Question About Barkley

[Bankshot]

Does anyone know if Barkley had a low BBIQ when he was a player?  I'm asking because he seems like the dumbest analyst I've ever seen!  

How could someone who was such a great player be so dumb when it comes to the sport he played?  He picked the Cavs, not just because of Lebron (which is why most picked them), but because he thought they were the better team with better players. Is he that dumb, or did he really think Mo Williams, Delonte West and Jamison were better players than Ray, KG and Pierce?  He also said about a week ago that Kobe was old and washed up and that Nash was going to kill the Lakers.  He never agrees with people like Kenny who seem to know what he's talking about most of the time.  

What's wrong with that dude?  I used to think that he was just being entertaining, but now I think he's just not that intelligent.

Low BBIQ might be just one of the reasons he never won a championship.

[Roy Hobbs]

Barkley had an amazing basketball IQ.  You don't succeed as a 6'5" power forward without one, no matter how athletic you are.  He had excellent instincts, and terrific court vision.

Much like when he was a player, Charles simply likes to say things for shock / entertainment value.  He gets paid because people react to what he says.  He could say something nuanced and balanced, but who wants to hear that?  People tune in because Charles makes bold, definitive, often ridiculous statements.

Also, Barkley wasn't the only one thinking the Cavs were a better team.  He just proclaimed it louder than most others.

[Bankshot]

Barkley had an amazing basketball IQ.  You don't succeed as a 6'5" power forward without one, no matter how athletic you are.  He had excellent instincts, and terrific court vision.

Much like when he was a player, Charles simply likes to say things for shock / entertainment value.  He gets paid because people react to what he says.  He could say something nuanced and balanced, but who wants to hear that?  People tune in because Charles makes bold, definitive, often ridiculous statements.

Also, Barkley wasn't the only one thinking the Cavs were a better team.  He just proclaimed it louder than most others.

He was still proclaiming it after the Celtics won though.

[BKDomer]

Barkley can't see past the green and white.  He hates the Celtics b/c we routinely pounded his Sixers teams.  In the 80's there were some heated games/moments and he made some outlandish comments about the Celtics.  In my opinion, it hinders his ability to rationally analyze this Celtics team - and its not as if he doesn't like the current players...he always says KG is his favorite player and he clearly likes Ray (never seems to give PP his due though).  In any event, does anyone know if the Chuckster acknowledged on the air his proclamation that he would bet all his money, house, cars that the Cavs would beat the Celtics?

[the_Bird]

I almost DIED during last night's pregame.  They played back the tape of Barkley picking the Cavs in five, then when the C's won a couple games, his picking the Cavs in six, they when the C's went up 3-2, still picking the Cavs to come back...   started protesting...  Kenny Smith yelling "TAPE DON'T LIE!  TAPE DON'T LIE!"

Awesome.

[P2]

Barkley actually thinks that basketball IQ is shortened to "BBQ", so that explains why he thinks his basketball IQ was actually pretty high.

[the_Bird]

In terms of almost always disagreeing with Kenny...   it wouldn't be very good television if they agreed on this most of the time.

I'm not sure if Barkley's too lazy to do more than a cursory examination of the teams (relying on second-hand analysis), if he's intentionally playing the jester/playing the "Charles Barkley" character, or if he truly is an idiot. 

[Edgar]

barkley makes a good Mr. T

[coco]

I am old enough to say I watched Sir Charles play back then.  He was gifted(i.e. very strong especially upper body, great hops and hands).  As for BBIQ, I would say it was about avg.  Somewhere along the line, someone told him he can really shoot it from 3pt range - probaly Jordan  .  It turns out, he was horrible - what a surprise! - and lost tons of games to Jordan on Jordan's advice....

[Bankshot]

I am old enough to say I watched Sir Charles play back then.  He was gifted(i.e. very strong especially upper body, great hops and hands).  As for BBIQ, I would say it was about avg.  Somewhere along the line, someone told him he can really shoot it from 3pt range - probaly Jordan  .  It turns out, he was horrible - what a surprise! - and lost tons of games to Jordan on Jordan's advice....

So he wasn't a smart player, just as I thought. His awful basketball analysis makes more sense now.

[Roy Hobbs]

I am old enough to say I watched Sir Charles play back then.  He was gifted(i.e. very strong especially upper body, great hops and hands).  As for BBIQ, I would say it was about avg.  Somewhere along the line, someone told him he can really shoot it from 3pt range - probaly Jordan  .  It turns out, he was horrible - what a surprise! - and lost tons of games to Jordan on Jordan's advice....

So he wasn't a smart player, just as I thought. His awful basketball analysis makes more sense now.

I disagree with coco's assessment.  Barkley shot threes later in his career, but never became an Antoine-like bomber.  Rather, he used the three ball to stretch the defense, which opened up additional space for him inside as his athleticism declined.  He didn't have an eFG% below .518 until he was 33 years old.

Players with average (or worse) BB IQ's simply don't succeed like Barkley did.  He may or may not be academically intelligent, but in terms of the game of basketball, there were few better.

[Mr October]

Barkley can't see past the green and white.  He hates the Celtics b/c we routinely pounded his Sixers teams.  In the 80's there were some heated games/moments and he made some outlandish comments about the Celtics.  In my opinion, it hinders his ability to rationally analyze this Celtics team - and its not as if he doesn't like the current players...he always says KG is his favorite player and he clearly likes Ray (never seems to give PP his due though).  In any event, does anyone know if the Chuckster acknowledged on the air his proclamation that he would bet all his money, house, cars that the Cavs would beat the Celtics?

Yup, he's not a fan of the Celtics. And he is jealous about how badly his career ended on the rockets when they got too old... and can't stand seeing another old team actually succeeding. 

[Finkelskyhook]

barkley makes a good Mr. T

As in "I pity the fool"

[BKDomer]

I am old enough to say I watched Sir Charles play back then.  He was gifted(i.e. very strong especially upper body, great hops and hands).  As for BBIQ, I would say it was about avg.  Somewhere along the line, someone told him he can really shoot it from 3pt range - probaly Jordan  .  It turns out, he was horrible - what a surprise! - and lost tons of games to Jordan on Jordan's advice....

Barkley is alot of things as a broadcaster/analyst, but he was a truly great player.  Bona fide all timer.  The notion that he was not a smart player or somehow lacked in BBIQ is ridiculous. 
So he wasn't a smart player, just as I thought. His awful basketball analysis makes more sense now.

[Finkelskyhook]

I am old enough to say I watched Sir Charles play back then.  He was gifted(i.e. very strong especially upper body, great hops and hands).  As for BBIQ, I would say it was about avg.  Somewhere along the line, someone told him he can really shoot it from 3pt range - probaly Jordan  .  It turns out, he was horrible - what a surprise! - and lost tons of games to Jordan on Jordan's advice....

Barkley is alot of things as a broadcaster/analyst, but he was a truly great player.  Bona fide all timer.  The notion that he was not a smart player or somehow lacked in BBIQ is ridiculous. 
So he wasn't a smart player, just as I thought. His awful basketball analysis makes more sense now.

The other case for great players making lousy analyists is earvin johnson.  earvin may have had a basketball IQ off the charts but like Barkley, he's a blithering idiot as a commentator.