<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> HOUSTON ? When Bruce Bowen's phone rang Sunday afternoon, he didn't need to look at caller ID to know who was on the other end of the line: Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations ? otherwise known as the league's czar of discipline. "With him," Bowen said, "I have a bat line." Jackson told Bowen he wasn't going to be fined for last week's play involving New York's Steve Francis. But he told Bowen a foul should have been called and he warned Bowen to watch his feet in the future. Francis sprained his left ankle when he landed on Bowen's foot. The incident drew greater attention when the teams played again Saturday and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas accused Bowen of stepping under players ? a complaint Bowen has heard a handful of times in recent seasons. The league has instructed officials this season to make sure players are allowed to "alight" or land after they shoot. Jackson "said because of the things that have happened with me, I really need to be aware of the space I'm giving guys to come down," Bowen said. "I said, 'So, if they come down close to me, is that still an infraction on my behalf?' He said no, but it's a foul if they come down on top of you. </div> Source
I don't agree. So, Bowen can continue to step under players as long as there's no contact, and if there is contact he'll only be assessed a foul? He'll just keep doing what he's always done.
It's a step in the right direction, in any case. If it happens again, I'm sure Jackson will put a big squeeze on Bowen. The NBA isn't about to allow itself to lose more superstar guards to a low profile forward like Bowen.
