Inside Hoops: Suns Rookies Rated

[George O'Brien]

NBA Rookies: The Rookie Watch

11) Leandro Barbosa 6-1 PG Phoenix Suns
Stats: 6.4 ppg 1.0 rpg 1.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 45.7% FG

Once Stephon Marbury got traded, Barbosa started getting more minutes, and showed he belongs in this league. Per 48 minutes, in the entire league, Borbosa is 2nd in steals, 8th in three's made and 9th in turnovers. A player. Best suited for coming off the bench to score quick points, but the situation in Phoenix has pushed him to the front.

17) Zarko Cabarkapa PF Phoenix Suns
Stats: 5.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Was looking good, got injured, and is back on the road to bigger and better things.

 

[slinslin]

Keith Bogans, Raul Lopez, Ronald Dupree ahead of Barbosa? Am I missing something?!?

 

[Chaplin]

All three of those guys have been more crucial pieces of their respective teams than Barbosa--In Lopez's case, for the whole season.

 

[slinslin]

Dupree has been a more crucial piece to the Bulls?

He played a total of 15 NBA games on the BULLS.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by slinslin
Dupree has been a more crucial piece to the Bulls?

He played a total of 15 NBA games on the BULLS.

And has played pretty well. Remember, these type of "power rankings" are very short-sighted. They only look at the last few weeks or even days when doing their rankings.

You say the BULLS like its a bad thing, but people around the country are saying the SUNS the same way.

 

[slinslin]

Barbosa has played much better than Dupree over the same period of time.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by slinslin
Barbosa has played much better than Dupree over the same period of time.

Smaller market.

 

[slinslin]

I wonder why Phoenix is always considered a small market? The 4th or 5th largest city in the USA?
The Suns must make some mistakes.

Best example? Gary Bender, Tom Leander, Tim Kempton and I also can't stand Del Negro.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by slinslin
I wonder why Phoenix is always considered a small market? The 4th or 5th largest city in the USA?
The Suns must make some mistakes.

Best example? Gary Bender, Tom Leander, Tim Kempton and I also can't stand Del Negro.

The "big" markets are NY, LA, and Chicago. Everybody else is either medium sized or small.

NY has a metro area of 20 million. LA over 13 million. Chicago around 7 million. Phoenix is a bit over 3 million.