[Chron] Touch of gray ignites

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3438047

Touch of gray ignites
Rockets find spark in veterans Barry, Mutombo
By FRAN BLINEBURY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Ever since the Rockets trudged off the floor at the end of the playoffs last spring on the wrong end of a 40-point beating, they had talked of the need to put more bounce and energy in their step.

All summer while they gathered new pieces and assembled their latest edition, the focus was on youth and athleticism.

"I guess I don't fit into either of those categories," Jon Barry, 36, said.

"I already told my wife that after one more year in the league next season she should tell the kids that Daddy's coming home," Dikembe Mutombo, 39, said. "Ohhh, this is hard."

How ironic that on opening night of a fresh, high-flying season, the Rockets should get some of their biggest lifts from a couple of down-to-earth geezers in the 98-89 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

Barry popped up off the bench late in the first quarter when the Kings were controlling the action. Soon after, if he wasn't nailing open jumpers, he was finishing on the fast break or cutting off the path to the basket on defense or flicking the ball away for a steal.

Even with Yao Ming in first-half foul trouble, Mutombo didn't get into the game until midway through the third quarter, and in a heartbeat blocked a layup attempt by Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He finished with four points and six rebounds in his 11-minute cameo.

"I'll tell you, Dikembe got into the game and in 30 seconds it seemed like he had four rebounds and a blocked shot," Barry said. "The guy doesn't play in the first half and comes out like that. But that's what being a professional's about, and I think that's what we have on this team."

It could be an interesting mix of young legs and enthusiasm with old heads and perspective.

Mutombo, like most of the crowd at Toyota Center, could have wondered.

"For a second, I wasn't sure I was going to get in," Mutombo said. "I thought (coach Jeff Van Gundy) was maybe going to try a different rotation because of the lineup with Brad Miller in there. The Kings were doing a lot of pick-and-rolls and they were cutting to the basket. Then before the second half started, he just pulled me aside and said, 'I want you to be ready.' So I thought I'd better start stretching up.

"I think it was great that Jon and I could contribute. I understand that we might be a little bit old. But the most important thing is to understand this game and to come in at crunch time when we need a win. That's how coach is trying to build this team. He wants (it) to be a winning team and to do that you need a group that has some guys with great experience, who have been there before. I think that as well."

Barry also tries to stay loose and that means keeping everyone else that way, too.

"I'll tell you, Jon Barry's body doesn't look like someone who works very hard," Mutombo said, giggling. "But when you put him in there, Jon will give you any shot that you ask of him. ... He makes everyone laugh in practice."

Barry nods.

"I like to keep it loose," he said. "I like to have fun, yet I'm very serious about what I do. Believe it or not, I'm a pretty shy guy just meeting people until I really get to know them and feel comfortable. I'm just very comfortable with the guys in this room. I think I'm the only guy who can get coach to crack a smile. And I think I drive him wild. But he brought me back, so I guess he likes me."

So what does a 24-point opener make Barry?

"Hard to deal with," Van Gundy said, drawing laughter. "But he's a hell of a competitor. Last year that showed often in his fourth-quarter play. He's a real lionheart. He's underrated for his impact on the game."

fran.blinebury@chron.com


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Rockets Summary

To the drawing boards
With so many areas for concern after their opening-game win, the Rockets could have a smorgasbord of corrections at today's practice.

"We have to put out an effort for 48 minutes, not just in the first half but for an entire game," Juwan Howard said after the Kings controlled the rebounding with a 48-43 advantage. "It's depressing to see that, of course we got beat on the boards. Dikembe (Mutombo) and my other teammates were trying to do our best to get ourselves some second shots, and not only that but to try and keep the Kings off the boards.

"I looked on the score sheet and saw Bonzi Wells with 18 rebounds. He was very aggressive as a guard with his position getting to the boards."


Smiling or gritting teeth?
When Jon Barry said he is the only member of the Rockets who can "crack up" coach Jeff Van Gundy, at least one teammate rolled his eyes.

"I don't think it's a good thing when he cracks him up," Tracy McGrady said. "I think coach looks at him like he wants to choke him."


He ain't heavy
Spurs guard Brent Barry stunned almost everyone when he planted a kiss on NBA commissioner David Stern's cheek before accepting his championship ring, but his brother, Rockets guard Jon Barry, was not surprised.

It's not that Jon knew of special feelings his brother had for the commissioner. He just knew Brent to be a clown.

"He shocked the crud out of David Stern, didn't he," Jon Barry said. "That was sure funny. I haven't talked to him yet, but I'm going to ask him what he was thinking. He's a clown. The guy's a nut. These guys around here think I'm crazy; that guy is crazy. I knew he was going to pull something off."


Back to school
Jon Barry said his offseason regimen was longer and harder because of the school calendar.

"I was here in Houston," he said. "More times than not, I stay in Atlanta and I come to camp a couple days before it starts. I got down here the first week of August because school started early for my kids.

"So I've been down here in the gym since the first week of August, five days a week. The older you get, the more work you've got to put in."

FRAN BLINEBURY and JONATHAN FEIGEN