Should Udoka start?

[Steve-O-Matic]

I would start Udoka over Bowen, in fact I said that during the 2nd half of last season. Bowen's defensive skills are still very good, but they have clearly begun to decline and that trend is not suddenly going to revert in the other direction. But he is a total liability in every other phase of the game other than the occasional spot-up 3. By and large, the Spurs are playing 4-on-5 on offense when Bowen is in the game, and that is one of key factors in the Spurs becoming an offensively-challenged team, particularly when opponents go on their nightly second-half "run." Udoka proved to be a FAR more productive player/scorer on offense than Bowen, never mind on the boards and at the FT line, and while he's not quite in Bowen's class as a man-on-man defender, he's not too shabby in his own right, and still brings a vastly more complete game to the table than Bowen. At this point in his career, Bowen is best served being brought off the bench in situational defensive roles, particulary when the Spurs need to "put out a fire" when an opposing shooter/slasher is getting a hot hand. That will allow them to maximize his assets (and, at age 37, his energy), while providing Udoka the minutes to further refine his game and give the Spurs a better balance on both ends of the floor. Additionally, history has shown that most Spurs have made their biggest strides iin production and effectiveness in Year 2 in the system, and that's where Udoka is in 2008-09.

[Drom John]

I don't care who starts, but ...
I'd like shorter stints, maybe alternating ever four minutes, tweaked in the fourth quarter in tight games so that the most successful of the two (most likely Bowen) is clamped onto the opponent's offensive star.

Why?
To wear out the opponent's offensive star.

[xtremesteven33]

I would start Udoka over Bowen, in fact I said that during the 2nd half of last season. Bowen's defensive skills are still very good, but they have clearly begun to decline and that trend is not suddenly going to revert in the other direction. But he is a total liability in every other phase of the game other than the occasional spot-up 3. By and large, the Spurs are playing 4-on-5 on offense when Bowen is in the game, and that is one of key factors in the Spurs becoming an offensively-challenged team, particularly when opponents go on their nightly second-half "run." Udoka proved to be a FAR more productive player/scorer on offense than Bowen, never mind on the boards and at the FT line, and while he's not quite in Bowen's class as a man-on-man defender, he's not too shabby in his own right, and still brings a vastly more complete game to the table than Bowen. At this point in his career, Bowen is best served being brought off the bench in situational defensive roles, particulary when the Spurs need to "put out a fire" when an opposing shooter/slasher is getting a hot hand. That will allow them to maximize his assets (and, at age 37, his energy), while providing Udoka the minutes to further refine his game and give the Spurs a better balance on both ends of the floor. Additionally, history has shown that most Spurs have made their biggest strides iin production and effectiveness in Year 2 in the system, and that's where Udoka is in 2008-09.

you just put all the things i wanted to say and point out perfectly in this post.....thank you