Mark Jackson replaced Harrison Barnes in the starting lineup with Andre Iguodala at the beginning of last season, which would end up being Barnes’ worst as a professional. Barnes has talked about losing confidence last year and never really feeling comfortable in a reserve role.
During the second quarter of Game 4, Jackson saw a window to praise Iguodala, but it seemed like he was more interested in burying Barnes.
“We were talking about Andre Iguodala, I was reading a story earlier on Harrison Barnes. Great story. But he talked about how frustrated he was not starting last year, and he never bought in.
“It can hurt a basketball team when you don’t buy in. The same way it can propel a team when a star like Iguodala, who’s had success, buys in and is willing to sacrifice,” Jackson said.
After a brief break from Jackson’s monologue (Mike Breen rudely interrupted to start discussing the action on the floor after staying quiet though an entire Cavs possession), he went in on Barnes again.
“Guys say they want to win,” he said. “But the majority of them want to win on their terms.”
Jackson was known for being a players’ coach, praising everyone from Stephen Curry to Andris Biedrins throughout his tenure. But when it came to players like Andrew Bogut and Barnes, Jackson wasn’t always so diplomatic.
“There’s no secret he hasn’t played the way we or he expects him to,” Jackson said last April. “He’d be the first to tell you he’s not playing up to par.”
