http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/sports/basketball/27knicks.html

Scrappy Barnes Passes His Final Knicks Audition

By DAVID PICKER
Published: October 27, 2005

GREENBURGH, N.Y., Oct. 26 - When Allan Houston retired 10 days ago, the Knicks lost one of the most prolific players in their history. Matt Barnes, however, gained an opportunity.

"It definitely opened up another spot for the four of us trying to make the team," Barnes, a 25-year-old small forward, said after practice Wednesday.

Later in the day, the Knicks trimmed their roster to 15 players by waiving guards Steven Barber and Jamison Brewer and forward Otis George. That solidified Barnes's bid for the 15th and final spot on the Knicks' roster.

The Knicks had until Monday to make the cuts. They did so earlier to give the players who were waived a chance to sign elsewhere.

As it turned out, Tuesday's game at Philadelphia was Barnes's final audition for the team. He started and made the most of it, scoring a preseason-high 13 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 28 minutes. Midway through the first quarter, Barnes's shot from the paint was blocked. He got his rebound, shot again and was blocked by the same player.

"They got me twice, but they weren't going to get me a third time," said Barnes, who is 6 feet 7 inches and 225 pounds. Barnes got the rebound again and made a bank shot.

The series of plays illustrated Barnes's scrappiness and his raw shooting touch. A solid rebounder and defender, Barnes seems to have a nose for the ball and a willingness to work hard for it. As he walked off the court Wednesday, his face was covered with sweat and the front of his jersey was stained with blood from a cut on his hand.

"Every day is pretty much life and death for me," said Barnes, who signed a nonguaranteed contract Oct. 6, one of the last players to sign with the Knicks. "I can't afford to take any days off, so I just have to go out there and play hard."

With Quentin Richardson sidelined for the past four preseason games with an injured hamstring, Barnes's playing time has increased. Richardson, a swingman, ran at practice Wednesday and was expected to scrimmage with the team if he did not feel pain Thursday. But if Richardson is not healthy to play when the season begins Nov. 2 at Boston, Barnes or Trevor Ariza would most likely start at small forward.

Barnes has started 18 regular-season games since being drafted out of U.C.L.A. by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 46th pick in 2002. But he has bounced around during his career, which has included stints with seven N.B.A. teams and one of the league's developmental teams. He was sent to the 76ers from the Sacramento Kings in February with Chris Webber, but he did not play after the trade. The Kings and the Clippers are the only teams with which he has actually played.

"Just give me a chance to play," Barnes said when asked why he had not been able to stick with a team. "You know, last year I felt really comfortable playing in Sacramento. Unfortunately, I got traded and didn't get a chance to play any more."

Barnes said he did not play in Philadelphia because he did not fit into the system used by Jim O'Brien, who was fired as the 76ers' coach after the season.

So, will Barnes find a permanent home with the Knicks?

"I hope so," Coach Larry Brown said. "He knows how to play. He's much more athletic than I think most people realize, and he's a good, just really sound, solid kid. He tries to guard; he tries to play the right way."

REBOUNDS

Antonio Davis chuckled at the continuing speculation that he would not last the season in New York. Despite rumors of a contract buyout, Davis said he and his family were house-shopping. ... Stephon Marbury, who sustained a shin contusion in Tuesday's game, practiced at full strength Wednesday. ... After playing 11 minutes Tuesday, Jerome James vowed to redouble his efforts to get in better shape. Coach Larry Brown said James was not ready for the season. "I agree with the coach," said James, who said he had lost 27 pounds.





[Edited by - crzymdups on 10-27-2005 12:40 AM]

James, who said he had lost 27 pounds.

I guess the weigh in must have been after he took a dump.

rv... dont you get it??? We NEEDed a center. Why dont you stop lashing out and just enjoy the season

Posted by Bonn1997:

At least he's paid only $5 mil per and it was low risk!

he's a backup

Big James value will be felt by midseason. He is a force that will help re-establish the brutal N.Y defense that we were known for. Comes the playoffs, the game slows down considerably...that is when James will be at his best. All I want for him to do right now is continue to get inshape..

**** you fish.

no doubt

Posted by diderotn:

Two headed monsters at Center: James for defense, and Curry for Offense with Butler on deck as a combo.
PFs: Davis for defense, and Frye for Offense with Lee on deck as a combo
SF: Ariza for defense, Q for offense with Barnes on deck as a combo
SG: Crawff????? for ????, I would put Barnes in there also with Q on deck for matchup purposes
PG: Marb, Crawf, and little nate..

Yeah that would be great if the Knicks could play 10 guys at a time with 5 guys playing on the offensive side and 5 different guys playing on the other.