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TORONTO - Alvin Gentry knows a thing or two about Leandro Barbosa and standout benches and he believes the Raptors are on track to have a pretty powerful second unit.
Barbosa is a former sixth man of the year winner and was a key player when Gentry was an assistant in Phoenix and also when he took over as head coach, although injuries have limited him last year.
“(Barbosa) changes games for (teams) with his speed and quickness, the way he attacks the basket,” Gentry said.
“In the open floor, he’s got as much speed as anybody. When you stick him, Sonny (Weems) and Jerryd (Bayless) in the game, you’re going to get a high-energy game and better be ready to defend in transition.”
Gentry has also been impressed by Toronto’s overall offence, which improved when newcomer James Johnson replaced Weems in the starting lineup on Wednesday. “Getting 118 against a team like Chicago, I mean, that’s like getting 150 against anybody else. Obviously they’re very capable,” Gentry said.
The Suns’ bench will get a major boost of its own when they add newly-acquired Aaron Brooks, last year’s sixth-man winner, to their lineup against Indiana.
