Statistically Speaking: Bruce Bowen's Defense

[timvp]

Those of us who were lucky enough to watch Bruce Bowen defend during his eight seasons in San Antonio don't need any statistical evidence to know that he was a great defensive player. We saw him go out there each and every night and successfully harass the world's best basketball players. Now that he's gone, it's even more apparent just how much Bowen meant to the Spurs.

But out of curiosity, I decided to see what the stats say about Bowen's D. I compiled all the regular season minutes he ever played for the Spurs ... and the resulting numbers are rather impressive.

During his eight seasons with the Spurs, opponents scored only 87.37 points per 48 minutes when Bowen was on the court. When Bowen was on the bench, opponents averaged 91.14 points per 48 minutes -- or 3.77 more points.

What's even more amazing about those numbers is the fact that Bowen usually sat when the other team's best scorer checked out of the game. Factoring in that Bowen played against more difficult lineups than any player on those Spurs teams and it's even more impressive that San Antonio's defense was still 3.77 points better when Bowen was on the court.

The Big 3 are each quality defenders but the stats point to Bowen being the best of the bunch. During Bowen's eight seasons in San Antonio, opponents averaged 87.51 points when Tim Duncan was in the game. The numbers for Tony Parker (89.72) and Manu Ginobili (90.03) are great ... but not quite Bowen.

Each member of the Big 3 posted much improved defensive numbers when Bowen was on the court. Opponents scored only 86.17 points per 48 minutes when both Duncan and Bowen were on the court. Similar improvements were seen with Bowen and Ginobili (87.25) and Bowen and Parker (87.56).

How did Bowen help the Big 3 as a whole? The numbers are surprisingly drastic: When the Big 3 played together but without Bowen, opponents averaged 93.45 points per 48 minutes over this eight-season time period. When Bowen was added to the Big 3, opponents scoring dropped to 89.52 points -- a difference of 3.93 points per 48 minutes.

The beauty of Bowen's defense is that it made the game so much easier for everyone else. With Bowen locking up the other team's best scorer, there was little need to send double-team help or be overly physical with the other players on the court. Not only was the opponents field goal percentage much lower when Bowen was on the court (42.8% with Bowen on, 44.0% with Bowen off), opponents shot fewer three-pointers (12.30 per 48 minutes with Bowen on, 13.23 with Bowen off) and fewer free throws (20.38 with Bowen on, 23.11 with Bowen off).

In the moment, a lot of the praise for the past three Spurs championships went to the Big 3. However, a funny thing has happened since Bowen's retirement. In retrospect, people who paid attention are now starting to realize what many of us said the whole time: The Big 3 never existed.

It was the Big 4.

And that Big 4, when on the court together (and they were only on the court together against the best players the other team had to offer), outscored opponents by a ridiculous 13.81 points per 100 possessions during Bowen's eight years with the Spurs. To put that in perspective, no team in history has outscored their opponents by that much over he course of one season. The Big 4 did that over eight seasons.

Thank you, Bruce Bowen.

[manufan10]

Great write up as always.

Thanks Bruce!

[Old School 44]

Bruce Bowen was kind of like Deion Sanders on defense.
You just didn't have to worry about his side of the court.
And yes, great offensive players at times still got their numbers, but believe me they worked for them.

Through the occassional "Bruce is dirty" talk,
I thought it was telling that one of the greatest offensive players and biggest rivals, Kobe Bryant, always seemed to have the utmost respect for Bowen.

Thanks Bruce for the memories!

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I was proud to sport my Bowen jersey last Saturday night. I didn't seed anyone else wearing one but me

[Bruno]

And that Big 4, when on the court together (and they were only on the court together against the best players the other team had to offer), outscored opponents by a ridiculous 13.81 points per 100 possessions during Bowen's eight years with the Spurs. To put that in perspective, no team in history has outscored their opponents by that much over he course of one season. The Big 4 did that over eight seasons.

That's an amazing stat.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Thanks be to Pat Riley

[Libri]

The beauty of Bowen's defense is that it made the game so much easier for everyone else. With Bowen locking up the other team's best scorer, there was little need to send double-team help or be overly physical with the other players on the court.

It's impressive to think at the whole mosaic of players, big and small, that Bruce guarded. I think this has to do with Bowen having an ideal height, which gave him the ability to guard most players on the height spectrum, from center/power forwards to guards. Had he been a few inches smaller, then he would probably be limited to defending small forwards or guards but not 7 ft players like Dirk. If he was taller, he might no have had the foot speed to defend smaller players.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

That's an amazing stat.

I agree. That's quite impressive. But does the stat look more impressive because we're comparing the Big 4 in isolation to other full teams whose stats are watered down because of the lesser contributions of their lesser players? This seems like a slightly unfair comparison, but still impressive.

[spurs10]

Thank you timvp. Wow!! That is some amazing info. It was something to see!!

[Spurminator]

Great stuff.

[timvp]

But does the stat look more impressive because we're comparing the Big 4 in isolation to other full teams whose stats are watered down because of the lesser contributions of their lesser players?

Yeah obviously it's not the most fair of comparisons but it's really the only way to put that 13.81 number in historical perspective. The 72-win Bulls outscored their 13.4 points per 100 possessions. That the Big 4 posted a higher number over the course of eight seasons is at least notable, even though it's definitely apples vs. oranges.

[polandprzem]

What's impressive about Bowen is that he could defend a guy like Iverson one night and Dirk the other. When needed he was defending Randolph.
A skinny guy he was, he was able to defend the tank named James a versatile of Kobe and he also could lock down a key players like in NO series.

[Cow Eye]

Does anyone know what Bowen is doing now that he's retired? Just taking it easy with family/friends?

My biggest hope was that he'd work with the Spurs, coaching our guys on D. Imagine Kawhi being personally tutored by Bowen.

[ColinB]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Bowen still works as an analyst for ESPN.

[Spurs Brazil]

Thanks timvp.

And I agree 100%, it's the big 4

[spyder]

I was proud to sport my Bowen jersey last Saturday night. I didn't seed anyone else wearing one but me

I have one and wear it all the time during games..also proud to wear it

[Proxy]

Thank you, sir

[daslicer]

Bruce Bowen was a defensive superstar and I have said for years before his retirement. His value to the spurs was equivalent to what Rodman's value was for the bulls.

[chazley]

Does anyone know what Bowen is doing now that he's retired? Just taking it easy with family/friends?

My biggest hope was that he'd work with the Spurs, coaching our guys on D. Imagine Kawhi being personally tutored by Bowen.

You're a Spurs/sports fan and don't know that Bruce works for ESPN?

[SA210]

Those of us who were lucky enough to watch Bruce Bowen defend during his eight seasons in San Antonio don't need any statistical evidence to know that he was a great defensive player. We saw him go out there each and every night and successfully harass the world's best basketball players. Now that he's gone, it's even more apparent just how much Bowen meant to the Spurs.

But out of curiosity, I decided to see what the stats say about Bowen's D. I compiled all the regular season minutes he ever played for the Spurs ... and the resulting numbers are rather impressive.

During his eight seasons with the Spurs, opponents scored only 87.37 points per 48 minutes when Bowen was on the court. When Bowen was on the bench, opponents averaged 91.14 points per 48 minutes -- or 3.77 more points.

What's even more amazing about those numbers is the fact that Bowen usually sat when the other team's best scorer checked out of the game. Factoring in that Bowen played against more difficult lineups than any player on those Spurs teams and it's even more impressive that San Antonio's defense was still 3.77 points better when Bowen was on the court.

The Big 3 are each quality defenders but the stats point to Bowen being the best of the bunch. During Bowen's eight seasons in San Antonio, opponents averaged 87.51 points when Tim Duncan was in the game. The numbers for Tony Parker (89.72) and Manu Ginobili (90.03) are great ... but not quite Bowen.

Each member of the Big 3 posted much improved defensive numbers when Bowen was on the court. Opponents scored only 86.17 points per 48 minutes when both Duncan and Bowen were on the court. Similar improvements were seen with Bowen and Ginobili (87.25) and Bowen and Parker (87.56).

How did Bowen help the Big 3 as a whole? The numbers are surprisingly drastic: When the Big 3 played together but without Bowen, opponents averaged 93.45 points per 48 minutes over this eight-season time period. When Bowen was added to the Big 3, opponents scoring dropped to 89.52 points -- a difference of 3.93 points per 48 minutes.

The beauty of Bowen's defense is that it made the game so much easier for everyone else. With Bowen locking up the other team's best scorer, there was little need to send double-team help or be overly physical with the other players on the court. Not only was the opponents field goal percentage much lower when Bowen was on the court (42.8% with Bowen on, 44.0% with Bowen off), opponents shot fewer three-pointers (12.30 per 48 minutes with Bowen on, 13.23 with Bowen off) and fewer free throws (20.38 with Bowen on, 23.11 with Bowen off).

In the moment, a lot of the praise for the past three Spurs championships went to the Big 3. However, a funny thing has happened since Bowen's retirement. In retrospect, people who paid attention are now starting to realize what many of us said the whole time: The Big 3 never existed.

It was the Big 4.

And that Big 4, when on the court together (and they were only on the court together against the best players the other team had to offer), outscored opponents by a ridiculous 13.81 points per 100 possessions during Bowen's eight years with the Spurs. To put that in perspective, no team in history has outscored their opponents by that much over he course of one season. The Big 4 did that over eight seasons.

Thank you, Bruce Bowen.

This should be sent to the news stations.

[Solid D]

...and yet, Ghost Writer couldn't accept Bruce as a starter for many years. but we all love G-Dub, anyway.

[Man Mountain]

i think we'd be championship favorites if bruce bowen was still 28!