Barry Starts, but Clippers Stall, 100-92

When the Clippers acquired rookie guard Brent Barry in a draft-day trade with the Denver Nuggets, Coach Bill Fitch said he envisioned Barry as the Clippers’ point guard of the future.

The future is now.

Barry started his first NBA game Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, replacing Terry Dehere, who had struggled in the Clippers’ first three games.

Barry started off well, getting 12 points, two assists and two steals in the first half as the Clippers took a 10-point lead.

But Barry was ineffective in the second half, failing to score after stubbing his left big toe in the first half, and the Clippers lost their third in a row to the Hawks, 100-92 before an announced 6,782 at the Sports Arena.

“It was my left Barney Rubble toe,” Barry quipped. “There’s no reason for excuses, if you go out on the floor you’d better be ready to play. Maybe I was thinking about that too much instead of concentrating on trying to get the team into the offense.”

The Clippers, who landed at LAX at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday after Tuesday night’s 19-point loss at Seattle, led by 10 points in the second quarter, but were outscored, 27-12, in the third quarter. They shot only 27.8% in the quarter, missing 13 of 18 shots.

“If you get behind, this is the toughest place in the NBA for a home team to get it done,” Fitch said. “I guess the message is, ‘Don’t get behind, guys.’ ”

Center Brian Williams missed his first 10 shots before making his final three and finished with eight points.

“My third period was the worst I could ever have dreamed of playing,” Williams said. “I haven’t played that bad since preschool. It was the Bermuda Triangle; you don’t know why it happens, but it happens.”

Like his father, Rick, a Hall of Famer who led the Golden State Warriors to the 1975 NBA title, Barry is an intense competitor with an instinctive feel for the game.

Former Laker guard Magic Johnson, who watched the game, thinks Barry has a bright future.

“He has a lot of talent,” said Johnson, perhaps the best point guard in NBA history. “You can tell that he comes from a basketball family because he’s more mature than a rookie. He’s only going to get better. Now he’s just got to understand that there’s bigger and quicker players, so some of the passes you can normally make you can’t make, just like I had to learn.

“The thing he has going for him is his basketball instincts. A lot of guys might be out there, but they don’t understand the game, they’re not thinkers of the game, and he’s a thinker.

“Give him a month in the NBA and he’s really going to be an outstanding player. I like how he can shoot. He’s a fearless driver. He picked up some of his dad’s cockiness and toughness.”

Informed of Johnson’s comments, Barry said, “That’s a nice compliment coming from him. Maybe I should sit down to lunch with Magic and talk to him about playing this position. Hopefully given some time I’ll be able to be out there and be comfortable and run this team, but right now it’s a learning process.”

Dehere, a converted shooting guard, seemed more comfortable as a reserve, making all three shots he took and getting seven points and seven assists in 21 minutes.

Clipper Notes

Clipper guard Pooh Richardson, who suffered a stress fracture in his left foot last month, was examined by Dr. Eugene Osher Tuesday. Richardson, who has been swimming to maintain his aerobic conditioning, received the OK to use the stationary bicycle. “I think next week they’re going to have me doing contact stuff,” Richardson said. “By the middle of the following week I hope to practice. As soon as I start practicing I can return. I’m not losing any shape.” Richardson, who averaged 20 points and 4.5 assists in the Clippers’ first two exhibition games, said it has been frustrating to watch. “I wish I could play right now but I can’t,” Richardson said.

Clipper forwards Loy Vaught and Rodney Rogers and center Brian Williams are on the all-star ballot.