Clippers’ Coach Doc Rivers on how to handle Matt Barnes’ slump

Clippers small forward Matt Barnes is going through a big shooting slump.

In the team’s eight exhibition games, he shot six for 44 (13.6%) from the field. From beyond the three-point line, Barnes shot one for 24 (4.2%).

When Clippers Coach Doc Rivers was asked how he’s planning to approach Barnes, he said it’s a delicate issue.

“Some guys come in your office and you have a talk with them,” Rivers said. “And some guys, it’s like a pitcher that’s having a no-hitter -- you stay away from them. With Matt, it’s probably somewhere in the middle of those two.

Rivers, who coached the Boston Celtics to a championship in 2008, said that as the leader of the team it’s up to him to figure out how to best inspire each player.

“Some guys you can kid around about it,” Rivers said. “Paul Pierce could go 0 for 50 and you could show him on film and joke about it and he could care less. Ray [Allen], you had to be careful.”

With Barnes, Rivers hopes that the 34-year-old, who has a career average of 44.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the three-point line, will just continue to shoot and not get too psyched out by his most recent performance.

“You just hope he didn’t want to make them so much that he can’t make them, that you start getting in the way of yourself,” Rivers said. “That’s usually what happens when you have a slump like he’s had.”

J.J. Redick said he’s not too worried about Barnes, who has played in the NBA for 11 seasons.

“Matt’s been in this league a long time,” Redick said. “He’s done it for a number of years, he’s had a good average from three-point. It’s not anything that anyone needs to be concerned about.”

Redick added that he too went through a memorable slump -- and got through it.

“I think one year I started the season three for 25 from three, I think my fifth year in the league, and I shot right around 40% for the year. I’m a big believer in the law of averages, things will even out. I’m sure he’ll have a five- or six-game stretch where he shoots 60% from the three. ... You just keep shooting. You don’t get to this level if you’re worried about missing shots.”