<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If it seemed like there was an inordinate amount of verbal sparring between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the NBA playoffs, wait until the second round begins. Actually, there will be no waiting. Game 1 of the Sonics? series against the San Antonio Spurs isn?t until Sunday night in South Texas, but already there is rhetorical jousting. It is no secret that Sonics star Ray Allen and Spurs defender Bruce Bowen are not fond of each other, and Allen was not shy about fanning the flames when he was asked about Bowen following Seattle?s practice Thursday afternoon. ?It?s the stuff that he does that referees don?t see,? Allen said. ?He pulls you, he grabs you, he hits your elbow every time you shoot. When you go to the basket, he pushes you and then he falls. Stuff like that is not really basketball.? This personal rivalry began when in Allen?s first game with the Sonics against San Antonio, a game from which Bowen was ejected. It continued last season, when Allen said Bowen played ?sissy? basketball that got to a point in a game where Allen wanted to fight Bowen. And it continued this season, when Allen said Bowen injured Allen?s thumb and that he plays a sport other than basketball. ?Oddly enough, he used to be a friend of mine,? Allen said Thursday. ?Used to. We used to hang out in the summers ? until he started playing another brand of basketball.</div> Source
They just showed Ray's stats against the Spurs vs. the rest of the league. Suprisingly he's getting his points and shooting better than average. Or something like that. Point being despite his defensive prowess and reputation as a 'Ray-killer', Bowen hasn't really hindered Ray statistically, much less stop him.
David Locke put out another good article...this one on Ray Allen http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/223180_locke06.html Basic gist is that Allen is VERY hard to scout. He gets his points almost evenly from his variety of moves, from different directions and from different plays. Add the vs. Spurs numbers and the vs. the League numbers Roland Hood talks about above, and you have a very difficult preparation. This indicates why Adelman focused on Lewis. There wasn't a solid game plan to limit Ray. Ray was giving JJ props in the press...saying GM's should be taking note and saying he could be an All Star. Smart move to build confidence, let's hope it doesn't boil over into selfishness. If he takes the role as it comes, like he did in Game 5...when he didn't get too many touches and bobbled a few that did come his way...that's good. If he starts acting like the old JJ...hmmm.
I always felt that Allen was underrated or at least always overlooked when it came to who people thought were the best NBA players. Bowen isn't going to stop Allen, although if Bowen knows he can get into Allen's head, he probably will try and disrupt his mental game. I don't think Allen's going to get bothered enough, but in any case, I'm not sure if Allen is enough of a difference maker for the Sonics to win the series if the Spurs continue playing well as well. Instead, the spotlight should definitely be on the other players to see if they can step it up.
Bowen makes me nervous because if Allen has a blowout game he may get frustrated and try to hurt Allen like he did Vince Carter. Let's just hope he doesn't try the karate kick again: http://www.thefilebucket.com/userfiles/sal..._szczerbiak.gif
I think this is going to be a statement series for Raymond Allen (moreso than last, if indeed feasible). A) if he wants his contract he has to bring the hansdome, to prove Bowen is a twat.
im gonna love watchin this.... Bowen vs Allen... wow also: KROB.. you go 2 St. Vincents? I went to the basketball camp.
I hope Ray puts Bowen to shame and gets career high numbers in the series,and then bruce lee jumpkicks Bowen in the face like he did to Wally Szczerbiak.I hope he makes Bruce Bowen cry.
St Vincents is a basketballing heaven. This is a big series for Sweet Lew. The beauty of having two deadly perimeter players means that if Bowen takes Ray, then Rashard gets a smaller defender in Barry or Manu and really has to take advantage of that and get aggressive.
Don't challenge Bowen, it's as simple as that. People want to dismiss Bruce as a dirty player, but he really just plays hard. He plays up close and physical, and if people get hurt because of that, so be it. But I'm really tired of him being called dirty, because all he does is get in your face. Believe it or not, that's the way guards used to play defense. But ever since people became too soft to play on a rolled ankle (the result of close defense) the way Bruce plays has been considered dirty. In my opinion, it's hard defense, not dirty.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting briang8818:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't challenge Bowen, it's as simple as that. People want to dismiss Bruce as a dirty player, but he really just plays hard. He plays up close and physical, and if people get hurt because of that, so be it. But I'm really tired of him being called dirty, because all he does is get in your face. Believe it or not, that's the way guards used to play defense. But ever since people became too soft to play on a rolled ankle (the result of close defense) the way Bruce plays has been considered dirty. In my opinion, it's hard defense, not dirty.</div> I disagree, but I can see your point. I think Bowen gets away with thuggery. I'm not against physical defense at all, but I think he goes out of his way to hurt opponents, and does a lot of dangerous things on the basketball court.
Bruce Bowen isn't as good a defender as advertised, but I respect how well he competes on that end. The reason why Bowen is in the league is b/c of how he frustrates his opponents. He is not a prolific scorer, nor does he really fill up the stat sheet in any other statistical category. He can be borderline dirty, but I don't think that he does anything malicious. Ray is best served keeping his mouth shut and just playing the way he has this postseason. Sweet Lew has to take advantage of his mismatches, as does Big Game James. Bowen/Ginobli can't stop everybody.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">St Vincents is a basketballing heaven.</div> When will the Australian pipe line be established? I'm guessing that St. Vincent could use an Andrew Bogut type of talent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">When will the Australian pipe line be established? I'm guessing that St. Vincent could use an Andrew Bogut type of talent.</div> David Andersen - EuroLeague first team. As for establishing a connection, you should talk to Spoon about that.
Besides the flying kick to Wally's face, I think he like to run under guys as they shoot their jumper to make them worry about where they're going to land. Ask Vince Carter about that, he sprained his ankle shooting a jumper on Bowen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">David Andersen - EuroLeague first team. </div> Too bad his contributions didn't lift CSKA to victory in the Final Four--at home. Maccabi defends its championship over Tau instead of playing the best team with the best winning percentage in the history of the Euroleague. It's the curse of the Journeyman series.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Seattle.:</div><div class="quote_post">Bowen makes me nervous because if Allen has a blowout game he may get frustrated and try to hurt Allen like he did Vince Carter. Let's just hope he doesn't try the karate kick again: http://www.thefilebucket.com/userfiles/sal..._szczerbiak.gif</div> holy shi...... i never saw that b4. wow. wat happened did wally charge after him??
i remember that...oh man...i wonder if he got like 5 technical fouls for that...ouch...i thought he knew it was basketball not karate class...
