Stoudemire calls Spurs 'dirty' (Bruce & Manu)

[picnroll]

Kind of makes me wish Amare got to play Karl Malone in a 7 game series.

As I recall last series Kobe was pretty pissed when Nash kicked him in the groin on a drive.

[mVp]

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/loca...om&navCatId=15

[cornbread]

Kind of makes me wish Amare got to play Karl Malone in a 7 game series.

Tim and David both battled against Malone in the playoffs. They handled it like men. Unlike Black Charmin.

[rayray2k8]

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/loca...om&navCatId=15

Is this guy ing paranoid?

[bobbyjoe]

Mike Finger: With opponent on heels, Amare plays the victim

Web Posted: 05/10/2007 11:41 PM CDT


San Antonio Express-News

Gregg Popovich admitted he was fighting the urge to overreact and do something "silly." Tony Parker was trying to decide if he needed to be more aggressive. And Robert Horry, with his own playful ideas on how to reclaim some momentum, even invoked the name of Jackie Butler.
But then?

Amare Stoudemire opened his mouth and provided the Spurs with the only adjustment they needed.

As much as people talk about lineup changes and strategic moves this time of year, nothing shakes up an NBA playoff series quite like a slip of the tongue. So when Stoudemire blasted Bruce Bowen on Thursday and accused the Spurs of being a "dirty team," he might have thought he was simply blowing the whistle and calling out an opponent.

But at a point when the Suns should have finally been feeling strong and confident against their biggest nemesis, wasn't Stoudemire just turning them into victims all over again?

For years, Phoenix had struggled to put itself in the position it reached on Tuesday. The Spurs had beaten the Suns in 16 of the teams' last 20 meetings, including five of the last six in the playoffs. During that time, there was a growing perception that the Spurs were the one team capable of getting into the Suns' fast-breaking heads.

But after a blowout Phoenix victory in Game 2, it was suddenly Popovich's team that had to figure out how to regroup.

With three days off between Games 2 and 3, the Suns could have spent that time smiling and swaggering and allowing doubt to creep into the minds of Parker, who had trouble being chased by Shawn Marion, and Manu Ginobili, who still hasn't found his postseason stroke, and Bowen, who hasn't slowed down Steve Nash as much as he'd hoped.

But when Bowen heard about Stoudemire's comments Thursday, didn't he have to laugh a little inside? A huge part of his game is making an opponent uncomfortable, and Stoudemire all but confirmed Bowen is doing his job against the Suns.

After viewing the clip of Bowen's kick on YouTube — which already boasts almost as many Bruce Bowen "cheap shot" videos as it does of animals playing musical instruments — it's understandable why Stoudemire might be a bit perturbed.

But to take his frustration public? After a victory?

That's not the best way to show the tables have turned. The only possible upside for Phoenix would be the league suspending Bowen, and that didn't happen.

Sure, Stoudemire isn't the first to complain about Bowen's defensive tactics. But run down the list of the most vocal critics: Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Isiah Thomas, Flip Saunders and Cuttino Mobley.

What do they have in common? Losing records against the Spurs, and zero playoff series victories against Bowen.

It seldom pays to voice frustration about an opposing player's transgressions, and the Spurs know this firsthand. One of the only times they've really made a fuss about a perceived cheap shot in recent years was last year in the conference semifinals against Dallas, when Jason Terry's fist landed below Michael Finley's belt.

Remember how that turned out? Terry was suspended for Game 6, then came back fired up and scored 27 points in Game 7 to help the Mavericks win the series.

Bowen, in all likelihood, will react the same way, just like he usually has.

There was a hiccup earlier this season when Thomas' complaints prompted a league official to warn Bowen about placing his foot under jump shooters, making Bowen a bit tentative for a while after that. But that was because the NBA was questioning his entire defensive approach. In this case, the only thing the league can really do would be to tell him to stop kicking players in their calves.

Chances are, Bowen can still guard while adhering to those guidelines. And when his pestering style becomes the focal point of the series, making the Suns look like the victims instead of the conquerors?

The Suns can thank Stoudemire for the adjustment.

So if David Robinson had called Karl Malone dirty after the elbow which knocked him unconscious, he'd have been a whiner and Malone would have been fired up for the next meeting?

LOL.

This article was just pathetic homer journalism. Shameful. If this guy was writing for the Jazz in the 90's, he'd say the only reason people complained about the Jazz is that they were so good and won 60 games each year.

[Louie Vega]

Everytime they show Stoudemire on tv he always has that " light are on but nobody's home" look about him. The first time I saw him I said I hope this guy isn't as dumb as he looks. Then I heard him talk. I'm positive that Suns fans everywhere cringe everytime he opens his mouth. This has to be the stupidest man in the NBA!

[RonMexico]

Bowen is physical and cheap... but I won't call him dirty just yet.

It's true that only the biggest pussies in the league publicly complain about him: VC, Ray Allen, Isiah... but I can't blame Amare for going public about it because he did just miss an entire season due to injury.

I can blame Amare for going public about it because I don't want him to fire up the Spurs any more than they already should be since they're going home for Game 3 after stealing HCA.

[Amare Stoudcrier]

It's true that only the biggest pussies in the league publicly complain about him

How can you call me a pussy??? That is SOOOOO unfair!!

[TheSanityAnnex]

Knees to the nuts are common and should not be considered dirty.

[Jimcs50]

Bowen!!!!!

[JamStone]

I'm sorry, but there really have been quite a few dirty plays by the Spurs in this game.

[TheSanityAnnex]

He's just smarter than Jason Terry and knows how to hit sack without getting caught.

[Jimcs50]

I'm sorry, but there have been quite a few dirty plays by the Spurs in this game.

Bowen is a dirty player...but wtf cares as Spurs' fans??? You had Bill Lambeer and Rick Mahorn, we have Bowen.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Bowen is a dirty player...but wtf cares as Spurs' fans??? You had Bill Lambeer and Rick Mahorn, we have Bowen.

I like Spurs fans that will at least admit it.

[Jimcs50]

I like Spurs fans that will at least admit it.

If Bowen were on the Mavs, we would all be crying foul about Bruce's tactics....that is fact.

[TheSanityAnnex]

If Bowen were on the Mavs, we would all be crying foul about Bruce's tactics....that is fact.

I call him dirty, but I'd love to have him on my team any day.

[Jimcs50]

I call him dirty, but I'd love to have him on my team any day.

My point exactly.

[JamStone]

Bowen is a dirty player...but wtf cares as Spurs' fans??? You had Bill Lambeer and Rick Mahorn, we have Bowen.

Your point? I don't deny Laimbeer and Mahorn were dirty. You are a minority when it comes to Spurs fans admitting Bowen is dirty.

[Jimcs50]

Your point? I don't deny Laimbeer and Mahorn were dirty. You are a minority when it comes to Spurs fans admitting Bowen is dirty.

That is because they are homers with silver tinted glasses

[TheSanityAnnex]

This could get ugly, Bell seems pissed. He'd be stupid to act on his frustrations, but I see it happening. I haven't seen a good bball fight for a while, I'm excited.

[ShoogarBear]

Jim's mad because he bought front-row tickets to the Mavs parade before the playoffs even started.

[WalterBenitez]

Amare is a pure !