The Official Harrison Barnes Thread

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

I was so high on Barnes then after his dissapointing tournament my expectations crashed but after blowing away the field at the combine I think he will be the guy that everyone kicks themselves over not drafting. You can teach a lot but you can't teach someone how to jump high or run fast. (To a certain extent)

[SWedd523]

A lot of people have been knocking Barnes for his ball handling which isn't as terrible as people have been exaggerating. He has proven to be able to beat his man and get to the basket. Even if his handling does need work, I feel like its much easier to improve on your ball handling than your consistency has a shooter (primarily long range).

Absolutely not.

Ball handling is a much harrder skill to learn than consistent shooting

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Absolutely not.

Ball handling is a much harrder skill to learn than consistent shooting

Couldn't agree more, Swedd. Kids learn dribbling mechanics from an early age. If you haven't picked it up well by age 20, that's a bad sign. On the other hand, you aren't even really strong enough for proper shooting form until somewhere in your mid-to-late teens. So you learn that later in life. A 20 year-old often has room to improve his shot.

[WAM9]

Ball handling is a much harrder skill to learn than consistent shooting

Agree .......

[Whiz Kid]

Absolutely not.

Ball handling is a much harrder skill to learn than consistent shooting

I can see where you're coming from but it could actually go either way.
Either way, Barnes' ball handling is much better than what some give him credit for.

[DashGlobal]

I can see where you're coming from but it could actually go either way.
Either way, Barnes' ball handling is much better than what some give him credit for.

This. It is certainly decent and capable of him getting off clean shots and beating his man off the bounce a few times a game.

Barnes only needs to improve his handle alittle bit where as MKG has to improve his jump shot ALOT and still needs to tighten up his handle. Not to mention Barnes is bigger and more athletic.

[Whiz Kid]

This. It is certainly decent and capable of him getting off clean shots and beating his man off the bounce a few times a game.

Barnes only needs to improve his handle alittle bit where as MKG has to improve his jump shot ALOT and still needs to tighten up his handle. Not to mention Barnes is bigger and more athletic.

Agree.

Barnes-bigger, more athletic, needs to tweak handles a little bit > MKG-"Winner", motor, needs a complete overhaul on his shot.

MKG may have a motor and a winners mentality and I definitely respect that, but his current skill set isn't going to do what some people project. I think he'll be a defensive specialist at best. No problem with that, however, Barnes has shown that he is solid on the defensive end and will be positioned and challenge shots. I'd take the scorer and still-solid defender over the only defensive specialist.