Is Playing Barbosa a smart idea?

[jagu]

Is Playing Barblowsa a smart idea?

The guy makes me wanna

Where is the Brazilian blur?!!!!!!!

 

[Suns_fan69]

In a word? No.

Gentry has been playing with house money with LB and I think it's time to cash out. I don't think it'd be a huge burden to shorten the rotation up and give those 12-15 minutes to a combination of Richardson, Dudley, and Hill.

 

[Chaplin]

I like Barbosa's speed on defense, but his offense is killing us. But then again, so is Goran's and we can't exactly sit him.

 

[jagu]

Goran had 4 rebounds and 3 assists and played well in the 4th. I thought he was big so Nash could rest up but Barbosa has been horrific out there.

 

[Chaplin]

Goran had 4 rebounds and 3 assists and played well in the 4th. I thought he was big so Nash could rest up but Barbosa has been horrific out there.

I did think Goran played defense on Tony Parker pretty damn well. His shot though looked pretty awful.

 

[TBaslim]

I said this in the game thread too, but I'm willing to trust Gentry and the staff on Barbs.

They are clearly trying to get him some time and confidence. Yes, he was awful in the 1st half. But instead of benching him, it sure looked like someone talked to him and told him to stop shooting and just bring the ball up and setup a few plays and play active defense. He did that fine in the 2nd half.

As much as Barbs sucks against the Spurs, he has historically given the Lakers fits. Needing him for that is a looooong way off at this point, but it would be terrible coaching to just bench him for this series or something.

It does no one any good to Nick Anderson the guy.

 

[az1965]

Barbosa's offense has been terrible. He can't pass. He can't defend. And he is turning it over. I wouldn't mind his remaining minutes go to the above mentioned. But, he has traditionally struggled against Spurs. Let's hope we get something good out of him against Lakers, if and when we eventually get there.

 

[Mainstreet]

The guy makes me wanna

Where is the Brazilian blur?!!!!!!!

He's still there but he obviously hasn't shown much. I still think he may win the Suns a game in this series or next if the Suns advance. LB just doesn't know how to fit in with the team but as TBaslim suggests, his time will come.

 

[cly2tw]

With LB is the problem that he has to be reminded that DAs are long gone and hassle and defense, not up and down risk-taking drives, is the focus for the bench guys. He is not as good in this role but at least is an athletic body stretching opp. defense. Occasionally, we might get huge burst from him, just as with Dragic who hasn't found the shooting confidence yet. So far in this series, it's no harm to play him, and Dragic, and Collins.

 

[jagu]

The foul Barbosa had at the end of the quarter was god awful.

 

[Gaddabout]

Barbs has playoff fever. He's lost on the court and forgotten his role. He demands the ball early the game, pounds it into the floor for 15 seconds, then takes off on a drive as if the Spurs don't know what he's going to do. But then, off the ball, he sits in one spot and doesn't move.

Someone needs to pull out 2007 film. Run the baseline, get to the opposite corner, and wait for a ball. He'll get his game going and he'll be fine. For Barbs, if his offense isn't working he's always struggled at both ends, but he plays great when his shot is falling. He needs to let Dragic set him up for a few standing threes and he'll be fine.

 

[AfroSuns]

I also believe his time will come, like Marion he always struggle when it's the Spurs. He wasn't huge against the Blazers but he wasn't as bad in that series either. I hope he can turn it around and not let it drag him down.

 

[krazyasiankid]

Its hard to say... It depends on the game situation. if thegame is on the line in the fourth quarter, then hell no. But if your scoring is struggling a little bit and you need some instant energy, then hell yes.

 

[Cheesebeef]

he doesn't just look like the worst player out there. he looks like the worst player OF ALL TIME.

 

[mojorizen7]

I said this in the game thread too, but I'm willing to trust Gentry and the staff on Barbs.

They are clearly trying to get him some time and confidence. Yes, he was awful in the 1st half. But instead of benching him, it sure looked like someone talked to him and told him to stop shooting and just bring the ball up and setup a few plays and play active defense. He did that fine in the 2nd half.

As much as Barbs sucks against the Spurs, he has historically given the Lakers fits. Needing him for that is a looooong way off at this point, but it would be terrible coaching to just bench him for this series or something.

It does no one any good to Nick Anderson the guy.

Agreed. Limit his minutes but don't bench him. Give them to Goran, who at least will stay in front of his man.

 

[Chaplin]

he doesn't just look like the worst player out there. he looks like the worst player OF ALL TIME.

Working in the industry has gone to your head. Overly dramatic!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

he doesn't just look like the worst player out there. he looks like the worst player OF ALL TIME.

Working in the industry has gone to your head. Overly dramatic!

Tell me about it. He wasn't even the worst player on the court that night. Jarron Collins and Matt Bonner are the co-winners.

 

[AzStevenCal]

he doesn't just look like the worst player out there. he looks like the worst player OF ALL TIME.

Okay, I have no problem with exaggeration for effect but did you not see Earl Clark the last few times he took the court. We can't have 2 guys that qualify for "worst Player OF ALL TIME". I'm pretty sure there's a limit on these things.

Steve

 

[Black Jesus]

Barbosa looked really bad there for a 5 minute stretch. 2 or 3 shots that were WAY off.

 

[nashman]

Barbosa is at his best when he can drive to the basket...and the Spurs are one of the best teams at NOT letting him do that! He will be needed against the Lakers who he always plays well against, so lets give Gentry some credit for trying to keep him engaged so he will be useful later on.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Working in the industry has gone to your head. Overly dramatic!

I know the above is a joke, but what I said wasn't. That was the worst first half of basketball from any player that I've seen since TR Dunn. All punctuated by that missile he threw into the 14th row... and then blamed on someone else.

 

[Errntknght]

I put some of Barbs troubles on the coaches. First of all they should have insisted on developing his mid-range game. He loves to rush headlong to the hoop and just squeeze up a shot past the opps fingertips but there are times that isn't working - in particular its never worked against the Spurs. On that particular point Leandro is simply not a smart player and its the coaches responsibility to do his thinking for him and beat it into his head that he has to pull up and shoot when the opponents are giving him that option.

The other thing is that the playbook when Dragic and Barbs are on the floor together consists of Goran giving Barbs the ball out high and scuttling out of the way. Its too bad that Goran goes along with it so readily - he always seems relieved to hand over the rock - but the coaches need to insist that Barbs play like he does alongside Steve and insist Goran run the offense. At least most of the time. Heck, they could even have the pair work on some plays together...

 

[dodie53]

the suns can't afford to bench him.

but the bright side is, even though LB is playing like crap, the suns is still winning.

 

[Suns_fan69]

In a word? No.

Gentry has been playing with house money with LB and I think it's time to cash out. I don't think it'd be a huge burden to shorten the rotation up and give those 12-15 minutes to a combination of Richardson, Dudley, and Hill.

Whoever said this was an idiot.

 

[cly2tw]

I put some of Barbs troubles on the coaches. First of all they should have insisted on developing his mid-range game. He loves to rush headlong to the hoop and just squeeze up a shot past the opps fingertips but there are times that isn't working - in particular its never worked against the Spurs. On that particular point Leandro is simply not a smart player and its the coaches responsibility to do his thinking for him and beat it into his head that he has to pull up and shoot when the opponents are giving him that option.

The other thing is that the playbook when Dragic and Barbs are on the floor together consists of Goran giving Barbs the ball out high and scuttling out of the way. Its too bad that Goran goes along with it so readily - he always seems relieved to hand over the rock - but the coaches need to insist that Barbs play like he does alongside Steve and insist Goran run the offense. At least most of the time. Heck, they could even have the pair work on some plays together...

What vision you've got! The coach apparently listened to you. And Gentry has distanced himself from early 1st-round strategy of insisting on Nash playing 40 minutes because it's the playoffs. Instead, he finally bought in into giving Nash sufficient rest to have some fresh legs for the final 6 minutes. This came along with having to trust the bench for longer stretches despite not playing as good as hoped at times. Gentry has been evolving before our eyes in this year's playoffs!