Now The Knicks Think Bruce Bowen Is a Dirty Player

[JamStone]

It's really quite simple. Most Spurs fans don't think Bruce is dirty because he's a Spur and he's a Spurs who works hard and has helped the team win championships. If Bruce is on another team doing the same things he does to Spurs players, most Spurs fans would think he's dirty. It's the way of fanaticism. And, it's completely understandable.

Bruce has been called dirty by many players in the league. He absolutely bends the rules. But, as been mentioned, a lot of players do. Is Bruce trying to hurt players? Probably not. But, is he using every advantage possible with little concern that his methods might result in someone getting injured? Probably. Does that make him dirty? It depends what you think is dirty.

I don't think Bruce wants to hurt other players. But, I don't think NOT hurting another player is a top priority, especially a priority over getting his job done. If it's a consequence to what Bruce does, I think he'll live with playing that way.

I don't think Bruce is dirty in that he wants players he defends to get injured. But, I do think many things that he does could be classified as dirty. But, again, he's far from the only player in the league that does it.

[Bruno]

Video of Francis' injury : (it's from nba.com)

http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/...ury_061106.asx

[Bruno]

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/inde...640.xml&coll=1

"I can honestly say I don't think he's a dirty player," said Malik Rose, Bowen's former teammate in San Antonio. "But that stuff happens a lot and he's the common denominator. But he works so hard on defense. When I played with him I thought those guys were all just crybabies. But being on the other end of it now, I don't know. But I still won't say he's a dirty player."

[mrose31]

It's really quite simple. Most Spurs fans don't think Bruce is dirty because he's a Spur and he's a Spurs who works hard and has helped the team win championships. If Bruce is on another team doing the same things he does to Spurs players, most Spurs fans would think he's dirty. It's the way of fanaticism. And, it's completely understandable.

Bruce has been called dirty by many players in the league. He absolutely bends the rules. But, as been mentioned, a lot of players do. Is Bruce trying to hurt players? Probably not. But, is he using every advantage possible with little concern that his methods might result in someone getting injured? Probably. Does that make him dirty? It depends what you think is dirty.

I don't think Bruce wants to hurt other players. But, I don't think NOT hurting another player is a top priority, especially a priority over getting his job done. If it's a consequence to what Bruce does, I think he'll live with playing that way.

I don't think Bruce is dirty in that he wants players he defends to get injured. But, I do think many things that he does could be classified as dirty. But, again, he's far from the only player in the league that does it.

I think Bowen is a dirty player to a degree that he is trying to mess other players game. I think he intentionally bumps, pushes, elbows,and ocassionally steps on other players to get in their heads and make them lose concentration. But I don't think he would stoop so low as to intentionally put his foot under other players to twist opponent players anlkles. If he did why would he want to even do that to a terrible team like the Knicks. They are not a threat.

[ShoogarBear]

It's really quite simple. Most Spurs fans don't think Bruce is dirty because he's a Spur and he's a Spurs who works hard and has helped the team win championships. If Bruce is on another team doing the same things he does to Spurs players, most Spurs fans would think he's dirty. It's the way of fanaticism. And, it's completely understandable.

Bruce has been called dirty by many players in the league. He absolutely bends the rules. But, as been mentioned, a lot of players do. Is Bruce trying to hurt players? Probably not. But, is he using every advantage possible with little concern that his methods might result in someone getting injured? Probably. Does that make him dirty? It depends what you think is dirty.

I don't think Bruce wants to hurt other players. But, I don't think NOT hurting another player is a top priority, especially a priority over getting his job done. If it's a consequence to what Bruce does, I think he'll live with playing that way.

I don't think Bruce is dirty in that he wants players he defends to get injured. But, I do think many things that he does could be classified as dirty. But, again, he's far from the only player in the league that does it.

All true. Spur fans would be going ape if Bowen played for the Mavs or the Lakers.

Bruce is my favorite Spur. But you have to look at what he does objectively.

[sandman]

All true. Spur fans would be going ape if Bowen played for the Mavs or the Lakers.

Bruce is my favorite Spur. But you have to look at what he does objectively.

The bottom line with Bruce is that if he is on your team, he is the DPOY. If he is on the other team, then he is dirty. It doesn't matter what team he plays for, that will always be the situation.

[mrose31]

All true. Spur fans would be going ape if Bowen played for the Mavs or the Lakers.

Bruce is my favorite Spur. But you have to look at what he does objectively.

After watching that clip of the incident I am not sure what to think. Its not like he was looking down to do it intentionally but he does open his legs wide apart when he lands. I can see it going either way if your a spurs fan you say its unintentional if your opposing team you could say it was done on purpose.

[PM5K]

God some of you peopole are stupid, maybe one day you'll be able to differentiate between dirty and physical, but I won't hold my breath...

[2Cleva]

Physical is fine when its chest to chest, body to body, etc...

When you be "physical" with a player when he can't protect himself - that's the definition of dirty or a cheap shot.

[hitmanyr2k]

Bowen is dirty man. Some Spurs fans can stay blind to it all they want but the fact is he's been using that stick-the-foot-under-the-jumpshooter schtick for a long time now. When I saw it last night I knew it was intentional and I knew someone was going to bring it up today. He stuck that foot out a lot further than he had to...as usual. Yeah, he's a hard worker and a good defender blah blah blah but he's a dirty MF and it's hard to appreciate him as a good defender when he's doing stupid like that.

[Kori Ellis]

A lot of Bowen's defense starts with his feet. Everyone knows that. But if you look at the tape of any NBA game, you'll find several instances of what Bowen "did" to Francis. Just like was mentioned in this thread earlier, Francis did it to Manu in the same game.

Bowen is crafty as . "Dirty" just depends on your defini ion of dirty. To me, dirty is throwing elbows, undercutting players while they are in the air, etc.

Dirty players, to me, are guys like Karl Malone, Danny Fortson, Juwan Howard, etc.

Then there's a line of crafty, hard-nosed, tricky players that includes Bowen, Artest (except in his moments of psychotic behavior), etc.

Bowen will always be accused of stuff by some players because he rattles them.

Ray Allen accused Bowen of repeatedly "punching him in the stomach" during a game. Now if Ray Allen, All-Star/Superstar that he is, was actually getting repeatedly punched in the stomach in a game, the league would do something about it.

[lefty]

It's really quite simple. Most Spurs fans don't think Bruce is dirty because he's a Spur and he's a Spurs who works hard and has helped the team win championships. If Bruce is on another team doing the same things he does to Spurs players, most Spurs fans would think he's dirty. It's the way of fanaticism. And, it's completely understandable.

Bruce has been called dirty by many players in the league. He absolutely bends the rules. But, as been mentioned, a lot of players do. Is Bruce trying to hurt players? Probably not. But, is he using every advantage possible with little concern that his methods might result in someone getting injured? Probably. Does that make him dirty? It depends what you think is dirty.

I don't think Bruce wants to hurt other players. But, I don't think NOT hurting another player is a top priority, especially a priority over getting his job done. If it's a consequence to what Bruce does, I think he'll live with playing that way.

I don't think Bruce is dirty in that he wants players he defends to get injured. But, I do think many things that he does could be classified as dirty. But, again, he's far from the only player in the league that does it.

Hey, I remember Pistons fans yelling their players were not dirty in 89-90

[tlongII]

Bowen is a dirty player. Everybody in the league knows that.

[whottt]

After looking at that video...

What is Bruce supposed to do? Put both of his feet together so he lands on his face?

And let's say Bruce is dirty and does that on purpose...why would he do it against the Knicks and Francis?

The Spurs have flat out owned Francis...Tony Parker shuts his butt down and has since he was 20...

Why would Bruce do it against a lottery team, so early in the game, against a player that historically plays lousy against the Spurs?

That'd be a move you save for when it's most needed.

[samikeyp]

It's really quite simple. Most Spurs fans don't think Bruce is dirty because he's a Spur and he's a Spurs who works hard and has helped the team win championships. If Bruce is on another team doing the same things he does to Spurs players, most Spurs fans would think he's dirty. It's the way of fanaticism. And, it's completely understandable.

So if I don't think he is dirty, its because I am not capable of believing so?

[mavs>spurs2]

Intentionally putting your foot under another player while they're in the air so that they have nowhere to land is bull . He should be suspended and given and intentional foul. That kind of dirty is what gets players hurt.

[samikeyp]

Intentionally putting your foot under another player while they're in the air so that they have nowhere to land is bull . He should be suspended and given and intentional foul. That kind of dirty is what gets players hurt

just Bowen or all players who do that? Despite rumors to the contrary, Bowen isn't the only one.

also...how do you prove its intentional every time a player does it?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I really don't blame the Knicks for feeling like that at all

The replays looked bad in Bowen's case although i don't think he did it on purpose

But his legs were really far out in front of him when he tried blocking that shot

It definitely looks sketchy

[The Truth #6]

You can play hard defense and be dirty. The two don't negate each other. I can't think of any other player in the league who has this long of a history of pushing the envelope. I'm basically cool with what he does because he's a Spur but I'd probably hate him if he was with the Mavs. I'm glad he's on our side. He's helped get us rings.

[Obstructed_View]

Intentionally putting your foot under another player while they're in the air so that they have nowhere to land is bull . He should be suspended and given and intentional foul. That kind of dirty is what gets players hurt.

Once again, a Maverick fan thinks it's a foul when a guy lands on your foot. If Bowen's foot is there, that means he was in position and it's the shooter's responsibility NOT to land there. If Bowen is supposed to be able to react so quickly that he can predict where a guy is going to land and get his foot to that exact spot while not even looking, how is it possible to believe that a shooter is incapable of simply moving his feet to another spot as he's coming down?

I'm starting to wonder if guys are trying to draw a foul on the shot and are just politicking for it. I'll give fans who never played basketball some benefit of the doubt, but there's no way any of these players are that stupid.

[sandman]

If Stern doesn't make a "Bowen Rule" when players like Dirk, Vince and Ray Allen complain, what makes anyone think that there will ever be a rule against whatever it is that he does? Maybe whatever it is that he does is a bit more common in the L than the Bruce haters care to admit.

Until the Commish starts dropping fines and suspensions on him, the L approves of his style of play.

[Kori Ellis]

If Bowen's foot is there, that means he was in position and it's the shooter's responsibility NOT to land there. If Bowen is supposed to be able to react so quickly that he can predict where a guy is going to land and get his foot to that exact spot while not even looking, how is it possible to believe that a shooter is incapable of simply moving his feet to another spot as he's coming down?

This how I have always thought of it. Even if Bowen is intentionally trying to get in their way. There's no way that he finds the exact place they are coming down every time without even looking.

If the shooters don't like it, they should adjust their landings

[kris]

Looked dirty to me and I like Bowen.

[2Cleva]

This how I have always thought of it. Even if Bowen is intentionally trying to get in their way. There's no way that he finds the exact place they are coming down every time without even looking.

If the shooters don't like it, they should adjust their landings

Sure you can do it without looking. You know where a guy goes up at by how their body is aligned. Basically, if you put your foot under where the ball is released, the players is likely to land on your foot more times than not.

[Kori Ellis]

Sure you can do it without looking. You know where a guy goes up at by how their body is aligned. Basically, if you put your foot under where the ball is released, the players is likely to land on your foot more times than not.

So is Steve Francis dirty for doing it to Manu later in the same game?