Empty the Bench

Vince Carter and Ray Allen have already made public comments about San Antonio Spur Bruce Bowen’s unique style of play on the defensive end of the floor. Bowen is known for putting his foot under opposing jump shooters to make it more difficult for them to land, a maneuver that is intended to force the shooter to adjust or risk injury and has lead to several sprained ankles and on-court altercations. Ray Allen has already undergone offseason ankle surgery for a sprain that originated when he landed on Bowen’s foot.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson is another notable Bowen detractor who also contends that Bruce has attempted to injure Kobe Bryant on multiple occasions. It’s shocking that the league hasn’t already looked into this and taken action as it’s been perpetrated against some of the NBA’s most visible and marketable players over the years.

The latest player to join the anti-Bowen bandwagon is Phoenix Suns center Amare Stoudemire, who said that Bruce kicked his Achilles’ tendon in a conscious effort to injure him during game two of the Western Conference semi finals. Stoudemire then went on to question the integrity of the Spurs in general, also implicating flop artist Manu Ginobili:

“He kicked me purposely in the back of my Achilles’. I almost came down wrong and he almost caused an injury,” Stoudemire said this afternoon, “He’s known for doing that. I just hope the NBA and the commissioner take a look at that because it’s definitely a dirty play . . . I think the Spurs are a dirty team.

I mean, Ginobili during the regular season kneed me in the crotch on purpose. I just hope the league takes a look at it and cleans the game up a little bit . . . When I saw the replay and reviewed it three or four times, there was no doubt about it. It was a purpose kick to the Achilles’ and he definitely tried to injure me . . . I was actually very, very, very upset. Me personally from last year, having to sit out the whole season because of injuries. And for a guy like Bruce Bowen, who is a two-time champion, he should have more class than that, should understand what it takes to be a professional.”

I hate to take sides, but, well, I’m on Stoudemire’s side and I completely understand his frustration. Bowen has been pulling this stuff for years and it’s time he got punished in the form of a suspension. He already gets away with a lot of grabbing and clawing (though it’s usually referred to as ‘physical defense’), but attempting to injure another player is completely unacceptable. Hopefully this is the conspicuous event that forces David Stern to review Bowen. Take a look at the video and decide for yourself. We apologize for the poor quality, but it doesn’t look good.