<font face="Tahoma" size="5" color="#000000"> In Vegas: Make Room for JJ Barea</font><hr size="1" noshade="noshade" /> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="textsm"> <font face="Tahoma"> <font size="2">By Jessica Camerato for HOOPSWORLD.com</font><font size="1"> <font color="#800000"> Jul 8, 2007, 20:38</font> </font> </font> </td> <td class="textsm" align="right" valign="middle"> <font face="Tahoma"> </font> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table border="0" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0" align="right"> <tbody><tr><td></td></tr> </tbody></table> <font face="Tahoma"><span> Jason Terry and Devin Harris are the faces of the Dallas Mavericks back court. But this season, they may have to make room for another player beyond the arc. At the NBA Summer League, JJ Barea is earning his place in the NBA. <table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="5" width="267" align="right"> <tbody><tr><td><font face="Tahoma"></font></td></tr> </tbody></table> It’s easy to overlook Barea, especially next to towering teammates Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop. He’s listed at 6’ tall but that number is generous. It doesn’t matter how big or how small he is, though. Drive and determination are immeasurable. “I’ve heard it since I was little so it doesn’t matter anymore,” Barea said of his height. What matters to Barea is finding his spot on the team. He appeared in 33 games for Dallas last season, averaging 2.4 points, and spent time on the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League. After posting more than 40 points twice in one week, Barea became the first NBA assigned player to earn D-League Player of the Week honors. “That was a great two weeks for me in the D-League,” he said. “I played a lot of minutes -- more than 40 a game -- and I got to practice my game. It was great because I got the chance to play well for a good team.” Back in the NBA, head coach Avery Johnson has taken notice of what Barea can bring to the table. “He’s getting me ready everyday,” said Barea. “Every chance he gets, he tells me something. He’s a great coach and I’m just trying to listen and trying to do well.” Barea is also listening to his teammates. He spent much of his rookie year learning from fellow guards Terry and Harris and continues to soak up their words of wisdom this summer. “They’re two professional players,” he said. “Jason and Devin are great. I’m just trying to learn from them in practice, trying to take advantage of that. “Devin Harris [taught me] more attacking the hoop, more quickness, and toughness. Jason Terry [taught me to take] more jump shots and pulling up.” Added Barea, “I take a little bit of everybody.” Next season, Barea wants to be his own player. He is the first Northeastern University alum since Reggie Lewis to make it to the NBA, and he is only the second Puerto Rican-born player in the pros. Barea, in a lot of ways, is in a league of his own. “I think I do more attacking and passing for the open shots. I think I’m more of a passer than they are, so I try to do that,” he said. “I just try to be quicker than everybody and try to be smarter … with the ball.” Until Barea hears Johnson call his name, he will continue to leave all of his quickness, passing, and hunger for the game on the court. Said Barea, “[I’m going to] keep working hard, coming out taking it day by day.</span></font>
<span class="vitstorybody"><span class="vitstorybody"> Reserve point guard J.J. Barea will probably return to the Mavericks for a second season. </p> The Mavs have until Aug. 1 to decide whether to release him, but Barea's agent expects the team to pick up the option for another year. </p> "I'm fully expecting him to remain with the Mavs," agent Richard Katz said Wednesday. "He's done everything they asked and more, and he's had a great summer." </p> As an undrafted rookie out of Northeastern, the 6-0 Barea averaged 2.4 points and 5.8 minutes in 33 games. He averaged 14.4 points and 6.2 assists per game for the Mavericks' team in the Las Vegas summer league. </p> Wednesday, Barea scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead Puerto Rico to an 82-63 victory over Canada in the first round of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. </p> -------------</p> DMN.com</p></span></span>
