Reply With Quote
Manu was awesome on Tmac in the fourth, but yes, Tmac killed Bowen the rest of the game. I have no clue as to why that is, but if Manu can stop him then we need to go with what works.
Every great athlete has someone that owns them for some reason...
Nolan Ryan would murder guys like Barry Bonds, Griffey and Thomas but he coudn't get Craig Grebek out to save his life
Barry Bonds was asked who the toughest guy for him to face was and he named some journeymen reliver that never got another guy out in his entire life...
The Spurs as a team have always had scrub role players from other teams go off on them...
Everyone has someone that has their number...it doesn't even have to be a star...but when it is a star...you've got problems.
To date in his Spurs career...no one has ever owned Bruce Bowen...but I think it's time we start to realize that TMac has Bruce's number...it's not that Bowen doesn't play hard against him, it's not that he plays him differently...it's just for whatever reason anything TMac throws up against Bowen goes in...whether it's in the final 13 second of the game or at any other point.
Maybe it's because TMac is so big...maybe it's because TMac gets up to play against Bowen so he can show the world he's better than Kobe against the NBA's premier perimeter defender...but what cannot be denied is TMac V Bowen is not a match up that works in the Spurs favor.
I thought at first maybe it was Bowen's age catching up to him...but he was active today...he did every thing in his power to slow TMac down and Tmac ate his lunch.
I say this not because of a dislike of Bowen, in truth he is one of my favorite players on this team, and one of my all time Spurs, and his toughness is so important to the Spurs success...
I say it's because it's the truth...Manu does a much better job against TMac than Bowen. And hopefully Manu will get the call against TMac in the future...while Bowen can disrupt Sura or another key perimeter player for the Rockets.
Manu was awesome on Tmac in the fourth, but yes, Tmac killed Bowen the rest of the game. I have no clue as to why that is, but if Manu can stop him then we need to go with what works.
Then why have Bowen on the floor if your not going to use him against the best offensive option? I could see if Houston had another stud swingman, but if your not gonna play him against the best, then the team is better off putting Barry and or Brown in anyway.
Manu was definitely better defending TMac today. In a 7 game series, though, Bowen will still wear TMac down.
What's really impressive, and underrated - Parker's D on Sura today. He pretty much shut him down, and it wasn't till Parker sat that he scored.
I don't really agree with that Nikos...Bruce's offense has improved this year to the degree that there are times when he is the only guy capable of making a three or even hitting a shot. And the Rockets have more than 1 dangerous perimeter guy.
I used to feel the way that you do, that Bowen would be better off the bench due to him needing legs to play his great D......but due to his offensive improvement I don't mind him starting just based on his offense, which is greatly improved, even if he is having a an off game...he's outscored Kobe in a game this season...Bruce is even a clutch FT shooter now.
Just for what ever reason Bruce is mortal against TMac. And this one match up Manu seems to be able to handle better.
Yeah he did a great job on Sura. Then again...he didn't have to do much in the first half with the way TMac was dominating.
Devin does a darn good job on T-Mac too -- but yea there are few guys that for some reason or other, Bowen can't seem to stop them... but the majority of them are owned by Bowen--
Isn't Peja one of those that is great vs other SF but when he plays vs Bowen he does very poorly ...
But for some reason T-Mac does seem to play well vs Bowen. Thank goodness for Manu
It may not be a permanent thing...maybe it's just this year...I don't really think anyone totally owns Bruce...but Tmac is lucky against him this season if nothing else.
Bowen is horrible on offense in general. Yes he hits the open three, but that only seems more glaring because Parker is not a good spot up shooter from long range. And Rasho tends to be missing a lot of open shots, and making the more difficult contested one on one attempts. And with Manu best being used as a drive and dish guy -- who is going to hit the three? Especially if Barry is not in a groove?
I can remember about 4-5 passes Manu made today that he should have easily gotten an assist atleast on 3-4 of them and did not. This was due to lack of confidence of Spur shooters, especially with Horry and even Marks.
It seems the Spurs are not making the simple shots with regularity, at least not most of the perimeter shooters. Horry was strangely making step back contested shots better than when the guards set him up.
As for Bowen, he simply is not a good offensive option in general. Without Duncan it becomes a bit more glaring. There were about 3-4 passes I remember Manu getting to him in the last two games where he couldn't finish, and those were plays about 90% of the swingmen on the league could have capitlized on.
Yes he has improved offense, and is a very valuable player provided his shot is dropping. But on average, I do not want Bowen taking a lot of shots, or trying to create his shot. He can do it a few times here and there, but again its not something I want to see him try often.
As long as he hits the three and does not attempt shots he is incapable of making, he can be valuable considering his defense. But if defense not a primary issue for a 4th quarter or certain instances of a game, I DO NOT want Bowen in there. I much rather have Barry or Devin in that case.
Bowen has improved his offensive repetoire, but his BEST basketball came in 0203 when he hit the three AND defended well (aka Lakers series where his Game 2 was about as perfect as you can ask for).
loose the hate on Bowen.
He helped win that damn game tonight.
Where were you when he was bagging clutch ass threes in the 4th quarter.
Nikos, I still say his offense is good enough to get court time even if not on TMac...Bruce does a lot of stuff that helps...and if you look...he's the second best 3 shooter on the team...as far as the guys that take a lot of threes...out of Brent, Manu and Bowen and that is integral to our offense...And there have been a lot of games where Bowen has ended scoring draoghts with his floater...
Plus, the next time we meet the Rockets will be in the playoffs and Bruce is more experienced in the playoffs than any guy on our team besides Duncan(and Horry).
TPark...due to your failure to name names on who you were talking to...I can't tell if your comments were a justified response or your usual over-reaction.
Last edited by whottt; 03-27-2005 at 08:39 PM.
I don't hate him. I am just saying from whott's perspective, if you do not need his defense, he is not worth getting court time. He is not a good offensive player in general. His value for this team is soley from defense and hitting the open three.
??? The ABC crew said that before today, TMac's shooting % against SA, for his career, was 37%. Not exactly "ownership".
Bowen has been matched up on Tmac for about half of those games...
This season TMac is winning that battle...
And TMac didn't shoot at a particularly good PCT today...but if you watch that game he only missed like 1 or 2 shots with Bowen on him....the rest were anyone else who was guarding him...in particular Manu.
what did he shoot, 11 of 25?
thats low 40s. Nothin to write home about, that would be a decent game from Barry.
7-21
12-29
10-28
Those are McGrady's numbers for the three games previous to this one, so far this season. That's a combined 29-78, or spot on for his career 37%. I feel like I need to get David Spade in here with all of his different ways to say NO from the Capital One commercials. Bowen had an off game, defensively, today.
NANKA!
You must have missed the Houston game where TMac scored 50 points in the final 13 seconds of the game....all on Bowen.
Yeah I must admit, I did miss that game.You must have missed the Houston game where TMac scored 50 points
12-29
That was the last minute scoring game. I didn't miss anything. You can't blame Bowen for that loss, either. Overall, he did a good job on TMac. If the Spurs had been able to do anything on O, other than miss and turn the ball over, they win that game.
12-29 what is that high 30s?
I don't think Bowen is slacking...but TMac has his ing number this season, I am sorry if you don't see it.
yeah I guess 11 of 25 is horrible defense.
I dont see it either.
took 25 shots to get 26 points???
Thats called good defense.
Exactly. In fact they went on to say that this is the worse % T-mac has against any team. I would say Bowen has alot to do with that. He can't stutdown everyone, but he can stay in front of the guy and make it difficult. However, with players such as T-mac, Kobe and Pierce sometimes there is not thing you can do.??? The ABC crew said that before today, TMac's shooting % against SA, for his career, was 37%. Not exactly "ownership".
Yeah and he was about 9-13 with Bowen on him today...
Oh My God!!!!
I agree with T Park.
I will expand on this thought...Bowen's mid-range jumper is better....and he is better off the dribble this year.......To be fair...everyone seemed to missing layups....especially early in the game.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
