Matt Barnes is playing a significant role with the Clippers

Post #1 » by **mkwest** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:11 am

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — These are good times for Clippers forward Matt Barnes.

He's playing on a winning team and he's playing a significant role off the bench.

His 25.2 minutes per game is the third highest of his nine-year career. He's averaging 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

"So far, behind that Golden State season, this is the most fun I've had with the collective group of guys like this," said Barnes, who played with the Warriors in 2006-07 and 2007-08. "And we're playing good basketball. So that's a bonus."

"I just want to change the tempo of the game," Barnes said. "I think that's where I'm most effective at, is changing the tempo of the game through our defense. Jamal [Crawford] is the leader of our team scoring and our second unit. Myself, [Eric] Bledsoe, Lamar [Odom], Ronny [Turiaf], we have a lot of different options out there. We just go out there and play hard."

"What I'm most pleased with is that something is going to happen out there when he's out there on the court," Del Negro said. "He fills up the stat line. He gives us a lot of intangibles that sometimes don't show up on the stat sheet."

Brad Turner, Los Angeles Times

Quake Griffin · Post #2 » by **Quake Griffin** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:24 am

i can only say for the 100th time that I hated him as a Magic, a Laker and I love him as a Clipper.

I seriously think he can play like this until he retires. I hope he finishes his career with us.
I sincerely hope Grant can find a way to fit in when he gets back....sweet Jesus is Grant ever coming back?...but i hope he finds a way to fit in because I'm not sitting Barnes if I have my way.

Post #3 » by **mkwest** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:40 am

Quake Griffin wrote:i can only say for the 100th time that I hated him as a Magic, a Laker and I love him as a Clipper.

I seriously think he can play like this until he retires. I hope he finishes his career with us.
I sincerely hope Grant can find a way to fit in when he gets back....sweet Jesus is Grant ever coming back?...but i hope he finds a way to fit in because I'm not sitting Barnes if I have my way.

He's the posterboy for love him if he's on your team and hate him if he's not. He was one of the players that I despised most and was a little conflicted when we signed him. Halfway through his first preseason game with us and I was over it. I'd like to see us re-sign him in the offseason for at least a 2 year deal. I'd be ok with 3 if it's a team option on the 3rd. He shouldn't be expensive. He's only made more than $1.9M once in his career.

I have no idea how Vinny's going to work the minutes when everyone is fully healthy. My guess is that it's going to change on a game to game basis. We'll probably see less Turiaf and then have Odom putting time in at the 5 with a small front court of Barnes and Hill.

Angel strike1 · Post #4 » by **Angel strike1** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:35 am

used to hate his guts last year. but he rocks with us

mj_shoefanatic · Post #5 » by **mj_shoefanatic** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:04 pm

I'm just glad we got the Golden State version of Matt Barnes and not the Faker version.

Post #6 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:56 pm

I've been happy with Barnes as well. I didn't expect him to play like this. I hope he keeps it up.

JayClips92 · Post #7 » by **JayClips92** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:50 pm

I was at the game in Chicago and I saw Grant Hill putting up a lot of shots and working up a sweat before the game, he looks to be in great shape.
I have really grown to love Matt Barnes out there this year, like many of you, and don't really want his minutes to drop off once Hill comes back.

Do you think VDN would put out a smaller line-up of:

Bledsoe
Crawford
Hill
Barnes
Odom

TheNewEra · Post #8 » by **TheNewEra** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:47 pm

Probably will but I think at his age Hill will play the 4

Angel strike1 · Post #9 » by **Angel strike1** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:20 am

TheNewEra wrote:Probably will but I think at his age Hill will play the 4

how?

RiversideClips · Post #10 » by **RiversideClips** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:39 am

I think Barnes needs to be considered for an All-Star, 7th Man(6th) and a contract extension. Have 2 team mates ever been nominated the same year for 6th man?

Post #11 » by **og15** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:13 am

I knew he would be good on this team. I was all about him since the off-season started, and I've been impressed by his play, especially when considering how much he makes.

Post #12 » by **mkwest** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:04 am

og15 wrote:I knew he would be good on this team. I was all about him since the off-season started, and I've been impressed by his play, especially when considering how much he makes.

He's been in the NBA for 10 seasons and has only earned $12M and some change.

I wanted him to take the money a few years ago. A 2-year/$10M deal with Toronto hit a snag and then he turned down a 3-year/$9M with the Cavs to take a 2-year/$3.6M with the Lakers. Even Kevin Ollie made $20M in his playing career. Barnes went for the better team over money. This offseason, there seemed to be very little interest in him. I'm glad that we have him and I selfishly hope that he'll choose the better situation over money once again if he's presented with that opportunity again.

TheNewEra · Post #13 » by **TheNewEra** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:55 pm

Angel strike1 wrote:
TheNewEra wrote:Probably will but I think at his age Hill will play the 4

how?

Bledsoe-Crawford-Barnes-Hill-Odom :lol:

mj_shoefanatic · Post #14 » by **mj_shoefanatic** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:56 pm

Hill has no business playing at the 4 unless the opposing team is playing small ball too :lol: