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Not me.
Bowen is out there to guard the best player on the opposing team. The opposing best player doesn't come off the bench.
OK, i know this wont go over well with some people but for those who want to keep an open mind, who think that this could benefit the spurs more?
He will sub for Bowen while Bruce comes off the bench. Udoka will bring speed, slightly better offense, better athletecism and youth. I know Bowen has done so much for us and deserves to be in the starting lineup but it seems as though much of our scoring droughts are due to Bowen being incapable of much offensive power.
Who thinks Udoka should be given a shot as a starting SF or SG?
PG-Parker
SG-Finley/Mason
SF-Udoka
PF-Duncan
C-Thomas
Not me.
Bowen is out there to guard the best player on the opposing team. The opposing best player doesn't come off the bench.
no
No, I prefer the idea of Udoka off the bench. He can get called in to spell Bowen, or in a case where an unexpected guy gets a hot hand Pop can call his number early and play he and Bruce together without giving a team's #1 option a chance to get going.
The idea might be worth revisiting when Manu returns, but any scenario that starts Bowen on the bench is not the best idea for the Spurs.
Udoka has speed? I'm not being sarcastic. That's an honest question? I never thought of him as a "speedy" guy, but I haven't followed him enough to know if that's a legit description of him.
I think Bowen is probably just as athletic, maybe sightly less.
And, as for "youth," Udoka is 31 years old. In NBA years, that's far from youthful.
Bowen is a specialist. Bring him out when there is a NEED. i feel udoka can help the team offensively and bring a whole lot more hustle.
Other teams dont have a "defensive stopper" in the starting lineup and still play good defense.
(Celtics for example)
Compared to Bowen i believe he can bring more speed and hustle.
manu is not the spurs best player
It's called the best player on the other team. It's no guarantee that Udoka can guard the best opposing player as good as Bruce. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
When we acquire Paul Pierce, then I'll agree it's time to put Bowen on the bench.
Udoka in for the 2 position.
LEAVE ME OUT OF THIS!
I dont expect Udoka to be the defensive stallworth that Bowen is but i think if we can play better TEAM defense and not rely on Bowen to get most of the individual stops then we could sacrifice bowen for slightly better offense in Udoka.
Maybe they should give it a shot especially with Manu out for the first 2-3 months.
Our offense is going to Hurt badly
I'd rather give it to Mason over Finley. Younger, proven scorer last year, only can get better with the help of Tony and Tim. Then you still have Bowen.
I think Bowen is faster right now at his age than Udoka. Udoka is pretty slow. His offense is about as limited as Bowen's.
I think the Spurs need to eventually move someone into Bruce's spot in the lineup; I just don't think Udoka is it.
yea than you would have
Udoka
Vaughn
Finley
Thomas
coming off the bench....not exactly showtime lakers....
at least with Finley in the lineup with TD and TP you have Mason to run motion offense
Not sure how Bowen can be blamed when he's been a constant in the starting lineup for years and his offensive productivity has been basically the same.
The true culprit last year was there simply weren't enough scorers outside of the Big Three. A rundown Michael Finley was the team's fourth best scorer.
Udoka is slow, unathletic and deceptively old. What Udoka has to offer is strength, toughness and a willingness to shoot.
From what we saw in the playoffs, Udoka isn't a very similar player to Bowen at all. He's both too short and too slow to be a lockdown defender against perimeter players. He's useful against bulky players who try to post up or use their strength but not the pure perimeter players.
I wish the Spurs would bring in Quinton Ross. He's much more like Bowen and could probably be had for a minimum contract.
Udoka has a place on this team next year as a bench player who could hopefully evolve into a Mario Elie type where he brings a hard ass mentality and three-point shooting. But the only way I see him as a future starting small forward on this team is if Roger Mason, Jr. or someone else can start at shooting guard and show an ability to defend top flight perimeter players.
No....Then we are loosing the best defender in the league and we must get better on defense.....
Does no one see just what Bruce does for us? This guy is more important than Timmy to our current defense.
Bruce Bowen = Real 2007 Finals MVP
You just said we need to add a scoring punch to the starting lineup, yet you turn down the idea of Mason over Finley?
Udoka made both Walton and Farmar look like HOF'ers when both blocked him in the Lakers series... he is definitively slow for the NBA...
Udoka has been a real find for us and he'll continue to get better but I think he needs another season under the offensive system and under Bowen's defensive mentoring to start.
All the more reason the Spurs should be looking and continously searching for swingmen, as opposed to PGs.
You cant bring the best defensive player on your roster off the bench. And the day Udoka replaces Bruce is the day we are lottery bound. I like Udoka he's tough, not fast. Other then TP, Bruce is the best player on the roster night in and night out. Ask Timmy who sets the tone........
If you believe Pop will start Udoka over Finley, you don't know Pop at all. As has alread been stated, Bowen's true value is to shut down the opposition's best perimeter player. His scoring is gravy. At this point, Udoka is not, nor will likely never be, the accomplished defender Bowen is.
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