Needing more from Barea

Point guard Jose Barea heads into his second NBA season looking to find a foothold in the rotation. A progress report Monday wasn’t too encouraging.

“Not real happy with him right now,” Avery Johnson said after practice. “He’s not playing very well. He’s going to have to pick it up.”

Barea knows it. Areas of improvement range from ball-handling to decision-making to on-court communication.

“[Johnson] wants me to have a role this year more than last year and expects me to be ready, so I’ve got to be ready,” Barea said.

He doesn’t think Johnson is picking on him . . . well, no more than usual.

“He’s the same as always,” Barea added. “He’s tough on point guards and he’s tougher on me because he’s trying to make me better. I just have to take it and get better.”