Kori Ellis
10-06-2004, 06:59 PM
Man On The Spot
Barry Important Acquisition
Brent "Bones" Barry might still be most famous for being the son of Hall-of-Famer Rick Barry, or for winning the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest in his warmup jacket a rookie with the Clippers.
That might change this season as he enters the basketball new year as San Antonio's biggest offseason acquisition. His game is a secret to most, since he plays on West Coast and has appeared in only 13 career playoff games in nine seasons.
A nine-year veteran, Barry averaged a career-best 5.8 assists last year, and boasted the league's second best 3-point field-goal percentage (.452). How's this for consistency? During a five-year stint he never shot less than 45 percent from the field, less than 40 percent from the arc or less than 79 percent from the line.
Season Outlook
It's hard to imagine Gregg Popovich watching the NBA Finals last season without shaking his head in disgust, kicking the coffee table, and wondering how in the world his team lost four straight to the Lakers.
Their offense went to sleep against Los Angeles, hitting just under 40 percent from the field. Brent Barry will help. An underrated all-around player in Seattle, he is one of the league's top 3-point threats and an exceptional passer, and he will get his teammates involved more than the departed Hedo Turkoglu.
Manu Ginobili, the team's top off-season priority, was re-signed. It seems there isn't anything Ginobili can't do. He runs, passes, defends, shoots, hits buzzer-beaters en route to leading his country to Olympic gold. In sum, he's a great reason to buy NBA League Pass if you don't live in San Antonio.
Pencil Tim Duncan in for 23 points and 12 rebounds a game, his career average. In the midst of his prime at 28, the NBA's Big Fundamental isn't going anywhere. The Spurs had better hope not; they were 6-7 in games he missed last season.
The rest of the names are the same: Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, Rasha Nesterovic, Robert Horry, Malik Rose all return. Devin Brown is an intriguing prospect. A bit player during the season, he was one of the team's best players against Los Angeles.
A lockout is the only thing that has kept Popovich from winning 50 or more games in seven straight years. This year will be no exception. This likeable, well-coached, one-for-all team will once again bestow a winner on the blessed fans of San Antonio. This team goes into every season thinking championship, and there's no reason to doubt.
More (http://www.nba.com/preview2004/sas.html) ...
Barry Important Acquisition
Brent "Bones" Barry might still be most famous for being the son of Hall-of-Famer Rick Barry, or for winning the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest in his warmup jacket a rookie with the Clippers.
That might change this season as he enters the basketball new year as San Antonio's biggest offseason acquisition. His game is a secret to most, since he plays on West Coast and has appeared in only 13 career playoff games in nine seasons.
A nine-year veteran, Barry averaged a career-best 5.8 assists last year, and boasted the league's second best 3-point field-goal percentage (.452). How's this for consistency? During a five-year stint he never shot less than 45 percent from the field, less than 40 percent from the arc or less than 79 percent from the line.
Season Outlook
It's hard to imagine Gregg Popovich watching the NBA Finals last season without shaking his head in disgust, kicking the coffee table, and wondering how in the world his team lost four straight to the Lakers.
Their offense went to sleep against Los Angeles, hitting just under 40 percent from the field. Brent Barry will help. An underrated all-around player in Seattle, he is one of the league's top 3-point threats and an exceptional passer, and he will get his teammates involved more than the departed Hedo Turkoglu.
Manu Ginobili, the team's top off-season priority, was re-signed. It seems there isn't anything Ginobili can't do. He runs, passes, defends, shoots, hits buzzer-beaters en route to leading his country to Olympic gold. In sum, he's a great reason to buy NBA League Pass if you don't live in San Antonio.
Pencil Tim Duncan in for 23 points and 12 rebounds a game, his career average. In the midst of his prime at 28, the NBA's Big Fundamental isn't going anywhere. The Spurs had better hope not; they were 6-7 in games he missed last season.
The rest of the names are the same: Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, Rasha Nesterovic, Robert Horry, Malik Rose all return. Devin Brown is an intriguing prospect. A bit player during the season, he was one of the team's best players against Los Angeles.
A lockout is the only thing that has kept Popovich from winning 50 or more games in seven straight years. This year will be no exception. This likeable, well-coached, one-for-all team will once again bestow a winner on the blessed fans of San Antonio. This team goes into every season thinking championship, and there's no reason to doubt.
More (http://www.nba.com/preview2004/sas.html) ...