Harrison Barnes’ most memorable moments as a Warrior
3. Playoff HB
Barnes’ Warriors career got off to a great start.
Golden State’s lottery pick out of the University of North Carolina started 81 games for the sixth seed in a tough Western Conference, helping the team secure their first playoff berth since the 2006-07 “We Believe” team.
His regular season was satisfactory for a rookie learning the NBA as a fourth option behind Stephen Curry, David Lee, and Klay Thompson. What really opened everyone’s eyes was Barnes’ playoff performances.
In the postseason, as a twenty year old, he averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds. He broke out for 24 points in his second playoff game on the road against the Denver Nuggets. He even threw down a fantastic reverse dunk over Anthony Randolph.
More from Blue Man Hoop
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- 7 players Golden State Warriors might replace Klay Thompson with by the trade deadline
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
He had a great series against the San Antonio Spurs, a much superior team. The Spurs’ strategy was to neutralize Curry and, in Mark Jackson‘s simple offense, it was much easier to do especially as his ankle bothered him. Greg Popovich put Kawhi Leonard on Curry, giving Barnes a size advantage over Tony Parker.
He worked hard for a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds in a Game 4 victory and then scored 24 in Game 5 on the road. In Game 6, Barnes fell down hard on his head. He probably should not have stayed in the game, but he did in a losing effort.
Barnes never replicated the individual success of that first playoff run (though, admittedly, he did hit some big shots), and, thus, #PlayoffHB was born.
Next: 5/32