azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 28, 2005 12:00 AM
Leandro Barbosa's life has become immersed in English extremes.
In a sweet Portuguese tilt to his rapidly acquired English, Barbosa is often "happy" or "sad," "confident" or "bad."
He always loves Steve Nash. He liked Stephon Marbury. But he loves Nash, the man most responsible, along with coach Mike D'Antoni, for restoring Barbosa's confidence.
Barbosa was brilliant in games Friday and Saturday in Florida, averaging 14.5 points on 11-for-17 shooting (3 for 6 on three-pointers) with a modest five assists in 38 total minutes.
Barbosa will miss the road more than his teammates, who are glad to be done with five away games in seven days despite Phoenix's gaudy 29-8 road record. The road is where Barbosa gets to be around Nash the most.
They walk in malls. They go to movies. They dine together. They speak in Spanish, a language Nash is picking up well with help from his longtime girlfriend, a native of Paraguay.
"I feel comfortable with him and he feels comfortable with me," Barbosa said. "I enjoy my time with him. We talk a lot about basketball and my family and his family. Everything we do, we laugh."
They even play together more often. D'Antoni has gone to Barbosa and Nash as a tandem recently, making Phoenix's offensive fury even faster and more frenetic.
"He has made a big difference to our team," Nash said. "On a night like (Saturday), when guys are flat, he keeps us in games."
Nash and Barbosa shared the backcourt twice in the Miami game, good for a stretch in which Phoenix outscored Miami 10-5 in the second quarter, but also for a fourth-quarter, 17-12 stretch in Miami's favor. They paired only for the last 4 1/2minutes of the first half in Orlando, with the Suns holding an 11-9 edge in that time.
After each had a run of injuries or ailments, Barbosa and Nash are as healthy as they have been in months.
"(Barbosa) gives us some energy and quickness," D'Antoni said. "Who knows? That (pairing) might bode well as we go down the road."
Against Miami, Barbosa had two breathtaking drives within a minute. He went from the left wing to finish on the right on one, then hit a floater over Shaquille O'Neal on the next. Coupled with Nash later in that game, he scored eight points in a two-minute stretch.
In Orlando on Saturday, Barbosa had another definitive burst. In the third, he knifed threw three defenders for a three-point play and then penetrated and dished for an Amaré Stoudemire dunk on the next play. But it was the very next play that brought Nash off his back by the Suns bench.
Barbosa missed a layup but hustled for the loose ball and attacked the hoop again, hitting a double-clutch shot for a three-point play and an 85-78 Suns lead.
He is shooting 52 percent since the start of February. More importantly, Barbosa has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2-1 this month.
"I am learning a lot from Steve Nash," Barbosa said. "He is still helping me and I hope he can teach me more. He makes me feel comfortable on the court."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0328suns0328.html
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 28, 2005 12:00 AM
Leandro Barbosa's life has become immersed in English extremes.
In a sweet Portuguese tilt to his rapidly acquired English, Barbosa is often "happy" or "sad," "confident" or "bad."
He always loves Steve Nash. He liked Stephon Marbury. But he loves Nash, the man most responsible, along with coach Mike D'Antoni, for restoring Barbosa's confidence.
Barbosa was brilliant in games Friday and Saturday in Florida, averaging 14.5 points on 11-for-17 shooting (3 for 6 on three-pointers) with a modest five assists in 38 total minutes.
Barbosa will miss the road more than his teammates, who are glad to be done with five away games in seven days despite Phoenix's gaudy 29-8 road record. The road is where Barbosa gets to be around Nash the most.
They walk in malls. They go to movies. They dine together. They speak in Spanish, a language Nash is picking up well with help from his longtime girlfriend, a native of Paraguay.
"I feel comfortable with him and he feels comfortable with me," Barbosa said. "I enjoy my time with him. We talk a lot about basketball and my family and his family. Everything we do, we laugh."
They even play together more often. D'Antoni has gone to Barbosa and Nash as a tandem recently, making Phoenix's offensive fury even faster and more frenetic.
"He has made a big difference to our team," Nash said. "On a night like (Saturday), when guys are flat, he keeps us in games."
Nash and Barbosa shared the backcourt twice in the Miami game, good for a stretch in which Phoenix outscored Miami 10-5 in the second quarter, but also for a fourth-quarter, 17-12 stretch in Miami's favor. They paired only for the last 4 1/2minutes of the first half in Orlando, with the Suns holding an 11-9 edge in that time.
After each had a run of injuries or ailments, Barbosa and Nash are as healthy as they have been in months.
"(Barbosa) gives us some energy and quickness," D'Antoni said. "Who knows? That (pairing) might bode well as we go down the road."
Against Miami, Barbosa had two breathtaking drives within a minute. He went from the left wing to finish on the right on one, then hit a floater over Shaquille O'Neal on the next. Coupled with Nash later in that game, he scored eight points in a two-minute stretch.
In Orlando on Saturday, Barbosa had another definitive burst. In the third, he knifed threw three defenders for a three-point play and then penetrated and dished for an Amaré Stoudemire dunk on the next play. But it was the very next play that brought Nash off his back by the Suns bench.
Barbosa missed a layup but hustled for the loose ball and attacked the hoop again, hitting a double-clutch shot for a three-point play and an 85-78 Suns lead.
He is shooting 52 percent since the start of February. More importantly, Barbosa has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2-1 this month.
"I am learning a lot from Steve Nash," Barbosa said. "He is still helping me and I hope he can teach me more. He makes me feel comfortable on the court."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0328suns0328.html
