GarageGabs

Once you get a couple of posts in your honor, you are elevated to category status. Say hello to Bruce Bowen, in the news last week for his kick to Amare Stoudemire’s Achilles, he has now aimed for a much more sensitive area; Steve Nash’s groin.

Bruce Bowen Catches Steve Nash In The Nads

The NBA finally decided to “take a look” at Bowen’s style of play. After looking at the play the league has insisted that Bowen will not be suspended for game 4, calling the shot to the groin a “flagrant 1″ foul.

Yeah, this is good news for the Spurs. Bowen hasn’t been suspended. However, it’s bad news for the Spurs that the league is actually giving credibility to the complaints on Bowen. Dude is gonna be watched like a hawk from here on out, I’m saying it now: This whole Bruce Bowen mess is going to lead to MAJOR DRAMA before these playoffs are concluded. I also believe David Stern and Stu Jackson read my site.

I’ve had some issues with the Spurs for several years. I’ve always thought Tim Duncan was incredibly whiny and that Manu Ginobili played out of control on purpose; with the intention of catching someone in the nads with one of his flailing legs. In my opinion the Spurs are boring to watch and have always pushed the envelope in regard to playing too rough. I’d never given much thought to Bruce Bowen. My opinion of him was over-rated defender/decent spot up 3 point shooter, especially from the corners.

Now you know my original stance on this topic.

By now you’ve probably heard that Amare Stoudemire has accused Bruce Bowen of intentionally kicking him in the Achilles. He has also gone as far to say that the Spurs are a dirty team. You might have even seen the replay on ESPN and thought that it was kinda tough to tell what Bowen’s actual intent was on that play. Maybe he just slipped. Well, the power of YouTube has come to the rescue, just in time to show that Bruce Bowen probably didn’t slip. In fact, when you take Bowen’s action in the context of his previous behavior, you get the idea that this is what he does. Bruce Bowen IS a dirty player:

First, lets take a look at the play in question involving Amare Stoudemire:

Yeah, it’s really hard to tell if Bowen intentionally stuck that right leg out there. He could have just been slipping. Let’s dive a little deeper into Bruce Bowen.

Ok, not sure if you’ve ever ran at a jump shooter but I’ve never done a sideways split causing me to awkwardly land in the landing area of the shooter. Yeah, you can call it getting up into a shooters face, but it looks more like Bowen is trying to take away the shooters landing space….with his own feet, which is terribly dangerous. The easiest way to tear up an ankle or other joint is by landing on someone’s foot. Still not convinced?

Once again, Bowen has that “what’d I do?” look on his face. Bowen knows exactly what he did and Carter’s reaction was the proper one. There is nothing wrong with playing great defense but playing dirty is a different story. Go to your local court and play some pickup basketball. The first time the guy that you are guarding shoots a jump shot do the Bruce Bowen move, placing your feet right under the jump shooters feet. Then do it again. If you can do it a third time. Someone is either going to get hurt, or get into a fight.

It’s really a shame that Bruce Bowen uses this move. He is a fantastic overall defender. Every time his name is brought up in conversation now someone will say…”oh yeah, Bruce Bowen is dirty”. Fact is, they’d be right. These videos are only a small sample of the guy’s antics. I respect someone for playing good defense but I’m also a bit old school when it comes to basketball. I don’t care for grind it out games where defenders are allowed to use all kinds of body to slow down offensive players. Stoudemire has just added a huge element of drama to the Suns/Spurs series, which is currently tied at a game each. Also, you have to wonder if Bowen is going to have to “watch himself” now. The league knows what he’s doing as do the fans and players. You can bet there will be some complaining going on the first time he lands under a shooters foot. The series will resume tomorrow at 8 pm, on ABC.

Dirty Play in the NBA? Not Much Anymore (MSNBC)