Why I think BOWEN should be DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

[SouthernFried]

What is it about Bowens defense that gets under everyone's skin? Why is Ray Allen having a meltdown? Why has every scorer in the league made some comment, good or bad, regarding Bruce Bowens defensive ability?

Bowen doesn't slug people. He doesn't knock anyone on their backs. He doesn't have the patented Karl Malone Tomahawk Hack. He's not the best shot blocker or ball stealer. So, what is it that has the whole city of Seattle as bitter as a cup of Starbucks?

The best Fundamental Defensive Player in the league.

If you watch Bowen's defense when someone like Allen or Kobe has the ball, you sorta have to scratch your head. Yeah, he's a good defender, but they'll get by him on a regular basis. Allen lite up Bruce in the first minutes of Game 1. A dynamic scorer like Allen or Kobe will blow by almost any defender in the league, and that includes Bruce.

So, where's all this great defense?

Most people, including myself, spend most of their time watching the ball. Who has it, what are they gonna do with it, they gonna shoot it or pass it?

But not Bruce.

Bowen has one job. To guard and do his best at stopping the other teams dynamic scorers. Once a dynamic scorer like Kobe or Allen get the ball, there's a good chance they are going to score.

Bruce's job is to limit the number of times they actually get the ball. And to make sure that when they do get it, they've already spent a ton of energy just trying to get away from him.

In essence, a scorer who has Bowen guarding him, considers it a minor victory just to have the ball in his hands. There is absolutely nobody in the league that makes scorers work as hard for their shots than Bruce Bowen.

Fundamental Defense.

Wallace may get all the praise, and to be sure...Wallace is a monster. Wallace does the things fans see. Blocking shots, great man on man defense, staying squared and in front of who he's defending. Everyone can watch Wallace and be wowed by his defensive skills.

You have to really pay attention to see Bruce's.

Bruce is inside his opponents jersey the entire game, not just when he has the ball. The punishment Bruce takes, night after night, is career shortening. There is absolutely nothing harder in the league to do, than shadow the leading scorers game after game.

Nobody is hit more, picked more...than the guy guarding the scorer. Game after game, opponents plans usually involve getting Bowen "off" their scorer. Not necessarily so their scorer can score...but just so they can get them the ball!

Not only does Bowen get clobbered by designated pickers, but by everyone else on the team. He has to run almost full out trying to keep up with a scorer, who is using every trick in his book and the team game plan, to try and get away from him.

Not only is Bowen hit, night after night...but, he has to "react."

Anyone who has ever played Basketball for any length of time will tell you, there is nothing harder on your knees and ankles, then having to anticipate and react to anothers moves. The scorer knows where he's going, the defender doesn't, and reacting requires extremely quick response time and strong ankles and knees to enable it.

It's punishing, career shortening...and no fun. Few people notice it and even fewer praise it. Which is why fundamental defense is one of the last things anyone wants to do. Bowen does it night, after night...year after year.

Having defenders like Bowen seperates the good teams...from the great ones.

...and turns scorers, into whiners.

[Spurminator]

Game after game, opponents plans usually involve getting Bowen "off" their scorer.

Yup.

This is how he affects the game the most. He limits the other team's offensive options. When an entire offensive focus is based on separating a defender from your best scorer, you're limited in options on each offensive play. If that gameplan works, so be it, but with any other defender that scorer could get just as open without having a center set a screen at the three point line, and there would be more second/third options on each possession.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Nice work KFC!

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Great read dude!

[SouthernFried]

Now, if Bruce could just stay on feet a li'l more...

[MiNuS]

Who got the Defensive player of the Year?Wallace? No one mentions him as dirty,even though he looks alot more dirty and thugish than Bowen.

[Spurminator]

No one mentions him as dirty,even though he looks alot more dirty and thugish than Bowen.

Uhhh...

Nevermind, I'm not touching that one.

[tlongII]

Bowen is very good at grabbing, holding, and tripping.

[tsb2000]

That, and you don't hear any big time scorers in the league (Kobe, Allen, T-Mac, etc.) being asked about having to play against Wallace. Big Ben won the award since his main effort (rebounding) shows up in his own stats. Bowen's show up in his opponents (Kobe, T-Mac, etc. going 4-25).