← The Right Time with Bomani Jones
The Right Time with Bomani Jones
Bruce Bowen on Wemby’s Playoff Reality Check, Knicks best player debate, James Harden's disappointing effort | 05.27
00:55:41
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- [00:00]
Bomani Jones
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- [00:31]
Bruce Bowen
Wave.
- [00:40]
Bomani Jones
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Right Time. A Wave Original presented by FanDuel predicts. My name is Bonnie Jones. Thanks for listening wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for watching us on YouTube. Subscribe like, rate us, review us, give us five stars. You only give us four stars. I'm inclined to believe you are a hater. It is that time of week where we have a guest join us. Coming to us live from San Antonio is Just Like Compton. Bruce Bowen. What's going on, man?
- [01:07]
Bruce Bowen
Come on, man. Just Like Compton. No, it's not, man.
- [01:11]
Bomani Jones
Come on. You act like you don't know about Just Like Compton.
- [01:13]
Bruce Bowen
Oh, man. Well, I do know a lot about Compton, but. But, but that's neither here nor there. But how are you doing this fine morning, brother?
- [01:22]
Bomani Jones
Dude, man, I'm good. Look, it has been even with that sweep, I feel like it's been a great conference finals because when the Knicks swept through them, at least they playing well. We'll get to them in a second. But we just, we're coming off OKC up 3, 2 now against San Antonio, it looked, and you tell me if I'm wrong here, Victor, Wim Banyama and we had talked a lot coming into this about whether experience in the playoffs matters, right. And the idea that, hey, these teams, they. We don't have like the dynasty saga anymore. So you don't have these teams that have just been there forever. But bottom line is the playoffs are different than the regular season and Victor and his boys looked exhausted in game five.
- [02:04]
Bruce Bowen
You know, Bomani, I'm going to say this because they are a young group. I love this group. I love what they've done for the city. And unfortunately, you cannot speed up the process of experience. They are playing last season's champions. And I think so many times we forget the fact that they are the last season's champions. They have been through different hurdles to get there. And so when you're talking about what's transpiring, some people are saying, is it the fatigue factor? You know, I love how Victor continues to stand in even after all the physical play. And then we look on the flip side and if there's, if one of the spurs wing players sneezes on one of their guards, it's a foul. So, you know, I have a little issue with how certain things are coming about and what's being said. You can't just blame it on fatigue, you can't blame it on other. OKC is a very good basketball team. But at the same time, in order for you to get to the top of the mountain, you have to go through the trials and tribulations of altitude and what the adjustment is in the air to get to that so called goal of what you want.
- [03:32]
Bomani Jones
Yeah, like, I think no matter how much we kind of reduce this to an analytical sort of game, there's some basic fundamental stuff that, that comes to this, right? Like I saw Perk on TV today and he made the point. He was like, in 2010, remember he tore his ACL in the 2010 finals in game six. So he's there watching in game seven. And he said it was from watching there. It's almost like if you've ever been in a situation where your car breaks down on the freeway and you got to wait in the car and that's when you realize how fast them cars are going, right? Like, you know, like when you in it, you don't think about it. But you sitting there in the car, man, and that thing starts shaking side to side, you're like, oh, it's a whole nother advantage. And he said for him, what he saw was like, dude, nobody has anything left and everybody is just willing their way through it, right? Like you go to, you reach a point where you've never worked this hard before at anything, right? And for Victor, and I'm curious, your take on this, I like most of the world, is like, how about you get a little bit closer to the basket? But the argument that you hear back from people around the team is it's still really exhausting and grueling for him to get closer to the basket, right? Like we've seen him shoot fewer threes in the regular season as he's gotten stronger because the thought was it was just too grueling for him to get there. But he looked sluggish. Like at 22 years old, he looked sluggish because that is what the playoffs are.
- [04:48]
Bruce Bowen
That is what the playoffs are. Bomani, to your point, but also the physicality of what he's experiencing, he didn't experience his physicality during the course of the regular season. Every single time you look at the they make it a point to bump, to impede his progress of wherever he's trying to go. So now we know that Victor is slim, but at the same time, do you want him to exert energy, let's say four seconds to get to a certain spot on the floor, and now he finally gets there. He's worked so hard to get there. Now does he have the full capacity to execute a move with, you know, the big guys that they have being physical with him? I don't think it's just that Bomani. I think we are minimizing how good sometimes OKC is. They are averaging as a team, bench points, 60 points a game that has little to do with just one individual on the floor. Yes, Victor covers a lot of ground when we, when we're talking about the defensive aspect of things, but now it's. They're learning. I think our young guards are learning how important details are. I got to get to this guy. Caruso is experienced at being in these positions, being a willing participant, spot up, rip, attack or shoot the three. He's been there before. Williams knocking down the threes, being able to stretch the floor. All these different things go into all the stuff that we're talking about. And sometimes we solely focus on, well, Victor didn't have a demonstrative game. Well, he still got to the line. I think if he doesn't get to the free throw line, you still have to deal. You have even more that you could talk about. But he's still doing what he does. And it's not about deviating from what they've done throughout the season. It doesn't just change like that. You have to continue the process of what you've done by prior to and just kind of get even more in tune to what you do during the course of the postseason now. But again, you have to give credit to OKC in how they're doing what they do defensively. I mean, wearing down, wearing down, making sure someone's bumping him, making sure. And look, here we have Harper, we have Carter, Bryant, rookies who have to have a huge impact on, on this group. So what I look at in that is the best thing for me is it's the experience that they're gathering right now because it's with that experience. It took me back to 2001, 2002, we play the Lakers. We beat them in game one, or was it game. I think it was game one or two, but we stole one there and we're feeling like, oh, yeah, now this is. What is. This is what it is, the Lakers went to another level after that because they got punched in the mouth, but they knew how to respond because they had the experience of being in the Finals, being in the playoffs, understanding what's necessary, breaking down film to the point to realize we need to get better here. We got a little lackadaisical there. And then we see the energy go up. A lot of times people don't understand that. They just say, what's the adjustment? It's not just about adjustments. You make adjustments, but you have to have the heart and passion behind it as well.
- [08:17]
Bomani Jones
Yeah. Like, I call the Thunder the OKC Blue Devils, and I hate Duke. So this is not a. It is a begrudged compliment. Right. I don't like they get down. I don't like flopping on one end, fouling on the other. I don't really like that. But also, I. I think we're underestimating just how good they are. Right. And that seems kind of crazy to say, but they are down Jaylen Williams like a dude that can give you 40 in the playoffs if you need it. Right. AJ Mitchell, who may wind up being next year's. Next year's Jaylen Williams because they're so deep and they have two of them. Both of those guys are out, which basically leave them with one guy you can trust to get his own basket. Because say whatever you want about Victor. He has rendered Chet useless. Chet and ch, ch, ch. Just out there, right? And the Thunder's still up 3, 2, right? Like, without those dudes out there, they are still up three to two with one, by the way, with a superstar caliber player who I don't think is playing nearly as well as they would have expected in this postseason. And they still.
- [09:22]
Bruce Bowen
Here, look, Bomali, you. You. You said something very key there. A superstar player that's not playing as we've seen him play. And. And all I say to that is, you have to give credit to who's guarding him. You have to give credit to the process of what's transpiring. Yeah, they're making shots very difficult for him. And, you know, there's this stat that I saw not too long ago. It said that SGA is falling on the floor 16% of the time when he's making moves. 16%. Now, some of those people are considering, like, was that really a foul or not? But it was interesting to me because then they brought up Victor and they said, Victor falls 6%. But in essence, Victor has more reason to fall than SGA does. And so a lot of people are going to say, well, that sounds like you're nitpicking, Bruce. Well, it's not that I'm nitpicking, but we used to talk about James Harden and his selling of fouls. We're talking about an MVP right now. I remember when Tim Duncan, when he would go up for plays and they just said things like, well, you're mvp, you have to play through it. Well, where's that other thought process when it comes to watching the reviews and things like that? And you still come up with something completely different. I'm looking at the moments of the game yesterday. It's just unfortunate moments. And Bomani, this is where I feel like this is where the character building happens when there is a missed call. I'm not blaming the loss on a missed call, but I do believe that that's character building because you can't go back and change it. I would have thought that with Mitch doing this, calling the timeout or what have you, they would have honored that. But all of a sudden, the officials, they had nothing. They didn't see it again. Character building because you know what? Life goes on, the game goes on. And if you ever get into a scenario where coaches are starting to say things like, well, you know, I think the whistles were unfair. You won't ever win in anything in life. But when you look at the fact that OKC had 26 second chance points, that's pursuing of the basketball. That's where you've done part of your job, but you complete the job with the rebound. You know, to have 40 bench points last night, that means you have to pay more attention to detail. We have to do a better job of getting to the shooters. We have to run them off the line. These are moments where, I think, as I said, character building. But these are moments where guys are starting to truly learn that basketball is so much more than just a shot and a box out. It's execution, a wide open shot, it's box out, finishing it with a rebound at the end of the moment.
- [12:16]
Bomani Jones
So I want to ask you this about like the physical play from the Thunder, because they're not playing like the 89 Pistons, right? Like, I don't like, it's not. They're not. Like when in my mind I think of like, physical play, I think of something that is a bit more. It has more impact, right? Like they're not playing the brand of basketball. You see, if you go back and watch 1970s and 1980s basketball, like when dudes get hit, they get hit it's more that these guys seem like they're just being annoying, right? Like Hardenstein's like, I'mma hold your arm, I'mma wrap you up. We're gonna stop you from going, going up. But in my mind, that feels like it would have a much different impact than the basketball that I was talking about. But at the same time, San Antonio still looks worn down and you.
- [13:02]
Bruce Bowen
And that's what happens when you're turning the ball over. Some of those turnovers in transition had nothing to do with. With a check or a grab or a hole. That was just, hey, slow down a little bit. This is the part of inexperience, Bomani. The inexperience where I come down, I get a quick shot. There is one period where we took three threes in our trips down the floor and no one attacked the basket. The wide open shot, and this, this goes on. This doesn't just happen at the highest level. This happens in, in, in. In elementary and middle school as well. If a kid is open, they say, ooh, shoot. If it's a zone, they say, oh, I'm a shoot. Even with the zone, the concept is still attack the basket, attack gaps. And that's where you put the pressure on the defense. You have to be relentless in that this is where Manu Ginobili was truly special because Manu wasn't going to settle. Tony Parker wasn't going to settle the. They understood that if I continue to add pressure now, I get a chance of stoppage of the clock going to the free throw line and drawing fouls. It is one of those things that is a constant reminder, especially with youth during the course of a game, that, hey, we got to keep attacking. And I think in these moments, the film session that they will see is going to be so much to the point where the guys are going to want to get on the floor tonight because they want to redeem themselves of what they did last night as far as the careless turnovers or the quick threes and not attacking the basket.
- [14:43]
Bomani Jones
Yo, that's something to give you. You mentioned Tony Parker. You give Tony Parker that open jump shot. He wasn't falling for that trick.
- [14:49]
Bruce Bowen
See? But see, Bomani, I don't think people truly understand how much how your basketball IQ is as that, well, if they can't stop me here, let me eat up that space that they're giving me. So I get ahead of steam and get to the cup again. All this is character building for this young spurs team. I love this group, man. They're. They I mean, they're everything you want. They look at you in the eyes when they talk to you. They are sitting there receiving anything you want to say to them when it comes to helping them to be a better version of themselves. So it's not about a negative group. It's not about a team that's. That is. That doesn't like being around each other. These are moments where you have to go through the growing pains. But at the same time, you weren't in the playoffs last year or the previous three year or multiple years, and now you're in the Western Conference finals. It is. It's not over with just yet. But at the same time, these types of situations just don't happen overnight.
- [15:58]
Bomani Jones
Now, what's your read on Castle? Because he has done better with the ball since he had those 20 turnovers in the first two games. He is so physically talented, but also that ability to just teeter out of control just a little bit.
- [16:14]
Bruce Bowen
And shouldn't he be a senior right now in college, if not junior? Okay, okay, okay. So this is my thought process. He had those turnovers, but he's continued to get better. You're talking about someone in. In. In a moment where you're in the Western Conference finals. This boy. I told him, I said, boy, you, You. You got my feet dancing. The way you guard Shay during the course of this game. And again, paying attention to detail, watching what he wants to do, just being a deterrent. I mean, every time Shai goes up for a shot, he got a hand up. There is no, you know, Shay got all kind of space and just got this wide open shot. It takes a lot of film study and retention of what the coaches are constantly telling him. I love his upside, Bomani, yes, he had those turnovers, but there is some dog in him that you just have to accept that those turnovers when they happen because you're putting him in a situation that's new to him. The biggest thing I think sometimes for Mitch is making sure to control him to a point. When someone scores on him, he wants to score back on him. And that's, you know, not everybody can accept that, especially when they have as much talent as he has. I mean, he's a top five pick. Come on. There is a reason why he was drafted at the level he was as soon as he was drafted. So I love his center of balance, though. You never see him necessarily off balance when he drives. He punishes you when he's making that drive. So, yeah, you can't guard him with just a Single individual, you have to have help because he dominates from a physical standpoint of, of getting to the cup. And as he continues to broaden his range as far as him shooting the ball, it's becoming just such a pleasure to see what he's doing. Bomani from the standpoint of always having the top guy to guard.
- [18:24]
Bomani Jones
So what's the adjustment for the spurs now?
- [18:28]
Bruce Bowen
I mean, it's always funny when we talk about, okay, what's the adjustment? Oh, we just have to make a few adjustments. You know, it. Sometimes it's just, okay, we see what it is. You know, turnover's got to take care of the basketball. You got to take care of the basketball. You got to defend the way that we're capable of defending, meaning we got to get to these shoes. We can't give up open shots. There is one play, and this is someone who I think has been very consistent throughout the playoffs is Vassell. What he's been able to do defensively has been special. Now when young players start to lose or win over a miss or make, that's where they have to get back to the point. If you miss a shot, get back on defense. There is one shot that Vasile missed. It was a left hand layup. He should, he, he, he makes that any other time, but he missed it this time and he kind of pouted just a little bit. Just, oh, man. Disappointed about the miss. They went in transition. He got back late And I believe McCain got a three because of that. See, to me, that's not an adjustment of, hey, we're going to switch this guy here and do this guy there. Now it's, hey, fellas, stay the course. I know you missed the shot, I know you want to make the shot, but stay the course. We got to get back on defense and hope that we have another opportunity on offense to have that same shot. So now it's more of the coaching to building up of younger players and saying, hey, even if you miss, I need you to get back. I don't want you to, oh, man, I missed that shot. I missed the shot. I'm back on defense. I make the shot, I'm back on defense. It's more of a changing of the mindset and understanding that, hey, by me taking time to, you know, react to whether the ball went in or not, that allowed them to get a wide open three. So now it's now that little thing of, I make the shot, I'm back, I missed the shot, I'm back with purpose.
- [20:39]
Bomani Jones
That moment, that miss Johnson had with Carter Bryant where, you know, he had a couple tears come down. The boy was kind of struggling a little bit. I saw people referring to that as hard coaching. And I didn't think that was hard coaching at all. I just thought the boy was having a moment.
- [20:56]
Bruce Bowen
I'm gonna tell you this. So Pop has made this joke with me. He says, carter Bryant is so much better than you. And I said, and he can jump higher too. And that just. Pop fell out laughing at that. But the reality, this young man is talented. 19 years old, playing in the Western Conference finals, trying to be the best he can be, each and every time is willing to take on that moment of, you say, I'm guarding the top guy. Okay, I'm all in now with that. When things don't go well for a 19 year old, a lot of times they put even more pressure on themselves. When I spoke to Carter, I said, carter, man, do you know how many times Pop chewed my tail out on national television? Even after the camera, we thought the cameras were off and he was still going. I said, it's to make you better. It's. And he had no problem with that. Bomani. His thing was he wasn't playing well and he wants to play well. I take that from a young man that wants to be the best version of himself. But two years ago he was in high school. Think about that. That's what we minimize so much today. We look at the talent of a young man and we say, oh man, he's this, he's that. But we never say, you know what, he's still developing. He's still 19, he's still 19. Look here, man. When I tell my 14 year old to do, he looks at me and he has a crazed look. And I'm like, do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth? It's part of that frontal lobe bruh. And we tend to forget that because of what we do, or I should say. Media is looking at things and immediately they're like, oh, look at here. Did you see this? Did you see that? He's 19, he loves where he is. He continuously works hard to be the best version of himself. And we're going to go back in time one day and, and say, hey, you remember this moment? What was going on with you? And he's going to say, I was a young man at that time. And because of that moment, it's allowed me to get to where I am today. And just another note, Bomanique. I utilize that clip to send to my 14 year old parents that I coach their kids. And I said, because there's moments where I speak loudly to their kids and some of those kids that they get into their feelings. And I said, look at What a top 10 pick in the NBA draft is dealing with. Now I have this group called Bowen Select, Not Bowen, Elite. Because I've told all our kids, none of y' all are elite. Elite is 6' 8, 2, 10. And I just give him the ball. He makes all y' all better. We have the type of kids that are selected that could play with the elite and allow them to continue to be elite, but we add to being nice additions to an elite player. So I got a bunch of responses from some of the parents. Oh, yeah, great coach. Great, great, great. But I wonder how they gonna respond when we play next weekend.
- [24:05]
Bomani Jones
Look, I got two questions for you about Oklahoma City before we go to the break.
- [24:09]
Bruce Bowen
Absolutely.
- [24:09]
Bomani Jones
First one, and I asked this many times, but it still hits me. Can you believe that they got Jerry McCain for a bottle of Gatorade and a bucket of range balls?
- [24:21]
Bruce Bowen
Were they Pro V1's ratings ball? No, but you know what? Bomani is all about making the most of opportunities. You look at how Sam Prezzy has done that there. Now Sam has learned a valuable lesson. When he had K.D. harden and Russell Westbrook, he had three future hall of Famers, they left. Now he has a chance of reconstructing something similar to that. You see him being diligent in utilizing kids that are hungry and really understanding how to make talent work with one another. Creating a culture where they want to be around one another and not a culture of, well, I'm the man. No, I'm the man. No, I'm the man. No. We have a man that's been an mvp and you look at how the MVP treats his teammates. I mean, like, oh my goodness. Now Tim gave us stuff, but this is a different day and age. I mean, there he's giving out time pieces. Not watches, not watches, time pieces. These things can be passed down in your generations and continue to retain value. But I say all that in a fun way. But this is what Tim did. We created an environment that guys enjoy being around each other, even though we had people with certain pecking orders. So I love what he has done. Sam Prezzy, that is as far as being able to build that group the way he has, but at the same time, it's learning through the experiences that you've had. They were rolling at one time, now he got them rolling again. He wants to Continue to have that rolling. And it's about getting key additions, sliding in guys, and understanding that, hey, each and every one of you, you have to bide your time, because who knows what may happen during the course of a season. That is right now, guys are having a chance to step in and play at a high level and display their talents, all because they've been prepared for this.
- [26:30]
Bomani Jones
All right? Now, you talk about Bowen select and, you know, showing them boys the film. How much of that Oklahoma City film you gonna show them so they can work on some of they, you know, bow and select techniques. You know what I'm saying? Like, I feel like you might be a little bit torn when you watch in Oklahoma City.
- [26:46]
Bruce Bowen
What happened with your elbow right there when you did that?
- [26:48]
Bomani Jones
Yeah, it was just kind of, you know. You know, little tug. You know what I'm saying? Little shiver.
- [26:55]
Bruce Bowen
Sometimes in this game, you gotta do a little tug. You gotta do a little shiver.
- [26:59]
Bomani Jones
I'm just saying, like, I feel like you be watching the Thunder, you don't wanna root against them, Bruce. You. You know, you don't. You know, deep down, you don't want
- [27:05]
Bruce Bowen
to do that, man. Look here. Yes, I do, and I have no problem doing it now with that. That's why I say, you know, I've been coached by some greats. And I said with Pop, he never again. He never, ever said the officials. And there's moments I remember in 2003, we're playing the Dallas Mavericks, and we're up 20 in the first half, and we end up losing that game. And he had the clip on. He said, let's watch this. And he showed our energy when we were up 20, and even when we got fouled and nothing happened, then he showed our energy when Dallas ramped up their energy. And now those calls that we were cheering, we're no longer getting. Now we want to say that it's their fault. I say it's character building. Because there comes a time where you have to play through madness. And playing through that madness sends more of a message to your opponent than anything else, that you're not going to allow any call to sway my judgment of how I approach the game and how aggressive I'm going to be. Count it a joy that someone feels like they may have to tug, they may have to elbow, because if it was about just guarding straight up, maybe they couldn't do that. So now once you get to that point, that thinking, you become unstoppable. Bomani. It really does happen that way. But you can't Ever allow your feelings or your thoughts to ever lean towards the officials are doing this. Now. With that being said, I will say there has been a lot of hilarious things going on on this dog, on AI and stuff on the social media when it comes to the series and how it's going. So I say more than anything else, there is a time where I remember teams would send film in and to the league and say, hey, can you guys review this? And I thought you said this, I thought you said that it's no need to. If we want to be champions, we have to play above all the other stuff. And when I say 60 points from the bench, averaging 60 points, that has nothing to do with the physicality of the game. Points off turnovers. Last game it was 26. Or I should say it was 20, but it was 26. Second chance points. That has nothing to do with someone grabbing or anything. That has more to do with. And second chance points has more to do with you going to get a rebound. And when you tally up all those points, Bomani, you start to say, well, no, it got nothing to do with the whistles. You got more to do with the product on the floor.
- [29:52]
Bomani Jones
Yeah. And now I want everybody that Bruce Bowen ever guarded to know what he just said. He was just trying to fly to y' all back there.
- [29:59]
Bruce Bowen
No, I didn't say that.
- [30:00]
Bomani Jones
That's, he was, you know, he was just letting y' all know that that's what it, you know, you, you good. That's what that, that's, that's respect that he was showing you.
- [30:07]
Bruce Bowen
You know what? I, I, I, I was getting ready to take my vitamins, but now I ain't gonna take the VI because you, you 10 these things. This is so unnecessary. Flattering. I'm flattering somebody. I was trying to stop them. That's what I was trying to do. Flatter them.
- [30:24]
Bomani Jones
There you go.
- [30:27]
Bruce Bowen
Oh, oh, hey, hey. He got 40. Oh, man, I hope he feels good. My job is at stake. You think Pop gonna sit up there, keep me out there? He keep on getting 40. No, he's not.
- [30:42]
Bomani Jones
Coming up next, we gonna talk about the ease of Bruce Bowen. You can predict the playoff action all the way to the finals. With FanDuel predicts, all you have to do is sign up to get your 25 bonus. Follow all the playoff dishes, swishes, wishes and misses. Every move is a potential plot twist. Predict the spread, the total points, and even the game winning moments that make the playoffs where one run, one rebound, one shot changes everything from opening tip to the final buzzer. Stay locked in with every pass, every play and every moment that moves us closer to crowning a champion. Sign up now for your $25 bonus on FanDuel Predicts offered by FanDuel Prediction Markets LLC, a registered Futures Commission Merchant 18 bonus is non withdrawable and expires 7 days after receipt. Trading derivatives involve significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Manage your activity with our consumer protection tools. Restrictions apply. See terms@fanduel.com predicts bonus offer terms. We back with Bruce Bowen. You know what I'm saying? Take. There you go. Woo side, big dog. Woo side. You know what I'm saying? That's right. That's right. Multiple time all defense team retired jersey, you know what I'm saying? Big enough man that even let somebody else wear it for little while. But I bet he ain't gonna do that again.
- [32:06]
Bruce Bowen
I just wish America understood what you do when you do what you do. He.
- [32:11]
Bomani Jones
He's.
- [32:11]
Bruce Bowen
He's building me up, y'. All. Because something's coming. Something's coming, cuz.
- [32:17]
Bomani Jones
I know it.
- [32:18]
Bruce Bowen
Last segment, but something is coming.
- [32:21]
Bomani Jones
Nope. That right there was me making sure everybody understand that you are a man worthy of our respect.
- [32:27]
Bruce Bowen
See, boy, you. I'm telling you, man, you got a gift. You got a gift.
- [32:34]
Bomani Jones
Hey, man, let me ask you this. The Knicks look like they've had what might have been the best month of basketball that any team has ever played. And I have a hot take that people are going to be surprised to hear from me on this one. Becky Hammond has been getting a lot of hell because a couple years ago, maybe it was last year, she said, you can't win with Jalen Brunson as your best player because he's just too small. Which, by the way, there's decades of NBA history to support that sort of perspective. It's looking shaky to people right now, obviously, because the Knicks are in the finals. But are we being honest with ourselves about who the Knicks best player has been in this postseason? Because. And it's going to sound crazy coming from me, I think it's been Carl. Carl has been unreal in every advanced metric for the playoffs. Across the board say that the best player in this postseason has been Carl Anthony Towns. And I cannot believe I live long enough to say that.
- [33:35]
Bruce Bowen
Well, I think it's the dynamics of the game, Bomani. It's truly about back in the day. Okay? Obviously we've changed the way the game is played. But you went through your big man. Your big man created different things for you. And you talk about the usage last season of going through Jalen, you know, it gets taxing. I think he's just more fresher now. You look at Tim Duncan was our best player, obviously, but you saw how Manu finished games. You saw how Tony finished games. Even in pick and rolls, the balls in their hand and they're able to make the right plays. I don't think Jalen has ever felt like, hey, this is my team and you guys better do what I want. I don't think that was ever the case. I think you had a player that plays lights out and can play above the moment, but it was never about him. So when you have these things transpire the way they have, you have a coach now in Mike Brown who understands the game, who's been a. I mean, a veteran assistant coach. He's been a head coach. He's been to the finals. He's won in the NBA finals as an assistant. Mike Brown has knowledge beyond what people may understand. For him to understand what's necessary with this group, with this team, he did a fantastic job of allowing the guys to understand that, hey, it's about accountability. I have to hold you accountable in order for you to be the best version of yourself as a coach. I am to put you in the best position for success. The guys bought in. Even early in the season, when people were talking about firing Mike, it was about him setting the tone, creating the culture. This culture is a different culture than it's been in the past. And that's not against prior coaches. This is just a different philosophy, one that. That he has seen starting in San Antonio, one he has seen with a tremendous guard in Golden State. All these things. Mike has continued the process of keeping notes, keeping notes. Now Mike's my guy. All I wish is that he would wear some fresher sneakers on the floor and stop wearing that white T shirt underneath his zip up, you know, Come on, Mike, put a collar shirt on, man. That's what those things are for.
- [36:21]
Bomani Jones
Don't get me started on looking like a AAU tournament in the NBA. Like, I get it in the bubble, man, they was working from home. In the bubble. They not working from home right now. You understand what I'm saying?
- [36:31]
Bruce Bowen
Like you say NBA. I mean, AAU had a little more swag. That's fair. That's fair. Look, I just. But no, all jokes aside, what he's done in New York, where when he makes a substitution, you have someone like, do I think that was a great substitution? I look at Jordan Clarkson right Now, Jordan Clarkson can put that ball in the basket. He can put the ball in the basket with the best of folks. But even now, he's supporting, he's learning, he's being held accountable. And so when you have this, it just leads to a different brand of basketball, but money. It's not by accident that they're doing what they're doing. You change things up a little bit. Now the focus. Let's go through Kat. Now, Kat, I don't want you doing guard stuff all the time. I want you to get down on the block. I want you not to settle for the jumpers. And because of that, you see success. I used to say this, that because I learned this from coaches, that you take away two of your force bad shots, two of them. You take two away, it adds a greater percentage to your basketball shot selection. And when guys start to understand that, it becomes a different game because they can get any shot they want. But does it help the team? Does it put the team in defensive transition? You know, did you miss someone that was wide open that don't create for themselves? You look at the way their wings are playing. They're playing lightstyle basketball because they're getting touches when they're open. It's not just everyone stand around and watch someone else. They are participating in the process of where they are right now.
- [38:29]
Bomani Jones
And Vinnie Goodwill reported this, that you know what happened after Game 3. And the answer was Mike Brown in the film session called Carl Towns out and said, you the one that's got to step it up, and you the one that's got to play different. And he did. Right? Like everything it. It is. It is rare to me that you see a team that hasn't won something before look like they could just put a turn, a switch. And the switch hasn't stopped. It's been a month.
- [38:55]
Bruce Bowen
So you talk about that switch. I don't think it's the switch. I think part of it now is true accountability. Now, you look at every other place that some of those players have been. They may or may not have had accountability. They may not have had a coach say to them, hey, I need you to be better. Or if they did, it was behind closed doors, just those two, hey, hey, I need you to play better. Because, you know, the guys see it. No, but when you do it in front of everyone and when you have to now go back to when you were held accountable, and I say this with all the Villanova guys, because when they were at Villanova, Jay held them accountable. So now you're getting that accountability back. And now it's kind of like, oh, whoa, man, I'm being coached again. I'm not questioning things that may have gone on before. I am receiving what's being said. And I'm going to say this to you, Bomani. Whenever a coach holds a player accountable in front of the other players, it does something to the other players as well. It sends the message that, oh, man, if he's getting on him, I better strengthen up my game, too, because I can easily be that person just as he's going at the top dog on the team.
- [40:07]
Bomani Jones
Yeah. Now, speaking of accountability, it is rare that a team performs so poorly in the conference finals, a conference finals that they had not been to before, that they had taken the next step to get here. And they played so badly that it feels like the only option they have is in one form or another to tear it down. That was what happened with Cleveland in that series. I thought Donovan Mitchell played well. I didn't think that he was the problem at all. I thought that he showed a lot in the postseason in terms of what they could be with him as their guy. I've always said their guys are tall guys, not big guys, and you can't have both of them at the same time. But the issue is, the one that's better is obviously Mobley, but that means he's the one that you can get the most for. If you feel like you need to turn this over and you're stuck with Jim Harden because you decided to make that trade for him. And obviously it was implicitly, at the very least, implicitly said that we'll extend you if you come here. And he was very much part of the problem and not part of the solution.
- [41:11]
Bruce Bowen
It's a situation when it comes to the game of basketball. Even as we get older, Bomanu we want to make sure that we are still doing certain things that allows us to be successful on the floor. Maybe being successful on the floor is showing more effort defensively or showing effort period. What I'm getting ready to talk about now has very little to do with the skill, but it has more to do with desire and effort. Because when players understand that I'm watching someone that's a future hall of Famer, from what some people say, I'm watching him. But if I don't see effort from that person, what is the message that I receive in that? A younger player on the bench. So when a coach says, come on, guys, we got to get after it, the first thing. A lot of those Players are thinking, well, coach, he doesn't. So why are you getting upset at me when you know you're not. That guy over there is not doing it. And I say it from the standpoint of basketball. Yeah, he's not the scorer he used to be, but he still has a high iq. But it's just the willingness, the effort. Hey, I'm going to try to guard a little bit more. When they were up in game one and all of a sudden they start picking on James, it felt like James was again, I don't know if this was the case, but it felt like from what I saw, like, well, you know, they're picking on me. My thoughts are, get after it a little bit more. At least show effort. Even if it's not successful for you, show effort because it's necessary in the process of what you show others coming behind you. I remember Steve Smith. There would be moments where Steve, like, boy, I was watching you slide your feet. I know I don't slide my feet, but I was trying to give you a little bit of help. Just that people understand that that's necessary. You're teaching others how to be professional as well. It's not solely about the coolness of the game, but it's about what you bring to the game. Even when the game has surpassed the physical limits of what you can do, you still have to be something where the guys can learn something from.
- [43:38]
Bomani Jones
By the way, Steve Smith, all time sneaky, funny guys. What, all time quiet, like, don't have. Like. Gets more funny per word.
- [43:50]
Bruce Bowen
No, but it's, it's. And. And I felt bad for the bench, for the young guys because I think they need. They need role models in this game, too. You may not be able to shoot it or score like Harden did, but Harden has to show an effort, a desire. Like I'm watching. In the series against Detroit, there was a turnover that happened. And this may sound picky, but James had no desire of getting back in transition because he turned the ball over. It was just like, well, let him score. We'll get it back. That's not the attitude that you want to have when it comes to building a culture and making sure it succeeds. You want that person that, you know what, dog? I turn that ball over, let me sprint back because that's the least I can do because I turned it over.
- [44:47]
Bomani Jones
Well, how hard is it? And I mean, and I asked this, not even rhetorically, but like, to keep that going in those series when you're down, because one thing that is interesting about that spurs run is there's a lot of championships and also some series where you guys took like you, you took some bad ones, right? How hard is it to keep dialing it up at the end? Like take 01 for example, against the Lakers.
- [45:09]
Bruce Bowen
It's one of those things, Bomani, you have to, this is what you, this is what you live for. It's your passion and it's, it's something that I truly love. So it's not hard for me to get up for something that I truly love. I'm going to give you this one. When we go to, I think it's 08, we go to game seven in New Orleans. Now we had a belief because they were up and coming. Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler at the rim, you know that group, they were good. And there were moments where we're like, we did all our co, we got to find something. And it just got to the point where it's like, hey, let's make sure no matter what, we leave it all out on the floor. Where at the end of the day we win. Great, we lose, we're happy with how we play. No one can rewind this and say, oh, look at here, Tony didn't even go after that ball like he could have. The only part that I will say was a sham was the fact that we had to sleep on the plane after that game because all of a sudden we couldn't get to LA and get our rest and things. But that sounds like I'm making an excuse. So I'm still dealing with a little trauma with that. I wish, I wish we could have gotten out of town and gotten a proper 5 star hotel rest as compared to the first class on the plane rest.
- [46:44]
Bomani Jones
Let me tell you something, I understand the point you're making right there and I also understand the audience believes that that is the most response ever that they've ever gotten right? But that that play, sleep don't be the same no matter what the plane is, man.
- [47:00]
Bruce Bowen
We ate good, we ate good. We had some restaurant from New Orleans so we ate good, but we slept on the plane. Then we leave early in the morning, get to LA in that late morning. It is one of those things that it's a great problem to have. I rather be on that side of it as compared to on the Hornet side. But again, you just have to get up for those things and make sure you exhaust all possibilities. And you know what Bomanik, this may be an issue too is that maybe James hasn't been held accountable so he doesn't know that he's not getting back in transition. That could be a situation, too, man.
- [47:52]
Bomani Jones
I want to ask you one last thing before we get out of here. Back to Spurs Thunder. Do you think the spurs can dial it up and at least push it to seven?
- [47:59]
Bruce Bowen
Yes, I do. You come home, you. I don't want to take care of business and all that. No. But again, the numbers don't lie. Bench points, 60 points a game. They're averaging 60 points per game. Game five, the bench did not have the impact that they've had throughout this series. So that. Take care of the basketball. Got to take care of the basketball. And we still haven't put together, Bomani, a game where we are scrambling, getting here, getting to that shot, getting to that shot, and then the shot goes up and going to get the rebound. We still haven't had that type of game yet where it's multiple times where we're getting stops and going down on the other end and scoring. We haven't had that complete game just yet. And that's why I'm optimistic. I know this young group. I know how they bounce back, and I'm thrilled about it. I mean, I'm excited. Bomani. I see these guys, man, I'm like, y' all don't know how proud a lot of the old heads are of y'. All. And, you know, I just. I look forward to continuing the process of sharing. Hey, you guys are doing such a tremendous job, but you got to go through these, these. These growth moments. It doesn't feel good. But you have to receive what's going on right now because it definitely is going to make you a better individual.
- [49:33]
Bomani Jones
Tell you, man, this has been the series I'd waited for all year long, and it has been like, even the games that haven't been close, every game has been worth watching. And these boys are going hard, and they clearly don't like each other very much.
- [49:46]
Bruce Bowen
I wouldn't say. I wouldn't say don't like each other. I think that's a narrative that people always want to put when it's great competition where there is nobody backing down from one another. It's not. It's not about. See, this is what I'm accustomed to, you know, this with, with Kobe. Kobe didn't care for me on the floor, and I didn't care for him. But we respected one another because of the craft. And now after the game, after the series, we can dap it up. And, yeah, somebody's going to be a little more disappointed because one's Moving on and others not. But we still have respect. And now you take me to this Bomani. You owe that to the game. When you are competing against the best in the world, you owe it to the game to give your all. It ain't about I, dog. Go ahead. Oh, that was a nice move. No, you get here, you get to that spot, and you. You take the hit with your chest. Then you go ahead and you attack. You know, again, I'm talking about Steph. Now, Castle, he going up vertical, taking in the chest, and he get. He get a foul call on him. And what does he do? He just gets stronger. He doesn't back off. He doesn't. Well, you know, they called a foul on that one. Now, I have to. No, he makes sure he does his work a little earlier. And at the end of the day, give me that each and every day. Because I understand the culture of what this spurs group is. That's why I rock with them. I don't know the culture of okc. I've seen what they've done. I respect what they've done. But I know the culture here. It's just like back in the day, someone said, oh, Bruce, would you rather have a key or Alonzo or Tim? Give me Tim all day, every day. You know why? Because we won championships together, number one. But number two, I know how he operates in the midst of tough times. I. I know how he centers himself. I know how he goes. And now, you know, you're gonna get about 25 and 15. I know that. I don't know what others do. I don't know that for others. So, you know, people call me Homer and all that good stuff. Say what you want. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words will never hurt me.
- [52:12]
Bomani Jones
That felt very personal when you did the pointing and said your words. That felt very much was that little aggressive.
- [52:18]
Bruce Bowen
It just.
- [52:19]
Bomani Jones
It felt pointed. You understand what I'm saying?
- [52:22]
Bruce Bowen
Like, you received it and it was meant for you. And, you know, this is where sometimes I have to be better. That's why I go to therapy.
- [52:32]
Bomani Jones
Yeah, it was received. I got it right here. I had to get my hands up, you know what I'm saying, to stop it from hitting me like, dead in the chest. But I got it. I got. Had a little heat on it, but it was. It was just. It was a completion, you know?
- [52:42]
Bruce Bowen
Okay, back up then. Back up.
- [52:46]
Bomani Jones
You back up what I thought. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, that is Bruce Bowen, the coach of Bowen select not to be confused with Bowen Elite. Cause y' all ain't got it like that. That's what that man told them. My brother. I appreciate it, man.
- [53:08]
Bruce Bowen
Absolutely, brother.
- [53:09]
Bomani Jones
All right, man. Ladies and gentlemen, thanks so much for joining us here on the Right Time. We do this four days a week. Ryan Brumbley handled everything behind the scenes. Thank you, sir. Hit the voicemail line. 323-59-67767. Remember, follow the Right time. Subscribe like, rate us, review us, give us five stars. You only give us four stars. I'm inclined to believe you are a hater. And I'll talk to you guys in a couple of days. Take it easy.