Leandro Barbosa asked Tony Parker for a favor Saturday.
?I was talking to Tony and telling him to leave me alone,? Barbosa said Sunday, a day after the Suns? Game 3 loss. ?He said, ?No, I can?t. If I leave you alone the coach will get mad at me.? ?
Barbosa has struggled against the Spurs in part because of their defensive scheme. Having Tim Duncan in the middle allows them to stay home on the Suns? perimeter shooters. San Antonio also plays terrific help defense, which stymies Barbosa?s drives to the basket.
?Their whole game plan is to guard Steve (Nash) and stay on L.B. and Raja (Bell),? said Suns assistant Dan D?Antoni, who serves as Barbosa?s mentor. ?They?re good enough not to have you go on your own and have a scoring tangent. The only time he gets a chance to do anything is when Steve is not on the floor, and then he has to run the club.?