kolko
02-25-2006, 01:25 AM
Barry helps rally Spurs by Grizzlies
Web Posted: 02/25/2006 12:11 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — And from the The-Best-Trades-Are-The-Ones-You-Don't-Make Department ...
A day after he was nearly shipped to New Orleans, Brent Barry pulled on his Spurs uniform Friday night and delivered a spirited performance that should make his employers happy he's sticking around.
With Barry contributing seven points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, the Spurs overcame a 13-point deficit in the first half then hung on to beat Memphis 83-80 at FedExForum.
"It's a privilege to be playing in the NBA, but to be part of this team goes above and beyond that," Barry said. "Regardless of what happened or what didn't happen, I'm still here and I want to win games."
The Spurs won. Barely. After Bruce Bowen's 3-pointer with 1:24 left hiked the Spurs' lead to 76-66, they missed three free throws, threw away a pass and watched the Grizzlies bury three consecutive 3-pointers.
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Suddenly, Memphis forward Hakim Warrick was standing at the foul line with 2.5 seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game. He made his first free throw, but watched the second skip out. After Nazr Mohammed grabbed the rebound, Warrick buried his head in his hands.
Mohammed made both his foul shots and Shane Battier threw away a long inbounds pass to allow the Spurs to escape. After watching his team nearly give away its second game in nine days — the Spurs wasted a four-point lead in the final 10 seconds of regulation to lose in Philadelphia — coach Gregg Popovich was not pleased.
"You always appreciate every win," Popovich said, "but the last minute of that one was pretty pathetic."
Popovich did find time to mention a few positives. Tim Duncan, despite missing five free throws in the final quarter, continued to look refreshed from the All-Star break, totaling 19 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. The Spurs' defense also was good enough to provoke a season-high 24 turnovers from the Grizzlies and limit them to a franchise-record low 56 shots.
"We were guarding wonderfully," Popovich said. "Our shots started to fall. I was actually pretty happy with the game."
Barry had more than a little to do with that, which came as somewhat of a surprise considering how close he came to not even boarding the team's flight here. Spurs officials told him Thursday to not bother going to the airport because they were close to trading him for Hornets guard J.R. Smith.
The deal began to unravel around an hour before the NBA's 2 p.m. deadline. When the Hornets acquired Marc Jackson and Linton Johnson III for Bostjan Nachbar in a trade with New Jersey, they no longer had the salary-cap room needed to absorb the difference between Barry's and Smith's contracts.
The Spurs and New Orleans tried to get Atlanta involved to help facilitate the trade, but couldn't get it done in time.
From the moment he learned he might be traded to the time Popovich phoned back to tell him the deal was off, Barry had almost four hours to wonder about his future.
"I wish there had been a local bar that was open," he said, "but it was 10 in the morning."
The trade would have allowed the Spurs to get younger and more athletic, as well as relieved them of the two seasons and $11 million on Barry's contract. But there also was some sentiment that the deal also would weaken the team for this season.
On Friday morning, Popovich said he wasn't worried how Barry would respond.
"If he can turn it the right way in his head and make a motivation, it can be a positive," Popovich said. "I think he's going to be fine."
Barry's 20 minutes were his most in almost a month. For the past few weeks, he has had to scrap for time behind Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley and Bruce Bowen. The near trade, he said, made a difficult situation "that much more difficult."
For now, he'll try to stay positive. And stay ready.
"It's obviously been a tough 48 hours, but ... I'm just going to fight," he said. "Anybody who's a professional athlete is a competitor. At this point, that's what it's about for me: competing and trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get."
Link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022506.1C.BKNspurs.grizzlies.gamer.21ea752b.ht ml)
Web Posted: 02/25/2006 12:11 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — And from the The-Best-Trades-Are-The-Ones-You-Don't-Make Department ...
A day after he was nearly shipped to New Orleans, Brent Barry pulled on his Spurs uniform Friday night and delivered a spirited performance that should make his employers happy he's sticking around.
With Barry contributing seven points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, the Spurs overcame a 13-point deficit in the first half then hung on to beat Memphis 83-80 at FedExForum.
"It's a privilege to be playing in the NBA, but to be part of this team goes above and beyond that," Barry said. "Regardless of what happened or what didn't happen, I'm still here and I want to win games."
The Spurs won. Barely. After Bruce Bowen's 3-pointer with 1:24 left hiked the Spurs' lead to 76-66, they missed three free throws, threw away a pass and watched the Grizzlies bury three consecutive 3-pointers.
Input File ContentThe given include file is empty.
Suddenly, Memphis forward Hakim Warrick was standing at the foul line with 2.5 seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game. He made his first free throw, but watched the second skip out. After Nazr Mohammed grabbed the rebound, Warrick buried his head in his hands.
Mohammed made both his foul shots and Shane Battier threw away a long inbounds pass to allow the Spurs to escape. After watching his team nearly give away its second game in nine days — the Spurs wasted a four-point lead in the final 10 seconds of regulation to lose in Philadelphia — coach Gregg Popovich was not pleased.
"You always appreciate every win," Popovich said, "but the last minute of that one was pretty pathetic."
Popovich did find time to mention a few positives. Tim Duncan, despite missing five free throws in the final quarter, continued to look refreshed from the All-Star break, totaling 19 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. The Spurs' defense also was good enough to provoke a season-high 24 turnovers from the Grizzlies and limit them to a franchise-record low 56 shots.
"We were guarding wonderfully," Popovich said. "Our shots started to fall. I was actually pretty happy with the game."
Barry had more than a little to do with that, which came as somewhat of a surprise considering how close he came to not even boarding the team's flight here. Spurs officials told him Thursday to not bother going to the airport because they were close to trading him for Hornets guard J.R. Smith.
The deal began to unravel around an hour before the NBA's 2 p.m. deadline. When the Hornets acquired Marc Jackson and Linton Johnson III for Bostjan Nachbar in a trade with New Jersey, they no longer had the salary-cap room needed to absorb the difference between Barry's and Smith's contracts.
The Spurs and New Orleans tried to get Atlanta involved to help facilitate the trade, but couldn't get it done in time.
From the moment he learned he might be traded to the time Popovich phoned back to tell him the deal was off, Barry had almost four hours to wonder about his future.
"I wish there had been a local bar that was open," he said, "but it was 10 in the morning."
The trade would have allowed the Spurs to get younger and more athletic, as well as relieved them of the two seasons and $11 million on Barry's contract. But there also was some sentiment that the deal also would weaken the team for this season.
On Friday morning, Popovich said he wasn't worried how Barry would respond.
"If he can turn it the right way in his head and make a motivation, it can be a positive," Popovich said. "I think he's going to be fine."
Barry's 20 minutes were his most in almost a month. For the past few weeks, he has had to scrap for time behind Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley and Bruce Bowen. The near trade, he said, made a difficult situation "that much more difficult."
For now, he'll try to stay positive. And stay ready.
"It's obviously been a tough 48 hours, but ... I'm just going to fight," he said. "Anybody who's a professional athlete is a competitor. At this point, that's what it's about for me: competing and trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get."
Link (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022506.1C.BKNspurs.grizzlies.gamer.21ea752b.ht ml)