Leandro Barbosa News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 6

Arizona Republic

"The Suns missed Leandro Barbosa's speed in Wednesday night's loss to Orlando, but Barbosa's sore right wrist may be healed enough to allow him to play Friday. Other than testing it out briefly Tuesday and Wednesday, Barbosa has given the wrist four days of rest while sitting out two games. The swelling and pain have been reduced. "If I feel good, I'll go," Barbosa said. "Right now, when I dribble, it feels like something pops in my wrist. The pain is not as bad as it used to be. "I hope I get better. I just want to come back." Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson has Barbosa's wrist in a cushioned wrap during the day and in a protective sleeve while he sleeps. Griffin's debut Suns ..."

Barbosa sits out with sore wrist

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November 4

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa probably could drive past anyone with a hand tied behind his back. But Barbosa's sore right wrist took hits in the previous two games, prompting him to sit out Tuesday night's game against the Heat. "I definitely want to play and be there for my teammates, but I want to be able to do something," said Barbosa, who did not shoot a jumper in Sunday's game. "I don't think I can play with one hand." Barbosa tried passing and catching Tuesday morning, and it "shocked" his hand. His shots were short, and he said he barely could open his hand. His status will be re-evaluated for tonight's game at Orlando. Barbosa sprained the wrist in early September during the FIBA ..."

Suns' Barbosa doubtful for tonight at Miami

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November 3

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa doubts that he will play tonight. Barbosa's ongoing soreness in his right wrist has worsened recently. The injury originally occurred in early September, when Barbosa was hit while in the air on a driving layup and braced his fall with his hands. He was able to play through training camp and preseason but was still bothered by the soreness, especially on his frequent falls. After a foul on that wrist in the Golden State game, Barbosa had an MRI performed on the wrist. There is a cyst inside it but he was told it is too tiny for surgery. He was fouled again on the wrist in Sunday's Minnesota game."

Suns' Barbosa getting fresh start

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September 26

Arizona Republic

"Last season, Leandro Barbosa lost his mother, his favorite basketball ways and his health during the Suns' playoff push. This summer, Barbosa gained a daughter, a gold medal and optimism about the Suns. Barbosa rejoined the Suns later than usual Friday, just in time for next week's training camp. He had been busy leading Brazil to his second FIBA Americas Championship gold medal and the team to a 2010 World Championship berth. Barbosa hopes the Suns can have a turnaround as strong as his personal summer rebound. On June 25, Barbosa and his girlfriend, Brazilian soap opera actress Samara Felippo, became parents to a girl, Alicia. He said Alicia looks like his mother, to whom he was very ..."

Barbosa expected back vs. Kings

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April 3

Arizona Republic

"If it seems as if it's been forever since Leandro Barbosa last suited up for the Suns, well after all, it was last season. At least it was if you're counting the final eight games as a "new season" as the Suns are in their desperate attempt to overtake Dallas for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Mavericks, who play at Memphis Friday, hold a four-game lead. The Suns are 1-0 in this new season after beating Houston, and Friday night they hope to take revenge on the Sacramento Kings, who coincidentally ended the Suns' "last" season five days ago in Sacramento, a dispiriting 126-118 Phoenix defeat. Barbosa, who suffered a tibial bone bruise in his left knee March 18, had ..."

Barbosa sits out against Rockets

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April 2

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa did not play Wednesday against Houston, moving his target return date to Friday's home game against Sacramento. Barbosa has missed the past six games since suffering a left tibial bruise less than two minutes into his appearance in a March 18 game against Philadelphia. He practice for the first time Tuesday and tested his knee area at Wednesday morning's shootaround. "It's not what I expected," Barbosa said after he was the last player to leave the practice floor. "I'm very stiff today and very sore. "Every time I jump, it's painful. Every time I stand, it's sore.""

Barbosa still out for tonight's game

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April 1

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will not play in tonight's home game against Houston, moving his target return date to Friday's home game against Sacramento. Barbosa has missed the past six games since suffering a left tibial bruise less than two minutes into his appearance in a March 18 game against Philadelphia. He practice for the first time Tuesday and tested his knee area at Wednesday morning's shootaround. "It's not what I expected," Barbosa said today after he was the last player to leave the practice floor. "I'm very stiff today and very sore. "Every time I jump, it's painful. Every time I stand, it's sore." If Barbosa was ready, Suns coach Alvin Gentry planned to use him no more than ..."

Barbosa could take longer to return

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March 24

Arizona Republic

"Guard Leandro Barbosa has been on the Suns' practice court the past two days, but his shooting layups while sitting in a chair and gingerly climbing stairs with his hands on both rails does not bode well for an imminent return. Barbosa hyperextended his left knee Wednesday, and the resulting bone bruise to the top of his tibia put the Suns' sixth man out one to three weeks. That made a three-game road trip, which starts Thursday in Portland, the earliest he can return, but Barbosa said it could take longer. "I don't think so," Barbosa said of playing on the trip that has weekend stops at Utah and Sacramento. "If I feel that I'm OK, I need to practice first and make sure I'm OK. If I have ..."

Suns' Barbosa to miss 1 to 3 weeks

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March 20

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will be out of game action one to three weeks after suffering a bone contusion in his left knee during Wednesday's win against Philadelphia. Barbosa hyperextended his left knee inward when his leg planted as he ran past the basket and looked back at his layup that was blocked. Barbosa left the game. His X-ray was negative. Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said a Thursday MRI exam showed Barbosa's knee did not have ligament damage but had a bone contusion on the top of his left tibia, where the femur hit upon hyperextension. Nelson said a straight-in hyperextension reduced the chance of ligament damage and that his extra step before planting kept his full ..."

Suns' Barbosa to miss 1 to 3 weeks

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March 19

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will be out of game action for one to three weeks after suffering a bone contusion in his left knee during Wednesday night's win against Philadelphia. Barbosa planted his left leg awkwardly in the final minute of Wednesday's first quarter, hyperextending his left knee inward as he ran past the basket and looked back at a driving layup attempt that was blocked. Barbosa was helped off the floor and had a negative X-ray Wednesday before undergoing a MRI exam today. Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said Barbosa did not suffer any ligament damage but the MRI did show a bone contusion to the top side of the tibia, where the femur came down and connected upon ..."

Suns' Barbosa playing through pain

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March 16

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa's second half against Cleveland on Thursday was hard to watch. But it was even worse for him to play. That 0-for-5 second half was the worst Barbosa has felt with an abdominal strain that has been bothering him for nearly two weeks, since the start of the 0-4 road trip through Florida and Texas. It still was lingering Sunday night, although it was again difficult to tell by the way Barbosa moved for 21 points and four assists in just under 21 minutes. "It's very, very tight," Barbosa said. "Every time I try to walk or run, it hurts. It gets worse when I play. After the game, I can't sleep. "Anything I try to do with power hurts, even when I walk.""

Barbosa bounces back vs. Hawks

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January 26

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa did not score in double digits in any of the Suns' three consecutive losses entering Sunday. It was the first time that had happened in three successive games since 2005, but it was over in a blur Sunday, when he scored 20 with big momentum baskets to help the Suns beat Atlanta. "He gave us a big lift off the bench," said coach Terry Porter, who had Barbosa play the final 15 minutes. "When he comes off the bench and gives us that kind of production, we're a different team." Porter was concerned about being small at the wings with Barbosa and Jason Richardson, but Barbosa handled Marvin Williams well when isolated."

Suns struggling to implement Barbosa

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January 4

Arizona Republic

"Suns coach Terry Porter is trying to find time for Leandro Barbosa at the wing with Steve Nash, a mix that started Friday's fourth quarter well. But that Barbosa has been sacrificed to maximize the best players' minutes, turning Barbosa into a backup point guard. "I don't practice as a point guard so I don't know all the plays," Barbosa said. "Every time I catch the ball, I look to Terry to see what we can run. Most of the time, we just give the ball to Shaq. I'm just focusing on not turning the ball over." Barbosa has made 30 percent of his 3-pointers this season after hitting 41 percent in his first five years. With Nash out, he thrived in the extra time at Oklahoma City (career-high ..."

Barbosa leads Suns past Grizzlies

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November 11

East Valley Tribune

"These have been tough days for Leandro Barbosa. While he struggles to grasp the Suns' new offense and tempo after missing much of training camp, his mother, Ivete, still lies unresponsive in a Sau Paulo hospital. Her youngest son misses the several daily chats on the phone, rarely going more than a few hours without making contact. He has several religious necklaces around his neck along with pictures of his mom, keeping him close. But Monday, when the rest of the Suns were in a sluggish malaise against the improving Memphis Grizzlies, it was Barbosa who was upbeat and aggressive. And while the Suns really needed his 27 points - 16 of which came in the fourth quarter - to hold off the ..."

Barbosa, Amaré back in practice

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October 14

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa spent the past two weeks emotionally drained while he essentially lived at his mother's side in a Sao Paulo, Brazil, hospital. After he saw her health improve, Barbosa physically drained himself to be by his teammates' sides Monday: He took a 13-hour flight to land in Phoenix at 10 a.m., an hour before surprising the Suns by joining a two-hour practice. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr sent Barbosa a text message to check in with him Monday morning, only to find his sixth man in the locker room minutes later. "Everything's going to be OK at home and also here," Barbosa said after practice. "I was there, but my mind was here. I was really worrying about ..."

Barbosa back to Suns practice

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October 14

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa was a surprise return to practice today. Barbosa returned to Phoenix at 10 a.m. today without anyone knowing until he walked into the locker room. He has been in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with his ailing mother since the start of training camp two weeks ago but her condition has improved. Barbosa is practicing with the team and there is a chance he will play in this week's two preseason games in Atlanta and Syracuse"

Suns notebook: Barbosa leaves camp to tend to ill mother

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October 1

East Valley Tribune

"The excitement of the first day of training camp was tempered by the absence of guard Leandro Barbosa, who had to leave for Brazil to be with his critically ill mother. Ivete Barbosa is well-known within the Suns family. She often spends extended parts of the season in the Valley, cooking traditional family meals and rooting on her son. She overcame a bout with a serious illness a few years ago but has suddenly fallen gravely ill. Barbosa arrived in Tucson with the team Monday night but left after the team gathered for a precamp dinner. He is likely to miss the entire stay in Tucson, which runs through Saturday, and Suns general manager Steve Kerr said there is no immediate timetable for ..."

Suns Barbosa leaves camp to tend to ill mother

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September 30

East Valley Tribune

"Suns guard Leandro Barbosa did not join the team in training camp which opened today in Tucson. Barbosa had to fly back to Sao Paulo, Brazil on Tuesday for an indefinite period of time because his mother, Ivete, is ill with an undisclosed illness. Barbosa and his mother are very close."

Blur needs to sit

June 1

East Valley Tribune

columnist Jerry Brown

"Leandro Barbosa wants to rest this summer. And after playing year-round basketball for several years, the Suns want Barbosa to rest, too. But Brazil, which has missed the last two Olympics in basketball, needs their “Blur” to have a shot at one of the final three spots for the 2010 Olympics at the qualifying tournament, which begins in Athens, Greece, on July 14. In Sao Paulo, Barbosa has complained of some right knee soreness since the end of the season — going as far as pointing and explaining the injury on a television sports report making the Internet rounds — and saying he needs to return to Phoenix to be re-examined."