What looking at a statistic of MPG and making a blanket statement doesn't take into account, is tendency/context of use. Barbosa and Hunter received very inconsistent minutes in 04-05, Jones received a ton early, then was seldom used once he returned from injury in 05-06, then was seldom used at all in 06-07, and when he was, again, it was for inconsistent minutes. Same with Kurt Thomas in 06-07. I think he played like 15 minutes a game. He was the team's only box-out rebounder. More importantly, KT was ill-used in the secondhalf of Game one vs. San Antonio. He did a great job on Duncan in the first half, then wasn't called upon in the second. When Thomas played big minutes in Game two, the Suns trounced the Spurs. In game three, he was inconsistently used, then in game for used more. Game five is the travesty of ill-use of James Jones, as like Thomas in game one, he was effective for his limited minutes in the first half, then seldom used in the second as the five Suns that did play lost their legs. Better usage of Jones early and late could have salvaged some strength in the starters for late in the game when San Antonio came storming back to win.
Look. MPG is a nice stat, but it doesn't tell the entire story. It's nice that Jones had career high in MPG... Well, he was a bench player in Indiana before he came to Phoenix, and was a starter initially to start the 05-06 season. But his limits in the second half of the year were limited/inconsistent. It's truth. It's not convenient to your position, but truth nonetheless...