Great Move by starting Bowen

There is no stat for heart. Sometimes when I watch the Rockets it’s like watching Zombies. Bowen adds something that the Rockets desperately need, and that’s constant energy and heart. Bowen may not be able to shoot or dribble, but what he does give you is intensity. Bowen is not necessarily a defensive stopper either, but he does change the pace of the game. Opponents that try to lackadaisically move the ball past him are taken out of their game. The best way to put it is that he’s disruptive. When you have a person putting that much effort and being disruptive at the same time it’s contagious. Other players try to emulate that.

 

The reason Boki isn't starting is simple. His defensive skills consist of six fouls. Van Gundy will never start someone whose defense he doubts unless he's a freaking offensive all star. That's just how it goes.

 

I really think mbiker nailed it. Bowen is disruptive and probably a bit annoying. Anyways, who can phantom the mind of JVG? The Rockets have been doing okay with Bowen and they've won 3 games in a row (albeit one was a miracle and the other two were 'easy' games). For now, can't we be happy with the way things are going? And just be patient, JVG will probably shuffle the starting lineup again and in about a couple of weeks, Spoon and Boki may both be getting PT, or better yet starting.

 

And we're 3-0 when he starts. Problem?

From the ESPN recap- think this may have anything to do with it?
Notes San Antonio tied its season low for points, shooting just 34 percent. The Rockets also held the Spurs to 12 first-quarter points, the lowest total they've held an opponent to in that quarter this season.

Boki made 2 3s every 3 games he played. Fantastic.

And not to continue to lay into Boki, but he did get 2 starts. His production in those games? 24 minutes, 6 points, 4.5 boards, 30.8% FG%. If a guy is in the lineup for offense, he can't shoot 30%. Period.

PS- You failed to mention the 2.3 Blocks+Steals Bowen has produced in those 3 games he starts

 

You can't use stats from 2 starts. Its just like someone using the stats from this season to prove that boki sucks or isn't a decent player in this league. Do you know why? Because its not a large enough sample pool to be consistent enough. Just like this whole season for boki. He comes in and plays 20-24 minutes one night, then plays 2-3 minutes the next. How can you get a reliable enough statistic if the sample isn't even consistent enough?

- Bottom Line: Give him consistent minutes in consistent amount of games then gauge if he's good enough. Don't give his stats based on 2 starts. Players have bad days and good days just like any one of us.

 

Ok then. JVG and crew see him every day in practice, and people here who see him in fleeting game minutes (in which he doesn't perform particularly well) would argue to have a better knowledge basis on how JVG should manage his rotation?

The bottom line stat, W's, says that starting Bowen sure as hell hasn't prevented us from winning.

 

Boki launching shots? He doesn't shoot nearly as much as he should, at least a few shots when he plays. Many games, he doesn't even shoot. Our shooters need to establish that they can hit the shot if left open. Boki has done that. Bowen? He looks scared to put the ball on the floor, or up in the air, so what good is he on offense?

It is indeed your opinion that Boki's 3 point shooting is an anomoly, but why not let Boki prove that it is himself? For stock value?
We need to develop all the youth that we can, not let them rot. Surely, the team hasn't given up on Boki already.

 

Yeah, JVG does see him in practive everyday. Everyone here notices Boki's deficiencies. He has a tendency to commit a lot of fouls while in the game. And that reason and that reason alone is the reason why JVG won't play him. Can you honestly say that bowen is as gifted athletically and offensively as Nachbar? I don't think so. Bowen is JVG's "type" of player. Plain and simple. That's one of the reasons why I'm all for replacing Van Gundy. He shows too much loyalty and favoritism. Even if Nachbar is shooting close to 50 % from 3 (which he is) and if he could be one of our answers at our shooting woes, Van Gundy won't play him because of his fouling tendencies.

- And to use W's as your evidence that Bowen in the starting lineup has been good luck or good coaching move is also misleading in my eyes. We scored played 2 mediocre teams before last nights game. We played the 76ers and the Hornets. And in both of those games, we were in position to lose. Those are teams you blow out. Period. And last night's game was by no means a silver lining. We had 64 Points with a minute left in the Game!!! We can hold offenses to 70-80 points a game but when our offense can't score more than what our defenses hold offenses to, we lose games. Defense wins championships but not when you score 75 points a game.

 

Nike, I'm not in any way trying to get at you or anything. I just feel like Van Gundy has made a mistake in the way he handles young players especially Boki

All I ask is for Boki to get consistent minutes with consistent appearances. If you give me 8-10 games where he knows he'll get 20-22 minutes and he makes stupid mistakes, can't hit the shot with any regularity and fouls out every game, then I'm all for benching him or whatever. Everytime he steps on the court he's looking over his back to see if he's getting pulled out. He's on such a tight leash that I can't see how he can play relaxed and loose.I just geniunely feel like he hasn't been given the oppurtunity to succeed. He has the ability to help this team tremendously. If given the chance.

 

Van Gundy saw Steve and Cat every day in practice too. And they looked like very subpar players last year. There are 2 ends to a basketball court, not just one. And so your role players have to be varied in their skills enough to complement one another. A whole team full of defensive juggernauts who can't throw it into the ocean is horrible to watch and they don't win. So what Boki isn't Artest or Bruce Bowen on the defensive end. Van Gundy is running Padgett out there and his man goes through him like water through a sieve. Padgett does not play any better defensively than Boki but he's getting minutes.

For some wacked out reason Van Gundy doesnt like the kid. I'll say it again for the 100th time. Boki is going to wind up somewhere else lighting it up from the perimeter and slashing for easy baskets and we'll be watching him from time to time on ESPN highlights. Meanwhile, if this team improves, they will have to go pay free agent dollars to sign a hired gun shooter. Ryan Bowen is a 12th man, the designated "hustle" guy. He is a necessary component of a team, but to give him so many minutes and put Boki on IL is ridiculous. Man, we got Gaines on the floor now, and he acts like the scared deer in the headlights every time the ball comes within 10 feet of him. Does any of us really believe that Gaines is better than Boki?

 

thanks for reaffirming everything i'm saying. If boki leaves and ends up at a place like sacramento or phoenix, he'll play a lot better. Hell, he'll play better here if given minutes.

 

D'Antoni has said it many times publicly that Boki has some major game if given the chance. You know for a fact that he will go after Boki if we let him go after this year. (if he isn't traded first)

The guy has a lot of skills that he can use if given the opportunity but he's not getting it here.

Im one of the guys that will continue to check his stats and say we should have kept him if he does leave.

 

I think the team does well when Ryan Bowen is playing...
It's all about chemistry. He's an above average defensive player (half the game is defense). Offensively, the shots he doesn't take go to Tracy or Yao...this is sorta like Robert Horry giving up open shots that go to Dream and Clyde. Let's open our eyes.

Boki is talented but makes mistakes. He needs to play with more confidence.

 

I get the feeling Boki will be packing his bags for Europe when his contract with the Rox is done.

 

Chemistry schemistry. He produces nothing. Whenever I hear the phrase "hustle player," I think "not good enough to be described any other way."

 

Can we get something for Boki

Rocket River

 

So JVG, the mastermind who has figured out this "offense" that his number 1 star says is too slow, and many here think is a bit backward by trying to force round pegs into square holes, is now all of a sudden brilliant enough to figure out that a young player who is doing one of the major things your team is missing - ie sinking 3's - needs to be replaced by some guy who thinks he is a Dutch windmill.

Maybe Bowen can teach Boki how to flap his arms.

These are the same people who gave us a quick release on EG who is now sinking 3's and rebounding for the T-Wolves.

Sura yes, AB yes, Bowen 8-10 minutes off the bench at most.

This season is soooooo painful.

So if TMac speeds up the offense and ignores JVG, then maybe some of Boki's slashing will fit with TMac, Sura and AB, with Yao in the post taking feeds off of all of them?

Boki deserves a good steady 10-20 minutes per night and the chance to learn how to defend. JVG teach him, don't pull him.

 

hahhahahaha.....

 

No they don't play better. Bowen causes the defense to collapse even more on Yao and TMac and leave him open for one of the ugliest looking jump shots in the league. Bowen is a 12th man. He should be brought in the game to kick somebody's butt who is loafing on the floor, or to put a hard foul on an opponent and change the dynamics of the game. At the very best........he is a designated stopper for certain players in the league. That is all.


Yes, it is all about chemistry. You want chemistry, put Boki at the 3 and let the Rockets run it up the floor a little bit with him, TMac, Sura, and Barrett. You want chemistry, watch Boki can all those wide open 3 looks our SF gets when TMac is handling the ball. You want to see some chemistry, put Boki on the wing and watch how effective he is playing the dump in 2 man game to Yao. He is either the best or second best entry passer on the team. And he will hustle if encouraged instead of being berated over every little mistake. This is the NBA man, not the University of Grumpyton. Boki is not a problem child. He doesn't show up late for practice. He is not staying up all night partying and giving a half ... effort at practice. He is not publicly hammering the coach. He isn't fighting with his teammates, smoking dope, skipping plane trips to go to a Texans game, or shooting his girlfriend. He is a team player, a hustler, and the kid works hard, all summer in the gym as a matter of fact. He does not need to be constantly beat down to keep him in line, to keep his ego in check. He needs a coach to encourage him and encourage his team to run the ball up and down the court, make a few mistakes, learn from them, and keep applying pressure to the defense.

Bowen Schpowen, Madsen Grabsem, Bowen Twelthmen. Bowen who?