Here's the link for those with insider. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=2550195
That writer forgot a glaring difference between Bowen & Battier. Battier played at Duke. Debate over.
Another thing, Sheridan didn't have any sources, he relied on his own analysis. That piece was basically an article on why he thinks Battier should be cut. The piece I quoted is from SA (can't possibly be anti-Bowen bias), is supposed to reflect fact, and actually quotes a source, which although unnamed is quite a bit better than no sources at all.
I think everyone expects Bowen to be cut. However, Sheridan is ESPN's primary writer covering Team USA, so I'm guessing he has just as many and likely more contacts with the team than the SA writer. That doesn't mean I he knows anything about basketball whatsoever.
I'm sure I speak for everyone here as we breathe a collective sigh that it wasn't our own Flyin' Ryan that got cut. Whew...
Sheridan makes a decent argument, but I think coach K appreciates Battier's value to a team more than he realizes. Bower's a better individual, perimeter defender? Fine, Battier is a better team defender. Plus, he'll help out more on the boards, on both ends, and he'll provide a bit more scoring as well. If it was up to me, I'd consider cutting Chris Bosh. In the games I've seen, he's been pretty ineffective. Soft around the basket, and not much of a defensive presence. And if we want our center to hang around the perimeter all the game, Brad Miller does a much better at that. If Bosh is gone, that our our C/PF will lack depth. Miller/Howard/Brand will probably log heavy minutes, unless the team decides to go small most of the time and play LeBron, Carmelo, and Battier a ton at PF.
maybe his "defense" doesn't translate well on the international stage were it's viewed less as defense and more as kickboxing.
