Brent Barry---I Believe

With Von more than likely out for tonight's crucial game 6, the seasoned veteran and consummate professional Brent Barry will most likely play his first meaningful minutes of the series tonight.

Many are worried and rightfully so, Wafer has been a real nice bright spot for the Rockets this series coming off the bench.

There will be many things that Wafer can do that Barry alas can no longer do anymore in the twilight of his career BUT not all hope is lost. Not at all I say.

Why do I believe in these Rockets and why do I believe in Brent Barry? Let me count the ways:

-Championship experience, yes Barry has 2 rings he received as a member of that other team in texas. When he steps on the court tonight he will be the only player on the floor who will have experience being in the biggest of stages and playing in the most crucial of times. This cannot be overlooked. Barry has hit some big shots and made some timely plays in the playoffs and finals.

-3 point shooting! Barry is a CAREER 40% shooter from beyond the arc and quite simply the Rockets have been getting burnt the entire series from the 3 point line :

Game 1: Rockets 8-21 Blazers 1-11
Game 2: Rockets 7-20 Blazers 5-11 *
Game 3: Rockets 3-9 Blazers 10-23
Game 4: Rockets 9-16 Blazers 7-15
Game 5: Rockets 3-15 Blazers 6-14

*Game 2 brooks went 3-3 from 3 in the last 20 seconds to make it a closer than expected game during meaningful "crunch" time the rockets went 4-17


If you look above the team that usually won the 3 point battle won the game, the biggest difference is game 3 which the Rockets won (i am citing the 4-17 state from the * above for game 2) in games that have been decided by mere points

Having a dead-eye shooter out there taking some of those 3s may make the difference. Also having the reputation of being a dead-eye shooter will force the Blazers to play him honest and give the Rockets much better space out on the floor.

-IQ Barry is probably one of the smartest players to play the game, even in his old age he will make the proper cuts, the necessary passes and drives into the lane despite his diminished athleticism. While he will not be throwing them down as he may have in his younger days he will more often than not make the proper play, whether that is taking it to the hoop for a foul, dropping it off to a post man underneath or kicking it out for the three.

Which ties into my second point about Barry being that willing passer, the ball movement should be much much better with Barry in the game vs Wafer. This is not a knock on Wafer at all, but he does tend to get "tunnel vision" when he has the ball (but that is his role out there) having Barry move the ball around the perimeter and into Yao will help greatly. Barry has played with Tim Duncan and may know a thing or two about getting the ball inside.

-Free Throw shooting...normally a strength for this Rockets team during the season it has not jumped over to the playoffs as much as I would have hope. Barry is as automatic as you can get from the line.


-Ball Handling ....Everyone gets made at Ron Artest trying to run the entire offense well you know whose fault that is? The PGs fault. I see all the time that Brooks and more so Lowry give the ball to artest to bring up or give the ball off to Artest at the top of the key real early in the shot clock. Being young guards its natural for them to try to hand it off to the vet, but the problem is that is probably one of the least efficient plays the Rockets have in their book. Barry is a veteran he isnt going to take any guff from anyone and will run the play as needed even if it means waving off Artest. Go back to the championship experiences he has and the other players will respect that and Barry more than the inexperienced Brooks and Lowry

-Defense ......yeah he isnt average at defense let along good, but the Rockets play great team defense and hopefully his inadequacies will be mask by that team defense. At least the positive note is that Wafer wasnt all-nba himself but was able to pass by using his athleticism, Barry will have to use his smarts. On the plus side he more than likely will see Rudy F who tends to run around the perimeter and shoot jumpers instead of going inside and using size and strength (which hurts Barry the most)

-Last but not least Resiliency! The team has been too much this season from injuries to trades to gun shot wounds. I think the team will rally around and Barry can lead that charge quietly. Barry despite not playing has always been engaging himself during games by watching the games and coaching the young guards. He has been able to sit back for 5 games and see what works and didnt work LIVE and not on film. those little nuances will make him ready and good to go.



Brent Barry I salute you and wish you the best tonight.

Rockets in 6!