Time To Ante Up In San Antonio (Pop Says Bowen Probably Won't Return)

[BWS-1994]

“I’m really excited,’’ he said. “If we had come to training camp with the same group we had at the end of last year, everyone would have gone into major depression. I would have been saying, ‘follow me,’ and turned around to find nobody there. It was time to change the music and I think we’ve done that.’’

Bruce will be definitely be missed, but sadly, even some good things must come to an end...

[mountainballer]

Jefferson is the biggest of the new arrivals, a scorer, a wing player who still has a few hops left. Popovich got to know Jefferson during the 2004 Olympics (as did Duncan, a US teammate) and looks forward to having the ex-Net, ex-Buck on the team.

“He’s a grown-up. He doesn’t have to be developed,’’ Popovich said. “And personality-wise, he fits. He has a great sense of humor. You can coach him and he can respectfully talk back to you. Timmy enjoys him.’’

if it was a typical Spurs decision (guess we can assume it was), then the personality of RJ and his relation to Pop and Tim from the 2004 summer might have been the crucial point to acquire him (instead of VC or maybe some trade scenarios we never heard about).
this will also make Pop confident, that he can turn RJ exactly into the kind of player this Spurs roster needs and that RJ will accept this new role. and this will be much more of a defensive role than RJ played in the last years. IMO he will look good when defending players like Melo, Odom, maybe even Dirk. (but for guards like Kobe he's not quick enough any more.)

[TJastal]

Bruce Bowen should retire. He's 38 freakin years old.

Even Popovich has concluded Bruce's days are over. His defense isn't nearly what it used to be to justify his minutes on the court. His decline was especially noticeable last year. He increasingly relied on grabbing/bumping/holding because he couldn't move his feet to stay in front of his man. The officials were onto this and zero'ing in on him, and he was getting a ton of foul calls.

Other reasons he's not needed anymore

Spurs now have Jefferson who is a solid wing defender, and also a rook (Hairston) who needs minutes to develop.

Spurs also have another older wing player who elected to pick up his option, Michael Finley. If Finley had retired, then maybe .. you think about signing Bowen as a defensive specialist and hope he can find the fountain of youth. If nothing else his length would be valuable against Kobe's jumpshot. But not with Finley on board. One 35+ small forward is more than enough.

As it is I think Popovich made the right decision. They will be just fine with Jefferson / Finley / Hairston as the small forwards.

[hater]

Bruce Bowen is IMHO almost as important to the Spurs as Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan are.

Spur fans really don't understand how much of a luxury it is to have a guy on their team that can literally take out the opposing team's best player and frustrate him all night.

Trevor Ariza IMHO is almost as important to Lakers as Kobe, Gasol and Odom

[Oscar DeLa]

i dont know what it is but when Bowen was on the floor in the playoffs during crunch time, he tended to play good D and nail his corner threes!

[Fabbs]

Bruces D has lost a step? Okay.

Compare to Finleys D.

[Summers]

It's at least the second. He said it last year after Duncan's tractor tire throwing came out in the press. And he said it the beginning of the '07-'08 season, going into the attempt at a repeat.

He may have also said it at the beginning of the '06-'07 season, after the plantar fasciitis in '05-'06.

And in his defense, Duncan was in great shape early last year. He looked and played amazing until the knee started to hurt.

[spursfaninla]

Bruce Bowen should retire. He's 38 freakin years old.

Even Popovich has concluded Bruce's days are over. His defense isn't nearly what it used to be to justify his minutes on the court. His decline was especially noticeable last year. He increasingly relied on grabbing/bumping/holding because he couldn't move his feet to stay in front of his man. The officials were onto this and zero'ing in on him, and he was getting a ton of foul calls.

.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I would have liked Bruce to have a farewell tour, but I suppose that would have used a roster spot that someone younger could have.

I guess I'll just wait for the jersey retirement ceremony to celebrate his tremendous contributions to the team.

[HarlemHeat37]

+1 to Summers..

Duncan pre-Tendonisis was playing the best basketball we've seen from him in years, and he carried us with a horrible supporting cast while TP and Manu were out..

[Fabbs]

I would have liked Bruce to have a farewell tour, but I suppose that would have used a roster spot that someone younger could have.

I guess I'll just wait for the jersey retirement ceremony to celebrate his tremendous contributions to the team.

Okay for Finley to hog up a roster spot, not okay for Bruce to.

Not saying this is what you intended Ed Jones but that's the reality.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Okay for Finley to hog up a roster spot, not okay for Bruce to.

Not saying this is what you intended Ed Jones but that's the reality.

I kind of forgot Finley was still on the roster. You make a good point.

[Flux451]

^^^ Losing Bruce is the mistake, Not bringing him back is the mistake. Not playing him last year is the mistake. Possibly ending his career when it shouldn't have was the mistake. Us getting our ass handed to us by Kobe and others when RJ and Manu can't stop them is the mistake.

If we lose to the Lakers or any other team cuz we couldn't gaurd Kobe or whomever else, then would it really have been a great trade? Did the trade matter in the end if we lose anyway?

Bowen can't stop Kobe anymore. 2003 he did the best of his career. Now Kobe is too quick or Bowen is too slow. Bowen can definitely guard him well but no one is stopping that guy. I think Hairston or Hill are the guys to look to when the time comes.

[SA210]

i dont know what it is but when Bowen was on the floor in the playoffs during crunch time, he tended to play good D and nail his corner threes!

Yup!

Bruces D has lost a step? Okay.

Compare to Finleys D.

Yea, who do you put in instead of Manu or Parker on Kobe FWD? Finley?

Bowen can't stop Kobe anymore. 2003 he did the best of his career. Now Kobe is too quick or Bowen is too slow. Bowen can definitely guard him well but no one is stopping that guy. I think Hairston or Hill are the guys to look to when the time comes.

Bowen is still the best in the NBA to gaurd him and would give us the best chance at winning against them.

[FromWayDowntown]

So, are you saying that Bowen would be on the floor in crunch time instead of

Parker?
Ginobili?
Jefferson?
Duncan?

That they'll just go small?

Or are you thinking that if the Spurs re-sign Bowen, they might be able to play 6 on 5?

[jay014]

Bowen is still the best in the NBA to gaurd him and would give us the best chance at winning against them.

It didn't help in 2008 WCF when Kobe raped the Spurs. Bowen time is over.
Jefferson gives us the best chance to beat L.A. now not remembering what a defender Bowen was.

[EricB]

Assuming the Spurs brought Bowen back for next season, who would you propose sits during crunch time: Parker? Ginobili? Jefferson? Duncan?

If none of those guys, then if the Spurs bring back Bowen to be a meaningful part of this team, are you proposing that the Spurs go small in crunch time?

crickets.

[EricB]

So, are you saying that Bowen would be on the floor in crunch time instead of

Parker?
Ginobili?
Jefferson?
Duncan?

That they'll just go small?

Or are you thinking that if the Spurs re-sign Bowen, they might be able to play 6 on 5?

But but but but finley is on the team!!!

Don't you know they should've turned down the trade for Richard Jefferson because Bowen was involved and SA210 holds a giant disgusting mancrush on Bowen?!?!?

DAMN YOU!!!

[FireDavidStern]

Yup!





Yea, who do you put in instead of Manu or Parker on Kobe FWD? Finley?





Bowen is still the best in the NBA to gaurd him and would give us the best chance at winning against them.

How? Bowen is 38 years old. He lost the step that we all knew he was going to eventually lose. Finely has nothing to do with this. STOP MENTIONING HIM! What should the Spurs have done? Bend the space-time continuum and change the past so Finely had the non-guaranteed contract and Bowen had the player option? The Spurs (if healthy) are equal with the Lakers because of trading Bowen and all you do is complain? To quote Pop; Get over yourself.

[mountainballer]

Assuming the Spurs brought Bowen back for next season, who would you propose sits during crunch time: Parker? Ginobili? Jefferson? Duncan?

If none of those guys, then if the Spurs bring back Bowen to be a meaningful part of this team, are you proposing that the Spurs go small in crunch time?

the Bowen question aside, but yes I can see the Spurs go small with Tony-Manu-Mason-RJ and Tim in crunch time. especially when they are some points down.

[duncan228]

Could deeper Spurs be best in the West?
By Sam Amico
Pro Basketball News

A few San Antonio thoughts:

* Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had some interesting things to say to Peter May of the Boston Globe, discussing everything from Bruce Bowen's possible retirement to the team's offseason moves.

* Popovich on Bowen, the longtime Spurs forward traded to Milwaukee in the Richard Jefferson deal (the Bucks then waived him): "He might come back with the right team in the right situation, but it's probably not going to be San Antonio."

* That makes sense, as Bowen is 38 and while he's still a potential contributor, he wouldn't get many minutes with Jefferson, Roger Mason, Michael Finley and, of course, Manu Ginobili in front of him.

* There have been reports Boston was interested in Bowen, but he did not feel the same. Washington is said to be another possibility, as is Atlanta.

* Popovich on new addition Antonio McDyess: "He's Kurt Thomas, but a better scorer."

* Seriously, is there a more perfect veteran find for this team than McDyess? With his professionalism and team-first at ude, he makes the ultimate Spur.

* The Spurs' starting lineup will look something like this: C Tim Duncan; PF McDyess; SF Jefferson; SG Mason; PG Tony Parker.

* Off the bench will be Ginobili at shooting guard, Finley at small forward, Matt Bonner at power forward, George Hill at point guard and veteran Theo Ratliff at center.

* Popovich is also high on rookie power forward DeJuan Blair. "He's going to play right off the bat for us," Popovich told May. "He can rebound. I'm not going to teach him how to shoot threes. We know what he can do."

* Popovich also called Jefferson "a grown up" who is a great fit personality-wise. "He has a great sense of humor. You can coach him and he can respectfully talk back to you. Timmy enjoys him."

* Finally, Popovich indicated he thinks the Lakers are still the West's best team, but he likes what the Spurs have done. "If we had come to training camp with the same group we had at the end of last year, everyone would have gone into major depression," he told May. "I would have been saying, ‘follow me,' and turned around to find nobody there. It was time to change the music and I think we've done that."

* Personally, I think the Spurs and the Lakers are neck-in-neck, with neither clearly superior to the other. If I absolutely, positively had to give anyone an edge, it would be the Spurs. But I reserve the right change my mind on a daily basis.

[Fabbs]

Could deeper Spurs be best in the West?
By Sam Amico

* Off the bench will be...Finley at small forward, Matt Bonner at power forward...

That should strike fear in West Conf playoff opponents.

[Fabbs]

Could deeper Spurs be best in the West?

* Finally, Popovich indicated he thinks the Lakers are still the West's best team, but he likes what the Spurs have done. "If we had come to training camp with the same group we had at the end of last year, everyone would have gone into major depression," he told May. "I would have been saying, ‘follow me,' and turned around to find nobody there. It was time to change the music and I think we've done that."

Summer 2007 was the time....

Popped trying to sound glib and wise again

[loveforthegame]

* The Spurs' starting lineup will look something like this: C Tim Duncan; PF McDyess; SF Jefferson; SG Mason; PG Tony Parker.

* Off the bench will be Ginobili at shooting guard, Finley at small forward, Matt Bonner at power forward, George Hill at point guard and veteran Theo Ratliff at center.

That's a pretty sweet starting lineup. Mason being the only weak link. Not bad at all.

Ginobli and Hill are the only sure bets in the 2nd unit. If Blair is going to get the minutes that Pop and RC keep talking about then I think he's plugged in there instead of Bonner. Finley and Ratliff wouldn't surprise me until Hairston and Mahinmi/Haislip prove otherwise.

[CubanMustGo]

Fabbs trying to sound glib and wise again