Barbosa Not Just a Scorer

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8676010/leandro-barbosa-impressing-boston-celtics-defense


The Boston Celtics spent roughly $73.2 million this offseason trying to give their bench an offensive jolt with the signings of Jason Terry, Jeff Green and Courtney Lee.

Yet it's Leandro Barbosa, on the books for the bargain-basement price of $854,000 and inked a
week before the start of the regular season for additional guard depth,
who has provided perhaps the most consistent offensive bench burst early
in the 2012-13 season.





Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images

Leandro Barbosa's speed has been an asset for the Celtics on defense as well as offense.Celtics
coach Doc Rivers joked that Barbosa looked like he was going for an NBA
record when he scored 11 points over his first three minutes of floor
time during Sunday's overtime win over the Orlando Magic. Living up to his "Brazilian Blur" nickname, Barbosa lit up the scoreboard with his dizzying speed and soft touch.

"He's a scorer," Rivers told reporters in Orlando. "We don't have a backup
point guard right now, so when we put him in, we're putting him in as a
scorer. I tell our team that: 'When LB's in the game, and [point guard
Rajon] Rondo's off the floor, we have two 2-guards.'

"When we run the pick-and-roll for him, he's running it as a scorer, and not as a passer. And he just understands that."

Barbosa finished with 15 points over a mere 10:33, hitting 6-of-8 shots as the
Celtics emerged with a 116-110 triumph at the Amway Center.

Through 14 games, Barbosa is averaging 6.9 points and 1.6 assists over 14
minutes per game. The Celtics expected offense from the former NBA Sixth
Man of the Year, but the revelation has been Barbosa's effectiveness on
the defensive end.

Just look at Friday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder,
when Barbosa was held scoreless for just the second time since his
arrival. Rivers couldn't have been happier with Barbosa's play because
Barbosa still impacted the game as a serviceable part-time ball-handler
(two assists in 11 minutes) and a full-time agitator to the opposing
ball-handler.

"It's funny, he didn't score a point and I thought his defensive pressure was extremely effective tonight," Rivers
said after Friday's game. "He has that reputation of being an offensive
player. What we have found since getting him, he's a heck of a defensive
player. He has the ability to put pressure on the ball. That's
something we didn't know."

In small doses, Barbosa is providing a tiny bit of what the Celtics are missing without Avery Bradley.
He's able to use his quickness to pester opposing ball-handlers without
letting them create much separation. Sure, he's not the lockdown
defender that Bradley is, but he's a nuisance.

Heading into Sunday's game, Barbosa was allowing a mere 0.797 points per play,
according to Synergy Sports data, ranking him in the 69th percentile (he
grades out as "very good"). Opponents are shooting a mere 37 percent
(20-of-54) against him and turn the ball more than 15.9 percent of the
time.

"A lot of teams think he can't play defense," teammate Jeff Green said. "But that guy's fast, that guy's quick, and he
has active hands. When he's out there, he's a pest. I mean, our team is
going to be trouble when we get Avery Bradley back. We're going to have
him and Avery … and that's an amazing duo in the backcourt with them
two."

Watch Barbosa and you can't help but like his ability
to fight over the top of pick-and-rolls. Rivers often talks about a
need to hit the ball-handler before the pick hits the defender, and
Barbosa does an excellent job of avoiding getting caught and recovering
to his man.




Maybe Kevin Garnett said it best when he talked about Barbosa's "slither-ness." Garnett
meant his ability to snake around on offense with his speed, but it's an
excellent way to describe the way Barbosa is able to stick with
opposing point guards.

"I think what he's known for is his slither-ness and being offensive-minded," Garnett said. "But what stood
out about him is the competitor that he is. His IQ, obviously, it's the
first thing you catch, but how well he is on defense.

"I don't think he's been in a situation like coming here with defensive
players, defensive mindset, being a defensive team, and he's bought in.
He's a team guy, great teammate, and in order for us to be anything,
he's going to have to bring that."

What's easy to forget is that Barbosa is still getting comfortable in Boston. Signed after the
exhibition season, he didn't have the luxury of training camp or any
preseason games with the Celtics. Rivers admitted he's still trying to
figure out how to best utilize Barbosa.

But even with Bradley pegged for a mid-December return, it's clear that Rivers
envisions a greater role for Barbosa on this team.

"I think there's a better use for LB that we haven't figured out yet because
with his speed, he puts so much pressure on the defense," Rivers said.

Just ask the Magic. If it weren't for foul trouble, Barbosa might have done
even more damage. Like his offensive production in short minutes,
Barbosa might be giving the Celtics the most bang for their offseason
bucks so far.



bob
My Note: I love the comment about how Doc preaches hitting the ball-handler before the pick hits the defender. Bradley did that. Rondo doesn't anymore. A backcourt of Barbosa and Bradley will struggle against big backcourts (although Bradley played against some really big 2 guards last year) but boy oh boy will they be fast on offense and defense. I can't wait.


.

Bob,

I wouldn't mind seeing a pressing unit of KG, Bass, Lee (at SF), Bradley and Barbosa as an intermittent change of pace to interrupt the other team's rhythm. And it might maximize the opportunities for those five to score a lot—especially in transition. They might not get a lot of assists, but they could fly.

Sam