Brent Barry's deep thoughts by Marc Stein

[Manu20]

Brent Barry's deep thoughts
By Marc Stein, ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2005/dailydime

After mighty struggles in Round 2 against the Sonics, Barry was mighty good on Sunday: 21 points, 8-for-12 shooting, five 3s, and three steals.PHOENIX --

There was a time, many months back, when the name nominated for Best Free Agent Signing O' The Summer was rarely Steve Nash.

It was usually Brent Barry.

Barry, not Nash, was the guy widely billed as the missing piece for a championship contender. Even more than the eventual MVP of the whole league, Barry was initially seen as the potentially perfect fit for his new team.

It took only 100 games or so for Bones to dislodge the weight of those expectations.

It finally happened for the slender shooter in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals -- Game 104 of the season for the San Antonio Spurs, counting exhibitions. After two weeks of self-loathing throughout a nightmare series against his former employers from Seattle, Barry dropped 21 clutch points Sunday, including back-to-back triples inside the final five minutes to stretch a two-point Spurs lead to eight. Despite a wrecking-ball 41 points from Amare Stoudemire and a ho-hum 29 points and 13 assists from Nash, the Phoenix Suns never got closer than six thereafter in a 121-114 defeat.

"A lot of people have talked about a lot of the things I'm supposed to bring to the table for this team," Barry said. "This year, I've been battling and trying to get out of my own way. For at least an afternoon I was able to do that."

Barry watched with envy in the previous round when Nash somehow outshined his new MVP trophy by playing the series of his life against his old pals from Dallas. Bones would have settled for a fraction of that performance against the Sonics but didn't manage even that, regressing to the point that he was pulled from the starting lineup before Game 5 and replaced by Manu Ginobili.

The struggles sapped Barry of what little confidence he had left after a regular season that didn't go much better. After shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 45.2 percent on 3-pointers in his final Sonics season, Barry slumped to 42.3 percent and 35.7 percent in those categories as a Spur.

Horry (whose 12 big points included this monster slam) and Barry did nothing to dispel the conventional wisdom that the San Antonio bench will make the difference in the series for the Spurs.Yet Barry never lost the support of his teammates. He told Tim Duncan before Sunday's series opener, "I owe it to you guys to play well." Duncan told Barry to relax and stop beating himself up, and Robert Horry offered a similar message.

"I told him, 'I know how you feel,' " Horry said, recalling his own failures last spring in an emotional second-round showdown with the Lakers after leaving Hollywood for South Texas. "He wanted to beat them more than anything. I told him: 'Now the pressure's off. We got this off your back.' "

Barry and Horry then proceeded to combine for 7-for-12 shooting from long distance and 33 points overall in today's Game 1. That helped keep the lane open for the Spurs' two hobbling stars -- Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili -- to combine with Tony Parker for a whopping 77 points.

The challenge now, of course, is doing it more than once, but Barry was cautiously hopeful in the victorious locker room. He thinks he knows what he's been doing wrong -- pressing -- and believes that Sunday's 13-point salvo in the fourth quarter "can cure a lot of ills" floating in his head.

Whether it does or doesn't, you needn't worry about Barry losing his All-Star sense of humor, heavily self-deprecating and treasured here in Dimedom. Asked if he's been trying too hard all season, Barry said: "Gee, lemme think."

[Kori Ellis]

He thinks he knows what he's been doing wrong -- pressing -- and believes that Sunday's 13-point salvo in the fourth quarter "can cure a lot of ills" floating in his head.

Whether it does or doesn't, you needn't worry about Barry losing his All-Star sense of humor, heavily self-deprecating and treasured here in Dimedom. Asked if he's been trying too hard all season, Barry said: "Gee, lemme think."

At least Barry keeps his sense of humor. The Spurs tried hard to not put pressure on him this season (despite what some posters may think) and I guess he just was pressing himself way too much and not able to ever snap out of the funk.

Here's to you, Brent Barry.

Now keep it up in Game 2.

[timvp]

He thinks he knows what he's been doing wrong -- pressing -- and believes that Sunday's 13-point salvo in the fourth quarter "can cure a lot of ills" floating in his head.

Whether it does or doesn't, you needn't worry about Barry losing his All-Star sense of humor, heavily self-deprecating and treasured here in Dimedom. Asked if he's been trying too hard all season, Barry said: "Gee, lemme think."

So Barry admits to pressing and not playing up to his abilities, yet Whottt says that Barry is playing fine and it's all Pops fault that Barry has played poorly. Billion Barry basically backed up everything I said about him all year. He was pressing, playing scared, getting in his own way and thinking too much.

But playing a team who is not going to guard the perimeter can break any shooter out of his slump.

[SPARKY]

Despite a wrecking-ball 41 points from Amare Stoudemire and a ho-hum 29 points and 13 assists from Nash, the Phoenix Suns never got closer than six thereafter in a 121-114 defeat.

Spurs took the Suns' best shot and dropped them.

[spurschick]

[timvp]

Here's my version...

[NeoConIV]

Also from the ESPN site...

Play of the Day
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio: Ginobili banked in a halfcourt heave at the first-quarter buzzer, but that only partly explains the shot's appearance here. More indicative of how San Antonio operates was the animated scolding Gregg Popovich gave Beno Udrih for not heeding defensive instructions. While Manu was receiving congratulations for his good fortune, Udrih was getting an earful.

[spurschick]

Here's my version...

[Tek_XX]

Who needs to put pressure on Barry, the dudes a highly paid professional basketball player who didn't play well for a good chunk of the season. He provides all the pressure he needs.

[whottt]

So Barry admits to pressing and not playing up to his abilities, yet Whottt says that Barry is playing fine and it's all Pops fault that Barry has played poorly. Billion Barry basically backed up everything I said about him all year. He was pressing, playing scared, getting in his own way and thinking too much.

Barry hasn't made a ing excuse this season for anything and has always shouldered the blame...that's called having character...something you and every member of the board have accused him of not having...

He's struggled to adjust to this team and it's offense and you guys have ripped him brutally for it...

It is the way he has been used...it is the Spurs offense...do you expect a high character player to come out and badmouth his coach and his team....no matter how he feels he should be used?

I never said he was't trying...I never said he didn't care...you guys said that.

And that's part of the reason I said starting wouldn't fix him...

You guys thought he was Hedo...did Barry every say he needed to start to play well because he was worried about his contract?

No he didn't...

I consider it a mark of high character...you guys consider it being a choking .


The fact that he has struggled mightily yes has shaken off confidence issues and stepped up in the hardest parts of the season and often in the biggest games of the season, without Tim Duncan...proves his character...those are the times when he has played his best.


Barry can bash himself and you guys can bash him, but he's still had a positive effect on this team all season...

But playing a team who is not going to guard the perimeter can break any shooter out of his slump.

Tell that to Dirk Nowitzki...

[Dex]

I can finally be happy with my avatar again.

[T Park]

boy the truth comes out and Whottt still blames the coaching.


I hope we win it all this year, and guess what happens, Whottt wouldnt give a lick of credit to the coaching staff what so ever.


it.

[stéphane]

Here's my version...

oh timvp this caption's awesome...
LMFAO haha can't stop

[whottt]

boy the truth comes out and Whottt still blames the coaching.


I hope we win it all this year, and guess what happens, Whottt wouldnt give a lick of credit to the coaching staff what so ever.


it.

Not true...try reading the forum lately...I gave him credit for todays win...I gave him credit in a loss against Seattle. But I am not going to give him a free pass for blatantly dumb and predictable moves on offense.

I will rip Pop's offensive decision making...but why would I rip him for todays game? He did what I have wanted him to do all season...I haven't ripped his coaching since the 4th game against Seattle...

AFTER HE SAID IN THE PRESS THAT THE SPURS Big 3 NEEDED TO PASS OUT OF THE PAINT MORE AND LOOK FOR THEIR TEAMATES...AND LO AND BEHOLD IT HAPPENED...I WONDER WHY!

Also if you did bother reading the forum...

You would know that Barry, Horry, Duncan, Parker and Manu cons ute my favorite Spurs lineup(when it's not just sitting around watching Duncan)

Pop used that lineup down the stretch today..and you saw what it could do...he actually used it against Denver in the third when the Spurs mounted a huge comeback...


I didn't think Pop would do it...but he did..and I was very happy with him for doing so.

That lineup is the best lineup the Spurs put on the court and it was proved during the regular season via +/-...

Pop gets ripped for it because that was about the least used lineup on the team this season..any lineup with Barry and Manu in it together is a rare one...even though they play the same style of offense and played well together when Duncan was injured.

[rwb]

I'm so glad Barry finally got a good game, and hopefully that'll boost his confidence. I nearly jumped off the couch when he passed up two layups early in the game today. Good to know, too, that his teamates are backing him up...which is what I expect from the Spurs. Keep it up, Brent...we need you!

[whottt]

The funniest thing about that picture is that Barry made that shot and it was a great shot...leave it to TimVP to post a picture of Barry making a shot to try and prove he won't take an open one and is afraid of taking them...

IT's kinda like ripping him for having a positive +/-

I just hope this game won't kill TimVP's newfound love for +/-

[Obstructed_View]

Not to derail the thread, well, actually, to derail the thread...

Does anyone know why Pop was ripping Beno up one side and down the other at the end of the first quarter. I couldn't see what he did wrong on that last pick and roll. He got picked, but Nash had to hit a fade-away with a hand in his face, which is a shot I didn't think I'd mind making him take. Beno seemed to know what he had done right away, but I didn't see it. Were they supposed to do something different when Nash was running the pick and roll?

By the way, I thought it was great that Pop chewed him out and then left him in the game instead of punishing him by putting him on the bench.

[Gerryatrics]

You have to love timvp patting himself on the back when Barry has a bad game and saying he was right all along, then patting himself on the back a couple of days later when Barry has an incredible game and saying he was right all along.

Let me guess, you did support Brent Barry, before you rooted against him?

[BigVee]

No kidding, even when he gives some credit, he brushes it off as no perimeter defense by the Suns. Face it, he hates the guy.

[SWC Bonfire]

Barry will have to play some more at a high level to dig himself out of his hole.

Now's a great time to start.


I edited this because I posted in the wrong thread, it's monday. My post was in reference to Beno not fouling nash right before Manu's shot. Wrong post forum.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Poor Beno. It reminds me of the constant chew outs that he had to give Parker in his rookie year. I was just waiting for Pop to start screaming at Beno after Manu fouled Nash in the fourth quarter when he fell for an up-fake and then fell on top of Nash.

"UDRIH! WHAT THE IS GINOBILI DOING OUT THERE? ANSWER ME!!!!"

[Jimcs50]

The funniest thing about that picture is that Barry made that shot and it was a great shot...leave it to TimVP to post a picture of Barry making a shot to try and prove he won't take an open one and is afraid of taking them...

IT's kinda like ripping him for having a positive +/-

I just hope this game won't kill TimVP's newfound love for +/-

What made that shot possible was that barry has a great bball IQ. He knew that had he tried to make the shot from the left side of the basket, Amare would have smashed it back in his face. Barry took it to the other side and made the much tougher shot, because it was what was required to be successful.

Props to Barry. He loves playing against this team.

[benjirh]

But playing a team who is not going to guard the perimeter can break any shooter out of his slump.

Funny because on two of the three pointers, Barry was 2 feet behind the line because his defender was tight on him. Do they have a Bowenesque perimeter defender, no, did they guard the perimeter, yes.

[ChumpDumper]

even when he gives some credit, he brushes it off as no perimeter defense by the Suns.

On the contrary, that was the hand dealt Barry by the Suns D -- and Barry actually responded with a true shooter's mentality that on one can deny has been largely lacking all year. He hadn't shot this many threes against a decent team since, well, January against the Suns. Go figure.

[Useruser666]