Jan 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa (10) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Suns defeated the Sixers 124-113. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Another day, another round of Chicago Bulls rumors floating around. I have a question. Does every NBA free agent like to use the Chicago Bulls to get their name in the paper? Just sayin.
Well Pippen Peoples, we are at it again. Pippen Ain’t Easy is back once again to break down yet another one of the millions…and millions of Chicago Bulls rumors concerning the thirteenth and final roster spot. Staff writer extraordinaire Michael Rosenfeld reported earlier that the Chicago Bulls have some interest in Leandro Barbosa. Barbosa who is on his last leg of his 11 year career, is using his exploits in the FIBA World Cup to get some exposure to the NBA teams.
Boy was that obvious. Anyone who saw the whole game (if you did, you must be starved for basketball) you would have heard the announcers mention Barbosa and the comeback attempt to the NBA starting with the FIBA World Cup. Over and over again. I’ll give Barbosa’s representatives credit. They have a hustler’s mentality. Nobody can be mad at that. Get that money!
After watching Leandro Barbosa play on Saturday night against the USA in an exhibition game in Chicago, does Barbosa deserve to be in one of the circulating Chicago Bulls rumors?
Are you nuts?
The only thing that Leandro Barbosa showed was good representation with a good networking scheme can actually work. I would actually like to ask Brazilian entrepreneurs, Jeff Schwartz and Sam Goldfeder to help me with my future endeavors. Think about it Pippen Peoples, these guys can get a conversation out of Tom Thibodeau for a guy who has been decimated by injuries as of late and played only 20 games last season with the Phoenix Suns. Come to think of it, if Eric Bledsoe wasn’t out with an injury he might not have played at all. All these rumors means that these guys work hard for their clients.
Aug 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Brazil guard Leandro Barbosa (10) is defended by United States guard Derrick Rose (6) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Don’t let that line of 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals fool you. That doesn’t mean that he played well. I think it was a testament to the sloppy play in the USA backcourt.
This is nothing major on this night. It just looked like a team that is in a state of transition with the gruesome injury to Paul George and the sudden leave of absence taken by Kevin Durant. The team looked inconsistent and out of sync most of the night being plagued by turnovers.
Stephen Curry, who happens to be my favorite player looked like he was disinterested after a hot start in the first quarter.
Derrick Rose looked was coasting throughout the first half which included a missed dunk and some bad passes. He did do a nice move to the basket in the third quarter and finished with seven points. Now it looks like sore knees could have been a problem. If you are a Bulls fan, it looks like Rose is getting ready for the season and saving those knees. He had a DNP against the Dominican Republic after not practicing for two days.
The thing we need to know about Leandro Barbosa is this. When Barbosa was at his best, he was playing in a system in Phoenix called seven seconds or less headed up by Mike D’Antoni. From 2005-2009, Barbosa averaged double figures in scoring and was known as the “Brazilian Blur”. I will say this. Before he blew out his ACL, I believe Barbosa was fast enough to keep up with Derrick Rose. I would still say Derrick Rose is the fastest with a basketball in the NBA, but this dude would finish second.
But that’s where it stops. Remember Barbosa was successful under a coach who thinks defense is another word for a gate that you put around a building. There is no way that Barbosa is going to fit in on a Chicago Bulls team that spells defense with an “S”. No way in the world. Did you see him run the offense on Saturday? I didn’t either, enough said.
Plus, it looks like Leandro Barbosa used the blueprint all NBA players use to spark interest from another team. Mention the Chicago Bulls and wait. The Miami Heat reportedly seem to be closer to signing Barbosa than the Bulls.
Trust me. It’s a good thing.