Rick Barry: LeBron James’ Coaches Should Be ‘Ashamed’

The NBA great — who’s never been shy about expressing himself — is less than impressed with the coaching LeBron has received throughout his professional career, and Barry blames the coaches for James not playing up to his potential. USA Today has the quotes: “In a radio interview with The Rise Guys on KHTK in Sacramento, Barry said the Heat should have swept the Mavs in four straight, according to SportsRadioInterviews.com. Barry then weighed in on what he believes James needs to work on most in the off-season. ‘His shot, first and foremost, because I think that’s where it all comes down to. If you don’t have confidence in your shot, it destroys the rest of your game … Then, little nuances, facing up, learning how to be the guy learning to use your first dribble to go by instead of everything off the dribble … learning how to use screens probably, then of course the coach running more plays for him where he can run off double and triple staggered screens, learning to curl it properly, learning how to do the little things in the game which, unfortunately, have not been taught to him, which I don’t blame him for. I blame the people who have coached him over the years. To have a talent like this and to not maximize the full potential of this talent is inexcusable and reprehensible to me and the coaches who have had him should be ashamed of themselves.’”

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Tags: Erik Spoelstra, LeBron James, Miami Heat, Rick Barry

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http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

Bron’a jumpshot is not the problem, it’s the lack of movement without the ball. Too many times dude is standing in the corner watching while DWade has the rock, hell the freaking refs move more than him. Dude needs to just working on his off the ball game in the off-season and watch some old MJ games because MJ was probably one of the best at moving without the ball. That’s is what enabled him and Pip to coexist so beautifully, Pip was the better passer which meant that he needed the ball more, that forced MJ to improve his off the ball game. The same scenario must occur in MIA if those guys want rings together.
DFrance21

I think JTaylor is right. People are totally over thinking things. Look at his series against Chi and Bos. His game was clicking on all cylinders, mid range, off the dribble, threes. It was all there. He played poorly in the finals, not because lack of skill, it was lack of aggression and activity. IMO. He needs to move without the ball and cut off of DWade and other players drives. Look at a lot of Wades points, they come of hi sneaking backdoor and dunking on people. He gets those baskets by diving to the run when people drive. Lebron passes and just stands around until its passed back. He rarely attacks the offensive glass. I think more activity would work wonders for him.
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Although he could stand to improve in that area, LeBron isn’t really an off-ball player like that. JTaylor mentioned MJ and DWade, but those guys are and were natural off-ball scorers. LeBron is different because he’s a natural distributor so he has the ball in his hands a lot more.
He should never be of those guys who runs off multiple screens for the bulk of his points because he’s so much more effective when he has the ball and is in a position to make decisions for himself and others.
His problem is being able to find that balance between when to, not just shoot, but attack and get his own offense, and when to set up others. In the Finals he did the latter far too much.
And being more active in terms of rebounding on the offensive glass would definitely help because those are easy baskets.
http://Slamonline.com Caboose

Amen JTaylor, though how much of that is on LeBron and how much of that is on Spo?
http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

That is all on Bron, all on him. He’s been this way his entire career, choosing to stand around, star gazing instead of moving off the ball and getting easy baskets. Just imagine how much better the guy can become if he develops a great off the ball game? It would make it easier for him and reduce the wear and tear of having to consistently go one on five all game long. That is one of the most underrated aspects of Bird and MJ’s game that no one talks about, those guys were phenomenal off the ball players, always constantly moving and looking for easy baskets. Basketball is all about scoring in the most efficent way possible and improving his off the ball game will do wonders for Bron’s game.
Co-sing BC on the offensive glass point. Dude needs to be hitting the O board with a vengence when the shots aren’t falling. For somone who claims to be an historian of the game, he seems to have forgotten how past greats dominanted the game without scoring.
T-Money

you’re 100% right on off the ball movement stuff. bron doesn’t cut unless he is specifically told to and he rarely crashes the offensive board (which is maddening). part of it is miami’s offense too since the offense treats wade and james the same way it treats mike miller and eddie house: stand in the corner. although that’s a cop out because bron feels no way about breaking up the offense when he sees an opening with the ball in his hands. yeah, dude has to move around the court more.
http://slamonline.com nbk

i must say, I enjoy this version of JTaylor.
jack

Barry said in the same interview that the Heat should have swept the Mavs and gave the series to the Mavs. He sounds like espn’s Skip Gayless. I bet Barry bet a ton of money on the Heat and lost. He sounds bitter.
I guess the Bullets “gave” Barry’s Warriors the nba title back in 1975…he is a douchebag.
http://Slamonline.com Caboose

Everything JT just said was brilliant. And cosign nbk, though are we sure this is the same guy? The other JT didn’t have a site link in his name…
Jay Sutt

I was saying the same thing, everyone is saying how LeBron didnt come through.. true and false. Even though the players have to play the game the coaches didn’t do their part with disecting the Mavs zone and drawing up plays for hat such as having Bron move with out the ball and set his self up in the Zones soft spots which allows him to see the loor from a different perspective and use his passing ability and for closer shots. The Heat was out coached
http://slamonline.com nbk

yeah and his link is CNBC. Jtaylor is also in LeBron’s corner 100% of the time. But maybe that was just an act to get BC and others to flame out, he did try and argue with everyone for a few months..day after day, week after week. Maybe he just got over that and is actually here to discuss rather than fight
http://Slamonline.com Caboose

I hope so, dude seems to have the right stuff to say.
http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

It’s the one and only JT21, the proof’s in the pudding (cosby style).
http://slamonline.com The Fresh Prince of Nsam

Hey T-Money, ESPN here in the U.K is showing back the 90s Finals and I’ve been practising that thing you said about washing games with the TV sound turned off while listening to my old CDs and sipping some shiraz, cider or lager. It’s great man, thanx 4 the tip.
And 4 the rest of u Slamfam, c u when the next NBA season resumes (and when I finally find my £50k+ job)
Thanx from the bottom of my heart to all of you guys 4 entertaining a jobless bro for 594 days now (and counting).
C u again when I finally start getting paid.
http://slamonline.com nbk

Good luck man hope you get what your lookin for
mexa

Its the NBA fault, keep gettin those players without college experience and the result is the dumb as* lebrons!!!!!
http://www.slamonline.com/ 1982

It really did look like no one bothered to pull him aside in practice and try to figure things out after game 2. They didn’t have to, he’s been a starter for 8 years…but at the same time, this is the Finals. Spo spent extra time building up Chalmers but left Lebron? Who knows, I wasn’t there, and neither was Barry.
Dagger

How do people not know Lebron was lights-out from midrange this year? Do you guys not follow the games? Or do you just not follow the stats? Not hating, just really confused. And does anyone else find it weird that a guy who was maybe a tenth of the player Lebron is today has the audacity to say Lebron’s coaches should be “ashamed?” I’m not saying I necessarily disagree with his criticisms, but they do sound a little ridiculous coming from him. Either way, I think Lebron’s inability to win a championship this year had a lot more to do with the Mavs and his own lack of heart than any lack of talent on his part.
http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

Slow your roll there, Dagger. RBarry was a beast in every sense of the word. Dude was one of the greatest scoring and passing forwards in league history and led an undermanned Warriors squad to a final sweep of a very talented Bullet squad led by EHayes and WUnsled. Most people forget that the guy spent the majority of his prime in the NBA, so just imagine how good his NBA numbers would have looked like if the guy’s prime was spent dominating NBA forwards.
Don’t sleep on Barry, dude’s one of the 20 Greatest players of all-time.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

I stand by he lost confidence idea. I’ve watched enough of dude’s games to know when he raises up whether he truly believes the shot is going in, or if he thinks this is the shot he should be taking.
And I’ve seen enough of his games to know that his jumper reduces the space his defender can give him, thereby making it much easier for him to get to the rack and put the entire team in trouble. More importantly, most of you regulars have basketball playing experience, and should know that any time a player loses confidence in any aspect of his game, it’s almost impossible for him to do that thing well unless something happens to help him regain confidence.
LeBron is a great dribbler for a small forward, but he’s not a great dribbler. LeBron is not as creative as Wade on the pick and roll. He’s not as creative or decisive in isolations. If his jumper is not falling, it takes away a key aspect of his arsenal at this point, and he does not have a counter.
I remember Hubie Brown talking about how all big mean should have counters for every move. It’s great to be able to hit a jump hook or turnaround, but what do you do when the defender concentrates on limiting that move?
I chalk up his failure to a lack of confidence in his jumper which turned into a lack of aggression and overall confidence. I’ve seen it happen before to a lot of players, hell, even Dirk. True, I never saw it happen to players like Kobe, or Iverson or Shaq, but they were stone cold scorers in their hearts who had to dial back those impulses to incorporate other people. LeBron has never been that guy, and I’ve said that for a long time despite his gaudy numbers.
http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

Rick Barry is right… LeBron James, unlike past greats, has never had a future HOF’er coaching him. Kobe has had it, Mike has had it (the same one), Tim Duncan has had it, Shaq has had two… Even Dirk Nowitzki has at least been coached by guys with some EXPERIENCE. Bron has been coached by two of they youngest coaches in the league–not to mention he came straight out of high school, so no college coaching to help him–and STILL managed to make the finals under both of them. That’s just incredible.
There is A LOT of stuff he should have been taught and he should be practicing in the off-season. I just Pat Riley gets the memo.
Not that I’m saying Eric Spoelstra shouldn’t keep his job. That’s not my style.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Asking LeBron to play off the ball is like asking Magic to play off the ball. Ain’t gonna happen.
Instead, he needs to figure out the best way to use his skills on the ball. He can totally do it if he wants to, I think.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Not Shaq, Jordan, in my comment.
kunal

Pearls of wisdom
http://sdfklf.com Jukai

This sort of seems apologetic too Lebron.
Is it wrong of me to still think Lebron’s game is fine, he’s still the best in the game, and he just went cold and made bad decisions to play second to Wade in the finals? Is that a bad opinion to have now?
LeBron de Con

Whoo da hell is chuck beery
spursnation

We’re only proving LeBron right by parking our overweight American asses in front of tablets, laptops and PCs and discussing the merits of LeBron’s career and playing style while he makes $28 PER MINUTE. Do the math: (14.5*10^6)/(365*24*60). Oh wait, education in this country is so lacking that we can’t carry out simple arithmetic. Talk about returning to our crummy lives.
hirardu

Great players knows resiliency. The higher they fall, the higher they bounce back. So bounce back higher lebron and don’t be such an @-hole..
http://Slamonline.com nbk

The question is why didn’t LeBron have confidence during the finals? It’s obvious he lost his confidence and it was a detriment. But why? There has to have been something else that triggered him acting like the shy kid who eats lunch under the bleachers.
http://www.yahoo.com berkamore

Finally someone says what I have been screaming all along.

LeBron has two problems: he didn’t go to college and never had a decent coach in the pros. In other words, he never really learned the nuances of the game.

Take all the greats: Kareem (Wooden and Riley), Magic (Riley and college championship), Isiah (Bobby Knight and Chuck Daly), Jordan (Dean Smith and Phil Jackson), Duncan (college experience and Popovich), Kobe (no college but a decade of Jackson).

Le Bron NEVER had proper coaching. Mike Brown and Spo are adequate but for a player of that caliber, they are just not the right fit.

So I am with Barry on that one. LeBron needs a coach with some stature, not a young guy learning his trade.
T-Money

allen: i beg to differ on the ball handling. bron’s a great dribbler, period. not a flashy one but the ball is always secure in his hands, he goes wherever he needs to go with the ball. and maybe you’re right, maybe it should be d-wade playing off the ball more and cutting and all that. wade is good at going one vs one but bron is better at finding guys on the move.
MikeC.

@JTaylor – I disagree about MJ being the best off the ball player (or moving without the ball, I forget how you worded it and scrolling up is just too much right now). I’d put Reggie Miller, Ray Allen and Rip Hamilton all ahead of MJ at moving without the ball. Mostly because they were much more slender than MJ and had to get theirs off screens and curls while MJ could physically abuse most 2s. I had a larger point to make, but I forgot to eat dinner and then went out for pints after work, so my brain just ain’t right.
MikeC.

I disagree with Barry on this one. Lebron James’ coaches should not be ashamed at all. This is professional basketball. It is a profession. Strip it down to its very core, take away the media, the huge money, the adulation/fame, and all the extra crapola and NBA basketball is a J-O-B. Lebron performed poorly at his job. Like anyone else in the world that has a job and fails to improve in their chosen profession (be it clearing tables in a diner or playing NBA basketball), it is the fault of the employee just as much as the coach/manager/supervisor/whatever. It is quite possible and probable that past coaches have said something along the lines of “Hey Lebron, you realize you’re the same size as Karl Malone right? With your handles, speed, improving shooting range and finishing power, you will be an absolute nightmare if you have just a couple post moves. Wanna go learn a drop step? I’m Paul Silas, I played with Kevin McHale. Or I’m Mike Brown, I worked with Coach Pop and maybe he’ll hook us up with The Admiral for a week or two. Or I’m Pat Riley, I know that Kareem guy, he was pretty good in the post.” After 8 years in the league, I find it impossible to believe that nobody has suggested or even temporarily insisted that he work on a post move or two. I just don’t believe it. Lebron has repeatedly stated that his game is fine and he tends to get very defensive when people ask about what he does to work on his game. I’m not saying he doesn’t work. It’s obvious that he’s spent many many hours in the gym pumping iron, and many more hours working on his jumpshot and FT shooting(just not with the pressure of the Finals in mind). For someone to suggest he doesn’t work on his game at all is nuts. The problem is that he has never taken his talents to the post.
MikeC.

And for all of those who keep saying stuff along the lines of “Lebron and the Heat will be fine, they’re guaranteed to win 2 or 3 championships”. What’s the guarantee? That Wade isn’t going to keep getting older and more likely to get hurt? He’s not a great outside shooter, so it’s not like he’s going to age like Shuttlesworth. Wade has a couple more seasons of playing at his current level, then he’s going to find out what many have found out before him. Basketball is kinda hard when you’re in your 30′s and you’re not a lights-out shooter. At that point, it has to be Lebron’s team to carry and it will be all about his will and what he can force the game to do. From what we’ve seen, he’s not capable. People keep talking about Lebron’s potential and what’s to come. The guy has been in the league for 8 years. It’s not like this is his 2nd season and the entire world is unfolding in front of him. Maybe we all need to check ourselves and realize that at this point, he is what he is and that’s all he’s going to be.
Charles Breen

i dont like lebron, but all the people saying he doesn’t practice or try to improve his game…cmon man he’s in the NBA and he’s one of the elite players..ofcourse he does all that stuff
G

SLAM’s proofreader should be ashamed for letting this headline go unchecked.
Will

I have been claiming this for years as he hasn’t played for a real coach since High School. i really hope that Pat Riley will go and throw whatever money Phil Jackson needs to come out from under Montana and coach the triangle to this version of the big three. it will honestly be better than anything the bulls or lakers could have ever done. and i, for the record am a die had tar heel and a laker fan. with the right coaching in miami, they will be unstoppable…
john rambo

it’s not the coaches Barry… it’s the players!!! coaches always wanted their top players to play their very best during the finals… but it’s different when a player like Le Bron REFUSE to play his usual game when it matters most!!! Le Bron SHOULD RETIRE NOW!!! he LOST HIS CREDIBILITY as a professional basketball player and as a person!!!
alexander james

Wow tell u the truth barry just said it all. . . .yes mia could’ve sweeped the mavs in 4 when the game came down to it lebron never really took a shot he forced it that’s why he wasn’t succesful in most or shld say all of the 4 quarters in the finals. . .but lebron needs to take control tho . . .I have no hate on lebron I like the big three in mia =) gt me excited to watch tv just to see them play I wasn’t disappointed hahaha. . . But keep ur head up big three ur my fav
john

Anything Rick Barry says regarding the Mavericks directly or indirectly should be ignored. Rick had a radio show in the SF Bay Area back 5 years ago when Dallas beat San Antonio (with one of Rick’s sons) and he was blinded by personal feelings to the point of ignorance about Dallas and Mark Cuban. Rick Barry is a bitter man and I’m glad I wasn’t around when Dallas finished off Miami because he was probably throwing things at the TV in anger. By the way, when it didn’t have to do with the Mavs his radio show was still really awful, and he was fired.
BostonBaller

Again with the semi MJ comparisons..just stop it. One minor correction, it didn’t take the Pistons to make MJ work harder at his game, they made him workout harder (w/ weights). His work ethic was already there..1986.. injury… told not to play… worked out anyway-pool… then came back and kllled my C’s in the playoffs.
BostonBaller

No one said the Mavs weren’t worthy or LBJ had a lack of talent and I agree with RB to a certain point about his coaching but LBJ is grown and as JTatylor said, LBJ says he is a historian which means he should know the little things to make himself better/unstoppable. Good coaching is key but listening to/learning from coaching is critical. RCrawford is also right about LBJ not being an off the ball player but he could move around more when the ball is not in his hands, Wade would find him and not just for alley oops. Magic was very effective w/out the ball while slashing enough in games to keep teams off balanced.
BostonBaller

Rick Barry was a GREAT player and IS a HOFer w/out doubt and it only shows ignorance when “fans” of only the recent game try to call out former players for answering questions or giving an opinion when most times if their favorite player were to do or say something dumb they would try to justify it w/ more stupidity. Let’s get real fam, LBJ is a beast but he could be even better and he really does need a good PR person for his interviews. He seems to have the business part down and his “friends” seem to know the business as well so I don’t think it’s them.
BostonBaller

I have to comment AGAIN b/c of spursnation’s post at 10:46 pm about us
“proving LeBron right by parking our overweight American asses in front of tablets, laptops and PCs and discussing the merits of LeBron’s career and playing style while he makes $28 PER MINUTE. Do the math” ROTFLOL: (14.5*10^6)/(365*24*60)= 27.587519 (I think) w/out a calculator my friend. MY crummy life is as an Educator/Coach and I’ve earned my Summer off (although I will teach some this summer) I teach STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.
http://www.har.com/andrewcodia Andy

I think the main thing that made Miami Loss in the playoff is their pride. Lebron already predicted that they will win not only one,two but even seven. He already count the egg that are not hatch yet. May be Miami will win eventually but I have a feeling that Cleveland will get the championship first before Lebron get his.
JL

I think Lebron will take the loss this summer hard and realize he has to get better. And he will. If he comes out with a post game then it’s all over. Plus work on his jump shot. Perfecting those two things are only possible with hard work, not athletic talent.
Logic in the chi

Spaceship Jay Posted: Jun.16 at 1:05 pm
that lightskinned bulls joke was classic i needed that laugh
http://slamonline.com Mars

The truth is, when a player exceeds a coach’ capacity, then he no longer gets coached, he becomes the coach on the court, and that has hurt LeBron. He always going to be the best on the court no matter what team he is on or playing against. Sure it’s easier said than done, but coaches coach talent, they don’t create it. I think his teammates will stand up to the challenge of getting better. LeBron can take over games, we may never know why he doesn’t all the time….Let’s just hope we at least get a glimpse of the great performances he can provide, like we “WITNESSed” during the Cleveland Vs. Detroit, Game 5, NBA Eastern Conference Finals in 07. I know that was a while ago but still, I’m sure most basketball fans still have the memories fresh in their minds. That is the player we all envisioned him being. @ANDY, Stop it 5.
http://google marquise griffin

MR BARRY IS ONE OF THE BEST AND I KNOW! I REPEAT I BELEIVE! WAT HE SAYING IS A VALID POINT ABOUT BRONBRON’S GAME GETTING A MORE COACHED CHISEL IN HIS ..EVERYTHING ELSE IS OFF RAW TALENT MOST OF THE TIME….THEY SHOULDA SWEPT DALLAS TOO.BUT THE REFS MADE IT A FREETHROW EXHIBITION 4 DIR SHOOTING 1 FOOTED JUMPERS WHILE BRON AND DWAYNE ATTACKED THE BASKET EARNING LESS TRIPS TO THE STRIPE..BUT THE PAST IS PAST…SEE YA IN FEBRUARY SOMETIME NBA HEADS…STERN AND THE OWNERS NOT GONNA LET THIS SEASON START ON TIME…THIER LOSS IF U ASK ME!!!!
http://excite gdog

I don’t think any of you comprehend what RB just said,all of you MIA and LJ haters have used this article to allow your suppressed hatred to emerge,RB clearly said that it is the coaches fault for not teaching these fundamentals to LJ,learn how to read and comprehend you HATERS!!!!

Rick Barry: LeBron James’ Coaches Should Be ‘Ashamed’

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