Jon Barry, ESPN: Are The Best Years Behind The Suns And Spurs?

[LionZion]

Jon Barry insults the Spurs by acting like the Suns and Spurs are equivalent in any way.

It's almost a certainty that the Spurs best years are behind them...the years behind them produced 4 championships. I doubt we'll be winning another 4 any time soon. Even if we repeat this year and next the Spurs best years will still be behind them right now. It would take 5 championships in the immediate future for their best years to be ahead of them.

The Suns OTOH have done squat....it's not going to take much for their best years to be ahead of them...a single finals appearance would do it...or it would at least tie their best years.


Jon is the Barry that needs to shut his hole.

[NFGIII]

It's Jon Barry so what do you expect? He has pretty much underrated the Spurs for as long as I can remember. He gets on the bandwagon only after the fact.
He never gives the Spurs the props they deserve.

[MateoNeygro]

This just in the Suns suck. Thanks Jon Berry, your insights are very thought provoking and valid.

[Indazone]

Is he bitter that we didn't resign his brother

Jon Barry is a Rocket, he's the one alone with his father Rick who convinced Brent to come to Houston.

[Indazone]

And yes, Jon is a bit of a homer. That's why I prefer guys like Marv Albert even though he's a for his personal life.

[peskypesky]

Jon Barry is a . Has been. Always will be.

[balli]

I always liked Barry as a player, especially after that game a few years back where he jumped into the stands and pretended to take a swig from a beer cup. It's a shame that he ended up being such a db on tv.

[ploto]

With the injuries yet again to Manu and the peristent problem with Duncan's knee, I think the best years of those two are behind them- and hence the Spurs, as well. Does not mean the Spurs will not continue to be very good, they just won't be as good as they have been.

[rayray2k8]

He's just pissed because the spurs booted his brother...
Damn cry baby.

[TampaDude]

Hey Jon...suck it...suck it long, and suck it hard...



'nuff said!

[The_Game]

Hey Jon...suck it...suck it long, and suck it hard...



'nuff said!

Stop acting like a little girl

nothing barry said was wrong....he even stated spurs still have a great chance to win it all.

[Rummpd]

Jon Barry is no rocket scientist and overvalues Amare in particular. The Suns appear to be if anything better without him as they play defense better.

As for the Spurs, if all three stars healthy his assertation that the Spurs cannot beat the LAL in a series is totally inane.

[TampaDude]

Stop acting like a little girl

nothing barry said was wrong....he even stated spurs still have a great chance to win it all.

Bite me...it's not just about that one article...

[Duncan2177]

Jon Barry is a idiot.

[Galileo]

Are The Best Years Behind The Suns And Spurs?
By Jon Barry
ESPN.com

The news on Amare Stoudemire this week was devastating for the Phoenix Suns. Had he been healthy, I think, they would have made the playoffs with relative ease. He is so important to that team. He's a guy who can put up 25 points and 10 rebounds a night without question, and they don't have the personnel to survive his season-ending injury.

Shaquille O'Neal has done what he can do to make up the difference this season, but they just don't have enough, really. I said a few days back that this week's four-game road trip would probably eliminate them. Even a win against the Spurs won't do much for their confidence. They had a great win against the Lakers on March 1 and couldn't really build off that, so I just don't see it for them this season. They added Stromile Swift to their roster recently but I don't think he'll make much of a difference.

The Spurs are a whole different story. I think Drew Gooden could turn out to be one of the bigger late-season acquisitions in the league. He fits their system perfectly. He's a guy who can stretch the defense out to about 20 feet, since he's a quality shooter from that range. He can rebound the basketball, and he can defend, too. Matt Bonner stepped in and did a great job at that 4 spot for them, but he can't rebound or defend the way Gooden can. It wouldn't surprise me to see Gooden starting soon, but either way, they've strengthened their rotation in a major way.

Next season doesn't look a lot brighter for the Suns. I think their best basketball for this current nucleus of players may be behind them. If Shaq were able to duplicate his play from this season, I'd be really surprised. Steve Nash certainly hasn't had the impact he once had. I don't think much of a window is left for them, and with their salaries, they don't appear to have much maneuverability, either. Unless they can move Shaq, who is on the books for $21 million, I don't know who they'll be able to add to improve themselves.

I would say that the Spurs also have probably peaked as a unit with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but they still are in much better shape than Phoenix. While they may have fallen off a bit, their best could still be enough to win an NBA le.

I've sensed somewhat of a change in their style. This used to be a lockdown defensive team. You'd see a lot of games with scores in the 80s. They would slow the tempo and be very hard to score against.

Now they are looking a little more like an up-tempo team. I think Gregg Popovich realizes that the goal for everyone in the Western Conference has to be to beat the Lakers. The only way the Spurs will do that is by improving their offense. I think that's why there were serious talks about bringing Vince Carter to San Antonio. I really think that was close to happening. They wanted to get more athletic and offensive. Ultimately, that's why they ended up with Gooden.

They haven't stopped playing defense, but if you look at the numbers, they are nowhere near what they have been in the past decade. The style they are playing now is easier on them physically as well.

All that being said, I can't see them beating L.A. in a playoff series. I know Ginobili was hurt when the Lakers beat them in five games in last season's Western Conference finals, but they just seemed to run circles around the Spurs. Even without Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are better, and I'd have to take them again in the West this season.

It is easy to explain the Spurs defensive numbers:

We have subs uted a defensive big man (Oberto) with an offensive big man (Bonner) in the starting linuep.

[Michi_Germany]

jon barry is a idiot.

+1

[GSH]

Speaking of "best years behind you"... wouldn't it suck to be Jon Barry? Knowing that your best years were behind you, and they sucked?

Is it any wonder that he is always in such a bad mood?

[Austin_Toros]

Jon Barry is no rocket scientist and overvalues Amare in particular. The Suns appear to be if anything better without him as they play defense better.

As for the Spurs, if all three stars healthy his assertation that the Spurs cannot beat the LAL in a series is totally inane.

I think you're right; a healthy spurs team can beat the Lakers.

But there is not doubt that the Suns heyday is over. A future with Shaq and the ever slowing down Nash and Hill does not look bright.

[JWest596]

I would say that the Spurs also have probably peaked as a unit with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili

While they may have fallen off a bit, their best could still be enough to win an NBA le.

Don't get decisive Jon. Play the fence

[DrHouse]

The big question mark for the Spurs going forward is the health of their Big 3.

When they are healthy there is no question the Spurs are a top tier team that can beat anyone.

I think for them to remain compe ive they need to find replacement talent for Manu. It's looking like his ankle injuries may force him into retirement sooner rather than later.

[TampaDude]

the big question mark for the spurs going forward is the health of their big 3.

When they are healthy there is no question the spurs are a top tier team that can beat anyone.

I think for them to remain compe ive they need to find replacement talent for manu. It's looking like his ankle injuries may force him into retirement sooner rather than later.

^ this

[objective]

what's wrong with what Barry wrote with regards to the Lakers?

Even without Bynum I'd expect the Spurs to be underdogs even with Ginobili and Gooden, and the betting lines will reflect that. Moreso if Bynum gets back.

[turiaf for president]

jon hates the lakers just as much. as a fan of the lakers tho i do have to agree with him. i think the lakers are just too deep for the spurs. but hey they gotta play the games and anything can happen....especially with TD and pop leading the way

[DrHouse]

I agree I just don't see this Spur team going all the way.

With Bynum available even their Big 3 at full strength isn't going to be enough. Bynum allows the Lakers to single cover Duncan, which greatly limits their effectiveness offensively. It means Kobe can divert all his attention to stopping Manu.....and if Manu doesn't shoot the lights out the Spurs lose. Too many things have to go right for the Spurs to win 4 out of 7 against a healthy Laker team.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Is he bitter that we didn't resign his brother

You bet he is. He used to talk about the Spurs as if the whole team and organization were Greek Gods. After his brother signed with Houston he has been down on the Spurs. Screw him! He wasn't even a good player when he played. Actually was known as a joke by many. Not in his brother or dad's category.