doesn't barbosa HAVE to start next year?

[playstation]

i mean, he's gotta play near 40 a night next year, its getting to the point that not having him out there is detrimental to the team. he is damn near unstoppable, and he's the 3rd guy on the team i can say this about.

people were talking back in the day how he might one day be a legit 20ppg guy. he's that guy RIGHT NOW, on 50% shooting no less, while being quite a good disher at this point and an overall positive defensively. next year, as a starter, skys the limit.

what does this mean? i mean, do we go small (nash, barbosa, bell, trix, stat)? raja off the bench? trade raja (he'll be 31 next year)?

gotta say though, for barbosa to become THIS good is amazing. at this rate, it would not be impossible for him to have all-star status on him in the next 5 years.

 

[Nasser22]

I'd rather have Raja for the rest of his contract. He's showed no signs of slowing down in his game and it's good to have him on the team. I do think that Barbosa should be starting next season, but I would wait until the off-season is over and we know who we have to decide how the line-ups go. He has been great though, and you're right, unstoppable. He still seems a little out of control and his defense needs work, but I think now he deserves to start.

 

[F-Dog]

IMO Barbosa should be starting in the second round of this year's playoffs--Bell needs to be shadowing Ginobili, so if Ginobili comes off the bench, so should Raja.


Aside from that, though, I think the Suns are handling Barbosa just fine. He's getting a lot of minutes, and because he's generally coming off the bench, the Suns can dictate his matchups a bit better, setting him up for big games.

He'll start next year if he's ready, but I think Raja will probably hold him off for one more season.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Unless his defense improves dramatically or Raja's evaporates overnight, Bell should remain the starter. Our offense isn't in as much need of help as our defense, and Raja is the superior defender by far.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Funny how a lot of people chastised D'antoni for deciding to try out the small ball lineup a week or two ago.

Since then barbosa has done even better then he was already doing which is really saying something, and diaw has been a lot better off the bench being able to bring more of his offense into the picture.

You watch as the ball switches between nash and barbosa and it just literally overwhelms people. Then diaw comes in and people are still being overwhelmed with size mismatches and his ball handling.

If we drafted Horford and he started along with stat and marion it would be size mismatch heaven. Imagine stat AND diaw AND Horford all in at the same time each with their respective back to the basket and general paint attacking skills. Then you have nash and barbosa jetting around everywhere making crisp passes.

Freaking sick.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Two things.

1. Leandro is a bad defensive player. He over plays the lanes and leaves his man to do weak ass double teams, Not to mention Neil Walk can post him up.. So 40 mins might be a lot if he can't play any defense.

2. He is not a selfish player, so I doubt he would ever gripe about being a sixth man. My guess is Diaw will get shipped out at somepoint and depending on who they get in return it coud leave room for Leandro to start if needed.

 

[dodie53]

barbosa is better coming off the bench..
he can earn sixth man award honors for the rest of his career..

 

[ma_falaa_50]

why are u asking this now? this season isnt over yet.

It would be better if Barbosa comes off the bench. Starting doesnt matter as long as u can log in minutes.

Manu comes off the bench but he plays like 35 minutes a game.

 

[HooverDam]

I like Barbosa off the bench myself. Diaw helps the Suns match up a bit better with most teams, and when he's focused, he's fantastic (I think this year may just be a bit of a 'sophomore slump' for him, since he was nearly a rookie last year). Barbosa gives the Suns a nice burst off of energy off the bench. I also don't mind starting KT-Amare-Marion-Bell-Nash if you are playing a team like the Heat, then you have Diaw off the bench who can come in for just about any position that gets in foul trouble, and Barbosa can come in for either guard or the small forward.

 

[ma_falaa_50]

Whichever help the suns win games should determine who can start.

 

[ndjmc]

the bench baby!

If he could stomach the Idea, he could be the greatest 6th man in the history of the game. When he comes in off the bench, the starters are a bit winded and he is impossible to guard.

Eat a bunch of Italian food and then try to go running. I am sure that feeling is close to what it must be like to cover that guy.

 

[azirish]

I can see Barbosa starting every so often, but mostly he's more valuable coming off the bench.

1. He brings a huge amount of energy, which is an especially big deal for the Suns.

2. He's often matched against backup players who are even less prepared to deal with his speed than starters.

3. He's being used as a combo PG to spell Nash.

It is nice to have a proven defender like Bell taking on the opponent's starting SG.

 

[D-Dogg]

IMO Barbosa should be starting in the second round of this year's playoffs

What, you don't want Raja guarding Kobe??

 

[BC867]

Not to mention Neil Walk can post him up.

Ugh. That's an awful way to make a point.

But the point itself is well taken. I'd rather see Leandro as an excellent sixth man than as a tweener starting and making the team even smaller.

Amare can have a hell of a career as a PF, with a Center taking pressure off him. As the only big man in the lineup, even in today's times, it leaves the Suns short in certain aspects.