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Joe Mama

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If this guy is half as good as he sounds he could be the starting point guard next season. Barbosa has been very nice, but he is still young and quite erratic. He could still get good and meaningful minutes off the bench as a backup 2-3.

Joe Mama

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0124sunsnb0124.html

Team's prospect lighting up opponents in Europe

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 24, 2004 12:00 AM


If Milos Vujanic ever comes through as a Suns player like he has as Suns property, Phoenix really may have something special to show for the Jan. 5 Stephon Marbury trade.

Vujanic's rights were dealt to the Suns in the trade, and since returning from an ankle injury, he's scored 65 points in two games for Skipper Bologna in Italy.

Vujanic, who was averaging 13 points, hit 14 of 23 three-pointers in two European League games. He led the league in scoring last year.

"Our scouts are excited about it," Suns General Manager Bryan Colangelo said. "Countless people in the industry have come across people in our organization and said, 'You've got no idea what you've got there.' "

One of the Suns' two European scouts, Ljubisav Lukovic, coached Vujanic earlier in his career. Vujanic is friends with Suns rookie Zarko Cabarkapa.

Colangelo said he plans to visit Vujanic, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, but has already had positive talks with the Knicks' 2002 draft pick. He has another year on his contract in Bologna but does have a buyout clause.


Casey gets defensive


It doesn't matter how customary starts became in Casey Jacobsen's Stanford career. Every time the lights go down and his name goes up at America West Arena for Jim Barnett's starting introductions, Jacobsen gets as excited as a kid at Christmas.

He got his third consecutive start Friday, as the Suns continue to go with a small lineup while Amare Stoudemire's left ankle and right toe heal. The long-range shot, seen in Jacobsen's three first-half three-pointers, may have helped him get to Phoenix, but it has been some hard-nosed play that has kept him in the mix of late.

"Over an 82-game season, it's defense that's really going to keep you getting consistent minutes," said Jacobsen, who had one career start until this week. "I recognized that the first couple weeks of my rookie season. If you can't play defense in this league, it doesn't matter if you can make some shots."


Now that's young


Suns coach Mike D'Antoni knew how to take care of all that pestering that rookie Maciej Lampe was giving him over when he would play.

"If he plays against (Tim) Duncan, he might not bug me so much," D'Antoni said before the game.

Lampe's debut made him the youngest Suns player ever to see action. Lampe turns 19 on Feb. 5; Stoudemire debuted at 19 years, 11 months last year.

Lampe started the second quarter and promptly put up an air ball and got a foul. He was out after 2 minutes, 20 seconds.


Kerr at the mic


Steve Kerr could stare at tape of him playing the game until his eyes turned red. But watching his work as a rookie analyst is no free throw.

"It's much harder," Kerr said.

"With game tape, there are nine other people out there. But with TV tape, you hear your voice and see yourself and it's like, 'Ewww.' "

Kerr works Spurs telecasts and a weekly TNT game.
 

PhxGametime

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How old is Milos Vujanic? At the time of World Championships - Marko Jaric was considered best Euro PG but Milos started against USA and IMO was more impressive although Jaric played more minutes (it seemed). He reminds me of Steve Nash, Kirk Hinrich, Luke Ridnour, Tony Parker, Leandro Barbosa etc.

Both Barbosa and Vujanic can press full court, so whoever comes off bench and/or when playing together can cause problems. I taped Suns game yesterday on Fox but watched some of it on ESPN and George Karl was saying that Vujanic is mentioned as best pick n roll PG in Euro if not USA as well.

I got to see Barbosa play USA too and feel he was more athletic but both impressed and if Suns can draft well again/free agent - could be right back in playoffs next year.
 

George O'Brien

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Originally posted by BbaLL_31
How old is Milos Vujanic?

He is supposed to be 22-23. He spent several years as "promising" before breaking out in the last couple of years.
 

sly fly

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I've heard he splits double teams and traps better than Kidd or Nash...

My God, this kid has more promise than Anquan Boldin! :p
 

Chaplin

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Karl said that Milos is the best pick and roll guard in the world, not just Europe or the USA. :D
 
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Joe Mama

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Originally posted by Chaplin
Karl said that Milos is the best pick and roll guard in the world, not just Europe or the USA. :D

That could be great with Amare Stoudemire or Jake Voskuhl. I really hope they can get this guy over here next year.

Joe Mama
 

SirStefan32

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Vujanic is better than Parker.

Milos is a slightly better defender, much better shooter, and can play 1 or 2 guard equally well. Parker is younger though.
 

Goldfield

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With Barbosa's ability to hit the 3 ball very well. Pluss his ability to get his hands on the ball on the defensive end. It would be interesting to see Vujanic & Barbosa on the court together...
 

scotsman13

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really it wont matter if barbosa starts or milos, the one that doesnt start becomes our 6th man backing up at both the 1 and 2. i think that they will stay with barbosa at least for the time being, but it is based off how they both show up in training camp barbosa has shown that he can bring a lot of energy off the bench and with his long arms and defense play it wont matter if he is a 1 or 2 if he can gain some strenght. milos is a great outside shooter who is also good at the pick and roll but wont be the defender that barbosa will be. so if you want to bring a rex chapman type shooter into the game he would be a good 6th man. remember the best teams run an 8 man rotation.

that means 3 forwards: amare, marion and zarko (sounds good)
3 guards: barbosa, jj and milos
and 2 centers jake and lampe or draft pick.
if we were to move to a 9 man rotation then i think the last guy would be someone like white.
this is going to be a very young team for years.
lampe 19
amare and barbosa 21
zarko, jj, casey and milos all around 22 or 23
marion is 26
jake is 27
these are the players we would keep protected in the expansion draft except milos who wont have to be protected. and leave us with an average nba experance at the end of this year of just over 2 years. and an average age of 22.5.
 
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