Barnes is a great coach because he molds his schemes to fit the talent, not vice versa. Every year. You call him a horrible game coach after last night? He has 1 of his 4 freshman playing extremely nervous. Blows two layups. He brings in a little used senior, knows exactly what he can do, and has him hit a three in a critical point in the game. The kid is 6 10, he puts him down low to bang because Texas is very weak down low and the Barnes knows the refs are calling the game in a brutal manner down low. So the kid is just mugging people and getting away with it. Setting moving picks the refs are not calling. Instead of screaming at refs, Barnes goes with what they are not calling. The kid fouls out with 2 minutes left in the game, its already over. He has done his job. HE PLAYS THE MOST MINUTES ALL YEAR IN THE FIRST NCAA PLAYOFF GAME AND YOU CALL BARNES A BAD GAME COACH? I call that knowing your talent and knowing the way the game is being called. I call that flexibility and creativity. You call it bad. Barnes may not be the best game coach, but he certainly is not bad.

Durant takes breathers during games on defense and offense. Barnes tells him to do exactly this. He moves him down in the zone when he tires instead of the middle where he belongs with those arms. Still effective but he does not have to move. This then leads to the Cherry picks. Durant rebounds and heaves the ball down the court. You saw last night if you got the Texas game. He does not even come down the floor on offense. It is an absolutely great way to keep the best player on the floor. Brilliant.

Again if you want to gripe about overuse, its DJ Augustin. A point guard in fantastic shape that plays the whole game. Point Guards dont get to false post up (rest) and lay back in the zone(rest), and not run down the court on Cherry picks(rest). But Augustin has become long distance hound.

BTW Mr. Cannon. I appreciate your challenging questions. It allows me to spout off... my wife and daughter have stopped listening, can you believe that.