http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E90%7E2595482,00.html Bowen hustlin' in Houston Former Nugget's cult following keeps watch By Adam Thompson Denver Post Staff Writer Denver Post sports writer Adam Thompson posts his Nuggets Mailbag every other Wednesday for the duration of the NBA season on DenverPost.com. The next installment is slated for Dec. 29. To drop a question into the Mailbag click here or visit DenverPost.com's Nuggets Page. Adam - I was wondering if you might give us a little update on Ryan Bowen. Bowen was always a fan favorite, and there have been times this season when I think we could use his extreme hustle as a change of pace in the game, similar to what we do with Earl Boykins. How is Bowen doing in Houston? Have the fans there embraced him as well? -- Thatcher Glode, San Francisco Thatcher, I get that question a lot. Through Monday, Ryan was averaging 1.4 points in 10.1 minutes per game, though he had earned three starts. He battled the injury bug a bit in November, but played over 20 minutes in his first three games back in December. It's probably a little early for him to have a cult following, but his style of play would seem to fit in well with a Jeff Van Gundy-coached team.
i bet a lot of folks on this board will be asking similar questions about Boki when we let him go. "cult following," indeed...
Maybe so. But, there's a real good chance that instead of averaging 1.4 points in 10 minutes per game, Boki will be throwing in about 14 points a game in 20 minutes per game or even better and the fans will be in love with his skills and his hustle.
I just don't understand. How are there people who still have faith in Boki? I mean if he were 21, sure. I could understand that. However, he'll be turning 25 before the season is over and he still hasn't proved a thing on the court. He's had a couple good shooting nights and a couple dozen bad shooting nights.
I agree. Boki hasn't proved squat to me. This team lacks depth and trading Boki for some quality bench players would be fine with me.
A couple of things... 1) The Rockets season is not going to be over with in July. 2) Do you like apples? 3) Boki is going to get his chance to shine at the beginning of 2005. Let him really get his first real chance to step it up (or not) before you completely give up on the man. 4) Bowen's hustle for JVG is overrated when he does so little in between his 2-3 hustle plays a game.
I was once a cult follower or fan of Boki - not anymore. Now I am just a follower. I was angry at Rudy earlier thinking he kept Boki down for nothing (and I am still not happy we Rudy spent a #14 pick on him and managed to play him only 77 rookie minutes) but now I am comfortable to accept the reality - the reality that Boki is just what he is, poor man' s Rodrick Rhodes.
Rhodes in what sense? Rhodes wasn't a great shooter, was a great defender, was very quick with his feet, pretty solid ball-handling for someone his size (6-6ish? estimating..) All of which are opposite of Boki.. and Rhodes wasn't drafted super-high with expectations either.
