1. It's never too early to dump Clyde and insert Barry into the color position. 2. He's only played 3 games since he's come back from injury, but in those 3 games, Barry has looked terrible. JVG is a pragmatic guy, he'd never release Barry just to sign with a contender unless he thinks that he wouldn't be a help. JVG sees Jon all the time in practice, so I'm pretty sure he's got nothing left in the gas tank. 3. Having said that, I certainly wouldn't have cut Barry, unless he is unhappy sitting on the bench. He's still a worthwhile locker-room guy and I think we owe it to him a little to see how this season turns out. If we really needed the roster spot, then I would have dumped Fitch. I mean if Fitch is good enough to play, then play him. If he isn't then cut him to sign someone who is.
VERY serious. You were responding to my comments that said JVG has to be kidding if he wants us to believe he is doing this out of kindness and to help out a rival. But do you think Barry only contributed humor to this team? Seriously? Barry was magic shooting that ball ... his whole family is, really. You don't play a Jon Barry to shut down an opponent ... never has been that way. He's a shooting specialist who can run and make the right pass. He hit over 51% from three-land in our wins last year -- that should say something. I just can't believe JVG can't find a role for a shooting specialist, but can for Ryan Bowen. If he's at the end of the line, just say so. Don't tell me, 'He had a chance to play with Denver so we wanted him to play for a contender.' To me it says you're not competitive for a playoff spot. There's more to this than JVG is saying ... that's all I'm saying. To me, it's not specially cutting Barry that angers me so much, but how much we seem to devalue shooting on this team and I mentioned the changes here. http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1277/rockets_waive_jon_barry Now Alston is an excellent replacement for Sura, but you lost a shooter and defender in James. Padgett is let go and Barry is injured and ultimately waived. Those 4 guys (James, Padgett, Sura and Barry) were 230-538 from three-point range (39.8%) last season. Wesley is on fire from three-ball this year, and that alone is roughly his average. The main culprit this season is Tracy McGrady -- he's in the tank. But lets not forget that they depended on Derek Anderson in making their moves, and that flopped harder than Gigli... and after the exciting season last year in which we closed the season at 34-14 (.708) and an outstanding 19-7 on the road (.731), did anyone think we would be here one year later with Alston, Wesley, Bogans and a rookie in Head as our backcourt? Just sad... in my opinion, they were winning back the city last year.
I agree but I doubt JB would want to do it. His family lives in Georgia and lives there so he would want to stay there I heard.
I can't understand why people here are so pissed off. A His play. He was injured and couldn't help the team on court any more. His defensive shortcomings were bigger than any offense he would give us any more. B Keith Bogans. Keith Bogans. Keith Bogans. Keith Bogans. Keith Bogans. C Our chemistry. He wasn't going to be around after this year. I'm sure he was a very important part of our great chemistry last year. BUT this isn't the last year, we have almost completely different team. I'm sure Barry was a very vocal player and a leader in the locker room. But now, our younger players, players who will be our future will have to step up and start "gelling" and form a great chemistry on their own. D Keith Bogans. Keith Bogans... OK I'm sure you get it already. Keith and Luther can back up the wing positions very well. Jon Barry can't play the one any more. There was no ROOM for him. E Possible Distraction. Veteran players who don't get to play tend sometimes turn into a distraction and can be bad influence to younger players. We can't afford to have ANY distractions right now. F Roster spot. We really could use a point guard. Why waive him and not somebody else, you might ask? Let's see: Ryan Bowen. Energy Player and a capable defender in some situations. Gerald Fitch. Incomplete. JVG may see something in him which he likes. He already knows that Barry can't help much, so why not let this guy show what he has. Maciej Lampe. One word: size. 7 footer with some skills. Can play some backup center if Yao has to sit. Deke is 50 and you can't count on Stromile being healthy. So out of our "scrubs", JB was the one that made most sense from a roster spot standpoint. Yes,I feel that even Bowen has more uses than injured Barry had. So, basicly, this wasn't a good waive nor a bad waive. It was a waive that made the most sense. I too hope that Barry stays with the Rockets in some way or another. He was a great guy but it was time to move on. For both parties.
Another thing Clutch: We are something like 2-24 when scoring less than 90 points so it seems like our offense is struggling <b>more</b> than our defense. And yet we let go of an offensive player and keep Bowen.......just incredible, to me JVG's defense is sooo flawed, he continuously blocks out the lane to give up open jumpers.......just another sad day at the office under JVG.....
PG I thought we got one in the last trade. I hope the Rockets have something else in mind because this SUCKS!!! Good luck JB in whatever you decide to do...
could be interesting If Barry goes to pheonix and we reaquire Jackson it would be a psuedo trade??? right *wink*wink*nudge*nudge* Rocket River
Yes Clutch, but a few things: 1. He was shooting great last year- but I feel we really have to go by this year, not last year. 2. If Barry is "done," I still don't think JVG wants to mention this in the press, you know, "We didn't think Barry could be effective." I guess he wants to give JB a chance to sign elsewhere- so he doesn't want to say anything negative in the press about him. I agree, though- at some point, you need to keep the Olajuwon-Thorpe-Maxwell-Smith-Horry (or Buck Johnson) type of consistency for a few years. Not everyone (the Spurs have won 2 championships in 3 years with several different players, but they did keep 4-6 of the same ones), but at least 5 or 6 need a few years together. Shame.
