Forget your anger toward Bruce Bowen for a second...

[George Gervin]

Seeing how he frustrated Nash, legally or illegally, and how he is considered one of the league's premiere defenders, would you want him on your team to slow down the Kobes, Lebrons, etc of the world?

 

[Dan H]

I'd take a player LIKE him, but not him specifically. He's wreckless, and people get hurt because of him (Francis, Crawford, etc.)

 

[elindholm]

Bowen did a terrific job on Nash within the parameters of NBA playoff defense. And he kept his dirty plays to a minimum, which for him was probably three or four during the course of the series. Take out those dirty plays, and I'd have no problem with him. He also stepped up for a lot of big shots when the Suns cheated off of him.

 

[Phade]

i wouldn't mind seeing him get hit by a train.

 

[schutd]

Id take him in a heartbeat, just like I welcomed Danny Ainge. The Spurs absolutely are constructed perfectly to beat us. Its amazing.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Id take him in a heartbeat, just like I welcomed Danny Ainge. The Spurs absolutely are constructed perfectly to beat us. Its amazing.

yet, they were built first.

 

[dodie53]

spurs = suns' kryponite

 

[Gaddabout]

Bowen would be a liability in Phoenix because of his less than marginal handles and inconsistent shot. I don't know if there are better defenders out there, but there are some very good defenders at his position who also offer more production offensively and on the boards. Like e said, I'd certainly love to have someone like Bowen on the team, but I wouldn't want to see Bowen on a team that races up and down the court. Too many turnovers, not enough chances to do what he does best. Like any great defender, he wouldn't be as good on the Suns because he wouldn't have Tim Duncan behind him. If the Suns could improve their front line defensively, Bell and Marion are capable of approaching that kind of perimeter defense.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm not upset with Bruce Bowen himself at all. Frankly I really didn't think any of those plays were dirty. I was frustrated with the officiating/NBA for allowing him to play that way against the two-time MVP.

I would take Bruce Bowen in a heartbeat.

 

[schutd]

yet, they were built first.

I didnt say they were built for the purpose of beating us. It just happens that their skills as a team, ie help defense, the ability to take away the three point line, pick and roll AND clog the lane ALL AT THE SAME TIME, and play either fast or slow offensively is the perfect poison for what we bring to tthe table. I cant even watch Spurs Suns games anymore. They are too frustrating and give me too much anxiety. They are the only team in the league I ABSOLUTELY dread to play and honestly fear.

And its because I think we're a better team than they, but we just cant get over the hump. It kills me a little bit each and every day.

 

[schutd]

Bowen would be a liability in Phoenix because of his less than marginal handles and inconsistent shot. I don't know if there are better defenders out there, but there are some very good defenders at his position who also offer more production offensively and on the boards. Like e said, I'd certainly love to have someone like Bowen on the team, but I wouldn't want to see Bowen on a team that races up and down the court. Too many turnovers, not enough chances to do what he does best. Like any great defender, he wouldn't be as good on the Suns because he wouldn't have Tim Duncan behind him. If the Suns could improve their front line defensively, Bell and Marion are capable of approaching that kind of perimeter defense.

I disagree. He could perform EXACTLY what we needed him to. Shut down defense, and then spot up in the corners and nail the big three. But we already have that in Raja Bell. They are almost the same player, all the way down to the theatrics and the physical bullying. Bowen just isnt ours, so we either dream of him or hate his guts, or both.

 

[elindholm]

Bowen just isnt ours, so we either dream of him or hate his guts, or both.

I don't think that's true; it's easy to find a tempered middle ground. I admire a lot of what he brings to the court but could never support his attempts to hurt others. I like Bell a lot too, but every once in a while he does something that makes me cringe. Bowen crosses that line far more frequently, and I would never embrace it.

 

[Joe Mama]

I disagree. He could perform EXACTLY what we needed him to. Shut down defense, and then spot up in the corners and nail the big three. But we already have that in Raja Bell. They are almost the same player, all the way down to the theatrics and the physical bullying. Bowen just isnt ours, so we either dream of him or hate his guts, or both.

I'm a big Raja fan, but Bowen is better defensively. He doesn't provide as much as Bell on the other end though.

Joe

 

[schutd]

He hit more clutch shots than Bell in this series, thats for damn sure! And Elindholm, I see your point. I hate his guts, but damn I wish we had someone who could pester a two time MVP the way he does... We dont have that, not even in Raja.

 

[tobiazz]

How about having Bowen at small forward for the minutes JR would normally play? I would love to see Kobe play against Raja and Bowen at the same time.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, Bowen was the primary reason the Spurs won the series. I have to admit he has perfected fouling without being called for it. Because he gets away with it doesn't make it right. I'm distressed about it because there is no answer for a player that fouls and gets away with it. It sure took it's toll on Nash. I guess in an abstract way (because I do not want it), Ron Artest might be the answer if a team wanted to go down that road.

I'm not sure I know what to do, but I know when the Suns started pushing the ball late, the Suns were much more effective. Perhaps the biggest mistake the Suns made was not pushing the ball on almost every play whether the defense was set or not.

Diaw was a major disappointment.

 

[elindholm]

I'm not sure I know what to do, but I know when the Suns started pushing the ball late, the Suns were much more effective. Perhaps the biggest mistake the Suns made was not pushing the ball on almost every play whether the defense was set or not.

I think Nash pushed the panic button too late. Suddenly he realized that his season would be over if he didn't take matters into his own hands. He is the team's best shooter and best clutch player, but by the time he took over, it was too little too late.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Nash pushed the panic button too late. Suddenly he realized that his season would be over if he didn't take matters into his own hands. He is the team's best shooter and best clutch player, but by the time he took over, it was too little too late.

I agree. Steve was just too unselfish early. Also I think it's harder to foul Nash on the run and get away with it. Maybe running the ball hard is partially the answer to Bowen.

 

[mribnik]

I think it's impossible to say how good Bruce Bowen is as long as he plays with Tim Duncan. At the end of the day you look at Nash's stats and try to judge how great Bowen was, but Bowen has the freedom to play Nash very closely because he knows Duncan is behind him. Nash was able to get by Bowen consistently throughout the series, but he wasn't able to finish at the rim because Duncan was there to block the shot every time. It Bowen was on any other team in the league, he wouldn't look as great as he does.

Edit: I wouldn't go as far as to claim that Raja is equal to Bowen, I don't think he is. However, I wonder what Raja would be able to do with Duncan behind him.

 

[KT7211]

I think it's impossible to say how good Bruce Bowen is as long as he plays with Tim Duncan. At the end of the day you look at Nash's stats and try to judge how great Bowen was, but Bowen has the freedom to play Nash very closely because he knows Duncan is behind him. Nash was able to get by Bowen consistently throughout the series, but he wasn't able to finish at the rim because Duncan was there to block the shot every time. It Bowen was on any other team in the league, he wouldn't look as great as he does.

Edit: I wouldn't go as far as to claim that Raja is equal to Bowen, I don't think he is. However, I wonder what Raja would be able to do with Duncan behind him.

i agree completely, haveing duncan offensively and defensively opens up a lot of doors that normally wouldnt be. many dont believe the suns need an inside force....for this reason, i think they do, on both sides of the ball

 

[George Gervin]

"Fouling and getting away with it" is like "driving fast and getting away with it." It's an existential point, but if you don't get caught, you technically haven't broken the law. And frankly, I'd rather win by playing within the rules. But my second choice would be to win by playing dirty and getting away with it. "Losing and following the rules" would be a distant 3rd.

 

[cly2tw]

Bowen is a great defender. But to control Nash, they had a team concept that functioned in a very disciplined way. And they managed that by having Bowen constantly bump and grab Nash to gain the little time for the help defense to reconfigure. Then, Bowen would catch up with Nash again. They rarely fell into the trap most teams constantly fall in the regular season, which is to get completely confused when Nash dribbles past one or two defenders in the paint.

Often, only late in games when the opponents get tired and the concentration vanished a bit we seem to be able to find some "open" looks, mainly via Amare's energetic drives and cuts. In game 5, the refs started the game by calling it close on the Spurs, which jump-started the Suns-style offense a bit. But later in the game, they went back to the normal way and we were too tired, blame DA for that, to execute.

Also, DA made sure with how he handled the roster and regular season games that once Nash is neutralized like that we don't have sustainable alternative offense to still win the game.

 

[Esther]

Are people serious? The mere thought that Phoenix Suns would become San Antonio Spurs is insulting. You have a team made up of the most classy bunch of guys and you would rather exchange them for BRUCE BOWEN just to get a title?

 

[mathbzh]

I think Pietrus could become a poor man Bowen and could be available.

 

[cly2tw]

I think Pietrus could become a poor man Bowen and could be available.

Marion for JRich and Pietrus!