Barbosa also told Lance that the Shawn Marion-Shaquille O'Neal trade contributed to the Suns' playoff elimination.
"With the arrival of Shaq, we lost our speed - our main
characteristic," he said. "We didn't have time to mesh. This ended up
hurting us. Shaq will be very useful, but it'll be necessary to change
the way the team plays." [Read]
Really J-Dizzle, I thought he was going to Chicago...I guess it's hard to retain memory when you talk out the wrong end.
Shaq should be squeezed into retirement.
Barbosa can be a starter and a star elsewhere, just like Ginobli. I don't agree with him saying this, he should have signed the statement--Captain Obvious. Why did 'someone need to say it' their performance said it all. Now what if Barbosa DOES have to stay in Phx?
Barbosa does sound like sour grapes here, but the Suns weren't expected to win in the playoffs with so little time to mesh, so he's beating on a dead horse.
Getting the sixth seed is what hurt them. This year they were better with Shaq, the game where the LAkers beat em at full strength the suns could of easily won the game. They got themselves in the worst possible first round matchup, and still could of won that series. Where Shaq hurts them is the long run because he is overpaid by a lot so it will hurt there free agency aquisitions. They should switch there game plan to something more reminiscent of the pistons or spurs and be alright though, because that playing style doesnt really suit grant hill either.
why the hell would the Bulls want another god damn perimeter player! LMAO there trying to get rid of them not add to it! Not to mention the bulls get first dibs on Beasley or Rose dont think the Bulls will be trading for anything but some seriuos inside OFFENSIVE presence, maybe Artest would suit em. I kind of hope they make an offer to take Lamar off the Lakers hands so we can develop Ariza and Bynum as the starting front court along with Gasol. Not to mention I am starting to like the Lakers alot more with Kobe as the small forward. Sorry I always end up back on the LAkers.
LOL... he's sure a little too forthright and candid. This statement will give the Big Cactus sleepless night and will not take this sitting down. The debacle was not cause by the addition of Shaq alone but the long time issue of the Sun not having a semblance of defensive system.
Dizz - I agree with you. The Suns should trade Barbosa. He's an open-court player and cannot thrive in the half-court because he doesn't possess the necessary fundamentals.
The Suns would be wise to keep Barbosa. Shaq is not the only Sun whose window of opportunity is closing. Nash and Grant Hill are about on their last hurrah as well. In fact, with the emergence of D-Will in Utah and CP3 in New Orleans and of course Tony Parker still doing his thing, it's safe to say that, Nash will never be the threat to Western Conference teams that he was 2 -3 seasons ago. Maybe they do shift the way they play ball, but Who do they plan on giving the ball to when Nash sits down? Barbosa is young quick and athletic. Hoff is right he has some flawed fundamentals, but he's still a post season veteran that can get up and down the floor as fast as anyone in the league.
Barbosa has been a non-factor against the Spurs the previous two seasons. He'll be a non-factor against any team that makes the Suns a half-court team.
Since that seems to the direction Phoenix is going anyways, I think they would be better off trading him now...while his value is still high.
I love basketball. While many basketball fans enjoy the month of March, I prefer the months of April, May, and June. I look forward to productive chats, heated debates, and honest opinions.
