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"But...but...but...but who's gonna stop Lebron James?"
LeBowen deserves MVP for shutting down LeBron
June 13, 2007
By Mike Freeman
CBS SportsLine.com National Columnist
Tell Mike your opinion!
CLEVELAND –- The reason LeBron James is choking away these NBA Finals is because of Bruce Bowen.
The reason LeBron may get LeBroomed is because of LeBowen.
Bruce Bowen hasn't made life easy for LeBron James. (Getty Images) When you watch these Finals and see Cleveland's James suddenly morph into Vince Carter it's because of Bowen's suffocating defense. He is putting on the kind of defensive clinic we have not seen in the Finals since Michael Jordan or Dennis Rodman or Isiah Thomas.
He is the true Most Valuable Player.
Bowen won't win the award.
But he deserves it. He is the epitome of an MVP.
The MVP will go to Tim Duncan or Tony Parker because they are the sexier choices. Parker will get votes because of Eva Longoria alone. In fact my guess is the voting will go Parker, Duncan, Longoria and Bowen.
It is true that Parker was the best player in the first two games and Duncan is the combustion process that mobilizes the San Antonio offense but the most consistently good player in the Finals has been Bowen.
In LeBron's jersey, nose against his skin, and in LeBron's jock -- that has been Bowen. He has completely and utterly punked James. It has been a thorough undressing of a superstar.
James has gone 22-for-60 from the field thus far against the Spurs. That's awful. Yet that is the effect Bowen has on players. He walks onto the court and the player he's defending goes into a deep chill.
The poop heads and cynics will say that Bowen has had plenty of help. There is some truth to that. Stopping James is an example of the merciless and death defying efficiency of that total San Antonio defense.
Bowen is front and center of the effort. Watching him play has been a total joy. James is spit and polish while Bowen is just spit. And knuckles. Pure spit is winning this battle.
Did you see the Spurs medical staff working on a deep cut on Bowen's chin in Game 3? Nothing fazes him. He chases James relentlessly and gets knocked around by elbows and hip checks and still he is a bug in James' high tops. He won't go away. He must have been a shutdown corner in another life.
His defense on James in Game 1 typifies what Bowen has done. After torching what had been a fairly solid Detroit defense James was just 4-for-16 with 14 points and six turnovers in the opener against the Spurs.
Unfortunately players like Bowen do not win series MVP awards. Defense isn't thrilling. It doesn't generate ratings. Dunks do. Not a shadowy, non-flashy defender like Bowen.
I love this quote from the normally non-quotable Gregg Popovich following Game 3: "I'm just thrilled by Bruce Bowen. You know he's guarding somebody that's going to be a Hall of Fame player when it's all said and done, obviously. And he's playing for (43 minutes) and he scored 13 points and got nine rebounds. What a yeoman effort on his part. I just thought he was fantastic from beginning to end and I think he really set the tone for our team."
There is another reason why Bowen is probably dead for MVP consideration. Bowen has a reputation as a thug, the NBA's version of an enforcer. It might be David Stern's worst nightmare for Bruce "MMA" Bowen to be given that award.
So what if he is the occasional head butt entrepreneur and skilled undercutter? Don't be a phony because you'd want him on your team.
Parker will probably be named the MVP. Or Duncan.
Even if they don't deserve it and Bowen does.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/10224782/1
King Bowen
"But...but...but...but who's gonna stop Lebron James?"
If Lebron doesn't go off tonight I think they seriously have to consider Bowen. I'd love to see Duncan add another to his resume, and I'd love to see Parker get some redemption for his past, but how freakin' cool would Bowen winning finals MVP be? What a slap in the face to the guys who have snubbed him for DPOY for so long.
I have been rooting for it. I think it won't happen for the reason people don't like the Spurs, because they play defense. The scoring players have more of a shot. That sucks, because this series would look a whole lot different if we didn't have Bruce to defend Lebron James.
I believe with all my heart that Bruce Bowen deserves the MVP. He has the toughest assignment of any Spur on that court and he has come thru, and huge. If he closes out the game today like the past 3, he deserves it, PERIOD.
Bowen will certainly have to score 15 points or more to have a shot.
Bowen always keeps his hands in view
for the officials to see...AT ALL TIMES!!!
I would be very happy if Bowen were to win MVP. but that is not gonna happen in a million years. I am rooting for Tony to get it. Tony needs to have a monster game tonight and he's automatic.
Great article. Fabulous.
Bruce deserves it. You can always give it to Tim, because we'd never have a chance of making it here without him, but I'd love to see Bruce get it. I think he really does deserve it. He's been our best player in the Finals and has made the biggest difference.
Go Bowen Go!
They should just go ahead and name the finals MVP trophy after Timmy.
My Mvp Vote
1. Parker
2. Bowen
3. Duncan
That last one is a bit harsh. I'd have a hard time saying Parker or Duncan didn't make a legitimate case for series MVP.Parker will probably be named the MVP. Or Duncan.
Even if they don't deserve it and Bowen does.
But I'm definitely glad to see Bowen getting some of his due. Still a lot further to go to make up for the 3 DPOY's he should have been awarded by now.
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!
This guy has become my favorite writer hands down. First calling out the media about the Spurs, now confirming my opinion on Bowen. Mike Freeman for best writer ever.
-Mars
One more Bruce!!
Bowen didn't exactly shut down LeBron..
Sorry
B2B 25 point nights in not exactly shutting down a player..
If that was the case, Please can anybody tell me the averages of TD and Ginobili in the series?
On how many shots?
Mission Accomplished.
Yep. Parker scored 30 points on 20 shots in game 2. Manu scored 25 points on 11 shots. Duncan scored 23 points on 16 shots.
Bowens been good, but the team d is what is shutting LeBron down
Exactly Poor Bowen looks like a ragged doll when he defends LeBron..
Team defense is doing the trick, not Bowen.
Only in the post, which makes one wonder why Mike and Lebron waited until game three to go there with any regularity.Exactly Poor Bowen looks like a ragged doll when he defends LeBron..
I don't know what series you guys are watching, but Bowen's the one defending him. Some of you guys should learn the difference between help defense, a trap and a double team because you are getting one confused for another.
i belive lebron is 22-60 from the field in the past three games, that looks like a shut down!!!
Bowen should be the mvp for his defense, but tony's ganna take it hes been consistant the hole siries and the cavs have no awnser for him!!!
Bowen has been great, but no where near deserves the MVP. Face it, if it wasn't for the help defense Lebron will be putting huge numbers. He gets beat more than half the time, but theres always help there.
On the other hand Tim and Parker don't get thant kind of help on the offense end, they do it besides being double and tripled team.
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