Porter names Barnes Suns starting SF; Hill to come off bench

[Jeremy]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/10/23/20081023spt-barnes.html

[manufor3]

what an idiotic move

[21_Blessings]

Well thats one less team the West has to worry about

[pauls931]

Almost as idiotic as the last 2 posts.

[Tmac&Luther]

Wow, why all the hate.......I like the move, gives Nash and Amare another athletic energy guy to work with and puts a savy vet on the bench to lead the second unit. Some of y'all need to calm the hell down.

[mojorizen7]

Smart move. IMO this was penciled in the day Barnes signed. It makes sense. SUNS are gonna need some veteran leadership off the bench cuz Barbosa is NOT that guy.
GO SUNS BABY!

[TDMVPDPOY]

if barnes gets starters minutes this season, expect a payrise on his next contract...cant wait to see what dumbshit GMs is going to offer him...

[SenorSpur]

I don't see how this is a bad move either.

[BWS-1994]

They can run more with Barnes and coming off the bench hopefully will help Hill in April.

[Gino]

Barnes is a bigger threat from the wing so it allows the Suns to spread their offense more.

Of course, its all moot with Shaquille Oneal clogging up the lane.

The Suns should just cut his ass.

[xtremesteven33]

Barnes is a decent player who makes lots of dumb decisions. Decent defense, decent rebounding, decent scoring.

Not a good decision maker.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

Barnes shoulda beena Spur.

[nashty]

Barnes is a decent player who makes lots of dumb decisions. Decent defense, decent rebounding, decent scoring.

Not a good decision maker.

He will have to make less decisions playing with the first unit. I would believe the majority of the decision making in the second unit is going to be made by Diaw and Hill, taking some pressure of the rookie Dragic. As a suns fan it's good to feel we have a second unit with great potential in Grant Hill, Boris Diaw, Goran Dragic, Robin Lopez and Barbosa.

I also believe it is a good move to start Barnes.

[xtremesteven33]

Robin Lopez will be huge for the Suns.....

[pauls931]

Robin Lopez will be huge for the Suns.....

If he can keep his fouls in check.

[Zee Laker]

If he can keep his fouls in check.

Lopez not gonna be playing 30+ mins a night. They just need a solid 15-20 mins max from him and he should be able to provide that

[Indazone]

Barnes is a worker bee. I don't really see anything special with the guy to warrant starter minutes. If anything this guy is a bench player.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

Only way the Suns ever get passed spurs is if they start Jesus.

wait. . .

[Ginobilly]

The suns matched up better with Spurs when they had Marion and Kurt Thomas. I don't know why in the hell they got shaq at this point in his career.

[ducks]

suns are trying to make sure hill is healthy for the playoffs
kind of like manu coming off the bench for spurs

[JamStone]

The right thing to do. No way should Grant Hill average 30+ mpg during the regular season. And, as someone already mentioned, Barnes won't be making many decision playing with the first unit. He'll have to defend, hustle, run the court, finish, and shoot open jumpers.

Good move.

[SequSpur]

suns are trying to make sure hill is healthy for the playoffs
kind of like manu coming off the bench for spurs

Ducks,

do you come up with this shit on your own?

[pauls931]

I don't think the Spurs are going to be the main problem, I think it's the Lakers and Hornets that everyone is going to have to gun for this year. BTW did I ever mention I hate the Lakers more than the Spurs?

[balli]

Barnes is a douche of epic proportion. I don't think it really matter who the Suns bring off their bench, because they're not going to do shit anyway. Still, Barnes is a douche.

[Killakobe81]

LOL Barnes was good2 years ago last year ...not so much he seems more of a bench guy ...energy and hustle ....Hill and Barbosa together off the bench is two pass first facilitators ...so Barbosa shoud get to jack up shots ....

[Darkwaters]

if barnes gets starters minutes this season, expect a payrise on his next contract...cant wait to see what dumbshit GMs is going to offer him...

Just cause hes starting doesn't mean he'll get starter minutes. Example: Finley.

[nkdlunch]

Barnes wouldn't even be starting for the Spurs.

[JMarkJohns]

Barnes wouldn't even be starting for the Spurs.

I don't understand the point being made here?

The Suns are doing the absolute best thing if such holds true for the season. They are maximizing the minimal/limited talent they now have at SF. Barnes is a better athlete, better 3-point shooter, maybe better finisher on the break, and he won't require the ball to be effective within his role like Hill would. Hill, on the other hand, is the better, smarter offensive player, whose ballhandling and fascilitating skills make Barbosa and Diaw that much better, and whose effective should be maximized vs. other bench players for much of a game.

I expect Barnes to get around 22 minutes per, and Hill, despite coming off the bench, to get around 26.

[Trainwreck2100]

not impressed with his performance, he took a few too many golden state shots