Payton: Barry Tougher as Off Guard

Seattle SuperSonic guard Gary Payton, perhaps the NBA’s best point guard, thinks Clipper guard Brent Barry is better-suited to play shooting guard.

“He can be a point guard, but I don’t think he’s a point guard,” said Payton of Barry, who has started the last two games at the position. “I think he’s a two guard. He’s got to be able to score and he’s more of a slinky guy. For him to handle the ball and do a lot of things . . . it’s just not his position.”

Barry, who had 18 points, five assists and four rebounds in a six-point loss at Seattle on Sunday, had 21 points in a 109-94 loss to the SuperSonics on Tuesday at the Sports Arena.

Barry made eight of 14 shots, including five of eight three-point shots, but had no rebounds or assists and four turnovers in 42 minutes.

Barry, who has trouble defending faster guards, couldn’t guard Payton, who had 25 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals Tuesday.

Teamed with guard Darrick Martin in the first half, Barry made three of four three-point shots and had 13 points, while Martin had 13 points and made three of five three-point shots.

*

The Clippers missed 13 of 31 free throws Tuesday night, including six of 13 in the fourth quarter.

Lorenzen Wright missed seven of 14, Eric Piatkowski missed two of four and Barry, whose father Rick has the second-best free-throw percentage (.900) in NBA history behind Mark Price (.907), missed both of his attempts.

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State

* 7:30 p.m.

* Channel 9

Site--Pond of Anaheim.

Radio--KEZY (95.9), LITE (92.7).

Records--Clippers 4-20, Warriors 5-16.

Record vs. Warrior (1996-97 season)--3-1.

Update--After a loss to the Atlanta Hawks and consecutive losses to the SuperSonics, the Clippers finally get a break. Tonight’s game matches the third- and fifth-worst teams in the NBA. Center Keith Closs, who criticized Fitch after he was held out of the final three quarters of Sunday’s six-point loss at Seattle after making the first start of his career, played three scoreless minutes in a 15-point loss to the SuperSonics on Tuesday night.