Now The Knicks Think Bruce Bowen Is a Dirty Player

[stretch]

This coming from that bastion of sportsmanship Steve Francis.

if you read the article, there was NO mention of Francis saying anything.

[sandman]

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.

And that is against the rules?

Again I have to ask- if some big name scorers like Dirk, Ray Allen and Vince openly and publicly complain about it, and Stern does not make a rule, much less get the officials to be more aware of it, then what does that say about the seriousness of the matter to Stern?

The man has made just about every single rule change to benefit the offensive player and improve scoring. I doubt he would leave this one out there if he thought it was a large problem.

[BigVee]

Huge Spurs fan, but not a huge fan of some of Bowen's tactics. I believe he does these things on purpose and sometimes an injury to another player is the result.

[ShoogarBear]

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

That's a big disingenuous. It's very easy, once a jump shooter is in the air, to put your feet in the spot he left and even to turn away while you're doing it.

You may not hit the exact spot where he's coming down, but you'll be close enough to cause problems most of the time.

[hitmanyr2k]

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.

Don't expect the Bruce apologists to think that way. , Bruce has been using that tactic for so long now the guy can do it at will. You can tell by Bruce's mechanics that he's intentionally trying to stick the foot under Francis. I mean when you jump you don't try to land by splitting your legs as far apart as possible lol. I can't believe some people are even trying to defend this .

[Sportcamper]

Bowen is dirty...Look at the video...He does this all the time...

[samikeyp]

if you read the article, there was NO mention of Francis saying anything.

then his teammates should have been men and given their names instead of being little cowardly es.

[Fabbs]

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

I hope you are kidding. Rules say shooter must be given his normal place to land. Bowen goes wayy out of his way to spread his feet vs Francis, most certainly does try to plant his foot where Francis would be coming down. And does. Dirty d and nothing to be proud of.

Lot of Homer Simpson Spurs posts.

[samikeyp]

Don't expect the Bruce apologists to think that way. , Bruce has been using that tactic for so long now the guy can do it at will. You can tell by Bruce's mechanics that he's intentionally trying to stick the foot under Francis. I mean when you jump you don't try to land by splitting your legs as far apart as possible lol. I can't believe some people are even trying to defend this .

so then Bruce is the only one who does this or anything remotely controversial. You seem to think he is the only one. Or do you feel others do it too.

[dimsah]

If Bowen had kept his legs pinned together at the knees after he jumped going forward (not straight up) what would happen? He would have ing fell into Francis, and thus had a foul called.

'em. If you don't like Bowen that's too bad.

[timvp]

That was a dirty play by Bowen. In fact, if he got suspended for a game I wouldn't shed a tear. You can't stick your whole leg underneath a guy who is in the air. It serves no purpose other than to injure.

And Bowen knows what he's doing. The master of defensive footwork isn't going to have his leg accidentally sticking out right where Francis is going to land. I like Bowen as much as the next Spurs fan, but this was a cheap, dirty play.

You stick your leg out like that when you are playing on the streets and you better expect a fight to break out. It's a low move and Bowen is good enough to not have to resort to it. I could understand doing it to a player like Dirk or someone that he wants to have a mental edge on, but to stick his leg under Steve Francis in November is dumb.

[samikeyp]

I think Bruce is chippy and he does stretch the rules often but so does half the league. People here are acting as if Bowen is the only one. Dirty implies intent to injure, IMO, and I don't think he has that. Of course that's just an opinion, I don't know for sure...no one else here does either.

[Kori Ellis]

You can't stick your whole leg underneath a guy who is in the air.

He barely got his foot under him. It wasn't even close to his whole leg.

[Kori Ellis]

I hope you are kidding.

Yes, I was kidding about the adjusting. Thus the emoticon.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

That was a dirty play by Bowen. In fact, if he got suspended for a game I wouldn't shed a tear. You can't stick your whole leg underneath a guy who is in the air. It serves no purpose other than to injure.

And Bowen knows what he's doing. The master of defensive footwork isn't going to have his leg accidentally sticking out right where Francis is going to land. I like Bowen as much as the next Spurs fan, but this was a cheap, dirty play.

You stick your leg out like that when you are playing on the streets and you better expect a fight to break out. It's a low move and Bowen is good enough to not have to resort to it. I could understand doing it to a player like Dirk or someone that he wants to have a mental edge on, but to stick his leg under Steve Francis in November is dumb.

I respect Bowen's work ethic but sometimes it looks really fishy

[samikeyp]

Lot of Homer Simpson Spurs posts

which are just as biased views as those against Bowen by those who feel that way for the sole reason of where he plays also presented here.

[ShoogarBear]

I could understand doing it to a player like Dirk or someone that he wants to have a mental edge on, but to stick his leg under Steve Francis in November is dumb.

There is one very smart part about it. The whole point of what Bruce does it to get inside the opponents' heads, even if he's not doing anything.

Do it during a meaningless game in November? Dirk will still be thinking about it in May.

[JamStone]

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

You sure? What Pistons fans were saying that? Those Pistons fans who claim that were just being homers like most Spurs fans are with Bruce.

Because, even though I'm a Pistons fan, I have no problem saying that Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were two of the dirtiest players ever to play in the history of the league. I won't even blink while admitting that.

Again, what Pistons fans were saying this in 1989 and 1990?

[samikeyp]

I respect Bowen's work ethic but sometimes it looks really fishy

I would agree with that.

[ShoogarBear]

which are just as biased views as those against Bowen by those who feel that way for the sole reason of where he plays also presented here.

No, there are a number of Spur and Bowen fans who don't defend that particular play. Hardly a group that is displaying any bias.

[kris]

HAHA Mikey just say he's dirty and get it over with.

[timvp]

There is one very smart part about it. The whole point of what Bruce does it to get inside the opponents' heads, even if he's not doing anything.

Do it during a meaningless game in November? Dirk will still be thinking about it in May.

Eh. I think the only ones who will remember it in May are the refs and Stu Jackson.

[samikeyp]

You sure? What Pistons fans were saying that? Those Pistons fans who claim that were just being homers like most Spurs fans are with Bruce.

Because, even though I'm a Pistons fan, I have no problem saying that Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were two of the dirtiest players ever to play in the history of the league. I won't even blink while admitting that.

Again, what Pistons fans were saying this in 1989 and 1990?

That is a fair point but just because a Spurs fan doesn't believe Bowen is dirty, that doesn't make him or her incapable of objectivity, which is what a homer is.

[hitmanyr2k]

so then Bruce is the only one who does this or anything remotely controversial. You seem to think he is the only one. Or do you feel others do it too.

This isn't about other players. This is about Bruce Bowen. He uses this tactic far more than any other player I've seen and I watch a lot of basketball. That kind of crap can jeopardize someone's career and it's time people stop trying to rationalize Bowen's bull with the "other players do it" garbage.

[ShoogarBear]

Again, what Pistons fans were saying this in 1989 and 1990?

Your daddy.