[chocboywndrParticipant]

 My buddy and me were debating I wanted to get some other opinions. I said that what happened to Harrison Barnes may have been the best thing that could have happened to him. I think the kid has been the best for so long that he has never had to real put his nose to the grind stone and work on his weaknesses. I remember when Paul Pierce dropped to ten people had a lot of similar questions and I think it drove him to be better player. Do you think this could happen with Barnes?

[HaleParticipant]

All he needs to do is improve his handle. As soon as that happens he’ll improve quite a bit. He’s gotten far too much hate on this site recently. 

[surveParticipant]

 totally agree Y2G, thats his most glaring weakness is his handle.  he definitely could be a Pierce like scorer, but he has a while before he gets that type of craftiness to his game…but he can get it.

[HaleParticipant]

I think people are forgetting that Barnes won’t even be 20 for two months. He has a lot of time to work on his handle, and I’m sure he’ll eventually have a solid one. Even without a poor handle, he still get’s to the line at a very good rate and is still an effective scorer. There has been so much hate for him that they are starting to make things up. The arguments against him honestly blow my mind. 

"He sucked without Marshall": Against Ohio, yes, he was awful. Usually when your offense relies on one guy making all the decisions and that guy gets hurt, there will be an adjustment period. But against Kansas he was good nearly the whole game until they got down big with little time left and he forced a bunch of 3’s trying to get them back into the game.

"He’s not good in the clutch": Watch the end of the Ohio game. He was huge on 3 possessions in the last couple minutes. Even against Kansas he was trying to get them back in the game, he’s certainly not afraid of the big moment.

"He’s not going to be a superstar": If you ever thought he was going to be, that’s you’re fault. Anyone who has watched him extensively knew he was going to be a good 2nd-3rd option in the NBA and there is nothing wrong with that! Not every top 5 pick is a superstar! I’ll definitely take the sure-thing who will at the very least be a good polished scorer at the next level for years. 

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

he may end up as good as Glenn Rice still. Somebody posted the Grantland.com article about him and his brand yeasterday and it made me like his future prospects less. Then Antiwork3000 posted a video in the "11 guys that are always playing pickup" thread posted a video that showed him Marshall, Henson and Bullock playing pick up games at UNC against journalism majors (that was a shot at Proud Grandpa). He was interviewed and seemed like a cool down to Earth guy. Sometimes he comes off robotic on the court, like his drive two steps left pull up jumper everytime. You guys are right its really all up to him whether he’s Danny Granger, Paul Pierce or Larry Bird.

[juves4783Participant]

yeah i think everyone has been a little hard on him.  i’m still not dropping him lower than 3.  it’s obvious that kendall marshall was a vital piece to that unc team.  stillman white should consider transferring once he gets back from his mormon trip because his play in the last minutes of the kansas game were horrid.  he wouldn’t shoot the ball and couldn’t stop tyshawn taylor the whole game.  they were practically playing 4 on 5 on offense.  kansas was able to play super aggressive which left not much room for anyone to create a shot without someone converging.  i thought they should of put justin watts in the final minutes.  at least he attempted shots.  taking nothing against kansas though, they played a great game.  it will be fun to see t-rob and sullinger battle and see how well craft can defend taylor.  

[rickybobbyParticipant]

 Barnes needs to work on his ball handling his obivious weakness. But he never going to be an iso break you down type player. He just needs to get it too the point where he can use his pump fake and triple threat moves to drive tothe paint where he’s most effective with his jumper. Once he has that he have a Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce type offensive game where they like to play on the elbow around the free throw line which is where he’s the most comfortable.

Carolina offensive game plan may have hurt him some in the scouting departmant. Alot of the time he roamed the perimeter too much and tried to create behind the three point line which isnt he’s strong suit. Mainly becaused the paint was clogged with Zeller and Henson or one will be posted at the high post leaving no room for Barnes to operate inside the arch. But he still averaged 17 points a game basically as UNC 2nd or 3rd option in there game plan.  

One of his goals was to win a championship, i think that and the way he played in this year NCAA tournament will be the deciding factor for him coming back another year. He says he wants to build a brand what better way of doing it by coming back and prove the doubters wrong. Also his draft stock in the 2013 wouldnt change much he still top 3-5 if he performes better or around the same or top 10 at worst.

 

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

Harrison Barnes needs to get angry.  I know it’s not good to be overly emotional, but clap your hands, nod your head, pound your chest every once in a while.  Show some emotion.  His stoic look on the court really scared me.  Play with some passion.  Also, take all the things negative people will say about you now after your disappearing act in the torunament, make a mural in your room, the weight room and the gym, and hit it hard this summer.  Come back next year with a handle, and a chip on yout shoulder…

[surveParticipant]

 I disagree that he will never be a break you down iso guy.  Y2G just reminded us that this guy is 19 years old and he really has a pretty polished game already.  Hard work and experience and he has the tools to be that iso player.  Its called building up an offensive repertoire.

UNC had NO half court offense, even with Marshall.  Its just that their transition was so good it masked it a lot because really, their half court success was based largely on offensive boards that led to put backs, 2nd chances, or free throws.  Barnes wasnt forced to have to create only when they were down on the scoreboard.  When the transition game was not in effect….he was forced to iso, but the spacing was still ridiculously horrible.

Also, he is a deceptive athlete.  He doesnt have the craftiness of Pierce as stated, but he is a better athlete and he will improve offensively.

[r377Participant]

You can’t teach footspeed… that slow first step…

Think more Marvin Williams than All Star and future hall of famers Paul Pierce and Danny Granger and you won’t be too disappointed…

All the hype and being a no1 hs player you would expect him to be better than a second or third option and if he does go top 3 or top 5 you would want more from him also…

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