Why Harrison Barnes’ streak ended against the Hornets

The ten-year streak ended when San Antonio Spurs faced the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Veteran forward Harrison Barnes started 775 consecutive games, until it turned out a 111-106 loss at North Carolinathe state where Barnes attended college.

“I don’t think the lineup change is a big deal. I think it’s a big deal that Harrison Barnes starts as long as he has,” head coach Mitch Johnson said after the game.

“And it’s a testament to him and all his time and work and production that he’s put in over the years. He’s the ultimate professional,” Johnson said as he continued to describe the move. “I think I understand that they’re very connected, but they’re also mutually exclusive to me in the sense that one is a big deal and the other isn’t.”

It has to go back to Jan. 11, the last time Barnes came off the bench. In fact, you have to go all the way back to January 14, 2016 when the former Tar Heel was with the Golden State Warriors, the first of four teams he played with during his NBA career.

As for the reason for the change, which saw Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie hold the books for Victor Vembaniam, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the starting unit against Charlotte, Johnson pointed to Vassell’s return.

“We had a lot of guys in and out of the lineup. It was just as much trying to get Devin back into his role as before,” Johnson said. “Not much other than that, but I felt like Devin hadn’t really found his groove the last couple of games. We thought just getting him back into the starting lineup might get him back into that state.”

Competition in hornets marked Vasell’s third game back from a left adductor strain an injury that sidelined him for almost a month. A starter for most of his career, including the first two-plus months of this season, c the former Florida State star has taken on a backup role from the return on Jan. 25.

With Vembanyama, Fox and Castle mainstays in the top five, that left Julian Champagne. Although his 3-point percentage ranks next to the team’s best at 37%, Champagne became the team’s scorerrecording it better lately.

Harrison Barnes is playing well in his first game off the bench in a decade

In 25 minutes, Barnes scored 11 pointshitting three of the six shots he took, all but one from behind the arch.

“We’re all stepping into a role and the main focus is winning,” Barnes said, per Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News . “So I’m just trying to find ways to impact the game, to still be vocal, to do my part, to help contribute to the win.”

“I thought Harrison was great,” Johnson added.

“The big thing is just Harrison. And again, his approach showed that he had a productive game off the bench. It was great for us,” the first-year Spurs coach continued.

It should 14-year NBA veteran find yourself in the starting line-up again, and soon it would not surprise manyincluding Wasel

“I think we’re just trying new things to see different lineups, different ways to lay out the floor, and we’ll just see what happens with that. But I don’t know if it’s a permanent thing or not.”