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As much as this is being made out to be, most people lose site that it has only happened two times.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...k.38e2352.html
Web Posted: 11/18/2006 01:05 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich criticized the NBA on Friday for warning Bruce Bowen about his defensive "tactics" and complained league officials are "trying to change the way my best defender plays."
NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, who handles disciplinary matters for the league, called Bowen at home on Sunday night and told him he needed to watch his feet and give shooters room to land. If not, Jackson said, Bowen faced a possible fine or suspension.
Popovich said the league never informed Spurs officials of the conversation and he learned of it only after reading Wednesday's Express-News.
"They didn't bother to call the owner, the (general manager) or the coach," Popovich said. "No one. They're trying to change the way Bruce plays and we don't even know about it?
"Secondly, what they're telling him is highly inaccurate. It's unfounded and fueled by media pressure and player complaints."
New York guard Steve Francis sprained his left ankle after landing on Bowen's foot in a Nov. 6 game. When the teams met again four days later, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas threatened to break Bowen's foot after Jamal Crawford almost came down on him on a drive to the basket.
That incident led to a heated exchange between Popovich and Thomas, who was not reprimanded by the league for his actions.
League officials have been instructed to call a foul whenever a defender doesn't give a shooter enough room to land. Vince Carter sprained his ankle in the 2003-04 season after coming down on Bowen. Carter also accused him of purposefully stepping under him in another incident the next season.
Popovich said Bowen is being singled out, citing incidents where New Jersey's Richard Jefferson and Dallas' Josh Howard sprained ankles after landing on Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Golden State's Mickael Pietrus.
"Did (the league) call them?" Popovich said. "Did they call all those guys (Dirk) Nowitzki landed on when he sprained his ankles the past three, four years? The answer is no.
"So why did they call Bruce? Because it's happened to him twice? Bruce guards an All-Star every night. If he was doing what they're accusing him of doing, wouldn't it have happened a higher percentage of times?
"The people who cry about it are just frustrated about having to go against Bruce."
Popovich is concerned Jackson's warning has taken away some of Bowen's aggressiveness. Houston's Tracy McGrady scored 21 first-half points — most of which came against Bowen — on Tuesday. After looking at film of Wednesday's loss to Charlotte, Popovich said Bowen sometimes wasn't within "5 feet" of rookie Adam Morrison.
"The league is just trying to cover its ass," Popovich said. "I told Bruce, 'You be Bruce Bowen. You're the best (expletive) defender in this league. You will NOT change the way you play defense.'
"Stu Jackson is not going to change my team just because he thinks he's doing the right thing."
Jackson declined comment except to say he discussed the issue with Spurs general manager R.C. Buford on Friday.
"We registered our disappointment and disagreement with the way it was handled," Popovich said.
Bowen said he took issue with Jackson saying he needed to change his "tactics."
"Tactics means I have a certain way I'm going about doing things and it's purpose-driven," Bowen said.
Bowen also plans to heed his coach's advice — even it puts him at risk of being fined.
"I've been given a command," he said, smiling. "So I'm going to keep playing hard."
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As much as this is being made out to be, most people lose site that it has only happened two times.
Holy cow!
I don't think I've ever heard Pop go off on something about the league like this.
That was my take on the situation too."So why did they call Bruce? Because it's happened to him twice? Bruce guards an All-Star every night. If he was doing what they're accusing him of doing, wouldn't it have happened a higher percentage of times?
i expect pop to get a fine in the next few days
stern, disco stu, the refs, the sore losers in teh league....
about time pop said something about this... whether or not Bruce or the other players are doing it intentionally will always be debatable. so why single out bruce?
Has it only happened twice?
I doubt Pop gets fined, this is a disagreement over the way a situation off the court was handled. No doubt the league has gotten calls from angry coaches, players, agents that they felt that had to say something. It's good to see Pop has Bowens back and i hope he gave Stu "token" jackson a call himself.
Pop has every right to be pissed! I knew that this was going to be an issue. Pop seems to agree!
Props to Pop for saying the truth out loud...He had a good point in singling out how all the other players who have caused such accidents do not receive the same type of attention that Bruce has been getting...
Plus it's very true that if Bruce did do this intentionally, then why aren't the percentages higher? I mean there are ONLY TWO incidents for Bruce, who has been a starter for San Antonio for the past 5-6 years...Plus doesn't he hold the record for not missing any games in the past couple of years? He's the only Spur to play a huge number of consecutive games...Plus look at his minutes. He has had the most minutes during all the games he has started. And what about the playoffs...the Spurs have gone into the Finals twice with Bruce on their team...so that's 82 regular games plus the playoffs, the finals...That's a LOT of playing time for Bruce. I mean he guards high percentage shooters every night. So then why are TWO incidents so damn important? It does not add up...
It's just unfair...and I'm glad that Pop told Bruce to just be Bruce Bowen...and continue his defense the way it is...I'm so happy that Bruce listened to this and will continue to play the way that he does...I was worried that he'd listen to Stu...And I love that Pop acknowledged that Bruce is the best defender in the league, and it's ridiculous for him to change his winning days...So what if he is fined? So be it...But we need our best defender in order to go to the Finals and win the trophy. We cannot do it with Bruce doing half of his defense and watching his every step. He needs to be the typical Bruce: tough and relentless...So I'm glad that Pop stood up for Bruce.
Players are frustrated because of how good Bruce is...not because he's dirty or etc...It's all about his defense...
Saying this quote to the media would be what may get him a fine, not because he disagreed with the situation.
"The league is just trying to cover its ass," Popovich said.
Ha yeah forgot about that line, but dammit if it ain't the truth.
Pop is the man!
can anybody remember the last time when Pop was making such statments towards the leauge officials?
No?
Me either
I only remember when he was pissed about the Artest "stats" which was realeases by the Indiana staff (Carlisle that is mostly)
Last edited by polandprzem; 11-18-2006 at 04:56 AM.
Vince, cry baby Allen and Francis.
That's twice, cause Vince doesn't count. He was due for his "season ending injury" anyway. Stepping on Bowen's foot was just his excuse.
Vince's season didn't even end when he sprained his ankle by stepping on Bruce. He came back in a couple weeks. But the next year when he talked about it, he said that it did.
This time, it is not some ***hole coach or team owner that is criticizing the league. Being Pop, it is about time the league do some reality-checking.
Greenleo brings up a point I never thought of. Besides guarding the best player every night, he has also played almost 400 consecutive games at about 35 minutes per.
well said! pop
im waitin for a response from phil jackson who criticize pop about browns situation with NYK.....
This was an egregious intrusion by Stu Jackson, in effect going behind a team's management into a "discipline" matter directly with a player.
Pop was right on and I bet all the coaches and FO people in the league agree with him. Stern may even agree with him privately while supporting Jackson by publicly fining Pop.
And don't you think ALL the players in the league didn't notice how Pop treats and defends his players? One more piece of evidence that Pop is, in his own way, a players' coach. Might help us down the line when a Free Agent is making up his mind where to go.
It only happened to Carter and Vincent.
I thought the stuff with Ray "wussy" Allen was because Bruce uses his hands too much. Allen complains that bruce grabs, punches, and claws him while he runs around the court. Plus the whole Bruce kicking Ray in the back incident (nevermind the fact that Ray was sitting on one of Bruces legs and wouldn't get up because he was complaining to the ref). Ray is just cry baby who can't take defense.
Nothing brings a team together even more than a coach standing up for his player in a controversial situation. I'm very proud of Pop for doing this, but in so many ways hes completely right.
Dude, take the politics to the political board, ass.
Back to the situation with Bowen and Pop. I think it's awesome Pop spoke up. I agree with everything he said 100%. The league needs to be told to off in this case and it looks like Pop said as much.
I think it's ing lame that a has been wannabe hack like Isiah can get his panties in a bunch, go to the league, and get them to do anything about it. I guess that's what being in New Yawk will do for you, no matter how much you have sucked since you retired as a player. him.
I actually think this will have a galvanizing effect for the Spurs squad. Every year we all wait for the 'soft' card to be played. I think this will have a much quicker 'gelling' effect for this squad and form a bunker us against them mentality on the team.
And if it hasn't been clear enough already, Stu Jackson, and David Stern. If they want to outlaw defense, outlaw it. If not, shut the up and let Bowen play it how he wants to play it.
Please Pop, say this to Manu:
" 'You be Manu. You're the best (expletive) crunch player in this league. You will NOT change the way you go to the (expletive) basket!.'"
If that's all the league cared about, the Spurs wouldn't have any rings.
Political Forum.... look that up *asswipe*.
I was glad that Pop said what he did, but I thought it was far too little and way too late. I get irritated with Pop when he is so busy being "cool" that he underreacts when any player other than Tim has an issue with refs, injuries, or other players. He gets upset during a game, but then acts all cool afterword. I thought he should have stood up for Bruce last year when he was getting all the badmouthing from Ray Allen et.al.,, because Jackson said something about it last year in public, regarding Bruce.
I think that the problem here is Jackson. Isaiah Thomas is a really easy guy to have no respect for, ( because he deserves none), but he has clout in the league (more than he should). Pop, or Holt (or both) need to realize that the league has to be managed just like the team has t be managed. Jackson has to be dealt with in owner's meetings and league coach meetings, because he is inconsistent, arbitrary and capricious in his disciplinary moves. The refs pay attention to Jackson, and that will hurt Bowen and the Spurs.
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