You be the judge. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sc4yz__akIU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sc4yz__akIU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2866789 Stoudemire says Bowen tried to injure him in Game 2 PHOENIX -- Phoenix All-Star Amare Stoudemire says the San Antonio Spurs are a "dirty team" and that Bruce Bowen tried to hurt him, nasty accusations sure to intensify the playoff series between two of the best teams in the NBA. "He kicked me purposely in the back of my Achilles. I almost came down wrong and he almost caused an injury," Stoudemire said after Thursday's practice. "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." The Suns' center, selected to the all-NBA first team Thursday, didn't stop there. "I think the Spurs are a dirty team," he said. "I mean, (Manu) 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." The Spurs, who host the Suns in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday, had finished practice in San Antonio and the players were gone when Stoudemire made his accusations. Tom James, director of media services, said the Spurs had no comment. The play that led to Stoudemire's charges came in the third quarter of Phoenix's 101-81 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday night, when he was going up for an open dunk. The victory evened the best-of-seven series 1-1. Stoudemire said he didn't know at the time if the kick was on purpose, but decided after viewing replays that it was. "When I saw the replay and reviewed it three or four times, there was no doubt about it," he said. "It was a purpose kick to the Achilles' and he definitely tried to injure me." Stoudemire's feelings were heightened by the fact that he missed all but three games last season while recovering from two knee surgeries. "I was actually very, very, very upset," he said. "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." A video on YouTube appears to show Bowen, an NBA all-defensive team selection, kicking Stoudemire's leg from behind. Stoudemire said he didn't react at the time because he didn't want a suspension or a technical foul that would hurt his team. "I know it's the playoffs. I understand a hard foul," Stoudemire said. "But that wasn't a hard foul at all. That was just a purpose kick trying to injure someone." No foul was called on the play. Stoudemire said the Achilles' was initially sore but was fine during practice. Both teams took the day off on Wednesday. During the regular season, the New York Knicks' Steve Francis was injured when he stepped on Bowen's foot. When the teams met again in San Antonio, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas drew a technical foul when he shouted something at Bowen when New York's Jamal Crawford nearly landed on the Spurs' player's foot. "I thought Jamal went up to take the shot and as he was coming down, Bruce's foot was under him," Thomas said after that game. "And if he were to come down on his foot, he could have broken his ankle or sprained his ankle and he would have been out, just like Francis." In March of 2006, Bowen was fined $10,000 by the NBA for kicking Seattle's Ray Allen in the back. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni downplayed the incident involving Stoudemire. "The league's going to look at it and they're going to examine past tendencies and stuff," he said. "I have no idea what Bruce Bowen does. I don't really care. I don't want to get into it because it's so minimal that it's no big deal. It really isn't." Raja Bell, also an all-defensive team selection, said he doesn't like to use the words "dirty player." "I haven't seen the play," he said. "Dirty is not a word I like to use about anybody. They play hard, their physical. It's a physical time of year, but I didn't get kicked. Amare has the right to feel the way he wants to feel."
definetly intentional. bowens known for this. vince carter went after him a few years ago remember? bowen is a dirty player who always slides his foot under the shooter hoping for a rolled ankle.
Looks like it to me. That's definitely dirty and (as bad as I hate to give him credit) good. That's something that no ref in the world is going to notice. Bowen's a jerk.
no doubt that was intentional. his head is looking down at amare's feet and he hit him with his right foot.
he was trying to hurt him. no doubt <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/drPQkEsM8uM"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/drPQkEsM8uM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Intentional. He clearly was kicking out with his foot to either injure him with the kick, or have it so Amare would land on it. Purposeful attempt at injury, and I think he should be suspended starting with the next game.
kicking ray allen for no reason <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MLgHeeOZJFI"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MLgHeeOZJFI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> and bruce bowen at his dirtiest <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UI5pE2-bXkE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UI5pE2-bXkE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> it's not a coincidence that people always get hurt when he's on the floor <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yGQMubkHKPE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yGQMubkHKPE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
that was on purpose. I wish somebody would go be a goon and take him out, kinda like that one Kid from Temple.
He's shady. Kinda smart actually, instead of throwing in punches when he's pissing he just does a ninja kick...
Has he ever received a suspension for any of the things he's done? Even an all-time great like Karl Malone was forced to miss a handful of games due to all the elbows and cheapshots he threw around(one ironically against the Spurs and David Robinson).
I don't understand how the league can stand by and let Bowen continue with this. He has done similar things with Ray Allen and Vince Carter. As he ever been fined or suspended for this?
I think he's so used to using his feet to bother offensive players that he does it instinctively. From the video, it didn't look like a hard kick. Considering his history, a fine is warranted.
Wow. The NBA needs to send a strong message to Bowen that it will be zero tolerance from now on just like they did to Kobe. He should be a marked man the rest of his career and not just this series. It's safe to say he won't get away with ANYTHING the remainder of this series and the playoffs. This is exactly the kind of thing that could distract and maybe derail the Spurs in a tough series. First TD's issue (which was not his fault) and now Bowen.
this isn't just bowen, though he's probably the most notorious offender. the nba needs to crack down on this kind of defense in general. sliding yourself as close as possible to someone and using your legs to get under people shouldn't be allowed on defense. using the threat of landing on someone else's feet shouldn't be considered 'defense.' so much crap gets away and its just considered hard, physical play, but if you can't guard them, you shouldn't be allowed to put your bodies where someone is going to land.
Well, reading the feedback comments from the ESPN article, I can't believe that there are actually people defending this kind of thing.
I respect and appreciate good defense. I cannot get with what bruce bowen is doing. If he wants to do crap like that, then do it where everybody can see it. I think it's chicken **** and cowardly.
