rox get bowen http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2820230 The Rockets signed Ryan Bowen
Everything we wanted out of Adrian Griffin but never got, imo. Yao/Mutumbo Howard/Taylor/Spoon/Padgett Jackson/Bowen/Nachbar McGrady/Sura/Gaines Ward/Lue/Zimmerman Edit: 15 players. Sura plus Spoon or Padgett and Gaines or Zimmerman start the year on reserve most likely. I really like this mix. Nice blends of youth, veterans, size, quickness, shooting, slashing, scoring, and defense.
i'm not thrilled...i think snackbar could have filled in nicely at the 3 when moving JJ to the 2 to spell Mcgrady...
Agh! You beat me to it! Here's the whole article: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/2820230 Sept. 28, 2004, 8:51PM Rockets pick up ex-Denver forward Bowen By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle As Ryan Bowen considered options with few contractual differences, the Rockets offered something every role player seeks. The Rockets needed him. Bowen said he and the Rockets agreed to terms this morning, making the former Denver forward whom Pat Riley once called "the best hustling player I've ever seen in the NBA" the latest part of the Rockets' eight-player roster overhaul since last season. Bowen chose the opportunity that sprang open when Bob Sura's back injury required surgery last week, accepting a deal sources said is worth $807,546 for one guaranteed season. Bowen also expected offers from the Heat and SuperSonics before the start of their training camps next week. (The Rockets' training camp begins Friday, early because of their preseason trip to China.) The Nuggets, Kings and Timberwolves also expressed interest. But with Sura out for at least eight weeks and the Rockets looking for some of Bowen's high-energy qualities, Bowen bet the Rockets would be what he was seeking as much as he was what they wanted. "I'm very excited about joining the Rockets," Bowen said. "I was just looking at all the possibilities. One of the possibilities was returning to Denver. But this was a good situation for me. I had a very good meeting last week with coach (Jeff) Van Gundy and (general manager) Carroll Dawson. Looking at the situation there, I thought it was a no-brainer. It was what I was looking for." Sura's injury did not intiate the Rockets' talks with Bowen and his agent, Guy Zucker. But it changed the conversations from interest to pursuit. With Reece Gaines the only healthy reserve shooting guard, the 6-9 Bowen, generally a small forward, could be used defensively in the backcourt when playing with Jim Jackson or Tracy McGrady. The Rockets had been interested in Bowen since dealing Cuttino Mobley's backcourt defensive skills and Steve Francis' rebounding talent, both Bowen strengths. After meeting with Van Gundy and Dawson, Bowen had workouts on successive days with the Heat last week. Though the Rockets were unable to offer more than the minimum for a player with five years' experience, Bowen chose to end talks with other teams. He is scheduled to arrive in Houston for his physical today. Bowen, 28, averaged 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in five seasons with the Nuggets. "Houston is a great situation," Zucker said. "The Rockets are obviously on the upswing. They have two legitimate superstars and a great organization. "Ryan was very excited. He was very impressed with Jeff. They have some spots to fill in to be a championship contender, but they are in about as good a position as anybody with two legitimate superstars just beginning to hit their prime. Every championship team has had just the right role players. Houston needed a guy like him. To be a superactive role player playing with McGrady and Yao Ming -- wow."
It seems as if we've signed yet ANOTHER player in the Bullard/Padgett mold. I really think the rox could have done without another player of this type...I really hope that Bowen proves me wrong though.
I really have no problem with the signing though I had hoped they would pursue Lucious Harris. I honestly have never even heard/read this guy's name before a few days ago, much less seen him play, but I like what I read about him. You need those hustling types of players to win in the NBA. This also pretty much spells the end of Bostjan Nachbar.
if you mean tall and white. yeah. other than that, i dont see any similarities. I think of bowen as a less bulky, more mobile najera. He doesnt have much range on his shot. he is pesky as hell on defense. and he is a "give it 110 % of effort" kinda guy.
So, I guess that completes our roster of 15 players with Zimmerman and bowen. Reece Gaines, Jim Jackson, Juwon Howard, Tyronne Lue, Tracy Mcgrady, Dikembe Mutombo, Bostjan Nachbar, Scott Padgett, Bobby Sura, Maurice Taylor, Charlie Ward, Clarence Weatherspoon, Yao Ming, Ryan Bowen, and Zimmerman. We are going to be a deep team, with a good mix of 1 - 3 year players, some 4 - 5 year players, and some verterans. I think we have a good mixture. Training Camp starts on Friday October 1. Can't wait!!
Yea, I see him as a taller, better Mark Madsen. Both guys don't look like they can play a lick but, once you put them on the court, they just seem to all-out hustle and do alot of little things that just frustrate the other team. Every time he would play against the Rox, I would get pissed off that this no talent-looking, goofy-looking, tall white guy was doing so well against us.
Does the roster look a little off to anyone else but me? We now have four guys that can play the PG (Ward, Sura, Lue, Gaines) & five guys that can play PF (Howard, Taylor, Padgett, Spoon, Bowen), three of which (Howard, Padgett, Bowen) can play SF along with Boki. We only have one legit backup center and, with Sura's injury, no real legit backup SG. Is there any way the Rockets are stock-piling position-versatile players to make a deal mid-season to fill the team out better?
I don't see the roster the same as you. A backup SG isn't going to get many minutes behind McGrady. JJax can pickup some SG minutes with Nachbar and/or Ryan Bowen at SF. Plus, for certain defensive assigments, Nachbar and Gaines can play SG. I think the roster was built to win games...not make trades.
I never heard of him b4 either. But sounds he can be a blue collar that the Rox need. Feel bad for Boki tho. Maybe the Rox should let him go so he can develop somewhere else.
I think either Bowen or Bokie will be the main back ups for the SG and SF positions until Sura gets back. Who ever plays the best will stick at the SF back up positions, and the other will be used as a specialty type player (probably best if this is Bowen since he is in the Mark Madsen mold). Yao/Mutumbo Howard/Taylor/Spoon/Padgett Jackson/Nachbar/Bowen McGrady/Sura/Bowen/Gaines Ward/Lue/Zimmerman/Gaines Gaines isn't going to get as many minutes since he is only in his second year as a pro and first as a Rocket. If anything, he will battle Zimmerman for some extra minutes.
Training Camp Battles to watch: Lue - Ward (Starting PG) Bowen - Boki - Padgett (Primary Backup SF) Spoon - Taylor (Primary Backup PF) Zimmerman - Gaines (Primary Bench Cheerleader)
