LeBron Fails to Impress Rick Barry

For all of his obvious gifts and talents, not to mention the never-ending improvements, LeBron James continues to have his detractors. These folks we generally refer to as, what’s the word I’m looking for, oh yes, CRAZY.

Charley Rosen was among the first to walk down this dark path in an infamous column for the ‘Leader’, and now, the eternally crabby (see what I did there?) Rick Barry has decided to join him.

Barry, in an interview that aired last night, gave a scathing assessment of LBJ’s game. From the Plain Dealer (via: BergerSphere)

“He’s got major flaws in his game,” the Warriors great said in an interview airing Wednesday night. “He’s six years into the NBA. How can a man six years into the NBA with his talent have a major flaw in his shot? How can he not use screens effectively?

I watch the game very carefully, he doesn’t use screens effectively and this is not LeBron’s fault. It’s the fault of the people who are teaching him. … There is no doubt in my mind that LeBron, if shown these things, would do them, because he wants to be a great player. He wants to win a championship. As great as he is, he should be better.”

Rick Barry, I can only presume, then went on to describe all of the flaws that he found in the Mona Lisa painting.

LeBron and the Cavs visit the Bay Area this Friday, which will be the perfect opportunity for the Warriors great to personally address these “major flaws” with James — before it’s too late.

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Tags: LeBron James, Rick Barry

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Leeboy

Yeah I understand Lebron has some flaws but Rick acts like Lebron is good at all!! Rick should have given Brent and Jon some advice. lol
http://double-technical.blogspot.com Zee!

Are Antonis and Rick Barry one and the same?
http://www.manutd.com Z

Seriously, Bron could hit 70% with his fg and some would still argue that a wing with no J can not be the best player in the game. Some might find Kobe’s game more aesthetically pleasing, but does that mean better? / To answer your question, Russ : The Cavaliers would be a better team if LeBron had a better jumpshot like the Lakers would be a better team if Kobe knew how to make/let teammates play at their max potential like the Spurs would be better if TD could be money from the line in crunch time like the Suns would be better if Nash wasn’t playing matador-style D like the Magic would be better if Dwight had a go-to move down low like the…
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

@ciolkstar…:the only way to compare players from different eras in my mind is to check their achievements. Have you seen Dr.J shooting or dribling..? T-MAC (when he was healthy..) is propably a better overall player (he was no bad athlete either,again when healthy…). Now ,would you ever consider comparing Dr.J with T-MAC in terms of greatness..? Having this in mind Mikan gets the edge over SHAQ..(and YES, SHAQ would have propably eaten alive Mikan if they were to go head-to-head…)
http://nba.com tealish

Whoops, I guess I’m one of the morons that think LeBron could benefit from improving his jumpshot! Improving a fundamental skill in basketball = a good thing. Shocking, I know!
Seriously though, we know Bron is the best at getting to the rim and it’s near impossible to stop him. But sometimes, the defense plays great and you’re not getting the calls (last gm vs. the Lakers). A better shot would have helped, no?
http://nba.com tealish

NO! HE’S 6’9 290!!!
http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

tealish, this all started regarding Lebron’s use of screens, not the ability to improve his shot……go back and read the first bunch of comments….before the other clowns showed up and polluted the conversation.
http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

I like Barnum & Bailey.
http://www.kicksonfire.com Anton

LeBron’s biggest flaw is that he’s too awesome.
http://www.manutd.com Z

i’ve said this like a week ago but lebron is getting almost as polarizing as kobe in these threads. almost.
http://www.slamonline.com Ryan Jones

It should’ve been said earlier, but:
“Rick Barry’s name fails to ring a bell in LeBron’s head”
http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Moose

Ryan, I read your above comment about the book, and I would like to say that I ordered it on Amazon two days ago (not gonna tell you how much I paid, though). Can’t wait to get it.
http://www.manutd.com Z

Why is a crooked J considered more of a crime as an inability to convert in the lane for a wing?
http://www.myspace.com/hemantsbeats what

I know a lot of major flaws in the games of Drew, Jon and Brent Barry.
http://www.myspace.com/hemantsbeats what

Fotsis, I had spent the last month or so hoping you had killed yourself… imagine my disappointment when you returned to infest the slamonline message boards again. Manu is maybe the 10th best shooting guard in the world. Maybe.
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

@Ryan….:and that ain’t good….
@everybody….:a wing player without a really good J can be the NBA MVP but he will never be considered a complete player from those who really have a clue on this game (Rick Barry just being one of them). Many people prefer the easy way to greatness-money-fame and can’t blame Lebron for having the lazyness of ordinary people: he chosed to do it through becoming a mutant instead of spending the many thousands of hours you need in order to perfect your shooting stroke…
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

@what….:what? (i missed that darling!!!)
Snow

Lebron is Overrated!!!
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

@what…:you can think about it the good way:you keep having to hope on something with your time-life since i was such a capturing thought in your life(and rightfully so) for the past month…!!!!
donlaker

RICK the same dude who sot underhanded free throws
his biggest flaw was /is that he could never shoot as good as jerry west..
a list of good shooters under 20 feet
1.gail goodrich
2.jerry west
3.jordan
4.del curry
5.kobe
6.ginobli
and bron is top ten
Jackie Moon

If Lebron James continues to improve his jumper and free throws (even more than he has), yes, that will increase Cleveland’s chances of winning a championship. Yes.
http://www.slamonline.com Ryan Jones

Moose, I should’ve been clear, that comment was an inside reference of sorts to Co Co.
I will not be offended if you bought it used.
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

MANU is one of the 10 best players in the world for the last 10 years E-A-S-I-L-Y (propably top-8)
Jackie Moon

Ok, we get it.

Manu is the best player in the history of civilization.
donlaker

larry bird and reggie miller had a top 10 shot also
and ray allen is in the top 10
but bron just bench presses his shots
but he is getting better…
http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Moose

Good that you won’t Ryan. I still can’t wait to read it.
http://www.ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com Allenp

The logic that you have to put Mikan with Shaq because Mikan dominated his era is total BS. That’s like saying you should compare Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson because Cousy dominated his era. That is some dumb ish.
http://nba.com Big J

I wish I had LeBrons flaws I mean he has some things to improve but every year he has shown improvement and I believe his biggest problem is SHOT SELECTION so his stats are misleading like all the deep threes he takes and also heavily contested jumpers he takes but a fundementally sound jumper would help but I think he’s doing fine right now
http://www.ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com Allenp

MJ won his first three rings without a great jumper and he was clearly the greatest player in the world which he proved when he and the DReam TEam went to the Olympic and beat the rest of the world like crimson-headed stepchildren.
Z is right that a jumper can be overrated. Russ and his minions are right that Lebron could stand to improve his jumper.
Everybody is right that NIKOS smokes crack with $2 whores on weekends.
http://www.ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com Allenp

AK
So, it doesn’t take hours to get strong and develop athletically?
This is the comment of an idiot who has been brainwashed into believing that avoiding the weight room is the only way to be a true basketball player.
No sensible person believes that hitting the weight room is easy. Nobody who has actually lifted weights to get ready for a sport (which I have done for football) thinks that activity is a cop out. You have no idea what it takes to get into the physical condition that Lebron is in, and you are proving it with your inane comments.
http://www.myspace.com/hemantsbeats what

Fotsis, can you rephrase that in English? The only way you can honestly say that Manu is a top 10 player in the world is if you are a racist.
http://www.myspace.com/hemantsbeats what

You can make a pretty solid case that Manu is the 3rd best player on his own team.
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

speaking of DREAM team: if the yougoslavian team hadn’t been cut into pieces before the final of the 1989 European championship, the first loss of the professionals would have been at the 1992 Olympics final. Croatia was even with U.S until their starting unit got tired and unfortunatelly they hadn’t have a second unit…same thing happened in the 1996 final when Serbia was even until the 30′ minute when Divac was fouled out out there was nobody to replace him. Robinson ate alive a young Rebraca and the game was over…now imagine a combination of the two teams (this was the former Yugoslavia) with the addition of Yuri Zdovts at point(a better-more athletic version of Calderon). The team would have been something like this: Zdovds,Petrovic,Paspalie,Radja,Divac and Gorgevic,Danilovic,Kukoc,Savic,Vrankovic coming from the bench. Having in mind that those guys where playing together since little kids, i can hardly see a way the Dream-teamers escaping this game. That Yugoslavian team is propably the greatest basketball team ever assembled….(i am giving you for free things that you should pay good money to know and this ain’t the first time…)
http://nba.com Big J

AF that is a good team but there is no way that you can prove that they were better unless everybody on slam contributed on buying a time machine which I believe is not going to happen
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ ANTONIS FOTSIS

now, IF the dream-teamers where all at their prime AND if the where playing together for more than a summer then it would have been really interesting…
@Allenp…:i spend my weekends with $500 whores because I HAVE IT like that…sorry..
http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

I love Tony. He’s not better than Manu. Most of the time I want the ball in Manu’s hands at the end of games, even over Timmy. To me the only issue with Manu is the turnovers, but I want him taking the shot to ice the game. But whatever, he’s not the type of player I expect to get his just due. Not to mention the role he plays for his team in the NBA is much different than most “stars” in the league.
http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

Have what “like that”? A hideous disfigurement that causes $2 hoes to charge you $500?
Jackie Moon

I spend my weekends watching TV. I have it like that.
http://www.ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com Allenp

I spend my weekends with my wife and son.
I ain’t got jack…
Dream Team 1 would have abused any international team y’all trotted out. You know this and I know this. But, keep living in Euro fantasy world.
http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

Co Sign AllenP. As far as those tied game scores go, I’d imagine we had a case of playing down to your competition. ANY player on the Dream team would’ve been the Yugo’s best player.
http://fdklf.com Jukai

There is so many things that need to be corrected here…
Allenp: I thought you were older than me. I’m on your side with the whole idea of Lebron not needed a jump shot to win a ring, but your Jordan statement was a little ridiculous. One of Jordan’s main weapons earlier in his career was his post-up turnaround J from 15 feet. He dropped 60-something on the Celts in the playoffs cause of it.
AF: Have YOU ever seen Dr. J shoot and dribble? His jump shot wasn’t perfect but Dr. J had a nice handle. Everyone just remembers him when he was 30-something in Phili and not in his Net days. So yes, Dr. J in his prime was infinitely better than T-Mac. INFINITELY. In every aspect of his game. And that isn’t just my father talking who saw Dr J play like 700 times.
Ciolkstar: Now you may be over exaggerating Manu’s game. Dude scores in bunches, but he also grows cold A LOT. His passing is amazing for a role player but not really on par for a star. His defense, once again, is suspect on the one-on-one, and of course, the turnovers. He’s not REALLY that amazing. I’d be hard pressed to have him crack a top 40-all time shooting guard list.
Russ: You’re right, bad mouthing people is a terrible way to have a debate. Talking down to them and trying to make them feel dumb though, that’s legit. Keep on posting… moron.
jrp14

Lebron could average 33, 10, and 10…some people are just always gonna hate because some people just feel that that’s what they need to do
http://fdklf.com Jukai

jrp14, don’t you get Myles’ point though? He could average 33/10/10 but he’ll NEVER GET A RING because he WONT BE ABLE TO HIT A JUMP SHOT@@@@@
whatever

instead of being all negative and taking this as an affront to Lebron, the thing to take away from Barry’s quote is that Lebron can get much much better than he already is – insanely scary.

and screens aren’t just for jump shooters, if used correctly, they create mismatches and angles which make your path to the hoop a lot easier.

and the NBA sucked in the 1950s – the average shooting percentage was in the 30% range.

http://www.baseballcrank.com/archives2/2004/08/basketball_shoo.php

the absurd stats of the 50s-60s is a product of pace… even in the much slower 70s and even slower 80s, the current Warriors would be the slowest team in the league.
http://allday-fadeaway.blogspot.com Nbk

Jukai have you ever watched the game jordan scored 63 on boston in the playoffs? He did not have a turnaround post jump shot (as his main weapon) until after he retired for baseball….It was a byproduct of the speed he lost and the energy he had to exert to do what he used to. Against Boston he scored off of face ups-cuts-and transition buckets-plus dribble drives…and LeBron is around the same age Jordan was when he did score 63<lebron’s been to the finals —- and efficiency wise as of last week LeBron James was having the best season OF ALL TIME…whether you put stock in that statistic or not the gold standard was MJ’s 8687(?) season when he put up 36. The fact that LeBron has flaws is what makes him so much MORE special then other players…he is already better then them and he is not near his ceiling…
http://nba.com tealish

@Eboy: I see that now, sorry. I usually just skim the comments. Regarding the whole using screens thing, I think it’s insignificant in LeBron’s case.
However, an improved jumpshot is definitely something he could use because as of now, (and I’m only speaking for myself of course, and I’d likely get killed for this), 3 seconds left in a tied ballgame, Bron wouldn’t be in my top 3 to take that last shot.
@Allenp: No need to respond to him, man. Just let him be!
http://www.manutd.com Z

tealish,
The only thing with Bron is that he doesn’t need to take a J with 3 seconds left, he can get to the hole. He’s about the only one in the league who can win games with layups.
http://fdklf.com Jukai

NBK: My apologies. I had this memory of Jordan fading outwards in that game, but what he was actually doing (I just watched the youtube clip) was posting up from the side, fake-pivoting going one way then pivoting the other way and shooting facing the basket. It’s still a damn 15 foot jump shot.
http://www.manutd.com Z

But, as everyone as stated, of course he’d be a better player if he had a better jumpshot. There is not much to debate there.
http://fdklf.com Jukai

Z: Lebron would also be a better player if he had a complete post game/had better lateral timing/worked on his legs so he can jump higher/had better court vision/wore shoes that gave him another inch or two/grew a third arm/grew wings. I hate that logic.

LeBron Fails to Impress Rick Barry

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