McDonald: Popovich says Bowen not answer for Spurs

[rascal]

He got benched last year in an effort to manufacture offense.

The Spurs losing to the Lakers in the fashion they did, playing well enough offensively and just lacking the firepower, really jarred Pop and his thinking. He approached the season with the Lakers in mind and decided to commit to a more concerted effort to manufacture offense; this lead to spacing the floor with shooters like Bonner and Finley and trusting that the system would allow them to stay relatively close to where they'd been defensively.

It was a premise full of fail, in the long run, but it was fine for the regular season. The fact of the matter was, they just didn't have the firepower needed to dethrone the Lakers and playing the likes of Bonner and Finley, even if they were some of your better offensive options, was never going to be enough to get them over the top.

I've got to believe it wasn't news to Pop, but he tried to make due with what they had.

As for Bruce, he's gone on his own accord. I'm almost certain he would have been welcomed back as a bench player playing a much, much lesser role, but he decided against it. He would rather go out on his own terms feeling he still had something left in the tank before being relegated to a bit player and eventually fading to obscurity. (this is basically what was told to MaNu4Tres, IIRC, from a person with knowledge of the situation)

There definitely seems to be something below the surface between Pop and Bruce and-or some kind of falling out, but word says that if Bruce would've been willing to accept a diminished, lesser role... he'd be here.

Good post. This sums up the whole situation. Bowen had a falling out with Pop last year due to Pop wanting to give bowen less minutes.

[baseline bum]

WTF Pop? Bowen was still the best defensive player on the Spurs last year. This is the kind of bull I expect to hear out of Larry Brown or Don Nelson, not ing Gregg Popovich.

[rascal]

So let's see, Bruce deserves his jersey retired the same season he retires. What are some of you smoking. The only players that deserve that kind of honor from this franchise are Ice, Admiral and Tim.

Agree. I don't even think he should have his jersey retired just like it was a mistake to have Avery Johnson's jersey retired. Bowen was a role player.

He didn't even play on the offensive side of the court and just hit an occasional wide open corner 3. Retired numbers should be for all star franchise type of players and Bowen is not be one of those. Not for players who were role player starters on championship teams.

[The Truth #6]

I think all the theories about offense versus defense assume there was something rational going on last year. The simple answer: Pop loves Finley. Pop plays Finley.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Not necessarily. Bowen was out there and put the locks on the " chosen one" in the 2007 Finals with Oberto defending the paint. That said not having anyone close to the ability of Bowen does hurt this years' team to some extent.

I'm not saying someone like Bowen wouldn't help, or that Bowen didn't.

But elite defenders don't grow on trees.

This is more to me an indictment of small ball. Since Pop has embraced the Don Nelson-esque stupidity of it, Spurs have yet to sniff an NBA Finals.

I would love to see a statistical plot of points allowed in the paint by SA over the last say 6 years. I think you would see a significant uptick in the past 2-3 seasons since he embraced this idealogy.

When you couple it with his Larry Brown-esque fondness for veterans, you end up with old, slow, short people getting smoked on the perimeter with candy ass lane protection like Bonner, Finley, and Jefferson that do little to intimidate opposing perimeter players.

[SCdac]

It wouldn't have bothered me to see Bowen back for another season, if not for his defensive expertise alone (aka "corporate knowledge"), but I personally feel like his most impactful days are behind him, and it's not wrong for the Spurs to evolve into a different team (albeit one that should still be defensive-minded). I didn't get anything too negative out of Pop's statement, more that he's saying clinging to the past isn't any kind of remedy for the here and now... It sucks that we couldn't even keep Bowen around as an assistant coach, like when Avery and Mario Elie (players also known for defense) retired and jumped right into coaching. At the very least he'd still be in our gym practicing and preaching Spurs defensive philosophies. I guess the offer or opportunity was never there, so, I can't blame him for getting into broadcasting as he nears his 40's.

[Russ]

WTF Pop? Bowen was still the best defensive player on the Spurs last year. This is the kind of bull I expect to hear out of Larry Brown or Don Nelson, not ing Gregg Popovich.

I agree.

If Pop can be this brutally honest about Bowen (after three les) please give Pop some truth serum about Matt Bonner.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Bowen would be an immediate upgrade over Bogans. I'm amazed Pop can be straight-faced when he claims that Bruce couldn't defend anymore.



Pride is a killer. I thought Pop is a philosophical guy, he should know the shortcomings of letting himself be ruled by his ego.

[temujin]

Retire jefferson and his jersey.

Bring back Bruce Bowen.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

For all this talk about other team's "not wanting Bowen", I was specifically remember the Celtics making a strong push for him, but Bowen not being interested.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Hey Pop, you want to know why your defense sucks Jefferson (d!ck)?

It's stupid like RJ and Bonner taking turns guarding Lamar tonight, or going to small ball with 6'7" Blair at center with Jefferson as your "power forward."

Forget pounding the rock, I wish someone would pound some sense into that thick, conceded, belligerent skull of yours.

[dbestpro]

Maybe if Pop would play 2 bigs most of the time he might see a better defensive result.

[Obstructed_View]

I'm so glad Michael Finley is back. I really missed watching him try to front Lamar Odom playing power forward in crunch time. Woot. The only thing better was watching Ginobili, Mason and Hill trying to battle Pau Gasol for a rebound.

[ElNono]

I'm so glad Michael Finley is back. I really missed watching him try to front Lamar Odom playing power forward in crunch time. Woot. The only thing better was watching Ginobili, Mason and Hill trying to battle Pau Gasol for a rebound.

LOL... Manu actually had a great contest on Gasol late in the game... hit a three at the other end, and obviously was immediately benched. It's been that kind of season...

[SA210]

Pop knows he was wrong.

Pop knows we know he was wrong.

Pop knows that we know he knows he's wrong.

Pop will never let us know that he knows that we know that he knows he was wrong.

It's just wrong...

[SA210]

Btw, Pop is an idiot. I said we'd miss Bruce.