Jon Barry was on ESPNews earlier this evening talking basketball. The sportscaster asked him about the USA team in the WBC, and in particular about Carmelo Anthony since he was a teammate of Melo in Denver. Jon also spoke about Riley returning to the Heat this season. They spent a lot of time talking about the Rockets as well. Jon said that JVG was the best coach he ever had because Van Gundy was smart. He mentioned that he thought Yao would be one of the top ten centers in the history of the NBA. He did say that he thought Yao was too passive and needs to have a mean streak. Jon commented that if Yao ever gets more aggressive then the sky is the limit for him. He also said that Tracy and Yao are the cornerstones for the team. He liked the addition of Battier and with a couple more pieces the Rockets will be a championship caliber team. The sportscaster asked him what's one thing people don't know about Yao, and Jon replied that Yao sleeps 17 hours a day! Nothing earthshattering about his comments. Seemed to me that this was an on air audition for Barry. He seemed pretty low key while talking. He was probably a little nervous although he did a good job hiding it. If this was an audition I hope he gets the job. He can't be worse than Screamin A. Smith or Greg Anthony.
Barry would easily be one of the best on ESPN. I don't know how they evaluate the guys they bring in. Looks like he won't be commentating for us next season. Please no to Clyde. Does Yao really sleep 17 hours? Shane Battier was a steal. I think we'll win championship this year if Sura is healthy.
It would be my dream that we can get Jon Barry and Calvin a show together, both of the guys knows their stuff!!
If Marv Albert can get a second chance.. then Calvin deservs one too.. We really need to bring that guy back!!!
Second chance? He didn't even do anything wrong. It's ridiculous. It's all about certain people in the organization not liking Murph or he would be back already.
See, this comment kind of peeves me. Barry had a chance to really complement Yao in a way that hardly anyone has on espn. He started off well, saying he could be a top 10 center all time, then he basically spews out the same crap that everyone has been saying for four years. Every time anyone complements Yao, they say something nice, followed by 'but he needs to be more aggressive'. That sentiment has become the general consensus of a huge segment of basketball fans, and, as we all know here, it's just not true anymore. You don't average 22.3 ppg in 34 mpg by being passive. The passiveness is a thing of the past, but with even our guy JB repeating it, it'll take that much longer for people to stop saying it. It's kind of like people still saying that Yao doesn't deserve to be an all-star. Maybe they'll stop saying it in about year 8.
calvin murphy is my idol. imagine how yao ming would be if he was more *agressive* we would see him surpass KG
It doesn't sound like he said that Yao isn't agressive, just not aggressive enough. This is clearly true.
Remember that Barry was off the team when Yao came back and had his monster 2nd half of what - 25 ppg and 12 rpg? I know Jon did a few broadcasts but I'm not sure how much attention Jon paid to Yao's transformation.
My point is, at what point does it stop being true? When he averages 25 ppg? 30 ppg? When he fouls out every other game with offensive fouls? The only thing that keeps him from putting numbers like that up is his limited number of catches. He was very aggressive last year, shooting over double-teams and averaging a ton of points, even in a slow, defensive-minded system. I guess regardless of how well he does, someone can always say that he can do better. But the 'non-aggressive' label is still sticking. He put up Duncan-like numbers last year, and did anyone say that Duncan needed to be more agressive? I guess we'll see if it sticks after he dominates for a full year next year.
I think you are spot on. Jon, like most fans here, understand that Yao has the skills to the probably the most dominant big man ever. Yes, I said ever. I think that Yao has the tools to do so much more than any one big man in this league. Yao did get aggressive last year and had an unbelieveable year. But Yao has still not reached his full potential. He has so much more to give and if he ever does, look out.
I totally agree. He sounds like he completely lost touch with the Rockets and just regurtitated what's become a tired cliche about Yao. Even other media are starting to take notice, but you would expect more from an ex-teammate.
Didn't he average something like 24 or 26 PPG and 12 boards after coming back from injury last year? How much more potential does he need to show before he loses the "passive" label?
