It's funny because now we're seeing EXACTLY what we would have seen from Nash if he had been plugged into Nate McMillan's offense. I know for a fact that some of us were saying these exact same things. That Nash likes to run, that he needs the ball in his hands, and that the SSOL offense made him look like a fucking HOFer. If you go back to when Nash was in Dallas, he was a good player, but he wasn't a HOF quality point guard. Not even close. The kind of offense that Dallas ran was much more similar to what he's now playing in LA. Very half-court oriented, with Dirk running the pick and roll with Nash quite a bit. I don't think the Lakers will get anywhere close to the kind of numbers from Nash that he was putting up in Phoenix. They basically got a better version of Steve Blake.
In running with your analogy, they got a Hall of Fame version of Steve Blake...and since a LOT in here thought you could win w/Steve Blake as your PG passing to Roy, Oden and LMA, then I don't see how it's horrible if he's instead doing it to K*be, D-Ho and Gasol. They basically just took our 54-win 2008-09 season, and aside from Roy and K*be, upgraded to a much better (HoF'er?) player at every position. Their issue is much more Mike Brown, as our issue was very much Nate McMillan. If they just dumbed it down and ran K*be isos and Pau pick and pops and out of the high post with Howard in the cleanup role and Nash shooting 50/40/90, then they'd be dominant b/c of talent. As it is, they have the Jamaal Magloire Memorial Former Coach of the Year Defensive Genius Mike Brown trying to implement a motion offense.
I bet game 2 will be much smoother for the lakers. I hope the team, players and fans are prepared for a battle.
They didn't get a hall of fame version of Steve Blake because Steve Nash wouldn't be going to the hall if he'd played in a Nate McMillan type of offense. Point guards like Nash need the ball in their hands. Blake was never a point guard. He was a shooting guard in that spot so that Roy could handle the ball more. So in that regard, this is very similar because Kobe likes to handle the ball as well. And sure, I bet we could have won with Blake if Roy and Oden had never become walking wounded, but that scenario doesn't really compare because the Lakers are all healthy. The thing is, I think Nash and Howard could be great together. The problem is Kobe. He's a Brandon Roy type of SG, who needs the ball to make plays. He's not a spot-up shooter. It's like they just threw together four stars and told Brown to make it work, but those four stars don't necessarily gel together. Reminds me a lot of when they had Payton, Malone, Kobe, and Shaq.
IMO Lakers have a very good shot to be the "biggest bust" this year, with their aging stars and a lousy suppporting cast and a questionable coach (IMO) they are one key injury away from a potential disaster. And with their payroll would that implosion not be fun to watch!
Poor old Mike Brown. He's going to get Kurt Rambis-ed for this one. If he had the nads he would put either Kobe or Nash in the second unit. I dunno if Nash would work better with Gasol or Howard. Probably neither, as they're not used to being pick-n-rollers. Odd that Amare should be better than either of them. Anyway: Nash with Jodie Meeks and Antawn Jamison and a lot of movement might work. If Howard could just be a Tyson Chandler type then you've got a killer second unit. Put Blake and Sacre in the starting unit and just let Gasol and Kobe do their thing. Somehow, I don't think Brown could get away with suggesting that, though.
Actually, if Kobe got injured, I think it would really help them. Brown could just hand the ball to Nash and say "it's your team, go wild" and you could have a Linsanity type thing.
While a win tonight for the Lakers is a definite possibility, what I was left wondering after watching parts of the game last night is, are the Lakers just to old? There's a tipping point in every players careers when you just can't physically keep up with players 15 to 18 years younger than you. Nash may have hit that, and may never be close to what Lakers fans think he should be, regardless of the system. Gasol, for 32 years old is still strong, but the same can be said for Kobe and MWP as for Nash. While the competitive drive is as strong as ever, their bodies just may not be able to answer the bell anymore. there will be nights of greatness I'm sure, but I don't think a sustained run to the Finals is in the cards. The difference maker for them has to be Howard, and his limitations (bad back, temperament, foul shooting) isn't the bio for a guy who can lead his team to a Championship. They'll win a ton of games by the time it's all said and done, but this team is fragile. The Mavericks minus Dirk are not a playoff team. Minus a pretty good first quarter effort by the Lakers, Dallas controled that game start to finish on the Lakers home court. I know pre-season doesn't count, but zero for their first eight games does not bode well for this team!
3-14 on FTs, and one of the makes was a bank shot. Embarrassing. That's going to start messing with his head.
