<font color=""Black""><font size=""1"">Ben Wallace was announced this week as the defensive player of the year for the fourth time in five years. Though Wallace is a tenacious rebounder and shot blocker he is not the player who is given the assigment of guarding the other team's best player night in and night out. Bruce Bowen, on the other hand, not only guards the other team's best player, but consistently shuts that player down. Though Bowen does not measure up to Wallace on the stat sheet, one must look beyond the numbers. It is a matter of examining the numbers of an all-star player when his team faces the Spurs. Bowen specializes in pestering and throwing the other team's biggest offensive threat out of rythym. His ability to do this better than almost anyone in the league makes him an invaluable asset to San Antonio. As an on the ball defender, he was the best in the league this year. With Ron Artest missing a large portion of the season with the situation in Indiana this left only one other logical choice for the award: Bowen. Big Ben's season averages make the decision for the award seem to be an easy one. However, the question isn't how good the numbers are, but simply, who is the best at shutting down the players that he is asked to defend? The answer is Bruce Bowen. Wallace plays a position that doesn't require the athleticism Bowen must possess. Wallace, more or less, sits in the low post crashing the boards and getting a hand up to block shots. Bowen is constantly using his hands while sprinting, and fighting through screens. The difference of degree of athleticism required to defend the players that Bowen guards as opposed to Wallace is what should be the deciding factor here. Bowen is, like I said, the best on the ball defender out there. Not to take away from Ben Wallace or what he brings to the Pistons, but I just feel that what Bowen does makes him the man who deserves the award. </font></font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">. However, the question isn't how good the numbers are, but simply, who is the best at shutting down the players that he is asked to defend?</div> I agree with everything and that B. Wallace shouldn't have got it again. I think Bowen, Artest, AK47, and G. Wallace are all better picks than Big Ben. Especially G. Wallace who was averaging practically the same BPG and SPG for a player who is vastly shorter in size than Big Ben. Bowen although dirty does get the job done. Though personally I would have picked G. Wallace, and AK47 over Big Ben and Bowen. Also I think you should edit the title and make it say "Like Kobe AND Iguodala, Bowen got robbed"
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Also I think you should edit the title and make it say "Like Kobe AND <font color=""Red"">Iguodala</font>, Bowen got robbed"</div> <font color=""Black""><font size=""1"">Igoudala did not get robbed. Nate was just a <font color=""Red"">little</font> bit better. </font></font>
Eh, Why should one of the dirtiest players in the NBA get DPOY? Ben Wallace may of not been the best choice, but Bruce Bowen wouldn't of been either. Personally I think Artest should of won it, I don't think you can really mention AK47 because if his team didn't even make the playoffs, how great was his defense?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RipCity:</div><div class="quote_post">Eh, Why should one of the dirtiest players in the NBA get DPOY? Ben Wallace may of not been the best choice, but Bruce Bowen wouldn't of been either. Personally I think Artest should of won it, I don't think you can really mention AK47 because if his team didn't even make the playoffs, how great was his defense?</div> Have you seen him play go read his stats in his games. The only reason why he didn't win it because he was injured
AK47 hands down, his stats are crazy plus his ability to play multiple positions and shutdown the players hes guarding is unmatched. Ron Artest would have won if he played more, but i dont really like bowen as a defender he doesnt have much athleticism he just plays dirty. You could also mention Prince as a good choice he shuts down players just like bowen, and he isnt dirty but I believe they went for the safe choice and chose wallace.
So just because Ben is a bigman who guards other big men he doesn't deserve it? Ridiculous. If Artest or AK had played more, one of them might have won, but not Bruce. He's and above average defender who gets away with a lot and intimidates others with his dirty play.
Just because you don't win games doesn't mean you should be overlooked as DPOY especially with AK47's crazy ass stats and his games where he is just dominating.
Bowen wasnt robbed at all, he didnt deserve the award, and rightfully so, didnt recieve it. He can man up good, so what? He cant steal, block or rebound with the best of them, and especially when guys like AK47, Ron Artest, Ben Wallace etc. can man up and shut down players and still be amongst the top defensive stat getters, they will always win the award over Bowen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NTC187:</div><div class="quote_post">Bowen wasnt robbed at all, he didnt deserve the award, and rightfully so, didnt recieve it. He can man up good, so what? He cant steal, block or rebound with the best of them, and especially when guys like AK47, Ron Artest, Ben Wallace etc. can man up and shut down players and still be amongst the top defensive stat getters, they will always win the award over Bowen.</div> I agree the problem doesn't lay in Bowen not winning but B. Wallace winning it.
Bowen did deserve to win the award but so did big Ben. Bowen shuts down or at least contends most of the players he guards. The guy is a shut down defender and the key behind the Spurs success. Why should guys like Ak and Wallace get the award when their D doesn't relate into any kind of success?
What's the more important criterion: (1) Shutting down the opposing player (playing great individual defense), or (2) Having the greatest impact on defense overall I'd say, ultimately, (2) is what matters. Who will have a greater impact on a team's defense -- Bruce Bowen or Ben Wallace? I think the answer is pretty obvious. Let's compare their defensive +/- over the last 4 seasons. It's the difference in points given up per 100 possessions when a player is on the court versus off the court. So, the more negative, the better. It's useful to look at Duncan's numbers as well: <div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><br/><font color=""Navy"">Ben WallaceBruce BowenTim Duncan</font><br/>2006-10.6+2.7-2.0<br/>2005-3.5-1.5-9.1<br/>2004-3.0-4.5-5.5<br/>2003*-3.1-6.6-9.0<br/><br/>* +/- per 48 minutes<br/></div> Granted, these numbers should be understood in context. Bruce Bowen is usually put on the floor when the opposing team's best perimeter scorers are on the court, which can hurt his +/-. Still, Duncan has consistently had a better defensive +/- the last 4 seasons than Bowen (while also playing more minutes). To me, it's clear that Bowen isn't even the most important defensive player on his own team. Ben Wallace's impact this season has been undeniable. And he played every game, and a ton of minutes. It was a no-brainer that he should get the award over Bowen. Generally speaking, big guys are more important to a team's defense than little guys. And I think, again generally speaking, the converse can be said about offense. Bowen's +/- was very strong in 2003 and 2004. I'm not saying he isn't a great defensive player, but I think this can probably be attributed more to having Tim Duncan (and Robinon for 2003) behind him. The following table shows the points given up per 48 minutes with each player on the court without the other: <div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><br/><font color=""Navy"">BowenDuncanSpurs overall</font><br/>200696.584.288.8<br/>200594.386.188.4<br/>200486.281.784.3<br/>200393.991.990.4<br/></div> The conclusion is pretty clear -- Duncan is the bigger reason for the Spurs suffocating defense than Bowen. Personally, I think it's crazy Duncan hasn't won at least one DPOY award in his career. He's perennially on the All Defensive team, and he's been the pillar of the best defensive team of the modern era.
impressive proof Durvasa. I think the top 2 candidates in the past 2+ years have been Bowen and Wallace. I pretty much see them as 1 and 1a. For years, the mark of a solid defensive team is to have a legitimate shot blocker in the paint. Therefore, all things being equal, the tipping point is their overall impact towards team defense (as Durvasa points out), and Wallace being that shot blocker in the paint will always win out in my opinion.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">To me, it's clear that Bowen isn't even the most important defensive player on his own team. </div> Tell that to Dirk.
For the first 6 games of the Dallas series: <div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><br/><font color=""Navy"">minoff/48def/48net/48</font><br/>Duncan40.299.296.0+3.2<br/>Bowen37.089.995.1-5.2<br/>Spurs48.896.399.6-3.3<br/></div> With Bowen on the court, Spurs have allowed a little less per 48 minutes than with Duncan on the court. Maybe I'll check how the defense compares during this series with Bowen and no Duncan versus with Duncan and no Bowen. But over the course of only 6 games, there may not be enough such minutes for this information to be statistically meaningful.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">The conclusion is pretty clear -- Duncan is the bigger reason for the Spurs suffocating defense than Bowen. Personally, I think it's crazy Duncan hasn't won at least one DPOY award in his career. He's perennially on the All Defensive team, and he's been the pillar of the best defensive team of the modern era.</div>Duncan doesn't play for Detroit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">Duncan doesn't play for Detroit.</div> Well, it's somewhat arguable. San Antonio was the best for several consecutive seasons, and is still among the top defenses in the league (probably second or third overall). In certain aspects, they're better and in others, they're worse. Take it for what it's worth, I guess. And Duncan playing for Detroit just wouldn't be fair.
