Rick Barry On LeBron: 'He Has Major Flaws'

[Spurs Brazil]

Former NBA great Rick Barry had some pointed comments for LeBron James during an interview with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area that will air on Wednesday night.

"He's got major flaws in his game," Barry said. "He's six years into the NBA. How can a man six years into the NBA with his talent have a major flaw in his shot? How can he not use screens effectively? . . I watch the game very carefully - he doesn't use screens effectively and this is not LeBron's fault. It's the fault of the people who are teaching him. . . . There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron, if shown these things would do them, because he wants to be a great player, he wants to win a championship. As great as he is, he should be better."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56730/20090121/rick_barry_on_lebron_he_has_major_flaws/

[RsxPiimp]

qft rick

[JoeTait75]

Hard to disagree with any of this, even with the caveat that Rick Barry, while a great, great player, has always been a hypercritical nimrod.

On the beef about coaching: it's worth mentioning that the last coach LeBron had who really had any clue whatsoever about the offensive side of the ball was Keith Dambrot, who coached him at SV-SM and is now the head coach at the University of Akron.

Still, LeBron could do a better job looking for mentorship on his own time instead of the million other things he does that have no other purpose than to line his pockets.

[DANILO DRASKOVIC]

well, I do expect a “king” to have better FT% and 3PT%

[RsxPiimp]

those % is undeserving for a title of a king. more like a princess.

[xtremesteven33]

Its plain to see to any diehard basketball fan or basketball analyst that Lebron shooting mechanic is not good.

I do agree that i dont think his coaching staff is helping him as much. I think alot of it also has to do with the offensive system there. If it was more fast and up tempo i think Lebron could average over 30 points a game easy and he would have better looks at the basket maybe.

Imagine if he was playing for D'Antoni....35/9/10 im guessing. :wow

[KidCongo]

Hard to disagree with any of this, even with the caveat that Rick Barry, while a great, great player, has always been a hypercritical nimrod.

On the beef about coaching: it's worth mentioning that the last coach LeBron had who really had any clue whatsoever about the offensive side of the ball was Keith Dambrot, who coached him at SV-SM and is now the head coach at the University of Akron.

Still, LeBron could do a better job looking for mentorship on his own time instead of the million other things he does that have no other purpose than to line his pockets.

LeBron should train with MJ and Magic.

[JoeTait75]

LeBron should train with MJ and Magic.

Maybe we can hire Paul Pressey away from the Hornets to teach LeBron the finer points of the point-forward spot.

[de Soto]

LeBron cannot win the BIG one. That's a major flaw.

[JoeTait75]

LeBron cannot win the BIG one. That's a major flaw.

You're a douchebag. That's your major flaw.

[RsxPiimp]

You're a douchebag. That's your major flaw.

:lol

[manufor3]

You're a douchebag. That's your major flaw.

:lol

[Chief]

I dislike Rick Barry, isn't he the one who told David Robinson that if he wanted to win a championship, get out of San Antonio.

I think he persuaded Brent to leave and end his career in Houston didn't he ?

[resistanze]

Fuck Rick Barry. Free throw shooting motherfucker.

[RsxPiimp]

Fuck Rick Barry. Free throw shooting motherfucker.

yeah eff the guy who only wants lebron to improve his glaring flaw:lol

[resistanze]

yeah eff the guy who only wants lebron to improve his glaring flaw:lol
He seems to have advice for everyone. It's no wonder he was the G.O.A.T.

[Biggems]

King James looks like Queen James when it comes down to making clutch FTs. So many times, I have seen the Cavs withing grasp of a win, only to have Lebron secure the loss with those missed FTs.

I also agree with Barry that he doesn't utilize the screen properly. Two players who could show him how to do so would be Jason Terry and Roger Mason. Those guys are lethal off the screen.

[z0sa]

James has a flawed shooting form. He's probably shooting free throws the best he ever will at this point, unless he changed the fundamentals of his shot a bit. Not that it's really a bad shot, just a bit flawed.

[Biggems]

James has a flawed shooting form. He's probably shooting free throws the best he ever will at this point, unless he changed the fundamentals of his shot a bit. Not that it's really a bad shot, just a bit flawed.

when you win multiple OBriens like Duncan and Shaq, it is a lot easier to look past poor FT shooting. But when you are anointed as the 2nd coming of Jesus, and you havent won a title, much less and MVP, then poor FT shooting is definitely a huge issue.

[z0sa]

when you win multiple OBriens like Duncan and Shaq, it is a lot easier to look past poor FT shooting. But when you are anointed as the 2nd coming of Jesus, and you havent won a title, much less and MVP, then poor FT shooting is definitely a huge issue.

I agree. To most James really is the most hyped player in the NBA, but he's just as unproven as anyone. I for one, believe he has the abilities to win a couple championships before its all said and done, pisspoor free throw shooting or not.

[Borosai]

Traveling.

[DANILO DRASKOVIC]

I dislike Rick Barry, isn't he the one who told David Robinson that if he wanted to win a championship, get out of San Antonio.

I think he persuaded Brent to leave and end his career in Houston didn't he ?

I think Brent's a big boy and can make his own decisions

[flipcritic]

Fuck Rick Barry. Free throw shooting motherfucker.

LOL who has a ring. What does he know?

[mogrovejo]

Barry is 100% correct. The part about the screening is true to like 98% of the NBA outside of Utah though.

[Cane]

I wonder if Lebron would agree also.

[samikeyp]

LOL who has a ring. What does he know?

Actually Rick has two just like Brent.

And yes, Rick did say that about David Robinson which still makes him a prick to me.

[KidCongo]

Barry is 100% correct. The part about the screening is true to like 98% of the NBA outside of Utah though.

More screens in the 1st Q of a Jazz game then any other game full game in the NBA.

[Pelicans78]

Lebron is huge. I think he's too perimeter oriented. He needs to take smaller defender down low and punish them. His shooting is still suspect, but it's hard for a 6'9 275 dude to shoot jump shots off the dribble. Physics is against you. He should have more post moves like Magic Johnson, but he continues to be perimeter oriented.

[Cry Havoc]

The scariest thing is that defense used to be a flaw of none other than Michael Jordan. We saw how that worked out.

I think LeBron is one of those players that is so completely on another level of ability that he will soon be able to upgrade his game at will. Jordan saw a part of his game that he needed to work on, and fixed it. I think we COULD see the same from LBJ.

[JoeTait75]

Lebron is huge. I think he's too perimeter oriented. He needs to take smaller defender down low and punish them. His shooting is still suspect, but it's hard for a 6'9 275 dude to shoot jump shots off the dribble. Physics is against you. He should have more post moves like Magic Johnson, but he continues to be perimeter oriented.

Agreed. His future is in the low post, not on the perimeter.

[flipcritic]

Actually Rick has two just like Brent.

And yes, Rick did say that about David Robinson which still makes him a prick to me.

O yeah. Brent Barry led the Spurs to those two titles. Thanks for clarifying!

[z0sa]

The scariest thing is that defense used to be a flaw of none other than Michael Jordan. We saw how that worked out.

I think LeBron is one of those players that is so completely on another level of ability that he will soon be able to upgrade his game at will. Jordan saw a part of his game that he needed to work on, and fixed it. I think we COULD see the same from LBJ.

Didn't MJ win the DPOY in his 3rd or 4th season?

[Reck]

Ok he said major flaws.

Not using screens effectively is one. What are the other ones Barry?

[samikeyp]

O yeah. Brent Barry led the Spurs to those two titles. Thanks for clarifying!

How did you get that from my post?

[flipcritic]

How did you get that from my post?

Uh. My bad if that wasn't what you were implying. :D

I get it if you're pissed at Rick for saying what he said. He has a tempestuous and even arrogant streak at times (he even gets on his kids' nerves). I just think that he's earned the right to criticize a great player if he wants to, as he was one himself.

[samikeyp]

Uh. My bad if that wasn't what you were implying. :D

I get it if you're pissed at Rick for saying what he said. He has a tempestuous and even arrogant streak at times (he even gets on his kids' nerves). I just think that he's earned the right to criticize a great player if he wants to, as he was one himself.

I'm not saying he didn't earn it, in fact I believe he did. I was pointing out that Rick, like Brent, has two.

[flipcritic]

I'm not saying he didn't earn it, in fact I believe he did. I was pointing out that Rick, like Brent, has two.

Alright. My bad. I got confused. Must be the crack. :D

[Pelicans78]

Who thinks Lebron used some PEDs back in his high school days? I hope he didn't but I don't believe in physical phenoms anymore.

[mogrovejo]

More screens in the 1st Q of a Jazz game then any other game full game in the NBA.

True. They're so far ahead of everybody else when it comes to screening technology it's not even funny. And Boozer is amazing cutting off screens, one of the bests in the history of the game. Anyway, that's the reason why the Jazz are the funniest team to watch in the NBA and why I'm watching more Euroball every season.

[m33p0]

a post game will do wonders for him.


what do expect from a barry?

[1Parker1]

Lebron's been in the NBA for 6 years?????

[resistanze]

LOL who has a ring. What does he know?

He should take advice from Bill Wennington then, he has three!

[lefty]

Hey Rick Barry,

Call me when you'll be able to dunk and pass lile Lebron.

[tlongII]

I went to the game last night and LeBron looked pretty good offensively to me. 34 pts, 7 rebs, and 14 assists. He is a monster. Definitely the best player I've ever seen outside of MJ. You have some hope of containing Kobe, but LeBron just does whatever he wants to do.

[de Soto]

You're a douchebag. That's your major flaw.

Just being honest and direct. Playoffs will again prove me right. You losers.:lmao

[lefty]

Lebron: " Hey Rick, tell me how my ass tastes "

[CavsSuperFan]

Rick Barry is such a loser…:loser...If he played today he would not even make an NBA team…Perhaps he would not even be a factor in the WNBA…

[dirk4mvp]

Nothing wrong with constructive criticism.