Tempers Flare As Knicks Almost Lose Another Guard To Bowen

[NJNetz]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Knicks guard Steve Francis was hurt after landing on Spurs forward Bruce Bowen's foot while making a jumper early in the game against the Spurs in New York on Monday, and the tension was still evident as the two sides met in a rematch in San Antonio on Saturday.

Bowen and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas each got a technical in the first quarter when Thomas yelled something toward Bowen after Knicks guard Jamal Crawford shot a jumper and nearly came down on Bowen's foot.

"I didn't really see where he was. I knew he was somewhere underneath me," Crawford said. "I didn't know exactly where. I was focused on getting the ball up."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also entered the fray with a back-and-forth with Thomas, but wasn't called for a technical. He didn't talk directly about the incident after the game, although Thomas did.

"I thought Jamal went up to take the shot and as he was coming down, Bruce's foot was under him," Thomas said. "And if he were to come down on his foot, he could have broken his ankle or sprained his ankle and he would have been out, just like Francis."

Bowen said the incident was unfortunate.

"It's unfortunate that injuries happen in this game. But it's about what we learn as kids as far as the enjoyment of playing this game," Bowen said.

Tim Duncan came to Bowen's defense.

"There's nothing that Bruce did. Bruce didn't do anything. Bruce defends people, and people get frustrated," he said</div>
Source

I really hate Bowen.

 

[02civic]

he clearly does it on purpose


though i must admit i've done it a few times myself

 

[rafy]

<div class="quote_poster">02civic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">he clearly does it on purpose


though i must admit i've done it a few times myself</div>

I've actually done it quite a few times. It's hard to think of where your feet are when you're trying to block a jumper of a floater. But it was all accidental. However it's obvious bowen does it on purpose.

I really, really, really really really really think that people with Bowen's track record should not be allowed to play basketball. And while no one will ever have any kind of proof, it's obvious enough.

 

[CLos]

Bowen is a dirty dirty player but he's still a good defender.

 

[monty001]

Bruce Bowen is scum.

 

[CLos]

How's he scum?

 

[monty001]

Scum

–noun 1. a film or layer of foul or extraneous matter that forms on the surface of a liquid.
2. refuse or offscourings.
3. a low, worthless, or evil person.

I don't think he's low or worthless. I just think he's evil.

ESPN is reporting that the NBA is investigating Bowen's actions. It's an insider story, so I don't have access to it.

 

[hustler]

Invalid Video Link

 

[durvasa]

That's such BS. How do the refs let him get away with that? It's such an obvious foul to call.

 

[Chutney]

Exactly. It's not like he has momentum or he's trying to intimidate him by staying close up on him. He just casually sticks his foot underneath, knowing full well what will probably happen.

 

[Mr. J]

Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and now Steve Francis are all victims of Bowen's "defense".

 

[Schaddy]

Guys, Bowen is a bastard to play against, but he's not as dirty as everyone makes him out to be. He's a physical, tenacious defender, and players have a problem with that. Does he make dirty plays on occasion? You could make that argument. I honestly feel like his actions usually are blown out of proportion because of the high-profile players who have spoken out against him. I won't sit here and try to tell you he isn't an abrasive guy who probably does push the boundaries of clean play, but he's not dirty. He's a team-first guy who busts his ass like more players should, but he isn't a cheap-shot artist like many people will tell you. Bowen is one of my personal favorite players, and I'm a guy who won't hesistate to tell you when a guy crosses the line. Bowen toes the line every game, but IMO he doesn't cross it. Should he stop jumping into guys like that? Yes, he should. I think that's the one thing that he must clean up. Otherwise, I have no problems with him.

How about Zeke's comments, though? This guy has completely lost it. I think he's going to finish off this season in a white jacket, not on the end of an NBA bench.

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Guys, Bowen is a bastard to play against, but he's not as dirty as everyone makes him out to be. He's a physical, tenacious defender, and players have a problem with that. Does he make dirty plays on occasion? You could make that argument. I honestly feel like his actions usually are blown out of proportion because of the high-profile players who have spoken out against him. I won't sit here and try to tell you he isn't an abrasive guy who probably does push the boundaries of clean play, but he's not dirty. He's a team-first guy who busts his ass like more players should, but he isn't a cheap-shot artist like many people will tell you. Bowen is one of my personal favorite players, and I'm a guy who won't hesistate to tell you when a guy crosses the line. Bowen toes the line every game, but IMO he doesn't cross it. Should he stop jumping into guys like that? Yes, he should. I think that's the one thing that he must clean up. Otherwise, I have no problems with him.

How about Zeke's comments, though? This guy has completely lost it. I think he's going to finish off this season in a white jacket, not on the end of an NBA bench.

</div>

Bruce Bowen is the one that has lost it; he's intentionally trying to get people injured for months. He should get the crap beaten out of him, whether or not you like that fellow. Bowen doesn't "toe the line" when he sticks his foot under Steve Francis, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, or Carmelo Anthony.

 

[Chutney]

There's a difference between getting in people's faces/pushing the limits of the rulebook and repeatedly doing an action that has consistently injured the opposing player. The undercutting is what makes him such a dirty player, IMO, because the potential benefits really aren't that significant. He's continued to do it, because it injures the opposition and the league has yet to take notice of it.

 

[phunDamentalz]

if these guys are such great athletes they can dodge his foot on the way down... his play is no dirtier than a star player looking to draw a foul rather than go for a score

 

[Bleed Green]

Thinking about landing will make you miss the shot. Your feet have to come down together around the same area. And no one thinks about how their gonna land when theyre thinking about the shot and the defenders and their teammates.

 

[CLos]

Well, Bruce Bowen is so respected by refs that they don't call that much stuff on him.

 

[Premium]

<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> I honestly feel like his actions usually are blown out of proportion because of the high-profile players who have spoken out against him.</div>

its not like ray allen has a history of complaining or making comments to the media about other players. allen is a class act...and when he makes the type of comments he did, you tend to wonder...

the fact that so many players have spoken out about him...there are plenty of tenatious defenders in the league that dont get constantly called out for being "dirty" by other high profile players in the nba.

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">if these guys are such great athletes they can dodge his foot on the way down... his play is no dirtier than a star player looking to draw a foul rather than go for a score</div>

Are you kidding me? Looking to draw a foul and undercutting a player are two VERY different things. What is dirty about burning a defender by getting him to bite on a pump fake? Trying to draw a foul doesnt put players out of the game, or cause injury's.

Why should players have to look to alter the form on their jump shots? You're saying the entire NBA should alter the way they shoot, rather then Bowen alter the way he defends jump shots? give me a break.

 

[norespect]

I love bowen's face after an "unfortunate inncident." Vince Carter has on more then one occasion wanted to rip his head off, and Bowen gives that "what me?" look. Bowen is a jersey pulling, hand checking, undercutting hack who has for some reason gotten this rep as being a great defender. I HATE HIM!

 

[The One & Only]

<div class="quote_poster">hustler Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Invalid Video Link</div>
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That doesn't look very intentional imo, neither does the one on Crawford. The others such as Vince were obviously on purpose though.

Invalid Video Link

 

[Mr. J]

The one on Francis is ridiculously intentional.

Your foot doesn't just naturally stretch 4 feet under a defender. He already contested the shot, so what benefit does putting your foot under someone do? You don't release the ball with your foot.

 

[RipCity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He's a physical, tenacious defender, and players have a problem with that. Does he make dirty plays on occasion? You could make that argument.</div>

Players have no real problem with tenacious defenders, what they do have a problem with is mediocre players playing dirty defense in order to compensate for a total lack of skill.

Bowen is not a good defender...he isn't even an average defender. Take away the dirty play (ridiculously aggressive handchecks, holding, moving screens, ect) and he isn't even getting 10-15 minutes a game.

Quit giving cheaters props....hope the league suspends him for a VERY long time before someone gets hurt seriously.

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The one on Francis is ridiculously intentional.

Your foot doesn't just naturally stretch 4 feet under a defender. He already contested the shot, so what benefit does putting your foot under someone do? You don't release the ball with your foot.</div>

Word, it's so blatantly obvious Bowen went out of his way to extend his foot underneath Francis and Carter. The one on Crawford wasn't too bad, but those other two were intentional.

Jerome James needs to earn his coin by defending his teammates against the Bruce Bowen types. If Jerome James gets tossed for retaliating, the Knicks don't lose anyone important on the court, but at the same time they send a message to Bowen that we aren't going to put up with your crap.

Maybe next time Francis goes up for a jump shot on Bowen, he can stick is foot 4 feet forward and nail Bowen in the nutsack.

Then make the Bowen innocent look face, "What I do?" "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do that."

 

[Pakman]

<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">
Maybe next time Francis goes up for a jump shot on Bowen, he can stick is foot 4 feet forward and nail Bowen in the nutsack.

Then make the Bowen innocent look face, "What I do?" "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do that."</div>

Bruce Bowen's cheap play makes me wish Shaq was a SG who was an amazing shooter. So Bruce would play D on Shaq, and when Shaq foot (20 lbs) land on Bowen's foot. Bowen gets seriously injured.

 

[rafy]

I can't understand when people are calling him dirty. You would call someone dirty if he cheats at poker, or tried to get away with intentional fouls, or breaking assorted rules.

What Bowen is doing is John Chaney stuff. He goes out there with the intent to take players out of action. That's not dirty, that's something on a whole 'nother level.

 

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">rafy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I can't understand when people are calling him dirty. You would call someone dirty if he cheats at poker, or tried to get away with intentional fouls, or breaking assorted rules.

What Bowen is doing is John Chaney stuff. He goes out there with the intent to take players out of action. That's not dirty, that's something on a whole 'nother level.</div>
And that's not dirty? There's a difference between fouling hard to send a message and fouling with the intent of injuring a player. Bowen unaturally stretching his foot out to injure a player is dirty. Shouldn't he be using his world class defense which got his undrafted ass into the NBA?

 

[*Scotch]

The league needs to suspend this guy before we have a bad injury. Some guy did the same thing to me on a b-ball court about 4 months ago, and I broke my ankle and ripped up my ligaments. No excuse for this kind of play, period.

 

[rafy]

<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">And that's not dirty? There's a difference between fouling hard to send a message and fouling with the intent of injuring a player. Bowen unaturally stretching his foot out to injure a player is dirty. Shouldn't he be using his world class defense which got his undrafted ass into the NBA?</div>

I mean that Bowen is much worse then dirty. And I don't believe for a minute that Chaney was trying to "send a message". Trying to hurt someone doesn't fall under "dirty" with me, I liken it to assault.

imo it's not dirty. It should be illegal and punishable by law ffs there is enough video evidence of it. Just like if you assault someone with the intent to "send them a message". Bowen is trying to take people out of games. You can see him move into position, underneath a player whether on a jumper of a layup.

Suspending Bowen wouldn't do a thing, he'd just come back and do the same thing. What good Bowen is doing for the NBA, besides almost wrecking the careers of many stars?