Waiting for the Real Brent Barry

By Emmett Shaw
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Mar 11, 2005, 15:48

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_11978.shtml


Writing these missives each week demands balancing the good news with the bad. It takes an effort to not become a cheerleader when covering a team with the best winning percentage in team sports for nearly the past eight years. But you readers deserve a writer who keeps it real, and if ever I don't your e-mails quickly help me tow a straight course for the truth.

It's rare to see two consecutive columns here that are on the critical side regarding the San Antonio Spurs. Yet last week found me commenting on the team's discernible slippage in effort -- effort which in all their most recent gigs they have greatly improved. Now this time, Brent Barry's second extended shooting swoon of the season demands some cussing and discussing.

This is Brent's first season with the Spurs, having been brought aboard as a free agent last July after five distinguished years with Seattle. Bridging the Gary Payton and Ray Allen eras at KeyArena, Barry was the essential Supersonics face. Brent averaged 34.1 minutes a game in his final three seasons there while shifting rather seamlessly in Seattle from shooting guard to the point whenever necessary, especially after the Glove was exchanged for Ray-Gun. Barry started all but 13 of his last 215 games for Nate McMillan.

During those Seattle years Brent established a respected reputation, as his career peaked statistically. Over his last three seasons with the Sonics he averaged about 12 points and 5 1/2 assists on an amazing 60% Effective Shooting Percentage (56% on twos, 41% on threes. See ESP formula below this article.) Over the span, Barry scored a Reggie Miller-like 1.43 points per FGA.

The stats only partially take into account the player's accumen at making the right play at the right time and his court vision. Barry thinks the game -- and talks a good game. He's one of the most eloquent and quoted NBA ballers, a memeber of the league's All-Interview team. Effort level is one of Brent's strengths. As Pat Riley wrote in one of his books a few years ago, giving consistent effort is as much a part of a player's skill set as a good jumper.

When an unselfish talent without a title, like Barry, joins a contender, you tend to think of a psychological boost for the new club and for the player. And you sort of feel it when Brent typically leads the Spurs onto the court this year. The spirit seems there, a hunger to win. But Barry's season has been up and down, back up, and lately way down. It's a surprise that it hasn't been better. Maybe the bigger than expected drop in his minutes holds the exlpanation.

Barry's 19.7 minutes per game this season is by far his least floor time since his second campaign (back with his original team, the Clippers). Brent is 33-years-old. For the first time in years, he's not starting. Instead he's playing behind All-Star Manu Ginobili and All-Defensive Bruce Bowen, so we knew Barry's minutes (career average is 29.6 per game) would go down. When rookie Beno Udrih proved to be a strong reserve at the point, Barry needed to establish a new and different role as best he could.

And all went well in November -- 8.5 PPG with 3 APG. The team went to a number of two-man games with Tim Duncan and Barry looking as dangerous in tandem as Vlade and Peja. But along came a more pointed team emphasis on defense after a two-game losing streak in Toronto and Memphis, followed by chilly December. Brent isn't a great defender, but he has always at least had a knack for the steal. But for some reason, take-aways haven't been Barry's game in San Antonio, and in December his jumper went away as well.

Maybe we should have seen problems coming, because Barry also had a hard time contributing in his short stay with Riley's defensive Miami Heat in 1998. The Spurs style isn't as free as Brent was used to, and with a drop in minutes also, Brent had a hard time finding an offensive groove again. But find it he did in January, and find it he did as a starter for a couple of games subbing for an injured Ginobili. In January, Brent's ESP soared to 65% and his points per FGA rate was 1.55! He averaged 8.3 points and 2.1 assists. If he wasn't going to play point, the Spurs couldn't really wish for much more from him than that!

Then in February, Barry lost the range again, and he's important enough to the club that Coach Pop subbed him like the back-up point for a couple of games after the All-Star break, thereby boosting his minutes to help the struggling player crank up some game. To no avail. The team looked sluggish and Manu basically ran the team when Tony Parker was resting. By the time the Spurs had piddled around looking for lost rhthym, losing a home game to the Grizz, it was high time to get Beno back into his role.

On the entire season, Beno and Devin Brown have now moved ahead of Barry in effectiveness per 48 minutes due to Brent's more recent struggles. Udrih's efficiency per 48 is 19.0, Brown's is 18.1, and Barry's is 17.7. For the season, Barry is now shooting .415 from the field with 35% from the arc, averaging exactly 2 APG to go with half a steal. Yes, that translates to a decently Manu-like 53% ESP with a nice 1.28 points per FGA, but look at the last 10 games! Brent's ESP is only 43% during that time and his points per FGA ratio is only 1.0 (3.6 PPG, and 1.6 APG).

What can the Spurs do to shake Barry out of the slump? Play him more? Maybe find a way to start him more? A baseball team rests starters, maybe Ginobili or Bruce Bowen could use a night off. Brent was very active in Phoenix in a start this week when Manu was out again with injuries. Barry slapped one Suns shot off the backboard, rebounded actively, and played a heady game in his 37 minutes. So he might be ready to resurface.

Another thought is to not only play Barry with Tim more, but go back to their two-man game that looked so dynamic in November. Since then, the Spurs totally forgot about it. That oversight frustrates me almost as much as seeing Chris Webber catching the ball with Philly and not seeing any teammates curl around for a handoff or cut backdoor. Instead, the Sixers stand there with their thumbs up their you-know-whats. And here I thought Jim O'Brien could coach.