In 1980, the expansion Mavericks won their first game and head coach Dick Motta said he was going to cut the standings out of the newspaper and frame them. At 1-0, the Mavericks led the Midwest Division and Motta knew that with an expansion team, it would not last. He was right, of course. The Mavericks went 15-67.
J.J. Barea should follow Motta's lead. After his scintillating 25-point performance in relief of Devin Harris against the Kings Saturday, Barea finds himself among the league leaders in several categories.
Before the game against the Rockets, Barea ranked second in field goal percentage at .778, making 14-of-18 and was behind only Atlanta's Acie Law, who had made eight of his 10 shots for .800.
Barea was first in three-point percentage wit a perfect 4-of-4. And he was one of 16 players who has yet to miss a free throw, so his 1.000 percentage was tied for first.
Barea was shown the stats before the game and someone asked him if he would maintain those ranking throughout the season. Barea laughed and said: "That would be nice."
-- Jan Hubbard
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