[Blackspider972]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spur ... ewell.html

For old times, Bruce Bowen should bump into Josh Howard's wobbly ankle.

Bowen should do this, naturally, with arms spread, with the wide-eyed look of an innocent. Then he should bump into Dirk Nowitzki, J.J. Barea and anyone else who passes by.

For old times, Bowen should also walk out for the tip tonight for the first time in the AT&T Center since Nov. 28. He should start, just as he did every night for the previous seven years, just as he did for three championships.

Because this may be the last time.

Nothing is certain now, including the length of the series. As it was in 2006 against the Mavericks, Bowen might be back for a Game 7.

Summer decisions are as sketchy. The Spurs have yet to begin discussions on what to do with the roster and, with Bowen, there are several options.

They could keep him, and that would be easy enough. He's under contract next season.

But his salary is only partially guaranteed. The Spurs can buy him out for half of the $4 million he is due, then pursue someone else with the savings. Or they could trade him this summer, or they could trade him next season.

They already tried to trade him this season, and for a reason. Bowen might not be playing at all against Dallas if Manu Ginobili were healthy.

So the Spurs will evaluate, and they will repeat what they said last summer. They need to get younger, right?

That makes sense, except for this — Bowen seemingly never gets old. Earlier this month, NBA TV showed consecutive Spurs' closeout games from their championship years, and the 2003 game was striking.

Tony Parker looked like a baby and Tim Duncan like an MVP. Bowen looked the same. While other players have gone through unmistakable stages, Bowen's differences were subtle. He's lost a step, but it's difficult to see.

That's Bowen, ever the non-traditionalist. He's never been much of a rebounder, and he's never averaged double figures in scoring. Yet he deserves to have his number retired.

His defensive stats have never impressed, either. Jason Kidd, for example, has averaged almost 150 steals a season for his career; Bowen has never had more than 84 in any season in San Antonio.

Still, he chased scorers, and he irritated them. And when he sat down this season, the Spurs changed.

Sometimes they were better for it. Sometimes Roger Mason Jr. and others scored as Bowen rarely could.

But Saturday showed again what the Spurs once were with him. Inserted into the starting lineup to defend Barea, Bowen competed and brought playoff-tested toughness.

Afterward, as he left the locker room, he was asked if there was an adjustment since he had started for the first time in 70 games. He shrugged.

“I'd done it so many times,” he said.

If Bowen has complained this season, he's done it privately. But that doesn't mean he's been happy. He always defended his turf with a lot of pride, and he thinks he can still play. Bowen has told friends he will try to play elsewhere next season if the Spurs don't want him anymore.

He's also told people he will come back here to live, no matter how this ends for him. He's found a home.

So tonight means something to him, and to the franchise. If this is his last game in a Spurs uniform, it's the opening farewell to an era. Bowen will be the first of the core that won three titles to leave.

That's why he should start as he did 500 consecutive times for the Spurs, and why he should have a chance to be what he was, and why Howard's ankle should be on alert.

For old times.



bharvey@express-news.net

This is what I'm most afraid about happening the rest of the way.