Bowen's defense a work of art
After watching the first three games of the Western Conference finals, I have reached one undeniable conclusion.
San Antonioís Bruce Bowen is the greatest defensive player in the NBA history.
How else can do you explain this statistic? Kobe Bryant shoots 96 free throws in a six-game series against the Jazz but, in the first three games of the conference final against Bowen and the Spurs, he goes to the foul line six times.
S-i-x.
Against the Jazz and the defenders they threw at him -- Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, Kyle Korver -- Bryant averaged four free throws per quarter, eight per half and 16 per game. For Bryant to shoot 96 free throws in a six-game series against Bowen and the Spurs, he will have to average 30 in Games 4, 5 and 6.
If I was Laker coach Phil Jackson -- and I'll bet First Lady Jeannie Buss is glad I'm not -- here's what I'd do:
I'd compile a tape of how the Spurs are defending Bryant, tell everyone willing to listen that Bowen is "laying all over" the MVP and demand the league instruct its officials to "clean up the game" and start calling more fouls.
Hey, it worked for Houston coach Rick Adelman.
After Game 5 of the opening-round series between the Jazz and the Rockets, Adelman sent a tape to the NBA because he believed the tactics Utah had used to the limit Tracy McGrady's effectiveness were contrary to the rules.
What happened?
In Game 6, McGrady shot 18 free throws. Still, the Jazz routed the Rockets and moved into the second round.
Fortunately, the Lakers defeated Utah in the conference semifinals, otherwise basketball fans everywhere would have been cheated out of the opportunity to watch Bowen's defensive artistry as he guards Kobe.
It's like watching Vincent van Gogh paint "The Starry Night."
It's like listening to the Rolling Stones sing "Satisfaction."
Bowen's defense on Kobe is an unexplainable thing of beauty -- a freak of nature -- that makes our world a better place.
-- Steve Luhm
San Antonioís Bruce Bowen is the greatest defensive player in the NBA history.
How else can do you explain this statistic? Kobe Bryant shoots 96 free throws in a six-game series against the Jazz but, in the first three games of the conference final against Bowen and the Spurs, he goes to the foul line six times.
S-i-x.
Against the Jazz and the defenders they threw at him -- Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, Kyle Korver -- Bryant averaged four free throws per quarter, eight per half and 16 per game. For Bryant to shoot 96 free throws in a six-game series against Bowen and the Spurs, he will have to average 30 in Games 4, 5 and 6.
If I was Laker coach Phil Jackson -- and I'll bet First Lady Jeannie Buss is glad I'm not -- here's what I'd do:
I'd compile a tape of how the Spurs are defending Bryant, tell everyone willing to listen that Bowen is "laying all over" the MVP and demand the league instruct its officials to "clean up the game" and start calling more fouls.
Hey, it worked for Houston coach Rick Adelman.
After Game 5 of the opening-round series between the Jazz and the Rockets, Adelman sent a tape to the NBA because he believed the tactics Utah had used to the limit Tracy McGrady's effectiveness were contrary to the rules.
What happened?
In Game 6, McGrady shot 18 free throws. Still, the Jazz routed the Rockets and moved into the second round.
Fortunately, the Lakers defeated Utah in the conference semifinals, otherwise basketball fans everywhere would have been cheated out of the opportunity to watch Bowen's defensive artistry as he guards Kobe.
It's like watching Vincent van Gogh paint "The Starry Night."
It's like listening to the Rolling Stones sing "Satisfaction."
Bowen's defense on Kobe is an unexplainable thing of beauty -- a freak of nature -- that makes our world a better place.
-- Steve Luhm
4:26 PM
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3 Comments:
It's also called "how to foul without using your hands".
Ya, he's holding him to only ~30 points per game. Greatest ever? Hardly good sir.
Kobe's still shooting 53% from the field. Even better than he did against the Jazz. Bowen's good, but no one is going to stop Kobe.
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