Bearhug Defense?

[romad_20]

This is what Avery said the Spurs were playing during his postgame interview. Anyone think Mark "whiner" Cuban put him up to it? When asked to elaborant he said "If a bear came up to you and hugged you, that would be what it's like."

[RichB]

I was kind of surprised about that as well, but I doubt Cuban put him up to it.

I don't think AJ listens to Cuban much. As long as he signs the checks.

I thought he said it was a New Orleans saying..

[PHANTOM21]

irk 2 points in the 4th qt..... bowened!

[baijucb]

I didn't like Avery's post game comments. If you want to be elite coach, you should show class while on defeat also. He didn't say anything like Duncan was great or fantastic...His comment of bear hug defense on Bowen was whinning or his displeasure on Bowen.

He should watch some of the post game comments of Pop or Larry Brown to learn how to be a classic guy even on defeat.

Avery still has that "player" mentality with him.. hard to shake off...but he will in time..

[Money4Nothing]

AJ says what he feels. He doesn't sugar-coat anything. That's another reason I like him.

$

[timdunkin2000]

What about Dampier shoving Tim and Nowitzki pushing Manu? I don't agree with his comments at all.

[DizzG]

I was suprised to hear his comments

if he is going to mold his team like the Spurs and their defense...then he shouldnt B!tch about SA playing defense like they always have...and when he was with the team too

[bossu]

I'm not surprised that the Mavs are chatting it up about the officiating. To be perfectly honest, I thought Bruce was going to be whistled on that last play. I was expecting it, the way Dirk was stumblin' and bumblin' on the wing. I was pleasantly surprised to see the refs not call anything. Not that I'm saying there WAS anything, but Bruce has been called on for much LESS body contact than that.

[pollackj]

Bowen blankets Nowitzki with 'bear-hug defense'
--By Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider

SAN ANTONIO -- Bruce Bowen didn't merely drape himself all over Dirk Nowitzki's body. He also crawled into his head.

Take a look at a sampling of Nowitzki's postgame comments Sunday after he made just one basket in the fourth quarter and nearly threw the ball away on Dallas' final possession in an 87-85 loss to San Antonio in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series:

"I'm not going to get any open looks in this series. I already know that."

Or this one:

"I know I'm not going to score 35 a game in this series."

Despite standing nearly a half-foot taller than the defensive specialist assigned to guard him, Nowitzki grew increasingly flummoxed as the afternoon wore on Sunday to the point where the look on his face went from normal to quizzical to queasy.

And on the final play, when Dallas got the ball into his hands near the top of the circle, he stumbled so quickly in the face of an onrushing second defender that he fired the ball to Jerry Stackhouse in the corner rather than waiting for Stackhouse to cut to the basket as coach Avery Johnson had intended the play to unfold. Manu Ginobili deflected the pass, and Stackhouse managed only a desperation heave from the corner that missed everything to end a compelling, competitive game between the two best teams in the West.

More of the same should be in store as we move through the next two weeks. Unless, of course, the doubts in Nowitzki's head continue to rattle around up there like one of Bowen's foul shots. And with a full dose of the same close coverage coming his way for the foreseeable future, that possibility cannot be dismissed.

"It's what you call 'bear hug defense,'" Mavs coach Avery Johnson said afterward. "That's the new NBA rule. That's what's going on, and I've got to try to formulate or simulate a drill to help him. If a bear comes up to you and hugs you, what's he going to do?"

Johnson left his own question unanswered, but you don't need to be a Discovery Channel regular or a National Geographic Explorer aficionado to know what happens when a bear hugs a human.

The bear wins. And it ain't a pretty loss for the human. But Bowen wasn't bear hugging Nowitzki so much as he was pestering him like an oversized insect. He was a gnat with his hands and arms, keeping one or the other on Nowitzki at all times, grabbing and clutching occasionally, and with enough discretion, that the refs never called him on it.

We've all seen him do the same to Kobe Bryant and every other scorer in the league, most recently against Bonzi Wells of Sacramento in the latter stages of the Kings-Spurs first-round series, and now it's the big blonde German's turn to try to find a way to repel him. Bowen has guarded Nowitzki before, but never with the stakes this high.

"This has the feel of an NBA Finals," said Bowen, who shrugged it off when Johnson's bear hug comment was relayed to him. "It used to bother me. You would think you try to earn the respect of other coaches, and you'd think they'd be happy with what you do because you give 110 percent. But it's something that's said a lot, so add him to the mini-list of others who want to say stuff."

The task for Johnson in the next two days will include not only inventing a drill to simulate Bowen's defense, but also giving some serious thought to sending a few more double-teams at Tim Duncan.

The Mavs tried to stop the Big Fundamental with single coverage about 90 percent of the time -- using DeSagana Diop, Erick Dampier and DJ Mbenga -- and Duncan ate it up with a display of his offensive arsenal rarely seen during this regular season, when his scoring average was the lowest of his career.

"It was like it was in my rookie year when we were going through him all the time," Tony Parker said.

Dallas got away with leaving Parker (7-for-18) open on the perimeter, and they contained Manu Ginobili enough (15 points on 5-for-14 shooting, five turnovers) to put themselves in position to win.

Bowen's 3-pointer from the corner with 2:14 remaining gave the Spurs their final points and broke an 84-84 tie.

Six missed shots later, the game came down to one final possession, and Nowitzki was too blanketed by Bowen to finish his job as the first option.

"I knew they were going to go to Dirk, and my thing was I'm going to make this as tough as possible for him -- tougher even than his other shots. He started stumbling, and if he tries to shoot the ball stumbling it's going to be a bad shot."

But that wasn't even Nowitzki's final stumble. As he left the postgame interview podium after telling everyone how he wouldn't score 35 in the series or get any open looks, he nearly tripped over a chair while exiting stage right.

It shouldn't surprise anyone if it was Bowen who put that chair there.

Chris Sheridan, a national NBA reporter for the past decade, covers the league for ESPN Insider. To e-mail Chris, click here.

[curiousspirit]

dirk has a way of flailing his body all over the place when he is barely touched. He gets a lot of calls that way. He is worse than floppers when he does that. I am grateful that we had a veteran crew that was allowing both teams to play without whistles toward the end of the game. That should happen more often.

Well maybe bruce was just trying to hold Dirk up...

SAN ANTONIO -- Bruce Bowen didn't merely drape himself all over Dirk Nowitzki's body. He also crawled into his head.

I thought Rasho was in Dirks head at the end of the game?

[pmf]

How can he "bear hug" when he's constantly showing his hands like Bruce does. What Bruce does was taking whatever he's allowed to do by beating Dirk to his spot with quick footwork and making him turn & drive to the help side defense instead of giving him space to make a virtually uncontested jump shot. AJ should just STFU & conceded he got out coached & his team outplayed.

PF

[pollackj]

If Avery didn't have such a great history of service for the Spurs I would be pissed at his comments. As it is, I gotta cut the guy some slack. Really though, who cares?

[Spurs Brazil]

Great article

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce the real Defensive Player of the Year

[curiousspirit]

"This has the feel of an NBA Finals," said Bowen, who shrugged it off when Johnson's bear hug comment was relayed to him. "It used to bother me. You would think you try to earn the respect of other coaches, and you'd think they'd be happy with what you do because you give 110 percent. But it's something that's said a lot, so add him to the mini-list of others who want to say stuff."

Poor taste AJ, poor taste. Next we will hear Cuban complaining to the league and Bowen will start getting calls for breathing on dirk.

Why can't players and coaches accept the fact that they were well defended? I hope dirk has nightmares about Bruce's hands and feet.

[1SOTEX]

AJ was definitly crying about BB's defense, he was just doing it is a more subtle way...I'm sure he didn't want to be fined for complaining about the officiating.

[DizzG]

obviously AJ didnt learn everything from Pop

You would never hear Pop make comments like that after the game. He doesnt complain about officiating in the press conferences

[coyotes_geek]

AJ's just trying to work the officials through the media to try and gain some kind of edge. It's worthless coachspeak. As Spurs fans we're just not used to it since Pop is probably the only one in the league who doesn't try to play those games. AJ's comments are hardly anything to get worked up about.

[BlitzKriegBop]

Aww maybe little avery needs a bear hug himself? He'll need some comfort after losing this series.

[RichB]

Originally Posted by pollackj

If Avery didn't have such a great history of service for the Spurs I would be pissed at his comments. As it is, I gotta cut the guy some slack. Really though, who cares?

Originally Posted by BlitzKriegBop

Aww maybe little avery needs a bear hug himself? He'll need some comfort after losing this series.

Avery needs a MomBear Hug...

[vand3537]

AJ's just doing what phil jackson always did, blaming the refs for a loss in the hopes of getting calls in the next game.

[BlitzKriegBop]

[coyotes_geek]

^^^ awesome!!!

[constantstate]

Originally Posted by BlitzKriegBop

when dirk goes to bed tonight, bowen will be in his dreams making sure he doesnt get an open look.

[BlitzKriegBop]

The thought just occured to me... weren't they able to ward off a fierce pack of Grizzlies in the first round!?

[Jason R]

You would be pissed over a little coment like that? Get some Prozac.

[romad_20]

You would be pissed over a little coment like that? Get some Prozac.

[DizzG]

Originally Posted by Jason R

You would be pissed over a little coment like that? Get some Prozac.

who said pissed?

It is kinda funny though that AJ wants the Mavs to play defense like the Spurs but then complains when SA plays great defense

[dingal berry]

Originally Posted by BlitzKriegBop

MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE IN JUMBO SIZE!

[3 Legged Dog]

How about the refs do something about the "Push Off" offense that Dirk uses...CONSTANTLY. With his poor footwork..., I don't think that Dirk is capable of getting open without pushing off.

What about the "Prison Rape" defense used by Dampier?

Shame on Avery. The league gives his team every conceivable break (ludicrous Mav favoring schedule and his team got the benefit of the calls today).......and he complains? I guess he figures, "It worked for Phil Jackson in 2004, why shouldn't I try it? It can't hurt." Note: It DID work for Phil in 2004.

[theinswes]

Originally Posted by baijucb

He didn't say anything like Duncan was great or fantastic...

i don't think avery really can give too much credit to duncan since he knows his bigs are totally outmatched, but he's gotta try to make them feel like they can guard him. i feel like pop can do that more because the spurs players are grittier and more focues than a dampier or diop. the 3 centers are pretty new to the playoffs too.

i really didn't understand the bear hug thing, especially when every coach now says that it's easier for the perimeter players b/c of the new rules. maybe it's some slang, so i'll just give avery the benefit of the doubt.

[goodtexan]

AJ is definately trying to get some calls for next game. Bruce will be ready. If he gets two quick fouls, you will know why. I'm sure Cuban's video is already on the way to the league office.
They want Dirk to be the leader but he is not.

[spursfan9]

avery blamed himself the most.

taking a lot on his shoulders.
but he should have used that timeout he had left

[KAD]

Bear hug or not Bruce is in Dirks head and maybe now is slowly gettimng in AJ's too

[spursfan9]

i think dirks comments were good.

also, he was asked about the BearHug D, and i don't think he interpreted the way all of you did.

he didn't say anything about fouls, but simply that he's not getting any open shots, and he knows that b/c spurs are a great defensive team. he said they're focused on him and always have a guy on him even after screens and etc..
also later he said that they force him to go certain ways and when he does there's someone already there rotating etc.

from dirk's interpretation of avery's comment, all of you just WANT him to be complaining about refs/fouls etc, even though didn't seem like he was.

[tejas_woman]

There is a video on MSN Video web page. Look under Sports ....

Interview with Pop, Avery and Tony

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?f=msnhome

[scol]

A good coach gives the winning team props but goes on to talk about what they should have done to win the game...

Mavs are good and Avery is a good coach but pplleeaassee... wait your turn AJ -- SPURS want a few more trophies.

[pmf]

It's priceless to see Don Harris' facial expression when asked about AJ's whining on Bruce. He's the biggest AJ a** kisser of the local media.

PF

[telecomguy]

Originally Posted by bossu

I'm not surprised that the Mavs are chatting it up about the officiating. To be perfectly honest, I thought Bruce was going to be whistled on that last play. I was expecting it, the way Dirk was stumblin' and bumblin' on the wing. I was pleasantly surprised to see the refs not call anything. Not that I'm saying there WAS anything, but Bruce has been called on for much LESS body contact than that.

The refs werent' calling anything towards the end of the game......they let the players play. I like it like that. DOn't let the refs decide the outcome. DId you see Dirk push off on Manu? Probably if Manu didn't add to it by exaggerating the push, he might have got the foul!

As long as the ref is CONSISTENT, i have no problem.

but in general, they shouldn't call too many ticky tacky fouls.

[Marknum]

AVERY has turned into a Mavie 110%. How can we tell? He is whinning and crying like their limp wristed owner, Mark IMGAY Cuban. Dont forget their players. They all whine as well. What a bunch of Simpletons. The Mavies have really become kind of arrogant and cocky. They act like they have done something. It probably has a lot to do with the social climate in Dallas. Most of the people in this part of Texas are SOOOOO pretentious. They look at San Antonio like we are a bunch of low and mid class back woods folks. It is beyond them to have respect for the class act that our team has been over the years. And the disappointing thing here is that AVERY JOHNSON has forgotten. The dumbars has forgotten. You would think he would conduct himself differently and have his team do the same. But that aint gonna happen when you have Mr Tricycle Mark Cuban as your owner.

[pmf]

Now that Timmy will start seeing double team, expect TP & Manu to penetrate and Spurs fan will then see the real AJ when he start calling for the "hard fouls".

PF

[Marknum]

Originally Posted by pmf

Now that Timmy will start seeing double team, expect TP & Manu to penetrate and Spurs fan will then see the real AJ when he start calling for the "hard fouls".

PF

If that happens, Pop will pull out the Spurs whoopass defense and offense and embarass Avery. That kind of ball will not be tolerated. Please do that Avery, please. I for one am one Spurs fan that doesnt want to see your jersey hanging in our Arena. So please, go ahead and play the Denver/George Karl style.

[Eddy from Austin]

I wonder what kind of defense does Avery call this?

[dark21horse]

Originally Posted by baijucb

I didn't like Avery's post game comments. If you want to be elite coach, you should show class while on defeat also. He didn't say anything like Duncan was great or fantastic...His comment of bear hug defense on Bowen was whinning or his displeasure on Bowen.

He should watch some of the post game comments of Pop or Larry Brown to learn how to be a classic guy even on defeat.

Can you blame him???? I mean....Bruce contained his prized stud and shut him down when the game was on the line. That's all he could do is point that out and hope the refs give Dirk some breathing room. Damn that RASH!!!!!!

[SAScrub]

Originally Posted by Eddy from Austin

I wonder what kind of defense does Avery call this?

That's hilarious! Has there ever been a double foul called on one dude. Dumpier's got Tony by the face, and with is other hand he's got a handful of Spurs jersey.

[Eddy from Austin]

That's hilarious! Has there ever been a double foul called on one dude. Dumpier's got Tony by the face, and with is other hand he's got a handful of Spurs jersey.

his other hand is grabbing Rasho's shorts