Barnes World of Hurt

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span id="Global"> OAKLAND - Matt Barnes is playing through tremendous pain. However, it has nothing to do with his dislocated finger on his right hand, which sends a shooting sensation throughout his whole hand whenever it's hit. It has nothing to do with his throbbing left ankle, which he twisted when landing on Amare Stoudemire's foot late in Monday's win over Phoenix. It has nothing to do with not getting the lucrative long-term contract he so coveted this offseason, forcing him to settle for a one-year, $3 million deal.

Barnes is gutting out a pain that belittles sprains and fractures, trivializes blows to the ego. It even trumps success and victory. His mom is dying.</p>

But though his mother is succumbing to cancer, Barnes has made a commitment to his teammates. While a leave of absence would be understandable, maybe even recommended, not only is he showing up when he can, but he's playing his heart out - at least what's left of it.</p>

"It's just great to be back with my second family,' Barnes said Monday.</p>

Provided his ankle has healed enough and his mother's condition doesn't worsen, Barnes said he will play tonight in his hometown and against his former team when the Warriors visit the Sacramento Kings. It won't be the typical homecoming, <span id="Global"> for obvious reasons. But don't be surprised if he plays big.

The situation makes Barnes' recent play even more impressive than the numbers indicate. In his last two games - separated by the five-game East Coast road trip, which Barnes skipped to be with his mother - he averaged 12.5 points on 50 percent, 7.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. He has been all over the place, on both ends of the court, serving as a catalyst for the reinvigorated Warriors.</p>

Barnes has been one of the inspirational figures on the team since last season. He made the team as a training camp invitee, he helped the Warriors get through early season struggles with some relatively stellar performances, and he played a key role in the Warriors playoff push last season. He was the enforcer, the garbage man, the utility player and a quiet leader. So much so that coach Don Nelson made Barnes a captain this season despite Barnes' pending free agency.</p>

That said, what he's doing now is special. Driving back and forth between Sacramento in Oakland. Sharing some of his family time with his teammates. Somehow finding the focus and energy to bring something to the court. He's exceeding what anyone could've expected in his situation, and it's not going unnoticed in the locker room.</p>

"He's our heart, man,' said Warriors point guard Baron Davis, one of Barnes' closest friends on the team. "He's our heart and soul. We feed off of him, we feed off his emotion, his hunger, the way he plays out there, the way he scraps.'</div></p>

Source: TimesHeraldOnline</p>

Best of luck to Barnes and his mother.</p>
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His mother already passed away. News broke yesterday so I imagine it happened yesterday morning or maybe the night of the Phoenix game. Barnes still wants to play tonight in Sacramento (his home town) as long as his dislocated finger and sprained ankle are ok.</p>

http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/kawakami/20...include-mullin/</p>

RIP Anne Barnes, condolences to the Barnes family.</p>