Danny C. Cowan

I take analytics and use it to make your sports team run more efficiently, whether that's marketing or the front office.

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Finally, this week, I wrote about how Bruce Bowen somehow found 3-Pointers easier then free throws. This makes no sense because believe it or not, free throws are supposed to be easy for #NBA players. Read it here: https://t.co/FyZEgRDMsl

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Week 3, I wrote about Jameis Winston's 2019 seasons, where he made history as the only QB in #NFL history to throw at least 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He did that because his coach just let him chuck. Read the whole article here: https://t.co/UcJ0NjNz0Y

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Week 2, I wrote about how Ron Hunt used his body to get on base in the #MLB. He got hit by a record 50 pitches in 1971, which increased his on-base percentage from .350 to .402. Read the article here: https://t.co/mki6gU6o2L

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

I've enjoyed writing articles over the past month, as it's something I really haven't done before. The most interesting thing was probably the research I had to do. While I knew most of these weird seasons, I didn't know a lot about them, so that was interesting to learn about.

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Week 1, for the start of college football, I wrote about the #Nebraska Cornhuskers 2021 football team. Despite having a positive point differential, they went 3-9. They managed this because they lost all 9 games by under 10 points. Read the article here: https://t.co/Fm0oZye2Aa

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

If you missed any of my previous blog posts, be sure to check them out now! Over the past month, I've talked about the #NFL, college football, #MLB, and of course this week, #NBA. https://t.co/NA2qkSVbuv

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Bruce Bowen is currently the head coach at a Texas high school, and has been in that position since 2022. He also has an initiative, called "GET FIT with Bruce and Buddy", which tries to tackle childhood obesity in the San Antonio area. #NBA #Spurs #WeirdSeasonWATN

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

After Bowen retired in 2009, the #Spurs retired his jersey number in 2012, joining players like George Gervin and David Robinson. He helped lead the #Spurs to three championships as the starting small forward in 03, 05, and 07. #NBA #WeirdSeasonsWATN

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Bowen also got the reputation for being a "dirty" player in the following years, with many accusations of him purposely trying to hurt players. Although these claims can't be confirmed, it just reinforced his identity as a defense first player. #Spurs #NBA #WeirdSeasonsWATN

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

After Bruce Bowen's 2002-03 season, his free throw percentage did improve, topping out at 63.4% in 2004-05. From 2003-2009, Bowen averaged about 60% from the free throw line, which is still well below average. #Spurs #NBA #WeirdSeasonsWATN

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

One of the most impressive things about Bruce Bowen is his consistency. He managed to play in every game in all three of the #Spurs championship seasons in the 2000's, while being a physical defender. #NBA

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Perhaps the best way to display Bowen's uniqueness is through a chart with all seasons from the 2000's. You see Bowen very much stands out, at the very bottom. Most players follow the trendline, but Bowen is the exception to it. #NBA #Spurs

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

If you haven't already done so, check out my newest blog post, "Bruce Bowen Found 3's Easier than Free Throws". In the post, I talk about how for one magical season, Bruce Bowen's three point percentage was higher then his free throw percentage. https://t.co/NA2qkSVJk3 #NBA

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Another possible reason is what kind of 3's Bowen shot. According to https://t.co/dfP2vMm0wo, if he shot a 3, it was almost certainly going to be a corner 3. He shot 186 3's from the corners, and 43 from above the arc in 02-03.

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

So, why was Bowen worse at shooting free throws then threes? Well, no one knows for sure, and it's most likely due to a multitude of reasons. One explanation is that he had a low sample size of free throws, shooting less then one per game in 2003. #NBA #Spurs

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

The good news for Bowen is that he didn’t shoot that many free throws in general. He only shot 89, which ranked 218th in 2002-03. By comparison, Shaq attempted 725 free throws, or 8 times more then Bowen. #NBA, #Spurs

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

In 2002-03, Bowen was arguably the best 3PT shooter in the #NBA, leading the league in 3P%. However, he was arguably the worst free throw shooter in the league, coming in last place in FT% for all players who attempted at least 75 free throws.

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Somehow, Bruce Bowen was actually better at shooting threes then free throws in 02-03. Bowen shot 44.1% on 229 3-point attempts, and 40.4% on 89 free throw attempts. #spurs #NBA

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

Put simply, it just doesn't make sense anyone would be worse at free throws then three pointers. Free throws are uncontested shots 15 feet away from the basket, and three's are 23 feet, 9 inches (22 feet in the corners), and are usually contested shots. #NBA

[Danny C. Cowan @DannyCowanSport]

My new post, "Bruce Bowen Found 3's Easier than Free Throws" is now out. In my blog post, I talk about how Bruce Bowen's 2002-03 season just makes no sense, as his 3 point percentage was somehow better then his free throw percentage. #nba https://t.co/NA2qkSVJk3