Fatherhood a breeze for Bowen, facing James still a challenge

Jun 9, 2007 - 10:52 PM By Anthony Olivieri PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - Compared to guarding LeBron James, fatherhood is easy for Bruce Bowen.

Bowen has the unenviable task of defending James throughout the young superstar's first trip to the NBA Finals. With the help of his swarming San Antonio Spurs teammates, Bowen limited James to just 14 points on 4-of-16 shooting in Thursday's Game One victory.

But heading into Game Two, Bowen spent much of his time in an unusual spot - at a local hospital.

The veteran forward and his wife, Yardley, had their second child, Ozmel, on Saturday morning, less than an hour before practice. It had been a whirlwind stretch for Bowen, who was unmistakably appreciative of his growing family.

"I'm blessed to be playing this game, and that's what it is - a game," said Bowen, who had his first child, Ojani, in September 2005. "Basketball is a game, and the one that went through all the work is my wife. I'm just so proud of her and the process that women go through when it comes to child-bearing. It's nothing easy."

Ironically, Bowen has something in common with James, whose girlfriend, Savannah, is expecting their second child in the next week or so. James doesn't believe he will be able to take advantage of Bowen's recent sleep deprivation.

"I think it's a great time for him and his family, and it's not going to take away from nothing that he does on the basketball court," James said.

Bowen arrived at the AT&T Center in the middle of the team's film session, participated in practice and met the media with the hospital band still around his wrist.

The defensive demon did not rule out the possibility of missing Sunday's contest but received plenty of support from his wife.

"My wife said, 'Look here, if I go into labor on the day of the game, I want you to go to the game,'" Bowen said. "I was prepared to miss the game, but if she OKs it, then that's all that matters."

Bowen even doled out some free relationship advice.

"For all you single men here, once you get married, you realize it's not just you that runs things," said Bowen, who emphasized his family-first attitude. "She runs things."

On Thursday, Bowen was running things. He was running James into second and third defenders and making things miserable for the superstar swingman. But he expects James to adjust as he has at the outset of all three previous playoff series.

"I think we did a pretty good job on him," Bowen said. "At the same time, you don't know what's going through his head, so you have to respect what he's saying. But that doesn't in any way slight us, as a player of his caliber, that's what he has to do (adjust)."

Often labeled a dirty player, Bowen will do whatever it takes to stay in front of James, whose size, speed, agility and raw talent still call for using every trick in the book.

There is no doubt James is the one who will have to do some fine-tuning. According to Cavaliers reserve guard Eric Snow, Bowen has the ultimate advantage - a slew of teammates who are as passionate about defending as he is.

"(Bowen's) gonna play hard and he's gonna compete," said Snow, a gritty defensive player himself. "He's a terrific defender, and their team is a terrific (defensive team). He does a good job of fitting into their game plan.

"But I don't think Bruce Bowen feels like he's out on an island with LeBron James because (the Spurs) wouldn't be considered a great defensive team if that were the case."

And whether Bowen is taking fatherhood or defending James, it is always nice to have some help.