Where's all the hate for Barry tonight?

[wildbill2u]

PicNRoll...did you notice in last nights game our offense was run almost entirely through the guards and featured a lot more transition...it makes a difference.

Maybe it's because I played PG, but I believe basketball was meant to be played with motion and transition. If there is any beauty or art in having the ball go in to a seven foot plus mountain below the basket who then dunks it, I fail to see it. The only excitement is watching how much force is used when the big man throws it down the basket. Big deal.

Without Tim Pop will be forced to change the game tactics to fit the new lineup and their strengths. It will probably be more fun to watch IMHO.

[whottt]

I'm going to avoid the plunge into stupidty with Chump here...

Pic...I don't know if you saw it or not but I posted prior to last nights game that Barry was exactly 13 3 pointers short of being a 40% shooter and he leads the team from 2...

This with Devin Brown is stupid...not only has not taken as many 3 pointers as Barry, he's just about the worst from 2 on the entire team. But everybody loves the home town boy and his dunks.

You guys are ridiculous.

Everybody liked Devin because he's exciting but he really has a negative impact on the overall team play...Barry played like this for most of the early part of the season as well as when he started early in the season...he just didn't have that kind of dunk.

He's just got a certain type of game and it's just going to take him a while to adjust to the slowdown inside out game of the Spurs. It's just the way it is...it took Steve Kerr 5 years...it took Jack 2 years...to adjust to the Spurs game. Since you guys don't want to utilize Barry's strengths, expect him to suck until he adapts to this role and offense.

Say he sucks all you want...his passing and spacing hasn't sucked all season, he doesn't take stupid shots...and most importantly...the thing that really offends me is everyone acting like he is some kind of coward...it's just hate plain and simple and there is no basis for it. He's been one of the most clutch performers on the team the entire season when given that chance.

[ChumpDumper]

Whottt, really -- do you think teams like Miami, Houston and Detroit are going to allow as much transition in the playoffs as the Hawks did last night?

[picnroll]

I don't think Devin is the answer to our prayers either but at least when he's not bringing it on O he Ds up. He's one of uthe Spurs better perimeter defenders and has even handled some guys when Bowen was having problems, guys that requires a little strength to handle.

Barry's D at very best is neutral but often even when his O is gong he can take away on the D end what he brings on the O end.

I'd kill to have Jack back for both Devin and Barry.

[whottt]

Miami doesn't do anything defensively to prevent it but they hit such a high PCT of their shots there just aren't that many opportunities...Houston is vulnerable to it...they were vulnerable to it last season and they are vulnerable to it this season...what they are not vulnerable to is a half court grind it out struggle. Screw that...that used to favor us...but I don't think it does anymore. Detroit is also vulnerable to it because they shoot at a low PCT and they are slow, no matter how good they defend. I don't expect there to be many opportunities for transition in the playoffs...But even in the half court when the ball is going through the guards and they are whizzing the ball around, Barry seems to play well in those situations...we were doing a lot of that in the early season.

What he is not good at is standing around waiting for the kick out from Duncan or some other big...at least IMO...that's when he over thinks it when he's got time to stand there and set his feet..he sucks at that. It's like it's justa timing thing or something, IMO. Last night those were quick threes he was taking, spot up or not...he wasn't holding that ball a half a second after he got it and all the defensive pressure was on the perimeter...it's not the pressure that's getting to him...it's the lack of it IMO. It's the tempo. We can't change it...but I think it's stupid to always run an inside out offense and it's usually what gets us beat in the post season. We gotta have some versatility and I think that's when and where Barry will play his best....run it through the guards some...

[whottt]

Barry's good at playing the passing lanes and stealing the ball...he's good at fast break keying type D...he just doesn't seem to have the quickness to keep up with a lot of guys on d...he's gets blown by a lot on D and he gets pushed around in the post. He is strictly an offensive player and he probably doesn't fit this team that well...but I still want to win a le this year...and if he's our guy off the bench we're gonna have to make some kind of adjustments to get more out of him...


Who knows though...in the article they posted he said he wants Duncan back so he doesn't have to work as hard to get open...maybe he's got the right mindset now and will be able to hit those spot up threes better.

[Ishta]

Nazr Mohammed for one.

Roflmao.... But very true unfortunatley.

[whottt]

Doesn't anyone else think it's odd that Barry has lead the team in scoring 2 games in a row off the bench...after Duncan and Brown are injured and with Manu gimpy.

What's the explanation? Obviously there is more pressure for him to step now with limited offensive weapons...and he doesn't seem to have a problem doing it at all...he didn't seem to have a problem hitting the pressure threes against Phoenix...it's gotta be the slowdown 4 down type offense that screws him up.

[ChumpDumper]

If he's never going to make wide-open shots from kickouts on Duncan, he has no place on this team. That's how this team won championships.

[whottt]

Yeah it's a problem. Maybe he's broken through it though. But I don't think he plays that kick out game with Duncan as well as guys like Kerr and Jack and Devin do/did, Devin is the guy who spots up like Jack. Barry seems to play pretty well when he gets time with Duncan...he seem to give Duncan a lot of good passes and he makes the 4 down pass well...but he just doesn't shoot threes well.


I think he can adjust to it, but I don't see anything that indicates he will adjust to it this year. I don't think he expected to have a problem with being more open and getting more time to shoot, I think he expected it be easier...for some guys it isn't. But we still have to try and win a le and if you want a guy to hit it you have to give it to him in his spot...well his spot is an uptempo pass where he is being active, it seems. JMO.

[picnroll]

The Spurs don't deliberately slow the offense unless it's to their advantage against better transition teams like the Suns. They've even tried to run against teams where they feel they have the advantage in a transition type game, i.e., Houston. Barry had some success in transition in the beginning of the season running with Beno and Brown. But that was the beginning of the season when teams play looser. As the season wears on teams, at least the better ones tighten up the D and make you work harder for points. Less transition, less penetration, lower percentage shots. It's been that way from th beginning of time that by the time the playoffs roll around you get by with outisde shooting loosening things up or you die. Jaren Jackson, Stephen Jackson, Steve Kerr, Mario Elie, Sean Elliott, etc. The only teams that will allow a significant part of offense in transition in the playoffs are the Suns and the weaker, less disciplined teams, mostly lower bracket Eastern tems. No transtion in round two and on in the playoffs. The way it was, is and will be. If somebody doesn't step up from the outside the Spurs are screwed. The way it was, is and will be. Mr Barry that's what you were signed up for and paid for.

[ChumpDumper]

I think Barry shoots spot-up best when he catches the ball close to the start of his natural shooting motion around his chest. When that happens he puts it up as quicky and accurately as anyone in the league. Guards are alot more likely to get it there as they are much closer (either penetrating the paint or swinging it around the arc) to him and usually aren't dealing with double teams. Duncan isn't going to get any better on his end, so it's up to Barry to incorporate those extra motions to his shot without overthinking.

[Jimcs50]

I am just glad that he got his rhythm back.

Things are looking better in the Spurs backcourt.

Now, if we can get the frontcourt up to speed

[whottt]

Now that I think about it...I don't think 4 down is why we have won any les...I think our defenses ability to make our opponents offense uglier than 4 down, and our occasional ability to overcome 4 down, is what has won us championships.

That offense sucks. It's why we got destroyed in 2001. It's why we blew a 2-0 lead last season. It's not just that a lot of shooters seem to struggle with it(all but 2 or 3 of them)...it's that our opponents destroy it and force Duncan to turn it over frequently. That offense is why we blow leads. It kills the momentum for every one but Duncan and puts enormous pressure on Duncan. I don't think Duncan likes putting the ball on the floor and having 3 guys swipe at him. Maybe that's why he wanted Jason Kidd. I personally wouldn't mind throwing some variety in there..and if you got Manu, Parker and Barry on your team you certainly have the personnel to do a few more things than 4 down. All 4 down really is is a risky predictable way of getting guys open...Duncan can fit in with anything the Spurs do...We have other ways of getting guys open with guys like Manu and Parker on this team....and a hot Barry will keep a defender glued to him and make Duncan's life easier.

I see no reason to make 4 down our cloesout offense with all the talented guards on the team. It has it's place in the scheme of things..it's old reliable, but I think we have a better shot at winning a le if the guards have more of a role in closing the game out and running the offense period...and I think Barry will respond to that and I think Duncan probably will also...so if you are going to run that 4 down type of offense then don't kick it out to Barry because he sucks at it...kick it out to Devin or Beno...but if you want to keep a fluid offense and running it through the guards, then Barry is your man.

[boutons]

"Duncan likes putting the ball on the floor and having 3 guys swipe at him"

Couldn't tell that from the frequency with which he does it, looking like an 8th grader on his first basketball scrimmage. sickening.

Pop/Tim have to come with a better way to use Tim when the paint is clogged and he's doubled.

[picnroll]

When Duncan is healthy and in and the Spurs can hit a reasonable percentage of outside shots then the Spurs unbeatable nine times out of ten because their D will take care of the other end.

If the Spurs hit the outside shot and that part of their game has to be respected then the the floor is spaced, the low post is opened up and angles of the lanes are open for driving. Spurs get the good open looks because of fear of Duncan's low post game and fear of Manu and Parkers driving. Both the low post and the drive open up outside shooters on kick outs when the other teams defense collapses. Don't hit the shots and you're dealing with a collapsed defense around low post scorers and drivers at the basket. Not a formula for success.

Inevitablely teams attack the Spurs by testing their outside shooting. If it's on the other team is screwed. Agaisnt the good teams if it's off the Spurs are generally screwed.

Stating the obvious.

[pjjrfan]

Horry's shot is falling but he really needs to pick it up on the rebounds now that Malik is gone...he can't coast anymore. I think Beno is a better rebounder right now.

Without TD that part of their game is a minus. These guys aren't good defensive rebounders, for some strange reason, maybe they just don't work hard enough. But as far as Barry goes, I think he plays better in tense game situation, he seemed really lose in that classic Sun's game and last night, in really a must win game for us, he also played well, closing out that 2nd qtr, he just dribbled up to the 3pt line and let it fly and it was nothing but net, that shot there really gave me hope.

[ChumpDumper]

I can't believe someone who jocks three point shooters more than anyone can't see that most of the Spurs three pointers in the championship seasons were a direct result of four down.

[DuncanMVP]

Barry can easily pull a Rasho and suck once TD comes back


so no need for this "Barry is back" talk


I like Barry and want him to play his best ball but Im' not going to go crazy over a performance over the worst team in the NBA

[SequSpur]

Dude, Barry dunked in traffic on an alley ooper from Parker.

I just ordered his jersey for my whole family.

[picnroll]

Sequ's entire family can wear one Barry jersey. Not surprised.

[DuncanMVP]

Dude, Barry dunked in traffic on an alley ooper from Parker.

I just ordered his jersey for my whole family.

[SequSpur]

Blow me.

[1Parker1]

LOL. Sequ...does this mean you've jumped on the Barry Bandwagon with Whott?

[Ishta]

I HOPE Barry continues with his play of the last 2 games....As for me the jury is still out..

GO SPURS GO