.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.12 spg) to a man who started 39.2% of the games he played compared to 9.8% for VJ. The Pistons won 52 games that season and made their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since they were playing in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

From 1986-1991, his best seasons with the Pistons, Johnson was almost always averaging less minutes than the award winner:

1985-86: +5.7 mpg over Bill Walton
1986-87: -3.9 mpg to Rickey Pierce
1987-88: -4.9 mpg to Roy Tarpley
1988-89: -5.0 mpg to Rickey Pierce
1989-90: -3.9 mpg to Eddie Johnson
1990-91: -3.0 mpg to Detlef Schrempf

And to add insult to injury, when Corliss Williamson was to receive his Sixth Man of the Year Award (13.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.2 apg in 78 games / 7 starts), the NBA scheduled Bill Walton to give the award to him before game two of their playoff series with Toronto. The Pistons organization was having none of that. It was important to them that Vinnie Johnson present the award so that he can at least see the trophy he never won. It was as much a moment for Vinnie Johnson as it was for Corliss Williamson.




What's the long series of facts and Pistons history mean? I don't want Bruce Bowen to go through the same thing with Ben Wallace (4) and Ron Artest (1) gaining all the Defensive Player of the Year awards during his best seasons. Bowen's the guy who bodies the best offensive player every night, and for my money, is the best in the business at doing that. The only thing standing in his way of winning it is what this post is all about - he doesn't have the numbers.

He's still my Defensive Player of the Year. And don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't think Bowen's defense for this season stands on its merits. But without a clear-cut winner, I consider this a deciding factor for Bowen to pull ahead of the rest of the field.

End of Speech.

[Rynospursfan]

Whatever happens in my eyes Bruce is still...

[????????]

Why give a ? Who gives a ? DPOY is pointless. MVP is pointless. Most Improved Player is pointless. It's all ing pointless. Just win the next game, the Mavs over, Take on whoever in the WCF, then bounce the East to Win another LE. That's all that matters. JUST WIN THE LE.

[Jimcs50]

Why give a ? Who gives a ? DPOY is pointless. MVP is pointless. Most Improved Player is pointless. It's all ing pointless. Just win the next game, the Mavs over, Take on whoever in the WCF, then bounce the East to Win another LE. That's all that matters. JUST WIN THE LE.

I think it does matter. All the extra work and effort that Bruce puts into his job should be rewarded and he should be recognized.

[????????]

I think it does matter. All the extra work and effort that Bruce puts into his job should be rewarded and he should be recognized.

Then give him a banquet and a Huge bonus check. The only recognition he needs is to be known as THE defensive stopper on three world championship teams. It's all about victory. No other real reason to play sports.

[Spurminator]

It doesn't matter as much for a player like Tim Duncan who had his ticket stamped for the HOF 2 years ago... But for a player like Bruce Bowen, who doesn't have that kind of legacy, an award like the DPOY secures his historical relevance. It may not be embedded in every NBA fan's memory that Bowen won DPOY in 2006, but it will always be on record for those who care to look it up.

Spurs fans won't forget, and they'll likely have his jersey above the court to remind them, but others may... and we as Bruce fans want EVERYONE to remember.

EVERYONE, damn you!

[????????]

The only thing to remember is that he was the defensive stopper on 3,4,5,??? Championship teams. It's just a difference of opinion. I hate individual awards in team sports. I believe team goals are all that's important and that in professional sports base salaries should be way lower and HUGE incentives given to teams that win. Too many spoiled atheletes have almost ruined professional basketball for me. If not for the class on the Spurs, I wouldn't watch the rest of these babies. You should only be paid millions if you win, not just for showing up.

[themvp]

It doesn't matter as much for a player like Tim Duncan who had his ticket stamped for the HOF 2 years ago... But for a player like Bruce Bowen, who doesn't have that kind of legacy, an award like the DPOY secures his historical relevance. It may not be embedded in every NBA fan's memory that Bowen won DPOY in 2006, but it will always be on record for those who care to look it up.

Spurs fans won't forget, and they'll likely have his jersey above the court to remind them, but others may... and we as Bruce fans want EVERYONE to remember.

EVERYONE, damn you!

Word.

[SA210]

It doesn't matter as much for a player like Tim Duncan who had his ticket stamped for the HOF 2 years ago... But for a player like Bruce Bowen, who doesn't have that kind of legacy, an award like the DPOY secures his historical relevance. It may not be embedded in every NBA fan's memory that Bowen won DPOY in 2006, but it will always be on record for those who care to look it up.

Spurs fans won't forget, and they'll likely have his jersey above the court to remind them, but others may... and we as Bruce fans want EVERYONE to remember.

EVERYONE, damn you!

[Darrin]

I don't believe that individual awards should be chased. But for me, the individual awards become a marker on their road as they journey towards the team goals. It recognizes excellence, and for a player like Bowen who took the long road to the NBA, it confirms what he's always believed - he belongs. It takes on added meaning for guys who are told "no" as many times as Bowen and Ben Wallace. He's 34-years-old. The likelihood he's a candidate beyond next season is slim. Denying him the award is just a continuation of that chorus of nos he's heard his entire career. There will be no long-term acceptance of him as an elite defender of his generation. Mostly because there's been a lot of talk about how "dirty" he is, and because his numbers are slim.

A comparable player: Ron Harper. Five years since he retired, and people are already forgetting that Phil Jackson's teams were 326-86 (.791) with 5 NBA Championships with Ron Harper starting at point guard.

[leemajors]

I don't believe that individual awards should be chased. But for me, the individual awards become a marker on their road as they journey towards the team goals. It recognizes excellence, and for a player like Bowen who took the long road to the NBA, it confirms what he's always believed - he belongs. It takes on added meaning for guys who are told "no" as many times as Bowen and Ben Wallace. He's 34-years-old. The likelihood he's a candidate beyond next season is slim. Denying him the award is just a continuation of that chorus of nos he's heard his entire career. There will be no long-term acceptance of him as an elite defender of his generation. Mostly because there's been a lot of talk about how "dirty" he is, and because his numbers are slim.

A comparable player: Ron Harper. Five years since he retired, and people are already forgetting that Phil Jackson's teams were 326-86 (.791) with 5 NBA Championships with Ron Harper starting at point guard.

harper was interesting. early in his career he was known as a scorer, no?

[Darrin]

harper was interesting. early in his career he was known as a scorer, no?

Yes (19.3 PPG from 1986-1994), and unlike Bowen, he was an NBA All-Star. He was on the Cavaliers 57-25 (franchise record) 1989 team, and he was on Larry Brown's LA Clippers teams that made the playoffs. He became a lock-down defender as his role changed and the injuries piled up in his career (played 74 games from 1989-1991). He really proved himself in 1997-98 when Pippen started the season on the injured list due to Pippen's leg. It's no suprise that Phil Jackson's first non-60-win team since 1994-95 came when Harper missed 35 games in 2000-01.

[polandprzem]

End of Speech.

Good speech

I'm still waiting for the NBA to anaunce that. Bowen is DPOTY and we will see if the "voters" can change that.