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| Jordan's Bulls sent Barkley's Suns home in the 1993 Finals. |
It's the 2011 playoffs and we're in what I like to call, "The Barkley zone."
The Barkley zone is for players who've either won an MVP award, played in multiple all-star games and earned various accolades but never won a championship.
Why is it called the Barkley zone? Why not?
When Barkley was drafted to the Sixers, he was on a talented but older team. Julius Irving was 34 when Barkley was a rookie. He was traded to the Suns in 1992 and played Michael Jordan's Bulls in the 1993 Finals and lost. By the time he was traded to Houston, Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon were out of their prime.
Fantastic player, but could never get the big one.
Two players who can get out of the Barkley zone right now are Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd. Kidd and Nowitzki combined, have been to three NBA Finals. They've dethrone the Lakers and will either face the Thunder or the Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals.
If Nowitzki can get back to the Finals and get 2006-2007 meltdown out of his mind, he'll finally shed the "soft" and choke-artist labels that's so undeserved.
Players in the Barkley Zone: Asterisk is for those currently playing.
Reggie Miller-Lost to the Lakers in the 2000 Finals in six games.
*Dirk Nowitzki-Lost to the Miami Heat in the 2006 Finals in six games.
*Jason Kidd-Lost to the Lakers in the 2002 Finals in four and lost to the Spurs in the 2003 finals in six games.
Karl Malone-Lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 Finals in six games.
Allen Iverson-Lost to the Lakers in the 2001 Finals in five games.
*LeBron James-Lost to the Spurs in four games in the 2007 Finals.
*Dwight Howard-Lost to the Lakers in five games in the 2009 Finals.
Patrick Ewing-Lost to the Rockets in the 1994 Finals in seven games and lost to the Spurs in the 1999 Finals in five games.
