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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12187221p-13055654c.html
Barnes tries to minimize his mistakes
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, January 30, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS - Rick Adelman can look down his bench and know putting swingman Matt Barnes into the game will result in something happening.
Often, though, the Kings' coach doesn't know whether that something will be positive or negative.
In the past week, Adelman's hand has been forced to a certain extent because of injuries to small forwards Peja Stojakovic and Maurice Evans. Barnes, who had been bypassed in the rotation by Evans, has started the past two games for Stojakovic and could do so again today.
Barnes hasn't put up huge numbers in his two starts, with eight points and five rebounds in a 90-80 loss Thursday night at San Antonio, and four points and five rebounds in a 117-111 overtime victory Friday night at Houston.
However, the key for Barnes' success isn't so much what he does as what he doesn't do. He has shown a propensity for making unnecessary turnovers, especially when passing the ball.
Still, the 6-foot-7 Barnes is a versatile player capable of grabbing badly needed rebounds in a crowd. He's also athletic enough to defend against the likes of Tracy McGrady, one of the NBA's best scorers.
Barnes did a solid job against McGrady on Friday, even while giving up 30 points. McGrady had to take 30 shots, making 11, and Barnes challenged several.
Although Adelman said he understands Barnes' desire to impact games, he must stay away from trying too hard. But Adelman respects Barnes' ability to stay in tune mentally when Evans replaced him in the rotation.
But Adelman wants Barnes to show more patience.
"He doesn't have to put himself into harm's way like he does sometimes," the coach said of the former Del Campo High School star. "He just has to stay within our offense and not try to do too much. But he has a tendency to kind of put himself in position where he's got to make decisions he shouldn't make, at both ends of the court.
"Like he's guarding Tracy, and there were about four or five times when he goes after the offensive rebound, and there goes Tracy running down the court. His job is to not go in, (but to) get back, especially when he's 20 feet out, and go get Tracy.
"But I think that's just something where he's busted his tail to get into the league, and he wants to make something happen and do the right thing. I give him a hell of a lot of credit because since I started playing Mo and he hasn't played, he stayed with it. And these last two games, he was ready to play."
Barnes had played a total of 45 minutes in six previous games before starting for Stojakovic at San Antonio. Barnes has missed 10 games because of coach's decision but often worked on his shot after practice in an attempt to retain sharpness and timing.
Going from the bench to the starting lineup presents its own problems, but Barnes says he knows what his role should be when playing with the first unit.
He also knows he needs to minimize high-risk ballhandling decisions; knowing it and accomplishing it are different concepts.
"You think about (not making unforced errors), but when you get a chance to go out there and play, such as now with Peja getting hurt, you just want to try and go out there and do what is needed," Barnes said. "We've got a lot of firepower on this team, so I know I'm not really needed to score. I'm here to bring energy, rebound the ball and make hustle plays. So I just try to go out there and do that, and I think sometimes I get my mind too set on not making mistakes.
"But like with anything, it's about getting those game minutes with this team and knowing where everyone likes the ball and knowing where I need to be at certain times. Like I said, it's just timing."
Adelman said a player can learn to reduce risks.
"But I know from experience when you don't play that much, you have a tendency to play tight," said Adelman, who came off the bench for much of his pro career. "You can play so tight where you make a mistake (on a play) that you shouldn't even have tried. Or if you're so loose with the ball, bad things are going to happen. "I think it can be learned where you say, This is what I do well. And this is what I have to do well to stay around. I think some guys don't learn it. A lot of guys do learn it."
Barnes tries to minimize his mistakes
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, January 30, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS - Rick Adelman can look down his bench and know putting swingman Matt Barnes into the game will result in something happening.
Often, though, the Kings' coach doesn't know whether that something will be positive or negative.
In the past week, Adelman's hand has been forced to a certain extent because of injuries to small forwards Peja Stojakovic and Maurice Evans. Barnes, who had been bypassed in the rotation by Evans, has started the past two games for Stojakovic and could do so again today.
Barnes hasn't put up huge numbers in his two starts, with eight points and five rebounds in a 90-80 loss Thursday night at San Antonio, and four points and five rebounds in a 117-111 overtime victory Friday night at Houston.
However, the key for Barnes' success isn't so much what he does as what he doesn't do. He has shown a propensity for making unnecessary turnovers, especially when passing the ball.
Still, the 6-foot-7 Barnes is a versatile player capable of grabbing badly needed rebounds in a crowd. He's also athletic enough to defend against the likes of Tracy McGrady, one of the NBA's best scorers.
Barnes did a solid job against McGrady on Friday, even while giving up 30 points. McGrady had to take 30 shots, making 11, and Barnes challenged several.
Although Adelman said he understands Barnes' desire to impact games, he must stay away from trying too hard. But Adelman respects Barnes' ability to stay in tune mentally when Evans replaced him in the rotation.
But Adelman wants Barnes to show more patience.
"He doesn't have to put himself into harm's way like he does sometimes," the coach said of the former Del Campo High School star. "He just has to stay within our offense and not try to do too much. But he has a tendency to kind of put himself in position where he's got to make decisions he shouldn't make, at both ends of the court.
"Like he's guarding Tracy, and there were about four or five times when he goes after the offensive rebound, and there goes Tracy running down the court. His job is to not go in, (but to) get back, especially when he's 20 feet out, and go get Tracy.
"But I think that's just something where he's busted his tail to get into the league, and he wants to make something happen and do the right thing. I give him a hell of a lot of credit because since I started playing Mo and he hasn't played, he stayed with it. And these last two games, he was ready to play."
Barnes had played a total of 45 minutes in six previous games before starting for Stojakovic at San Antonio. Barnes has missed 10 games because of coach's decision but often worked on his shot after practice in an attempt to retain sharpness and timing.
Going from the bench to the starting lineup presents its own problems, but Barnes says he knows what his role should be when playing with the first unit.
He also knows he needs to minimize high-risk ballhandling decisions; knowing it and accomplishing it are different concepts.
"You think about (not making unforced errors), but when you get a chance to go out there and play, such as now with Peja getting hurt, you just want to try and go out there and do what is needed," Barnes said. "We've got a lot of firepower on this team, so I know I'm not really needed to score. I'm here to bring energy, rebound the ball and make hustle plays. So I just try to go out there and do that, and I think sometimes I get my mind too set on not making mistakes.
"But like with anything, it's about getting those game minutes with this team and knowing where everyone likes the ball and knowing where I need to be at certain times. Like I said, it's just timing."
Adelman said a player can learn to reduce risks.
"But I know from experience when you don't play that much, you have a tendency to play tight," said Adelman, who came off the bench for much of his pro career. "You can play so tight where you make a mistake (on a play) that you shouldn't even have tried. Or if you're so loose with the ball, bad things are going to happen. "I think it can be learned where you say, This is what I do well. And this is what I have to do well to stay around. I think some guys don't learn it. A lot of guys do learn it."
