San Antonio – When it comes to team defense, San Antonio Spurs swingman Bruce Bowen finds himself in a sticky situation.
“Bruce Bowen is the key. That’s the key,” said teammate Tim Duncan, who knows a thing or two about defense. “He’s the glue. He’s like Elmer’s (Glue). He’s Elmer. He’s Elmer Bowen.”
Bowen, a candidate for defensive player of the year, is one of those guys whose statistics do not tell his story. The 6-foot-7, 200-pounder averaged 0.67 steals, 0.48 blocks and 2.9 defensive rebounds per game this season. Such numbers don’t come close to ranking high on the NBA’s individual defensive statistic lists.
But similar statistics haven’t stopped Bowen, 33, from being named to the all-defensive team the past four seasons, including first-team honors last year. Only nine swingmen in NBA history have earned all-defensive team honors in four or more consecutive seasons. And Bowen is only one of four Spurs who have earned all-defensive team honors three or more times.
“He has quick hands and quick feet,” Nuggets forward said. “You can’t play with the ball in front of him. Whatever you do, you have to do it quickly. He’s definitely one of the toughest to go against.”
Anthony has struggled against Bowen. Last season as a rookie, Anthony averaged 21 points, but 14.8 points on 39.3 percent shooting against San Antonio. This season he averaged 20.8 points but 17 points on 25.7 percent shooting versus the Spurs.
Anthony isn’t the only player to struggle against Bowen.
Add New Jersey all-star forward Vince Carter, Seattle all-star guard Ray Allen, Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant, Dallas swingman Michael Finley and Minnesota guards Sam Cassell and Wally Szczerbiak to that list. Carter, Allen and Finley have been so frustrated that they have taken verbal shots at Bowen.
After Bowen limited Allen to 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting March 30, a frustrated Allen told The Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune: “He doesn’t play basketball. I don’t know what he does. They put him out there to throw punches and throw elbows. That is not basketball out there, what he plays.”
When asked if he took the criticism as a compliment, Bowen said: “It is, in a weird kind of way. If they are saying those things about me, then what are they saying about themselves as far as their games against me?”
The Spurs finished atop the NBA in opponent’s scoring average (88.4 points) for the second straight season. San Antonio was third in opponent’s field-goal percentage (42.6). The Spurs are 19-1 when holding teams to less than 80 points. San Antonio has another marquee defender in Duncan, who has been an all-defensive first-team selection five times.
Bowen says the formula to their team defense is a commitment to it.
“When new guys come here, what is stressed to them more than anything else is, ‘Hey, we could care less if you miss a shot as long as it’s a good one, but you really have to be solid on defense,”‘ Bowen said. “That’s something that has been taking place here since I’ve been here. It just trickles down. When you come in, you understand that more than anything else that defense is what it’s about first.”
Nuggets center , Detroit center Ben Wallace and Washington guard Larry Hughes are among this season’s candidates for defensive player of the year. While Bowen says he respects the others, he believes he is most deserving.
“That would be a great accomplishment for me,” Bowen said. “But it doesn’t define who I am if I don’t get the award. I didn’t get it before. I just got first team (all-defensive). There were times where I thought I should have been on first team.
“The Earth doesn’t stop spinning because of it if I don’t get it. But, yes, I would love to get it. I think I deserve it.”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
