Barnes No Longer Laker Foe

The +/- stat is one of the few metrics in the box score that reflects the impact a player has on his team. This stat is particularly meaningful for bench players or players with limited minutes as it shows if a player helped spark or contribute to a run and effectively change the momentum of the game. Of the top 20 players in the +/- category in the 2009-2010 NBA season, Matt Barnes played the fewest minutes yet ranked ninth on the list. Similar to Bruce Bowen and Nate Robinson, Barnes can get under your skin. However, if given the opportunity, a basketball fan would welcome Barnes to his favorite team's roster.

Barnes does not mind hacking the offensive player in order to send a message that scoring against him will be a challenge. He has been known to make some dirty plays such as throwing elbows or faking an inbounds pass into Kobe Bryant's face. Barnes even got into a public tiff on Twitter with Lamar Odom after the Lakers lost in Orlando this year. Despite the hatred that Barnes stirred among Laker fans and players, they are now happy to have Barnes on the team. Case in point: Barnes pulled some stunts in the past, but because he brings defensive energy and has a positive impact on his team even while playing limited minutes, he has been quickly welcomed by the Laker community. Adding Barnes alongside Artest and Bryant could put the Lakers in a position to have the best defensive backcourt in the league.