To the casual fan, the response will be Bruce Who?

The answer is Bruce in your face Bowen, that is who. For years Bruce played defense for the San Antonio Spurs and played it like few others in the league. He sacrificed his body and maybe a few rules in order to hold down a Kobe or a Paul Pierce, it didn’t matter to him.

After being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, he became a payroll casualty.

The Bucks shopped veteran F Bruce Bowen around the league before releasing him. One of the teams the Bucks had talked to was the Knicks. The Bucks were trying to package Bowen and free-agent G Ramon Sessions. Bowen was scheduled to make $4 million this season, but by releasing him, the Bucks only had to pay him $2 million.
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Bruce Bowen was a perimeter defender and, as such, did not ever win the defensive player of the year, but often finished second in the voting and always seemed to make all defensive player 1st team in the NBA. His defense was so tough that he was often accused of being a dirty player, not that he cared as long as he was shutting you down and helping his team win.

Did Bruce Bowen knock this player down?

Bruce may never have averaged in double figures, but he was a good enough 3 point shooter to keep the defense honest.

Truth is, Bowen did use some dirty tactics from time-to-time. That said, I can’t help but respect what the guy did night in and night out. He did the job so few NBA players in this generation were willing to do. He also did what he had to do to stick in the NBA for 13 years as an undrafted player out of Cal-State Fullerton

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I’m going to miss watching Bowen harass a guy like Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Thing is, I think Kobe will actually miss him, too, because Bowen pushed him to elevate his game during the course of their many battles over the years.
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In the end, there is not an offensive player beating Bruce Bowen just age and money catching up to him.

Image: Zuma Press

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One of my favorite hoop sites is basketball reference.com

Today, why don’t we look at playoff games for a player’s career?

So who has the most NBA playoff games in their career that is still playing?

1. Robert Horry 244 – Somehow this guy gets himself on teams that win it all and he makes big shots.

2. Shaquille O’Neal 203 – The big guy was the dominant player in the game for most of his career.

3. Tim Duncan 155 – The big fundamental always seems to get the job done and creates a mismatch on the court.

4. Derek Fisher 154 – Just like Robert Horry, this guy finds a way to play for winning teams and makes big shots.

5. Kobe Bryant 152 – What Kobe did last year cemented his legacy as one of the best players in the game for all time.

6. Rasheed Wallace 149 – The mercurial center for the Pistons can be whatever he wants to be on a given night and he plays superb defense.

7. Lindsey Hunter 141 – Lindsey may be done, but Joe Dumars keeps talking him into one more year. The speedy backcourt player is one of the best one on one defenders of quick point guards.

8. Sam Cassell 136 – You could see age catching up to the quick shooting Sam Cassell as he played for the Celtics last year. Sam could always get his shot off in the playoffs, which is a special skill in itself.

9. Bruce Bowen 130 – a key member of Tim Duncan’s team, Bruce can stop any forward or big guard in the league.

10. Chauncey Billups and Tony Parker 117 – both excellent guards at the point position for their respective teams. Tony is more of a penetrator and Chauncey is known for his big shots.
Photo source Newscom

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Tim Duncan at 32 is the baby in this group with Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry, and Kurt Thomas

Image details: San Antonio Spurs v Los Angeles Lakers, Game 5 served by picapp.com

Los Angeles Lakers stay young

The Lakers are a young team and their victory over the Spurs may cause some changes to the league.

San Antonio’s elimination might signal the end of its era of dominance. With Duncan leading the way, the Spurs won championships in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, but with a rotation made up solely of 30-something players except for the 26-year-old Parker, the future seems uncertain.

Meanwhile, starting guard Derek Fisher and seldom-used reserve Ira Newble are the only players on the Los Angeles roster over 30.

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Something happens to the body as it moves into its thirties. You don’t jump as quick or push as hard. The mind is still there, but the body begins to back off. Bruises hang around longer and injuries appear more often. It signals the beginning of the end.

The group of 30-something Spurs could not keep up with the in-their-20s Los Angeles Lakers.

After another fast start at Staples Center, San Antonio seemed to tire, again blowing a substantial lead and falling 100-92 on Thursday night as the Lakers won Game 5 to advance to the NBA Finals.

San Antonio took a 17-point lead in the second quarter, but the Lakers caught up in the third and put the game away late in the fourth.

In the Western Conference finals opener, San Antonio was up by 20 in the third quarter on the Lakers’ court before the Spurs began to struggle and Los Angeles stormed back to win 89-85.

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Age takes its toll. It does not mean the same Spurs team cannot come back next year and win a title, but it may be time to rebuild parts of the team.

Tony Parker, at 26 the lone member of the Spurs’ regular rotation under 30, and 32-year-old Tim Duncan did their part in Game 5, with Parker scoring 23 points and Duncan getting 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

But down the stretch, the Lakers again outplayed them and teammates Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry, each 36; Michael Finely, 35; and Manu Ginobili, 30.

Popovich didn’t use Robert Horry, who is almost 38, going instead with Kurt Thomas, who is 35. Thomas had 11 points in his 20:38 on the court.

Kobe Bryant, 29 and the Lakers’ oldest regular except for 33-year-old backcourt mate Derek Fisher, led Los Angeles with 39 points. Pau Gasol, 27, had 19 rebounds and 12 points, while Lamar Odom, 28, chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Although they’ve been the league’s best team in recent years, the Spurs still haven’t been able to repeat as champions.

One should keep in mind though that the Kobe came to the NBA from High School, so his body has taken an extra toll.

But none of that matters to the Lakers right now. They are going to the NBA Championship series! That is all they can think about.

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Legendary Jerry West and Kobe Bryant celebrate winning the Western Conference title

Image details: San Antonio Spurs v Los Angeles Lakers, Game 5 served by picapp.com

The Lakers defeated the Spurs and earned a trip to the NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers rallied from an early 17-point deficit to beat the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 100-92 on Thursday night and win the conference finals in five games.

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Stern rejoices

Commissioner David Stern could get his dream matchup of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Boston Celtics after all. Two big money cities, one from each coast, filled with championship lore, fighting it out for the NBA Title. What more could Stern even dream of? Well, how about the series goes 7 games?

The matchup he feared was the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Detroit Pistons. That series would feature a lot of defense and low TV ratings. Sorry, but when one team has a player known as the Big Fundamental and the other team features no one, it is hard to market to the world.

Consider that in Detroit the Hockey games have been drawing better than the Basketball games.

Pittsburgh’s 3-2 win on Wednesday night earned a 2.8 national rating and an 18.2 rating in Detroit, beating out the 15.9 rating for the Pistons’ matchup with the Boston Celtics.

Game 5 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals drew a 5.3 national rating.
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How can your host city be beaten by Hockey? You remember that sport, the one with the puck? Hockey and the Red Wings are huge in Detroit.

One final note and it is not even close, Boston and LA have been to more finals individually in Basketball than any other teams. Just look at all the titles that Red Auerbach won with Boston.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson has won nine championships, tied for the NBA record with former Boston coach Red Auerbach.

Lakers fired up!

The Lakers could not contain their excitement. The Western Conference had so many teams that finished with close records that to finally win a trip to the finals was just too much to handle. It is a good thing the Lakers had home court advantage.

The Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs, including 8-0 at Staples Center, where they haven’t lost in two months. They have won 14 straight home games and 21 of their last 24 postseason games at home.

“My heart’s still pumping, that adrenaline is still running from the game,” said Lamar Odom, who had 13 points and eight rebounds. “Maybe when I sit down and have something to eat, I’ll realize what just happened.

“We came out here, played our game, and won. It’s satisfying, but one more step.”

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The NBA Finals start next Thursday.

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