leandro has changed

[playstation]

over the last 10 days, it has been awesome how much i've seen barbosa morph his game. he now drives LOOKING to pass! its like he wants to be like nash so much he'll even change his game. its not reflected in the stats too much, yet, but if you watch the games, the difference is obvious...

 

[playstation]

it just hit me: he is becoming more patient on offense

 

[George O'Brien]

Nash wasn't as good as he is now when he first came up, even after four years of college as point guard. Leandro has been learning to play the point along with learning English. Both are getting better.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[playstation]

seriously, this is amazing. vs. houston, he had 11min and 5 assists...

 

[arthurracoon]

seriously, this is amazing. vs. houston, he had 11min and 5 assists...

impressive

I still remember when he started 2 games and got 1 assist!

 

[lancelet's cousin]

I can't believe that 4 of our five starters have yet to peak. Plus the Brazilian Blur is has amazing potential and is improving steadily now.

#1 in the NBA and just learning the ropes. WOW!

 

[George O'Brien]

I can't believe that 4 of our five starters have yet to peak. Plus the Brazilian Blur is has amazing potential and is improving steadily now.

#1 in the NBA and just learning the ropes. WOW!

At the start of the season the consensus was that this team was preparing for next year. They had a bunch of very young players who were learning how to play and how to player together. As good as they are, it may be like the song
The Best Is Yet To Come

 

[Errntknght]

The main difference I see in Barbosa's offensive game is that he is staying more under control when he drives into the paint - he doesn't go flying over the endline nearly as often as he used to nor leap up into the air without knowing what he's going to do with the ball. He's keeping his head up more but his court vision still isn't good - nearly all of his assist passes are to teammates directly in his forward field of view. I think his teammates are learning how to play with him - rather than expecting him to run the offense the way Nash does. Overall he seems to have relaxed and gone back to the offensive game he showed his first year - as far as his own scoring is concerned. To me it looks like he's stopped trying to become like Nash - he's playing his own style and letting the game come to him.

His defense has improved, too - most noticeably he's sliding by screens much better and getting his shoulder by screeners before trying to turn. I'd say he's moving his feet slightly more and reaching correspondingly less - and just getting more aware of what's going on around him.

 

[boisesuns]

i think his shooting has improved a buch, you can tell his form is getting better. i'm sure the coaches have helped in that area.

 

[George O'Brien]

i think his shooting has improved a buch, you can tell his form is getting better. i'm sure the coaches have helped in that area.

Leandro shot quite well last year. That is the ball went in the basket. It was ugly, but it went in. This year he has been banged up and didn't really get healthy until the last month or so, which has helped his shooting form.

I do think his play making has improved, but I expect he will be much better next season after playing summer leagues and training camp. Also, I agree that the other players will have to learn to respond to Leandro's style rather than expect him to be like Nash.

 

[Qmiles23]

barbosa also has been growing a mustache and looks diffferent

 

[playstation]

24 min - 14points, 7assists, 5rebounds

to me, this is jawdropping, and its not an accident. i've been seeing this coming for the past week, and now he's just busted loose. and you know i'm not talking about the points (today was a good shooting day, but that could change).

7 assists in 24 min after 5 assists in 14 min on sunday means this guy is now looking to pass first. off the pick and roll, he doesn't even try to get his shot. it's about who's open and how to get him the ball. I LOVE IT!

 

[arthurracoon]

24 min - 14points, 7assists, 5rebounds

to me, this is jawdropping, and its not an accident. i've been seeing this coming for the past week, and now he's just busted loose. and you know i'm not talking about the points (today was a good shooting day, but that could change).

7 assists in 24 min after 5 assists in 14 min on sunday means this guy is now looking to pass first. off the pick and roll, he doesn't even try to get his shot. it's about who's open and how to get him the ball. I LOVE IT!

 

[JS22]

I was worried about Barbosa early on. But now I can see him slowly getting more and more minutes each game for the next few years until he takes over for Nash.

He's looking really good right now. Hopefully he can only improve.

 

[lancelet's cousin]

I was worried about Barbosa early on. But now I can see him slowly getting more and more minutes each game for the next few years until he takes over for Nash.

He's looking really good right now. Hopefully he can only improve.

The thing that impresses me the most about LB is that trade talks would break down when his name came up. Never trade a promising big for a promising small? They let Lampe and Zarko go and kept Barbosa.

The Suns have an clear eye for talent at the one (so does the UofA-what is it with AZ and the one-spot?). And they've held an iron grip on this kid through thick and thin. If he can become a playmaker for the Suns and learn the offense to the level that Nash understands it, the Sun's bright future gets even brighter. Even our main competition can't keep up with us in the age department. (TD, Shaq). Those teams have a 2-3 year window to win it all. Our window may be more like 8-10 years.

 

[reader]

Sean Deveney in his power rankings has also noticed the improvement in Leandro.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3514564


1. Suns

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2nd

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(+1) 1st/4th More good news, as if the Suns needed it: Leandro Barbosa is fast becoming a useful reserve. Since the All-Star break, he has averaged 8.1 points on 47.6 percent shooting, with 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
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