Barbosa eager despite rough run with Brazil

[azirish]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0904barbosa0904.html

Barbosa eager despite rough run with Brazil

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 4, 2007 12:00 AM
It hurt Leandro Barbosa when he dislocated his right pinkie in Sunday's FIBA Americas Championship bronze-medal game loss to Puerto Rico.

During the tournament, it hurt when he fell on his left elbow, which was surgically repaired in May. It hurt that the Brazilian media criticized his team during the tourney. And it hurt to not get an Olympic qualifying spot.

But before the Suns guard left Las Vegas on Monday for a week home in Brazil, the thing that hurt most was that basketball is temporarily on hold.

"I don't want to stop playing," Barbosa said.

Barbosa will return to Phoenix next week to join teammate Steve Nash on a trip to China to play in Houston Rockets center Yao Ming's charity game Sept. 14.

Before the Brazil team's shortcomings in Las Vegas, Barbosa still was coping with the Suns' playoff elimination by the San Antonio Spurs.

He acknowledged for the first time that his left elbow was hurting during the playoffs.

"I think that when I was dribbling, I wasn't dribbling like I was in the (regular) season," said Barbosa, who shot 35.5 percent in the San Antonio series and averaged 11.3 points after averaging 18.1 during the season.

"I definitely know I need to play better. That's the first thing on my mind.

"I couldn't watch any more playoff games. I didn't even know what happened after that because of the way we lost. When I was working out in Brazil and running, it was tough for me to run because it was reminding me of it. It was something weird."

In 10 FIBA Americas games, Barbosa averaged 21.8 points and made 38 percent of his three-pointers. But Brazil, considered Argentina's main challenger for the second berth, lost five of its last seven games.

Barbosa did not talk to reporters after the last six games in Las Vegas but said Monday that he did not want to be interviewed by Brazilian media after their criticism of the team and its coach, Aluisio Ferreira.

Brazil would have earned an Olympic berth with a victory over Argentina in a semifinal game but lost Nene to injury in the first quarter and lost its lead in the third while Barbosa sat. After he exited with a third foul, Argentina went on a 14-1 run.

"Coach let me stay on the bench too long," said Barbosa, whose team has one more shot to qualify in a tournament in July. "When Argentina passed us and led, it's too hard to stop them. I don't think any team is better at that than them."

Barbosa would rather look ahead. He is excited about meeting new Suns teammate Grant Hill, whom Barbosa hopes can help develop his midrange game. And he pledges to follow center Amaré Stoudemire's lead by getting a Mohawk hairstyle because, "We are family."

"My expectations are very high," Barbosa said. "Fans in Phoenix have been waiting a long time. This can be the year to win a championship."

 

[Sunsman44]

This article seems to downplay a rather significant injury.

Barbosa fell on his left elbow, which was surgically repaired about four months ago.

He is feeling much pain and I think he should not travel to China to play.

He needs to rest because he may end up being on the list of Suns players that will need continuous attention during the season which includes Grant Hill (knees/ankles), Raja Bell (knee/thigh), Amare Stoudemire (both knees), Boris Diaw (back), and Steve Nash (spine/back issue).

Once again, I would love if the Suns were a much deeper team to alleviate these potential injury concerns...

 

[LavaLamp2]

It is good that Leandro plays through his disappointment and the criticism from others. It is part of gaining mental toughness and maturity.

Hopefully, he will have his elbow examined.

 

[Sunsman44]

Well, that elbow problem goes way back to last season.

I just hope it doesn't affect the coming year.

The last thing Suns need is another player with an injury bug. Grant Hill is currently the president of this injury bug club. Barbosa, Nash, Amare, Diaw, and Bell could very well join...

 

[LavaLamp2]

Just as Nash and Amare have learned to do specific strengthening to work around their injuries/injury-prone areas, I hope Hill can learn to do the same.

 

[azirish]

Just as Nash and Amare have learned to do specific strengthening to work around their injuries/injury-prone areas, I hope Hill can learn to do the same.

Hill's major problems were with his ankles, but his time off during 2005-06 were due to a groin injury and later a hernia. However, last season he played 64 games last season even though that included several voluntary DNP's.

It should be remembered that Hill is older, but what usually breaks down for most players is either their knees or the backs. The Suns have an almost legendary training staff, so there is reason for optimism.

 

[F-Dog]

Brazil didn't run any offense from what I saw. It probably would have been better for Barbosa's growth as a player if he hadn't been on the team.


I hope LB has a good time in China. I'm not worried--for one thing, it should be about 95% tourism and only 5% work, so it probably counts as a vacation for him.