Barry's troubles in deep
Web Posted: 12/06/2004 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....c5a3de22.html
CHICAGO — Brent Barry has weathered the occasional slump in his 10-season NBA career. The kind of 2-for-11 night where his shot feels a little off. Or where he needs longer than usual to find his rhythm.
But this? Barry hasn't hit a 3-pointer in six consecutive games, a big 0 for 17.
With Barry still adjusting to his new team's defensive philosophies, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich recently has given some of his minutes to Devin Brown. Barry, who played six minutes in Friday's victory over Detroit, doesn't blame him.
"It's basically on me," Barry said. "It's just a mental challenge for me to settle down.
"If a guy is in a slump, nobody wants to give him a high five because they're afraid it will rub off on them.
"I'll just find my way out of it, and we'll go from there."
Barry knew there would be a transition after spending the previous five seasons in Seattle. But he thought he left his shooting woes in the preseason. He made at least one 3-pointer in 11 of the first 12 games while averaging 9.9points.
As it turned out, the worst was yet to come. For the season, he has made 29.9 percent of his 3-point attempts. He shot 45.2percent last season, second-best in the league.
More than one factor may be contributing to the decline. Barry has played most of his recent minutes without Tim Duncan, whose ability to draw double-teams opens up shots for others. He also has had to adjust to not having the ball in his hands as much as he did with Seattle.
When Barry plays with the second unit, most of his shots come out of the offensive flow. And he and Beno Udrih, the backup point guard, are learning how to play with each other.
"There's no doubt I've gotten great attempts and great looks at the basket," Barry said. "I just think I'm pressing too much and putting too much pressure on myself."
'Not going to jail'
Though Barry's easygoing nature fits well in the locker room, he can be his own worst critic. After watching Barry hang his head one too many times in Wednesday's victory over Philadelphia, Popovich gave him a pep talk.
"He needs to lighten up, get over it and realize when he misses a jumper, he's not going to jail," Popovich said. "His contract doesn't stop. He still gets to go home to his family, and life goes on.
"The sooner he figures that out, the better he'll play."
Brown was the first guard off the bench against the Sixers, but Popovich gave Barry a brief opportunity in the second quarter the past two games. He stuck with Brown, who has averaged 14.4 points the past five games, in the second half.
"I feel like I have to make every shot, that that's what I'm supposed to do," Barry said. "And it's just not that way.
"Now, I've got to start back at square one and try and earn back some minutes by playing, first of all, better on the defensive end. Then, hopefully, my offensive game will find itself again."
Other end of court
If Barry figured to struggle anywhere, it was on defense. He turns 33 at the end of the month and wasn't considered a good individual defender at 23.
Though Barry doesn't seem to fit with Popovich's you-play-defense-or-you-don't play philosophy, Danny Ferry and Steve Kerr came to the Spurs with similar reputations and at a similar age. Both played quality team defense after they learned the Spurs' system.
"Even with Danny and Steve it took them a whole season to figure some of this stuff out," Popovich said. "The phase Brent's in now is, when he makes a mistake he realizes it. That's good. At the beginning he didn't even know what ... he did wrong.
"That's the important phase; it will help condition himself to get it right. If he can't do that, he just can't be on the floor."
Popovich has little doubt Barry will prove to be as valuable as the Spurs thought when they signed him to a four-year contract worth a little less than $20 million. His passing and selflessness already have been contagious. Sean Elliott, who played 11 seasons with the Spurs before becoming their TV analyst, said he can't remember the team moving the ball better.
Barry also helped close out Friday's victory over the Pistons with a pair of free throws after coming off the bench cold with 7.9 seconds left.
"Offensively, he's in a little bit of a funk that's self-imposed," Popovich said. "But we're not in a funk about it.
"This hasn't diminished what I believe he's going to be for us. He's just going through a little bit of a rough spot."
If there's been any consolation for Barry, it's that his poor shooting hasn't hurt the team: The Spurs carry a seven-game winning streak into tonight's game with the Chicago Bulls.
His teammates also haven't stopped looking for him.
"We want him to shoot every shot he gets, and I think there's no better support than that," Duncan said. "We know what kind of shooter he is. We know what he's capable of. It's only a matter of time before he gets it going."
you know, that's a great point, play brent barry while Tim is on the floor. Position him on the block where Tim is and when he's getting doubled, kick it out to Brent. It'll give him an open shot and if he starts hitting them, everything else will follow.
"There's no doubt I've gotten great attempts and great looks at the basket," Barry said. "I just think I'm pressing too much and putting too much pressure on myself."
Maybe the Starbucks coffee in SA is the problem. Someone make a trip up to Seattle and get him the good stuff.
Have you guys noticed a trend lately? Used to be, when players came to SA, they would have their best 3 pt shooting of their careers(Bowen, Smith) but lately, the players have been HORRIBLE here.(Hedo, Barry, Horry)
More than one factor may be contributing to the decline. Barry has played most of his recent minutes without Tim Duncan, whose ability to draw double-teams opens up shots for others. He also has had to adjust to not having the ball in his hands as much as he did with Seattle.
dejevu for Manu? Manu off the bench, Barry start?
is barry trying to play a hedo me have to start?
Pop's experiment failed miserably last year, and I doubt do it again this year.
Manu is the Starter, Barry come soff the bench.
Barry was playing in the first half with Duncan in Milwaukee and at home against Detroit so I dont understand that not playing with Duncan bs.
"Have you guys noticed a trend lately?"
Yes, and it's extremely mysterious, like the collapse vs Lakers.
I can see Barry taking a few months to learn how to play (Spurs') defense, but WTF is so hard about hitting the shots at a %age that has distinguished his, and the others', entire career?
I hope this shuts up the boring "we need a shooter" crowd, once they realize it takes 2 years for a new player to re-learn how to hit the side of the SBC after joining the Spours (if then).
The 15-3 Spurs are again, like last year, hitting a very respectable team FG%:
1 LAC 0.483
2 UTA 0.479
3 PHX 0.474 << 60 dunks by Amare
4 MIA 0.467
5 MIN 0.463
6 SAS 0.462
7
8
9
9 SEA 0.451 <<<< a team of "shooters"
hedo had to start because if he did not he did not have confidence
it was reported here
barry should be able to come off the bench and produce
he is playing 2 string not first string
Defense has never been a Spurs problem in the playoffs. What was the .04 game, something in the low 70's, right? Pop should quit talking about Barry not being on the floor if the D isn't perfect. Because of Pop's obsession with the defense, a great shooter who misses becomes worthless to Pop and finds himself back on the bench. He isn't Kerr and he isn't Smith, and he isn't Hedo. He can do much more than those guys did as Spurs. Will he? Don't know, but, he needs to play more than 6 minutes or 15 minutes....mostly at garbage time. And he can't be looking over his shoulder after every shot.
Brent and Devon for Hedo?
fact is Devin is just better right now and deserves to get the minutes
Tonight against the Bulls Barry is going to be on fire. 5 for 5 from three point range.
SLUMP WILL BE OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Devin Brown is turning into the man off the bench. Super strong, great defender, decent shooter, and a killer instinct. Brent is going to have problems finding playing time.
I would rather barry goes off against sonics then bulls
damn it sucks to be a Spurs fan...
being so deep that it is hard to find Brent Barry minutes is a of a problem to have...
damn it sucks to be a Spurs fan...
being so deep that it is hard to find Brent Barry minutes is a of a problem to have...
Kind of like you and me CC, when we have to decide which hottie loses out on going home with us, huh? :p
well thanks to S ys advise I have finally figured out the tie-breaker...once you have had the "no teeth special" there is just no going back...Kind of like you and me CC, when we have to decide which hottie loses out on going home with us, huh?
Brent never had a Tim Duncan in the post in Seattle, either. Never stopped him from being a shooting machine. Nut it up, Brent.
It will be good to watch Luol Deng play tonight, I was a fan of his play at Duke.
That's bull ...he's been in with Tim, and he's had wide open looks and has missed them. Terribly. He's in a huge shooting slump and it has nothing to do with who he is playing with.
I picked him up late in my fantasy basketball team...he has been doing OK but I am still hoping he gets better...he's been doing OK but I actually expected him to do better than he has....t will be good to watch Luol Deng play tonight, I was a fan of his play at Duke.
I would argue that maybe with the second team we run some plays to get Barry shots. Maybe some baseline screens to get him free in the corner, something like that.
Barry needs to stop pressing on offense and learn how to play Spurs D, or we'll continue to see a lot more Devin than Barry. The Spurs are deep enough they don't need to risk playing him when he's not knocking anything down.
In the end, I think he'll be fine. But not playing with Duncan is a poor excuse for his shooting woes. As many already pointed out, there was no post presence in Seattle and he was second in the league in 3-pt FG% last season.
What sucks is this ... If he's already pressing when there's no real pressure, what's he going to do when the playoffs arrive?
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