Ludden: Spurs fans finally get long look at Barry

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs fans finally get long look at Barry
Web Posted: 10/11/2004 12:00 AM CDT

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...108fed7a5.html

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

With their first exhibition game still six days away, the Spurs welcomed the opportunity to scrimmage each other Sunday afternoon.

They were even more happy when a few thousand fans showed up at the SBC Center to watch.

"It was nice," guard Brent Barry said, "to hear somebody yelling in a gym besides Pop."

Barry gave the crowd plenty of reason to cheer. He made five 3-pointers during the hour-long open scrimmage, showing off the range and quick release that led the Spurs to sign him in July.

"He's a quick study and understands what we're trying to do," coach Gregg Popovich said. "He'll have to form some new habits defensively, but he's such a team player and so skilled at the offensive end that the motion and movement we're using is going to just fit him perfectly.

"He's going to make the rest of us better because he's so skilled."

After taking Saturday off, the Spurs were glad to go through their first extended five-on-five scrimmage of training camp. While most teams begin their preseason schedule early this week, the Spurs won't play their first exhibition game until Sunday in New York.

The Spurs blocked off the first two weeks of the preseason because the NBA was considering sending them to Moscow to play Utah. Those plans were scrapped after it was determined the security costs for two teams would have been too great. League officials later ended up canceling the Jazz' trip altogether because of security concerns.

As a result, the Spurs will play seven exhibition games this season instead of their usual eight.

"We've been focusing on the things we think are important for down the road rather than concerning our ourselves with having things in for the first preseason game," Popovich said. "We've been a lot more basic this year and a lot more fundamental than we ever have been, actually.

"I'm sure the guys were happy to get out of drill mode and go at each other on the court."

Popovich pitted his projected starters (Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic) against the Spurs' possible second unit (Barry, Beno Udrih, Devin Brown, Malik Rose and Sean Marks) with the other reserves split among the two squads. The teams split the first two halves before Duncan opened the six-minute overtime period with a pair of dunks and a turnaround jumper that lifted the starters to a one-point victory.

Linton Johnson III, still bothered by a left ankle injury he suffered before the start of training camp, was the only player who did not scrimmage. He probably will undergo tests on his ankle today, Popovich said.

"He's not doing very well," Popovich said. "He's recovering very slow. He's worked very hard to get back on the court, but we may have to consider sitting him for a long period of time."

Barry, meanwhile, doesn't appear to have had much trouble getting acclimated to his new team.

"I've played nine years in the NBA, so I kind of know some things that are going to work — just maybe necessarily not against the Spurs," he said. "But I do feel comfortable. Tim and Manu are taking some time to make sure their bodies are OK, but when we get in the preseason and have a chance to play together with some other combinations on the floor, that's when I'll really get excited."

In addition to his 3-point shooting, Barry also showed he still has some spring in his legs, throwing down a reverse dunk.

"I hope somebody took a picture of that," said Barry, who won the 1996 All-Star dunk contest at the Alamodome. "I'll get a few this year, but it won't be many. It will be less than Tim, but more than Tony."

Notebook: The Spurs ended the week without making any progress on a contract extension for Parker. The two sides are not close on a deal, and team officials had told Parker's agent, Marc Fleisher, they wanted talks completed by Sunday.

Though teams have until Oct. 31 to extend rookie contracts, Popovich said last week he does not want negotiations to distract from training camp. If his contract is not extended, Parker will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Despite the passing of the team's deadline, Fleisher said Sunday he hasn't completely given up hope that negotiations may resume.

Said Fleisher: "I never say never."

[Kori Ellis]

He made five 3-pointers during the hour-long open scrimmage

By my tally, he made four 3-pointers and three 2-pointers for 18 points total on the day. But there was no real scorekeeper, so who knows.

I knew Barry was going to be a good shooter, but he has a lot more than that to offer the Spurs. He made a lot of great passes. He ran the floor well. Had a couple dunks. And he carries himself with a lot of confidence.

I still miss Stephen Jackson. But I think Barry is going to be a very, very nice pickup for the Spurs.

[timvp]

Barry might shoot 70% from the three-point line this year. If he can can be automatic in Seattle, imagine with the Spurs.






P.S.

Hopefully the playoffs too.

[Kaster]

Barry was such a stellar pickup for the Spurs. I was pissed when the Spurs (instead of the Lakers) signed him, I knew the le was in the bag after that.

Basically, the only thing the Spurs need to worry about is his defense. He's 34 and has never been more than an average defender (actually, he was pretty good in his prime). But he's long and athletic, so he'll be just fine me thinks.

[TheWriter]

He doesn't need to be Bruce on D, not when you have Bruce and not to mention Duncan and Rasho in the paint swatting ball after ball.

Team defense is the key with Brent and I don't see him having a problem with that.

[xcoriate]

I heard from a sonics fan that he an average 1 on 1 defender, but a good help and team defender. So thats something. He should be compateable to parker in terms of D.

[whottt]

I read a post by a Sonics Fan that alleviated any doubts I have about Barry's D or his clutchness. He's going to be fine, excellent in others, and should challenge for 6thman of the year.

[picnroll]

I think Barry may be this years Sam Cassell, a vet who finally gets on a good team, gets a chance and some notice and ends up with an all-star berth. Gonna be a fun year.

[xcoriate]

Probably same post whottt

[exstatic]

xcoriate sez:

I heard from a sonics fan that he an average 1 on 1 defender, but a good help and team defender. So thats something. He should be compateable to parker in terms of D.

whottt sez:

I read a post by a Sonics Fan that alleviated any doubts I have about Barry's D or his clutchness. He's going to be fine, excellent in others, and should challenge for 6thman of the year.

Imagine that. whottt in love with an Aussie guard. It is a perfect alternative handle, though.

BTW, whottt, you can delete a post on edit. There is a radio button for it.

[Ginofan]

I was really impressed with Barry and how he performed in the scrimmage. He looks to be exactly what we needed. He's got his shot of course, but also his speed and court vision are huge. This has to be one of the best signings the Spurs have ever done.

[xcoriate]

Aussie guard

Ok I'll bite.

I'm going to assume the fore mentioned is Shane Heal, then I'm going to ask what he has to do with Brent Barry?

[Kori Ellis]

Basically, the only thing the Spurs need to worry about is his defense. He's 34 and has never been more than an average defender

Just for the record. Barry is 32.

[whottt]

xcoriate, don't drag excstatic out of his fantasy world, he's more entertaining this way.

Let him think he's clever...it's essential to his ID that he feel he's smart. Though as you can see from that post, sadly, he is a total idiot.

BTW, did you read the post by the Sonics fan that I did? At SR? Was a very well written post. I wanted to repost it here but lost track of it.

[ChumpDumper]

Barry was the best thing about the scrimmage by far. He looks completely excited about being a Spur. He could be a catalyst for big things this season.

[timvp]

I've had Barry down for about 24 minutes per game but after watching how much better he made the rest of the team, that might have to be raised to 28-30 minutes. You don't want to be tired for the playoffs but he might be a player that will be hard to keep off the court.

How many minutes per game would you play him?

[T Park]

28 regular season.

32 playoffs.

minutes taken away from Bowen of course.

[ChumpDumper]

April of last season was one of his best months statistically after playing 30mpg all year, so I'm not all that concerned about overplaying him.

Of course, he was out all February....

[timvp]

Bowen 27
Ginobili 30
Parker 34
Barry 28
Brown 15

I think those minutes would work out pretty well. If you can hold Ginobili's minutes around 30, that would keep him fresh for the playoffs. The only problem is that includes Barry running the backup point. If Beno breaks into the rotation, that is another 10-12 minutes you have to account for.

[ChumpDumper]

I think minutes could vary wildy according to matchups early -- especially if we're going against some tall swingmen. It's going to be interesting to see how the rotation finally settles.

[picnroll]

Unless Beno pulls a Charlie Ward and busts I can't see him not getting minutes. Spurs need to see what they have and have to have him gain some experience if for no other reason than protection should Parker go down.

[Marcus Bryant]

If Udrih's skills are as good as advertised then I think he breaks in during the season. His style of play would seem to fit in with that of Parker, Ginobili, and Barry. But I don't see Pop going with a 6 man perimeter rotation.

Maybe this is the season that Bowen's minutes go down drastically, more than just 5 minutes per game.

[timvp]

The Spurs are going to be stacked in the backcourt (I think that is the first time that has ever been said about a Spurs team ).

There is Bowen, Ginobili, Parker, Barry, Udrih and Brown. Then the coaching staff has plans for Linton Johnson III. It's going to be interesting to see who gets the minutes. There is going to be an odd man out at some point ... especially as they get closer to the playoffs.

[picnroll]

Wonder if they might trade Brown before the deadline for a draft pick or some need. Going to be hard to keep him next year anyway and hard to find minutes that he needs in a contract year.

[ChumpDumper]

Well, your closing lineup is going to be

Parker
Manu
Barry
Duncan
Rose/Horry (whoever is ing up less)

with the distinct likelihood of switching out Barry for Bowen on defense often.

Should be ok.