Here is an preview of Clutch's interview with Bowen.... Clutch: So Ryan, what have you been doing all summer Ryan:I told you! I spent it with my uncle in Alaska hunting wolverines! Clutch: Did you shoot any? Ryan: Yes, like 50 of 'em! They kept trying to attack my cousins, what the heck would you do in a situation like that? Clutch: What kind of gun did you use? Ryan: A freakin' 12-gauge, what do you think?
I don't exactly mind the signing -- do they really think he'd bring more than Baxter or Glover? -- but this isn't something you do during the moratorium. It's more of a late August kind of signing to fill the last roster spots once you have the main pieces done. What if a big trade comes up that we have to jump on and we need that roster spot? Or that makes Bowen's role obsolete? Premature.
True, it is a bit early and I am a little surprised. OTOH, Bowen DID have a defined role on this team. THE FINAL DEFENSIVE POSSESSION. As I recall there were many highlights on the final defensive possession where he came up with solid defense and/or a critical loose ball. I know there are other games as well but I remember in particular the Lakers game at home on ABC and also his defense on Rashard Lewis at Seattle. Both critical final possession stops. I think he came up with a loose ball at Boston as well. I don't have League Pass so there may have been others as well... He's uncoordinated on offense but he seems to be quick to the ball on defense with long arms to bother opponents. Bowen is a luxury to have on a critical defensive stop. JVG often likes to take Yao out in these situations. Perhaps he would now deploy PG/Wesley/Bowen/T-Mac/Swift?
You guys are brutal on Ryno. Here's a guy that pours his heart into every play ala Rudy T (without the talent) and gets paid the league minimum. Sorry, but I'm glad to keep him on board. If we could get some of our slack to play up to Ryan's energy level and fire, we might have a real championship team. To many in the Rox camp just seem happy to be here IMO. Honestly, I thought Ryan contributed to some of our wins in the playoff against Dallas. He took some pressure off of our key role players on the defensive end and grabbed some boards. Nothing but hustle in the guy and you really don't usually get more for a 12th man. I really don't see how in the world signing him back is a negative. I guess it simply shows that there are many r****ds in our fan base who really don't understand the business. How does he lack as a 12th man on our team? Check around and you'll see that every team has a 12th man (Darvin Ham of Detroit or Tony Massenberg for the Spurs). The best ones don't mind riding the bench and bring everything they have when pressed into action. Obviously, they are not going to significantly impact wins/losses but they may have a role every once in a while in a big win (Ryan's defense on Dirk is a perfect example).
I'm with dharocks. This guy's defense helped win us a couple of games againt the Mavs. Had he not shut down Dirt No-Wits a few times, we may not have toyed with actually WINNING a playoff series. How quickly some people forget. GOOD MOVE!
BTW most us somewhat critical of the move are not down on Bowen. He hustles and plays defense, we needed that last year. However our roster spots are dwindling if not gone. Bowen doesn't help our offense (our offense is WAY behind the state of our defense) and doesn't help us get more athletic in the wings. I think we could have better used a different minimum player bringing offense or athleticism (say Baxter or Padget or Glover)--I hope this doesn't mean the status quo (Head is our only new guard), or that Barry or Deke are deemed too expensive to bring back. I recognize maybe the Rockets already have some other moves in place and may have the big picture, but otherwise it seems odd to do this move so early in free agency (like JuanV says). It is no knock on Bowen, but you have to look at the move in the context of the whole roster, it is not like we have unlimited spots with 3-4 deadweight contracts/roster eaters. I am pretty sure there are 15 spots available. 12 active and 3 inactive. Right now if we bring back Deke and JB the only wave to add another player is via trade or waiving somone. We can only waive 1 player and get the lux tax break (among Spoon, Baker or Mooch), I doubt we waive anyone else (maybe Ward, but doubtfull). -C: Yao, DM* -PF: SS, JH, CWsp, VB -SF: TM, RB -SG: DW, JB*, LH -PG: BS, MJ, CW, MN It doesn't look good for Glover or Baxter.
Yup......and as we are all aware, defense is what wins championships!! Man you would think that after the way Bowen played Dirk in the playoffs last year he would be getting a little love from the GARM.......you guys are tough.
This is the signing I was waiting for. Western Conference forwards are quaking in their boots over the knowledge that the ROX have the Germanator back. I have put my order in for season tickets. I can't think of anything more painful than repeatedly watching him fumble T-Mac passes out of bounds on fast breaks in the playoffs. If you were hoping to add Glover and or Baxter, one of the roster spots just got taken unless we have a lot of baggage leaving via sign and trade.
Can you imagine the details on the call surrounding this re-signing: CD sorting through crumpled stacks of papers on his desk, looking for that one post-it that had Damon Stoudamire's agents cell phone on it. He grabs what he thinks is it and hits speaker, dials the number, but realizes by accident he's called Bowen's agent instead: CD: Uh, yeah, I think I dialed the wrong number here.... Bowen's agent: Done, Ryan will sign with Rockets CD: Bowen's agent: Hangs up and dial's FOX to announce the re-signing of his client with the Rockets. (that's just one possible scenario, I suppose)
Maybe more like: CD attempts to call maintenance but he really calls bowen's agent CD: You guys there is gum under a bunch of the seats, that we need to get off Bowen's agent:Ryan is gonna be excited about this thank you for your generosity CD: ohh well 2 birds with one stone
Every team needs at least one token white guy. So I suppose this means that Barry will not be resigned and Sura will be traded
I haven't read all the post yet, and I'm sorry if someone has mentioned this already. After hearing that we have come to terms with Ryan Bowen, I can't help but feel that he would be involved in some kind of S&T deal once the CBA has been signed. Does anyone agree?
