Rick Buried

Ex-NBA Star Dishes Some Mavs Critique

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

   Barry, who never met a shot he didn't like, takes some more shots here, dropping some punch-your-teeth-in opinions on Bacsik:

·         He doesn’t have a high opinion of Avery Johnson as a coach.

·         He continues to wonder why Dallas decided to slow things down in the 2006 NBA Finals against Miami, thus playing into the Heat’s hands.

·         He can’t understand why Dirk Nowitzki is being put in situations with which he seems uncomfortable.

·         He doesn’t like Dallas’ one-on-one offensive style, especially as it is utilized for Josh Howard.

·         He thinks an acquisition of Shaq would be unwise because the big man is “done.’’

·         He thinks an acquisition of Jason Kidd would result in a long-term setback that would reduce the Mavs to “a lottery team in two years.’’

   Barry, of course, is one of the great names in basketball history, a sharp-minded Hall-of-Famer with whom I’ve had many productive visits on my radio show and on DallasBasketball.com. (Here’s a nice read from four years ago, if I say so myself.)  His outspokenness is infamous; some think it is the reason he’s not a head coach in the NBA right now. That fact, of course, could color everything he thinks and says. (Barry’s motivation to take down a present NBA coach? Hey, one more job opening increases his chances!)

   On a journalistic note: Barry was certainly under no impression that he was being “interviewed.’’ He and Bacsik were in Cabo as part of a gathering for the Brandon Webb Foundation.  His conversation with Bacsik was one between two pro jocks. But I run with it here (with Mike's permission) because most of what Barry says reflects the concerns of many less “inside’’ Mavs observers.

   You know, like, YOU.

   I also run with it because I know that Rick Barry hides nothing and I’m betting that Rick Barry likes the pub. Even if it comes from a humble website such as this.

   And one more thing: Barry doesn't dislike the Mavs, or Avery, or this team's chance at achievement.

   Having said all that – and again with an acknowledgement that I agree with the bulk of Barry’s takes – I should insert somewhere in here that Barry strongly endorses Avery’s emphasis on defense, something he says was a championship-contention killer under Nellie.

   I should also insert this:

   Even after the 122-120 loss at Sacramento on Monday night -- ironic that Barry would say he likes our

defense, eh? -- the Mavs hover atop the Western Conference at 26-12. But wow. ... there were defensive breakdowns; Dallas permitted 100 points to a foe for the first time in 10 games. There was excessive sloppiness; while backcourt fixtures Devin Harris (25 points, nine assists), Jason Terry (25 and seven) and Eddie Jones (10 points) hit clutch shots in the stretch, the Mavs coughed up a season-worst 19 turnovers. And there was Kevin Martin, in just his second game back from injury, who was insane. The kid was 14-of-16 for 39 points. Unconscious.

   I admire Rick Barry’s outspokenness. And Mike Bacsik? If you recall the circumstances surrounding his willingness to man-up and pitch to Bonds,you understand how Mike garnered a “Sportsman of the Year’’ nomination from Sports Illustrated. And you understand why around DB.com, we admire him so much we’ve created a slogan for people who need to develop some guts.

   “Grow Some Bacsiks!’’ we command.

   My contention, though, is this: At this moment – as the Mavs recover from a last-second loss that ends a seven-game win streak, as Dirk (21 points) seems increasingly comfortable, as Avery’s learning curve seems to be accelerating – this is the wrong time to go Mavs-bashing.

   Because as much as is possible in the first half of a season, and despite a sour note in Sacto, the Dallas Mavericks seem to be “Growing Some Bacsiks.’’

 750am jan 15 2008