This one's on Bowen and Pop

[Kori Ellis]

It was just a heat of the moment thing. That possession was the offensive foul. When they went down, Ray was laying (leaning back) on Bowen's other leg and pissed off at the O foul call. Bowen wanted to get up and used the bottom of his foot to push Ray in the back. If he used his hand to push Ray off, then people probably wouldn't be so outraged.

Was it a bonehead play? Sure. But was it really dirty, trying to hurt someone, or anything like that? No.

[FromWayDowntown]

It was just a heat of the moment thing. That possession was the offensive foul. When they went down, Ray was laying (leaning back) on Bowen's other leg and pissed off at the O foul call. Bowen wanted to get up and used the bottom of his foot to push Ray in the back to get him off his leg. If he used his hand to push Ray off his leg, then people probably wouldn't be so outraged.

Was it a bonehead play? Sure. But was it really dirty, trying to hurt someone, or anything like that? No.

I'd agree with all of that. My problem with it was that it showed a lack of poise, which is terribly unusual for both Bruce and the Spurs. I'd be more inclined to let it go had it been the only one, but the generally soft defensive at ude of the team, the Horry play on the sideline, the early 4th quarter layup line that the Sonics bigs ran with put-backs, and the poor execution on the last meaningful offensive set for the Spurs all bothered me too. They're different in degree, but I don't see those plays really being any different in kind from each other -- largely, the shortcomings in those situations was the result of mentally sloppy play.

They may be beaten physically sometimes -- because they don't hit shots or things like that -- but championship teams are rarely beaten mentally by lottery teams in March.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I think some of you have the wrong angelic view of Bowen on the court. He is somewhat dirty, and things like the kick have happened for years. The Finley incident? The Wally karate kick? What happend last night was not really out of character.

I wouldn't change him for anything, however. Last night was a bonehead play, but Bruce rarely makes bonehead plays.

The difference in last night and those other situations (say the Finley and Carter incidents, for example) is that in those other situations the player in question was shooting out of their minds and what Bowen did ended that hot streak.

Last night Ray Allen was on his way to a pedestrian, average night for himself and the Spurs were on their way to a comfortable win.

Then the kick happened, and it changed the complexion of the game (and not in the right direction).

I'm with WayDowntown on this one, it's troubling. You had Horry waiting for a ref to bail him out on the sideline, and Duncan waiting for a soft lob pass to get to him on our last possession.

Where's the urgency? Forget SPAM, it's almost April.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

SPAM is dead.


this whole year posters kept saying "oh wait till january when the spurs kick it up a notch" january came around and nothing............then we waited on february, then we waited till after the asg and once again nothing. then we had pages of SPAM topics and we are still struggling for consistency which this late in the season is downright scary. now i guess we'll have to wait for SPAA

[polandprzem]

It was just a heat of the moment thing......was it really dirty, trying to hurt someone, or anything like that? No.

That was what I have in mind.

Enybody who played basketball knows how it is on the court.


I'm not sayin Bruce did a right thing. He didn't and everybody knows that.
But Man. Sometimes I feel like I know the players and situacions better then most of the people.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm just glad no one threw a cup of ice at his face right then.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I'm just glad no one threw a cup of ice at his face right then.

[gameFACE]

I thought Allen was laying on Bruce's left ankle and that is what started it. I also thought Bruce's reaction was weak. If you're going to react give the guy a serious clocking not a fluffy push with your foot. All that did was feul Allen.

[nkdlunch]

anybody who's punched someone in the face for being an asshole understands Bowen's actions for the rest, let's just say sometimes ANYBODY, even a saint can lose their temper.

[smeagol]

I'm not concearned at all. There were positives to take away from last night's game. Mainly the way Tim and Manu played.

[smeagol]

SPAM is dead.


this whole year posters kept saying "oh wait till january when the spurs kick it up a notch" january came around and nothing............then we waited on february, then we waited till after the asg and once again nothing. then we had pages of SPAM topics and we are still struggling for consistency which this late in the season is downright scary. now i guess we'll have to wait for SPAA

Can we trade Amuseddaysleeper to another board?

At this stage, I'd take mombear and a box of chips ahoy

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Can we trade Amuseddaysleeper to another board?

At this stage, I'd take mombear and a box of chips ahoy

look, the SPAM thing IS ridiculous, you guys kept going on and on about since january and it hasn't happend. and for every pessimistic boardi elike me there are 1200 blind homers on this board

[polandprzem]

look, the SPAM thing IS ridiculous, you guys kept going on and on about since january and it hasn't happend. and for every pessimistic boardi elike me there are 1200 blind homers on this board

I'm with you on that 'spam' thing

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I'm with you on that 'spam' thing

thank you, i know my ing can be way too much but the SPAM thing is a thing of the past

[gameFACE]

How are you including Rasho in this?? He played less than 7 minutes, grabbed 2 rebounds, blocked a Ray Allen shot from behind, and the team played well with him in there. He should have been in there in the second half instead of Nazr who had 1 rebound and 3 turnovers in 20 minutes tonight.

I am sick of bad defense-- Seattle shot 52% tonight. I do not care what anyone says-- the defense was so much better when Rasho started. The defensive tone was set from the beginning.

Like clockwork you come to Rasho's defense. He's as guilty as anyone else aside from Tony last night. How do you explain why he wasn't given more than 7 minutes to play? The Spurs defense has not been up to par all year. One of their weaknesses had been rebounding. There was no two headed monster last night. No Nazr OR Rasho.

Despite being outrebounded, having less turnovers, Manu in foul trouble, Tony getting hurt, Bruce's fluffy foot push, the Spurs still managed to put themselves in a position to win. They relaxed for about 10 seconds and POOF!

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Like clockwork you come to Rasho's defense. He's as guilty as anyone else aside from Tony last night. How do you explain why he wasn't given more than 7 minutes to play? The Spurs defense has not been up to par all year. One of their weaknesses had been rebounding. There was no two headed monster last night. No Nazr OR Rasho.

Despite being outrebounded, having less turnovers, Manu in foul trouble, Tony getting hurt, Bruce's fluffy foot push, the Spurs still managed to put themselves in a position to win. They relaxed for about 10 seconds and POOF!

those are def. positives but the problem is that this was against seattle had this been a playoff team we woulda lost by 30 easily. also i can't stress on the rebounding enough. its been a problem all year long and i can't for the life of me understand how these players dont wake the up to boxing out. we didn't lose on ray allen's shot, we lost on the offensive board we allowed them to have to get that 2nd shot off. without SOLID rebounding we aren't going anywhere this year. before ft's, before switching on the pick and roll, rebounding is our #1 priority to improve on for the playoffs

[ChumpDumper]

How do you explain why he wasn't given more than 7 minutes to play?

In truth, I really don't know why he wasn't given more burn. Might've helped with Nazr having a particularly bad night.

[smeagol]

look, the SPAM thing IS ridiculous, you guys kept going on and on about since january and it hasn't happend. and for every pessimistic boardi elike me there are 1200 blind homers on this board

Yeah, SPAM is so ridiculous we won two out of the last three rings with both championship teams stepping it up a notch after March (this means stepping it up in the post season too).

[island_dude]

Any questions about Bowen being a punk?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260326025

[Amuseddaysleeper]

at least Bowen apologized, there was no need for him to react the way he did against Allen, but as they say


whatevs yo whatevs

[leemajors]

as in punking nowitzki? gimme a break.

[ChumpDumper]

"I did what I did and I'm sorry for that," Bowen said.

Wow what an unbelieveable punk.

He should have blamed it on Dampier.

[polandprzem]

Yeah what a punk

And he did it infront of the cameras. WTF he was thinking?

[ploto]

In truth, I really don't know why he wasn't given more burn. Might've helped with Nazr having a particularly bad night.

Swift was in foul trouble a lot the second half and I suppose Pop does not think Rasho matches up with Chris Wilcox.

As for rebounding, we have been outrebounded the last 4 games, I believe.

[island_dude]

as in punking nowitzki? gimme a break.

23 points and 11 rebounds isn't exactly getting punked. Frustrated yes, punked no!