Player Focus: Bruce Bowen

[Ginofan]

PLAYER FOCUS: Bruce Bowen

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By Sam R.

SpursCentral.com

December 5, 2004





Bio: A Cal State Fullerton product, Bruce was originally an offensive powerhouse in Europe and, later, the CBA. An injury-plagued player, he saw his first real playing time as a Boston Celtic from 1997-1999. In the 99-00 season he played half a season with the 76ers before he was traded to the Bulls, who promptly waived him. Miami then picked him up, where he was named to the All-Defensive Second-Team in the 00-01 season and again in 01-02. The San Antonio Spurs signed him for the 02-03 season where he was made a started, and an important clog on the defense-oriented team. Bruce Bowen, an NBA journeyman, learned that the only way into the league was through defense, not scoring. At 6’7” and 201 lbs, he realized that every team had an offensive player just like him, if not better. What every team needed was a perimeter defender who could shut down an opposing player while making a few shots of his own. Only through hard work, and defense, did Bruce Bowen become was he is today- the best defender on the league’s best defensive team.



Last year: Bruce was named to the All-Defensive First Team, and was runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. He made everyone from Ray Allen, to Michael Finely, to Flip Saunders, to Vince Carter, to Don Nelson and Mark Cuban curse his name and call him cheap, dirty, and low. This, of course, was nothing but complimentary to the defensive specialist. After all, those were the kind of comments his style of play provoked. It would be an insult not to be called that. Bruce was quick to keep his assignment away from the basket, smart to channel him down the sides to a waiting Duncan or Rasho, agile enough to go at the ball like a swarm of bees and self-controlled enough not to get called for a foul. He was talented at pestering the opponent to the point of complete frustration, and he was mature enough to take their resulting comments in stride. He was the epitome of what Popovich wanted in a player- he could defend, he allowed the system to work for him, and he knew his role. That role was defined by guarding the opponent’s best player in the 1-3 positions, and taking the occasional open 3-pointer. Nothing more, nothing less. Bruce was rewarded by a 3-year contract, and rewarded the Spurs organization by taking less in the first year so that they could sign Parker and Ginobili.



This year:With the addition of Brent Barry, the emergence of Devin Brown, the stardom of Manu Ginobili, and the growingly spectacular play of Beno Udrih, Bruce’s playing time will be slightly limited. The Spurs have the best defensive team in the league, led by the trio of Duncan, Manu, and Bowen. Though Bowen is understandably getting older, and ever so slowly losing his speed advantage over opponents, he is still as persistent and crafty as ever. The Spurs will not need him to score as much, or at all, because they have enough offensively talented players to pick up the slack. Nonetheless, Bruce has developed a pull-up jumper that has proven to be quite effective. The fact that he is shooting 75 percent from the free-throw line is just gravy. His role as shrunk slightly as a contributing player, and grown more as a defensive leader.



What the Spurs need from Bowen:Going into his third year as a Spur, Bowen will be expected to show more leadership than previously required. He will be looked up to as a defensive mentor to Beno Udrih and Devin Brown. They’re hoping that his defensive mindset will rub off on Brent Barry as well. So far, it has. Bruce will still be expected to go in night in and night out and play his heart out, guarding the best players the league has to offer. Not that the Spurs are asking much or anything.



Bowen has been an underrated and overlooked player for most of his career. His first year as a Spur, he put the league on notice- this kid can play! So far, he has yet to disappoint. While he will still occasionally still show signs of the offensively gifted player he once was, his career has been defined by his defensive prowess.



So in the slightly altered words of a famous beer song, “Bruce, this block’s for you!!!”

VOTE GINOBILI 4 ALL-STAR 2005

SuperGino.com - My Ginobili Fansite

Edited by: Blondie4Spurs  at: 12/5/04 1:05 pm

[TheSick1]

I think the Spurs might be looking for Bowen to rub off on Linton Johnson III more than any other player on the roster. The Spurs have mentioned that Linton has the potential to become a defender like Bowen and who else better to mentor Linton than Bowen himself. Keep up the posting.

Edited by: TheSick1 at: 12/5/04 1:09 pm

[missmyzte]

Brucie! BTW, Cal State Fullerton is about 10 minutes away from where I work. Good write up Sam, Bruce found his niche in an offensive-minded NBA by taking pride in his defensive assignments. It's easy to play good D against bench-warmers, but Bowen always wants the #1 threat on the opposing team. He guards against Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Vince Carter and changes their game.

"I haven't hit the big shots like Robert has. He's obviously been in the Finals and hit the big-game shots. There's never going to be another Robert Horry. I'm just trying to make my own footpath." Brian Cook, 11/30/04

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[greg9683]

Quote:

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I think the Spurs might be looking for Bowen to rub off on Linton Johnson III more than any other player on the roster. The Spurs have mentioned that Linton has the potential to become a defender like Bowen and who else better to mentor Linton than Bowen himself.

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Exactly, that's what they hope Linton can be; the next Bowen.



Bowen has been scoring better which helps a lot as opposed to two years ago. One of my favorite Spurs.

[PokerFace21]

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He was talented at pestering the opponent to the point of complete frustration, and he was mature enough to take their resulting comments in stride.

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I guess this not only applies to opponents but our own Spurs as well. I remember a Manu quote in someone’s signature saying “you just wanted to slap him”. I think it was during Manu’s first training camp here when introduced to Bruce’s defense.



I have a video clip somewhere with Jalen Rose (as a Bull) losing his cool at Bruce.



Bruce is a professional and a pretty cool guy. It’s really hard to not like him – if he’s on your team, that is. He’s even found time to go back and finish a degree at UTSA. I love that whole story with his professor not believing he was a Spur at first. I hope to see him make the All Defensive 1st Team this year. He deserves it.



I also hope that LJ3 is the next Bowen because right now he’s the next Alex Garcia.............

[ryno]

Great right up Sam! Your best Player Focus yet.







Hopefully LJ3 gets better soon so we can all see what this guy is about.

Silver and Black Baby

Have you voted for your Spurs today?

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[usckk]

I like Bowen. He works hard on his game, trying to be better both offensively and defensively. Obviously, it has show thus far in the season with his new pull-up jumper. He was also nice to reconstruct his contract this offseason, which helped the spurs sign barry and parker.

[ManuAddicted]

Just an interesting note...

Manu told to someone in his website that Bruce always listens salsa and merengue when travelling from city to city during the season...

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A man, a player, a winner... who's worth every cent!

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[Blondie]

Bruce's wife is Cuban, so it makes sense that he would liek latin music

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[KoriEllis]

SamR, very nice article. Bowen is one of my favorite Spurs.

Quote:

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Miami then picked him up, where he was named to the All-Defensive Second-Team in the 00-01 season and again in 01-02. The San Antonio Spurs signed him for the 02-03 season where he was made a started, and an important clog on the defense-oriented team.

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Just a fact check though, Bowen first season with the Spurs was 01-02. That's the season that he hurt his finger and missed 23 games.

[Spursman]

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While he will still occasionally still show signs of the offensively gifted player he once was, his career has been defined by his defensive prowess.

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Nice article. but this part made me laugh. Bowen was never known as an offensive player. In fact, that was one of the reasons that Riley got rid of him (if I remember correctly). His gift has been the defensive end and once he got to the Spurs, that was when he started his trek into the 3pt. territory. His scoring has always been the bonus, not the requirement.

[Samr]

In Europe he was 22+ points a game. Parker says he remembers going to watch Bowen when he'd score upwards of 30 points. This is what I was refering to. He came into the NBA as a defensive specialist who can score a few daggers from long range.



He makes for a good comparrison to a military sniper. You don't really pay a whole lot of attentiont to him except for the few shots he makes. But he completely takes out the other team's lead offensive player.

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The Samr Blog- newest entry: "Not my cup of Yin Yang"



*updated on 12/7*

[Mongo]

"salsa and merengue"



His favorite foods?

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