Mavericks’ J.J. Barea makes living being a pest
With all due respect, J.J. Barea is a pest.
The Dallas Mavericks guard knows it, he thrives on it and he makes an honest living because of it.
Barea’s pesky ways pay the bills and put food on his table, and allows him to live a lavish lifestyle. After 10 years in the NBA, it’s his modus operandi.
“I’ve got to do it. It’s not like I’m proud,” Barea said. “I’ve got to do it to stay on the floor a little longer. I’ve got to be good on defense, bother some people and stuff like that. But it doesn’t bother me.”
It sure bothered Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook.
When the Mavericks didn’t play any of their starters and lost to the Thunder 108-89 on Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City, Westbrook wasn’t around for the ending. He wasn’t around for much of the game.
I know they’re going to come here aggressive and we’ve got to be ready, especially here at home.
J.J. Barea on Oklahoma City
Westbrook was involved in a pair of heated confrontations with Barea. In the first confrontation with 5:16 remaining before halftime, each player drew a technical foul, and Mavericks forward Charlie Villanueva was ejected after his extra curricular activities crossed the line.
Then with 1:20 left in the first half, Westbrook drew a second technical and the automatic ejection when he swung his arms after he was fouled by Barea.
Westbrook played only 14 minutes and was held scoreless for only the second time in his career. The eight-year veteran did collect seven rebounds and eight assists in that game.
Meanwhile, no one knows if the skirmish will take on a new flavor when the Thunder (32-12) faces the Mavericks (25-19) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at American Airlines Center.
“That’s over with,” said Barea, who scored a team-high 18 points in last week’s game against Oklahoma City. “I know they’re going to come here aggressive and we’ve got to be ready, especially here at home. It’ll be an exciting game, it’ll be a lot of energy out there, so we’ll see what happens.”
The NBA is an emotional league. They have some emotional guys, we have some emotional guys, its right down the road, or up the road.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle on playing against the Thunder
Considering what happened between these clubs last week when there were two ejections and six technical fouls, Barea said he believes the wrath of Westbrook will probably surface right away.
“He always comes out aggressive, but I think maybe a little bit more [Friday],” Barea said. “Or maybe he comes out a little bit cold so he can stay calm the whole game. But I think he’ll be ready to play [Friday] night, so we better be ready.”
Mavericks-Thunder games usually take on an aggressive nature, maybe because of the proximity between the two cities, which are 3 1/2 hours apart.
“The NBA is an emotional league,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “They have some emotional guys, we have some emotional guys, it’s right down the road, or up the road.”
One of those emotional guys is Barea, listed generously as 6-feet tall.
“He’s a competitor,” Carlisle said. “If you have a team of guys that compete hard, there’s going to be some emotional times that happen in games, but not just against Oklahoma City.
The way we play against each other I’d say we don’t like each other.
J.J. Barea on Oklahoma City
“We have things that happen in our games, and other teams have them, too. It’s not exclusive to any particular team or teams. It’s one of the things that make the league really one of the most compelling sports to watch.”
And what’s compelling right now is to watch what will transpire when Barea is assigned to guard Westbrook.
“We’ve been in some battles before dating back to the 2011 playoffs, and they’re a good team and we’re a good team,” Barea said. “They’ve got some All-Stars, we got some All-Stars.
“The way we play against each other I’d say we don’t like each other. I think it’s on the court. I think outside the court we’re fine. I think away from the court we don’t really get along that well, but that’s part of basketball.”
Dwain Price: 817-390-7760, @dwainprice
This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Mavericks’ J.J. Barea makes living being a pest."