From Press Enterprise:
From LA Daily News:
(Also...) LA Times:
Interesting how Jackson is always trying to intellectualize the fact that his teams sucks. He of all people must realize that the concept of dumping the best ever big-man/small-man combo of Shaq and Kobe to allow the team to revolve around the bigger ego will not work in today's NBA. That is how things have changed since the Michael Jordan era. One great player can't win all the time for a team anymore.
Bowen does foul like hell--I'll give him that. But, the thing that got me last night was watching Phil complain about Parker travelling on a spin move... Uhhh, who invented that move, Phil? (The answer is Kobe, btw...)
Quote:
As hard as it might have been for him to do, Kobe Bryant has admitted that Spurs forward Bruce Bowen perhaps defends him better than any other player in the NBA.
Bowen is known as one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA and has given Bryant fits. Bryant and Bowen going at it has become one of the better matchups in the NBA.
Coach Phil Jackson said the more a player attacks Bowen on offense, the quicker he reacts and the more "chops he gets in, the more he's whacking away."
Jackson called Bowen "Edward Scissorhands" on Wednesday and described him as "really active and very physical."
Bryant, who entered Thursday's game shooting 39.3 percent against the Spurs this season, has to make deliberate moves against Bowen. That, Jackson said, stops Bowen from getting his arms and hands in.
Jackson said Bowen plays with his feet a lot, using them to get beneath his opponent when that player is in the air.
Jackson was asked if that makes Bowen a dirty player.
"He's got a license," Jackson said. "He's had a license for about four years now. Prior to that, he was a spot player and it was difficult for him to get those kind of calls."
From LA Daily News:
Quote:
The chatter about Bruce Bowen didn't end at practice Wednesday when Lakers coach Phil Jackson dubbed the San Antonio Spurs' defensive stopper "Edward Scissorhands" to laughs from reporters.
After all, Kobe Bryant stated at an All-Star event in February that Bowen is the toughest defender he must face and Jackson was asked a little more before Thursday's game about what Bowen does that is special.
"The more you move against Bowen," Jackson said, "the quicker he reacts and the more chops he gets in."
Jackson grouped Bowen among the top five players who give Bryant problems on defense, naming two of the others in Phoenix's Raja Bell and Sacramento's Ron Artest. The key for Bryant against Bowen, Jackson said, is to make decisive moves on the floor.
On the strength of his defensive reputation, Bowen was invited to attend USA Basketball's training camp this summer along with Bryant. And Jackson also was asked Thursday if he would consider Bowen a dirty player.
"He's had a license for about four years now," Jackson said. "Prior to that, he was a spot player and it was difficult for him to get those kind of calls."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked about the Scissorhands remark and said: "Wow, that's creative. I just call him Bruce."
(Also...) LA Times:
Interesting how Jackson is always trying to intellectualize the fact that his teams sucks. He of all people must realize that the concept of dumping the best ever big-man/small-man combo of Shaq and Kobe to allow the team to revolve around the bigger ego will not work in today's NBA. That is how things have changed since the Michael Jordan era. One great player can't win all the time for a team anymore.
Bowen does foul like hell--I'll give him that. But, the thing that got me last night was watching Phil complain about Parker travelling on a spin move... Uhhh, who invented that move, Phil? (The answer is Kobe, btw...)
