Phoenix Suns give starting job to Barnes over Hill

by Seth Pollack on Oct 23, 2008 5:23 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns Commentary

Paul Coro in the AZ Republic is reporting today that Matt Barnes will get the starting nod at small forward with Grant Hill coming off the bench.

I like this move a lot. In fact I like pretty much every move I have seen from Porter's team so far from holding out Nash with a mild sprain to getting his team ready to play defense before focusing on the offense.

With regard to starting Barnes over Hill, here's ten reasons why its a great move:

With Barnes starting next to Bell you have your best defenders on the floor in the positions where most teams best scorers play. That should take some pressure off Nash and Shaq and let Amare do what he does - block shots
Barnes is a better 3 point threat then Hill
Barnes is almost as good as Hill finishing on the break
Hill is a better ball handler and much better suited for a floor leader role which makes him the perfect fit to be getting minutes with rookie PG Goran Dragic. This was what Porter talked about when explaining the decision
Barnes is a better rebounder
Barnes is younger and needs to play. Hill is older and needs the rest
Gives you a solid 2nd unit of Lopez, Hill, Diaw, Barbosa and Dragic. Not that all five will play together as a unit but it's not a bad looking line up. At least as good as the Bobcats 1st team
Hill won't mind at all. He understands his role and knows that he needs to pace himself through the season. Compare Hill's role to Finely or Stackhouse. He will likely be more impactful in this role
Barnes is better suited as a role player on the floor with Amare and Nash. He spreads the floor. Runs. Defends. And doesn't need the ball to help the team win
Makes Rick Welts seem more honest when he told blogger Mark McLane this summer that this would be happening

Poll

Do you like the Suns putting Barnes in the starting lineup and moving Hill to the bench?

Sure - makes perfect sense

131 votes

Nope - Hill is the next MJ and should start

10 votes

I don't think it will matter more then a Hill of Barnes

20 votes

161 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Big Man please....

Yup this is looks good for the Suns – a 2nd unit with Hill, Barbosa and Diaw! If at least one of the rookies or Tucker can contribute youve got a pretty deep team. Tucker would be the best bet but where is he gonna get the minutes playing behind Barbosa, Bell, Hill, and Barnes. But i still feel were one decent big man away from a really good team and were overloaded on the wings. Diaw’s still the perfect trade but his contracts simply too big. We can sacrifice Barbosa for a rebounding big guy who can play a decent 20 minutes and let Tucker take over the backup 2 spot.

Of course all this becomes unnecessary if Diaw becomes the 9-rebound player he was in the last preseason game…and let the wings slug it out for minutes with Tucker probably waiting another season to get good minutes when Hill retires

by toto_l2003 on Oct 23, 2008 5:49 PM MDT reply actions

I was all for trading Diaw or Barbs in the off season

But I feel like the last thing we need is another late addition.

by hcblankscreen on Oct 23, 2008 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions

You read my mind

or my Suns preview anyways…

Weaknesses

My biggest concern about the Suns right now – aside from how quickly they can gel in Porter’s new system – is the front court depth. Behind Amare and Shaq it gets thin fast and it’s highly doubtful Shaq will play more then 60 games. I am very high on Robin Lopez after watching him up close in Vegas and think he will contribute a lot for a rookie. But he’s still a rookie. Then there’s the Amundson kid who isn’t likely to see much floor time even with a deeper rotation. When Shaq goes down that leaves Boris Diaw backing up Amare and Lopez in a three man rotation that will see Amare having to play too much Center. Not a great situation.

For this reason I would not be surprised to see the Suns fill their final roster spot with Jiri Hubalek and not with Sean Singletary who’s deal isn’t guaranteed. Jiri’s been invited to camp in Tucson and I saw him play for the Suns in Vegas for a few games before he banged up his knee a bit. He’s big and active and if nothing else fills that 13th spot with some much needed size. Or perhaps another trade is in the works. I’ve long advocated for moving Barbosa if you can get back a solid veteran back up center and perhaps even cut a few million and get under the luxury cap. How about Andy Verejao to come in and teach young Lopez about the finer points of hustle play and crazy hair?

I am guessing btw that quoting one’s self breaks 12 different internet rules. But heck, I’m a maverick don’t ya know.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Oct 23, 2008 6:00 PM MDT up reply actions

Maverick

Quote away. I often reference my former brilliance

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Oct 23, 2008 6:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Hey Maverick

Pretty sure that’s “doncha know”, doncha know.

by SoCalSun on Oct 24, 2008 12:47 PM MDT up reply actions

That's not how a real

Maverick spells it…don’t ya know

“doncha know” is the east coast elite Maverick spelling. The psuedo Maverick if you will

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Oct 24, 2008 2:20 PM MDT up reply actions

this sounds pretty good

I know it’s tough seeing Hill and all the injuries, especially tough during the last playoffs. I think Porter is in control of this team, where d’antoni’s approach was much less (if any) control. I honestly believe the mistake of having hill play while still recovering wouldn’t have happened under Porter (at least probably not…I know Hill was pushing hard also…it wasn’t all d’antoni).

My favorite reason is to have him play more with Dragic. Good stuff, I’m on the edge of buying nbalp again and watching all the games…I just need one more side wedding to film then I’ll buy it. I bought nbalp late last season and only caught the last 15-20 games, very excited about catching all.

I know this team won’t be the fast paced fun style to watch as much, but I’m so attached to them now (many of the players and lopez and dragic already) that I’m excited for this next season.

GO SUNS!!!

by be-the-ball on Oct 23, 2008 7:51 PM MDT reply actions

The Bash Brothers

in the staring lineup together. I like it. Leandro Barbosa can be the Asian kid who gets tough in that one game D2.
Seriously though, another big man would be awesome. Lose Singletary and pick up someone like Steven Hill, who might ge cut by the Blazers pretty soon…

by thesandman1515 on Oct 23, 2008 8:34 PM MDT reply actions

Hell yes!

If the Blzrs cut Hill the Suns should grab him immediately!

He’s another guy – like Amundson – that really stood out in Vegas. He played Lopez tough and would be a great addition.

Still – he’s a rookie too and the Suns really need to trade some salary and get a more seasoned big but they don’t seem inclined to do that and there aren’t any obvious deals out there anyway. Bigs are like left handed pitchers. They can be way over priced for their actual production.

One of my favorites is in town tonight. I’ve wanted to find a way to get Petro for a long time now.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Oct 23, 2008 8:53 PM MDT up reply actions

Steven Hill is waived

The Big Beard is available

Come on Kerr! Sign this guy! We don’t need Singletary. We need another 7ft high energy center.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Oct 23, 2008 9:01 PM MDT up reply actions

I like this

Maybe it’s just because the season is about to start and I’ve slugged back my annual gallon of Purple kool-aid from my orange cup, but I really like the looks of this. I haven’t been able to watch any Suns pre-season beyond what I saw from the upper-deck at Indian Chills, but how is Diaw looking? A 2nd unit of Boris, Hill, Blur & Lopez with a smattering of Dragic seems like a pretty solid bench, does it not?

by SoCalSun on Oct 24, 2008 12:51 PM MDT reply actions

I was afraid there wasn't going to be enough drama

with the demise of 7SOL, new coach, diminished expectations, Shaq, chronically injured superstar amare, and being on max TV coverage possible to spotlight every misstep.

Fortunately, who starts at the 3 will be a drama that will carry on all season long.

…

“Big Beard” – LMFAO.

Amare is moving.

by ZonaFlash on Oct 24, 2008 3:13 PM MDT reply actions