Has Ray Allens pleads of rape from Bruce Bowen actually worked? Ray seems to be getting better looks due to the lack of "sissy ball" from Bruce.... have the refs taken the Spurs "shutdown corner" away...
I think you can make the argument for that in Game 3 that it worked. But, last game(maybe its just me) he is driving alot more than he did. And, when he stops and takes a jumpshot, its after a pick by Seattles' big men, which leads to pretty much wide open shots. Now I'm not a basketball genious but isn't the man thats covering the pick-setter supposed to roll off to try and contest the shot? I don't recall seeing that much either.
Definitely more ticky tack fouls on Bowen, but Bowen has only been in foul trouble once this series. Seattle is more perimeter-oriented so the majority of the calls have gone the Spurs way. The calls of the refs are not what I'm worried about.
It appears the whinning has helped. In game 3, the refs definately called the game tighter in respect to Bruce guarding Ray. And Ray still suffered a bad game despite Bruce facing limited minutes due to foul trouble. Ray Ray is soft and can easily be taken out of his game by physical contact. It doesn't even matter if a foul is called, he'll still struggle b/c he gets taken out of his comfort zone. But man, if a foul isn't called, he gets so frustrated with the no call, he just loses it.
It was very disappointing in game 4 when Bruce was playing a lot more tentative in playing a physical game against Ray Allen. Sure, he was covering Cry Baby very well and contesting shots, but the jabs and the bumps that regularly occur off the ball were missing from Bowen's game and that's the that really frustrates Ray Ray.
Here was a moment that summed it up best. There was one instance where Ray just fell down when he thought Bruce was holding him but the refs didn't call a foul. Usually, Bruce would fall over him or trip over him "accidently" just to piss him off but he didn't in this game. I have to say, that was very un-Bruce-like. Bruce needs to bring that back and let the refs call the game. If they call a foul, they call a foul. But don't let those ers dictate the way he plays Ray Ray. Even if he's on the bench due to foul trouble, it'll still be effective in knocking him off his game. Cry Baby can't handle contact, especially if the refs swallow the whistle.
The fact that Bruce has only been in foul trouble once in this series only means he played the same way he has always played in game 2....he could of changed the way he played in games 3 and 4 to a more less aggressive style bc of the way the refs called game 2. If you look at Pop during their defensive possesions he always has his hands up, showing Bruce and the other Spurs how they need to defend bc if not they will get called for those tick tack fouls. Thats not the way Bruce plays D, thus Bruce changes the way he plays bc of the refs and Gay Allen gets easier looks.
Pop needs to whine about the hard, illegal fouls that his guards are getting in the paint.
Manu has taken some shots this series that you hardly ever see. It is no wonder the poor bas is affraid to take it to the rim now.
If this were on the street, those Sonic players would be arrested for assault.
Yes, As A Matter Of Fact It Did.....i Feel So Much Better Now..totally Refocused And Ready To Kill Any Sonic, Or Sonic Fan That Is Within My Breathing Vicinity!
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