The 40% REGULAR SEASON 3p shooting is the most valuable asset Barbosa has. The only reason he hasn't got traded.
No matter what shortcoming he has, we do need this 40%. That will help us to get a couple of more wins, a better seeding, and most importantly, a lot of minutes off the old legs of Nash, Bell and Hill. I would say his 6M per contract is pretty acceptable for that contribution.
In playoff, Barbosa's 3p% dropped dramatically due to much tougher defence of opponents, and his own poor defence is full explored. So we can't count on him by then. That's why we might want to add or trade Barbosa for another 3p shooter who can shoot and defend in playoff. Right now, we hope Barnes can repeat what he did for GSW.
I've been positive to starting Barnes at small forward and letting Hill run the second unit since we signed Barnes.
I might over estimate how good Barnes is, but my thinking is we have enough starters who need the ball as it is with Amare, Nash and Shaq, so Barnes is better used as a 3 point shooter, rebounder and slasher with that group.
Hill can dominate the ball and let Diaw and Barbosa play off it with the second unit. That means more rest and more effective minutes when he's on the floor. Coach has to manage his minutes so he stays warm like Nash and his sore back.
I've been positive to starting Barnes at small forward and letting Hill run the second unit since we signed Barnes.
I might over estimate how good Barnes is, but my thinking is we have enough starters who need the ball as it is with Amare, Nash and Shaq, so Barnes is better used as a 3 point shooter, rebounder and slasher with that group.
Hill can dominate the ball and let Diaw and Barbosa play off it with the second unit. That means more rest and more effective minutes when he's on the floor. Coach has to manage his minutes so he stays warm like Nash and his sore back.
Sounds about right to me. Makes us deeper than we've been in years.
__________________ Stoudemire's basket attacks are among the most violent in the league.
Barbosa's three is a big part of his attraction, but hardly the only one. It is very hard for opponents to guard him when he's rested because he has a very quick first step and is one of the fastest players in the league WHEN DRIBBLEING THE BALL. (Lots of guys can run up and down the court, but slow down when they have to dribble the ball.
IMHO, he has a slowish release and a flat trajectory. This means guys can play off of him somewhat, but it is hard to deal with him if he's "on".
He's actually pretty good as a cutter but was not used that way as much as I'd like
When it comes to offense, what I'd like to see is:
1. Better recognition of weakside defense: He needs to know when he can't get to the basket so he kick the ball out before getting into trouble.
2. Better mid range shot: Everyone knows he's going to try to take it to the basket. Mid range shots are always wide open and much easier than trying to throw the ball over seven foooters.
3. Make "up fakes" before taking off to the basket.
4. Pass the ball to open teammates: Leandro is far to guilty of "tunnel vision" to ever be a point guard, but he should learn to at least be somewhat more aware of the court.
My "dream" is that Porter can get somewhat better defensive technique from Leandro. Perhaps getting away from "trying" to be a point guard will help simplify what he's working on. We can only hope.
__________________
"I like to act decisively whenever I'm trying to get something done," Dumars said. "But I'm well aware that there has to be another team that's willing, and there has to be a good deal for both teams. Those two things will slow you down in doing a deal."
Last edited by Irish; September 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 AM.
Barbosa's three is a big part of his attraction, but hardly the only one. It is very hard for opponents to guard him when he's rested because he has a very quick first step and is one of the fastest players in the league WHEN DRIBBLEING THE BALL. (Lots of guys can run up and down the court, but slow down when they have to dribble the ball.
IMHO, he has a slowish release and a flat trajectory. This means guys can play off of him somewhat, but it is hard to deal with him if he's "on".
He's actually pretty good as a cutter but was not used that way as much as I'd like
When it comes to offense, what I'd like to see is:
1. Better recognition of weakside defense: He needs to know when he can't get to the basket so he kick the ball out before getting into trouble.
2. Better mid range shot: Everyone knows he's going to try to take it to the basket. Mid range shots are always wide open and much easier than trying to throw the ball over seven foooters.
3. Make "up fakes" before taking off to the basket.
4. Pass the ball to open teammates: Leandro is far to guilty of "tunnel vision" to ever be a point guard, but he should learn to at least be somewhat more aware of the court.
My "dream" is that Porter can get somewhat better defensive technique from Leandro. Perhaps getting away from "trying" to be a point guard will help simplify what he's working on. We can only hope.
LB's slow release and low release point on his shot create problems for points 2,3. After all who cares if he "upfakes" if he cant get his shot off quickly, and what mid range pull up shot works with a slow release and low release point?
LB upfaking a jumper is like Boris Diaw faking a shot. Most defenders are taught to play LB to drive and bother the shot while playing off of him. With Diaw, they play the pass, as he has not proven he is a threat shooting and likes to pass even when driving to the hoop. The only to overcome these defensive strategies is for LB to get a quick release and Diaw to take and make shots.
LB's slow release and low release point on his shot create problems for points 2,3. After all who cares if he "upfakes" if he cant get his shot off quickly, and what mid range pull up shot works with a slow release and low release point?
LB upfaking a jumper is like Boris Diaw faking a shot. Most defenders are taught to play LB to drive and bother the shot while playing off of him. With Diaw, they play the pass, as he has not proven he is a threat shooting and likes to pass even when driving to the hoop. The only to overcome these defensive strategies is for LB to get a quick release and Diaw to take and make shots.
Good points. I think an upfake can help freeze defnders from coming up too quickly on his shots if they jump on the fakes too often. But it probably won't help on his drives like it would for most players.
Clearly the mid range shot has to developed from scratch. Using the same style would be a disaster. Ideally a "floater" could be very effective, but it does not appear he has that shot.
__________________
"I like to act decisively whenever I'm trying to get something done," Dumars said. "But I'm well aware that there has to be another team that's willing, and there has to be a good deal for both teams. Those two things will slow you down in doing a deal."
September 22nd, 2008, 12:46 pm · 1 Comment · posted by jerrybrown
Whether the decision has been made already — and the beans were spilled by team president Rick Welts at a recent function — or is yet to be determined until training camp, starting Matt Barnes over Grant Hill at small forward makes sense on many levels.
In fact, the only reasons to keep Hill in the starting five are (1) seniority/respect and (2) the fear that you can only heat up Hill so many times a night and it doesn’t make sense to create another scenario each night. But if Hill is going to play far less minutes this season (as is the plan), not starting him goes along with that mindset.
Why start Barnes? Let us count the ways:
*It gives the Suns two (count ‘em, two) starters in their 20s, and a more athletic team out of the gate.
*The Suns need one more 3-point shooter, and Barnes is the closest thing to that among the new players. It makes sense to have him on the floor with Nash, so the Suns can spread the floor with Bell and Barnes on the wings and give Shaquille O’Neal and, specifically, Amare Stoudemire plenty of room to work in the paint. Hill proved last season that his 3-pointer is uncomfortable and inconsistent.
*Barnes is a better rebounder and runs the floor well, the closest thing on the roster (albeit a far cry) to providing the attributes lost with Shawn Marion’s departure.
*Hill coming off the bench gives the Suns another good ballhandler to help Goran Dragic during his minutes on the floor. With Dragic, Hill and/or Boris Diaw on the floor the adjustment curve is easier for Dragic. And he will be playing more against bench players, giving him an advantage in the basketball IQ category.
*Barnes is a solid defender, especially guarding small forwards, and would get a chance to keep good shooters from getting an early rhythm. His defense might earn him some time late in games, but Hill’s smarts (ability to draw fouls and keep away from committing them) and free throw shooting will get him the nod more often than not.
*And if Hill does miss time due to injury, replacing a bench player doesn’t affect as many people, rotation-wise.
All in all, as long as Hill is on board with the program, starting Barnes seems a good fit.
__________________
"I like to act decisively whenever I'm trying to get something done," Dumars said. "But I'm well aware that there has to be another team that's willing, and there has to be a good deal for both teams. Those two things will slow you down in doing a deal."
I don't want to trade Barbosa. He IS a 3 pt shooter. Our big problem with him is that he is not a pg. But now we have shored up that area. Barbosa can come in, run the break, shoot the 3 and provide instant offense if we get bogged down. He will be even more effective as a change of pace in the new offensive scheme AND I expect his D will improve under Porter.
There is no one we could trade him for that would be more valuable to us than he is.
I think we overestimated the problem on Barbosa. His weakness is well known, if u put him up against the starting 1-2 guards of the elite teams, what can u expect? Even D'Antoni wouldn't do that, but he run out of option when Hill injuried.
As a reserve, Barbosa is good, or may we say great. Agasint the second unit of any team, he does his job very well. He deserved his 6th man of the year reward, and he can still do that.
The biggest problem on Barbosa is how to use him in playoff. We will probably tighten the rotation and reduce his minutes. Use him strictly only when matchup favor us.
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