Journeyman Matt Barnes an Unlikely Leader for Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- On a team filled with high-priced stars, it's the low-budget journeyman who is becoming their leader.

Matt Barnes smiles at the irony.

With their heart and toughness being questioned through a recent slump, the Orlando Magic have turned to the unheralded forward Barnes to kick start the second half of the season.

He may be the 10th highest-paid guy on the roster -- making only $1.6 million -- and he wasn't here when they won the Eastern Conference title last season, but he is the key now to getting back to that level.

The Magic (27-15) beat the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night, but they remain second in the Southeast Division behind Atlanta with only the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference.

"This easily is the most talented team I've ever played for,'' he said. "But the energy level hasn't always been there. I expected our record to be better, but you get what you put out there. You put out a lackluster effort, you'll get beat. And we did.''

The Magic went into Wednesday's game having lost seven of the previous nine games. They may have started the season with a 17-4 record, but they are only 10-11 since.

Barnes has become the favorite of Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who railed on his entire team earlier in the day, blaming their problems on complacency and a low energy level. Barnes is the one guy who has escaped that wrath.

"His energy level has been very, very helpful to us. He's really given us a boost,'' Van Gundy said. "One of the things we liked about him when we got him this summer was his versatility, and the way he played. He's a guy who can do a lot of different things.''

Barnes is a combination forward whose offensive game is unpolished, despite playing in his eighth NBA season. He has played with the Clippers, Kings, 76ers, Warriors and Phoenix, never quite good enough to earn any long-term security. The Suns didn't try to re-sign him this summer. He came into this season averaging just seven points, leaving the Magic to grab him on the cheap.

It was Magic center Dwight Howard who pushed hard to get him.

"One thing I liked about Matt was that he just wants to be out there and bring a lot of energy,'' Howard said. "He doesn't care about numbers. He just rebounds, plays defense, gets in your face and brings the effort every night.''

"You can't take nights off in this league. Just because you got big names on the back of the jerseys, a bunch of All-Stars on the court, you can't drop your guard,''
- Matt Barnes Barnes grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds Wednesday night. He also had 10 points, six assists and three steals. He didn't become a regular starter until the end of December -- replacing Mickael Pietrus, but it looks now like he will keep that job through the rest of the season.

He is playing alongside Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson -- All-Stars last season -- and Vince Carter, a seven-time All-Star.

"You can't take nights off in this league. Just because you got big names on the back of the jerseys, a bunch of All-Stars on the court, you can't drop your guard,'' Barnes said. "We have to still be the hunters, and not just the hunted now. If we do, we'll be a very good team.''

Barnes is averaging just 9 points, the eighth highest scoring average on the team, and 5.8 rebounds, second only to Howard, while playing 25 minutes.

"I'm new here, so obviously I'm not a leader, but I hope unspokenly, by me playing hard, [I can] lead by example,'' he said. "You know we're a very, very talented team. We just need to put forth more effort. If that happens, we're a helluva team.''