Nash's Slump Raises Concern About Health

Discussion in 'Phoenix Suns' started by Shapecity, May 15, 2006.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The question of the night was simple.

    The answer was vague and just a little bit spooky.

    Steve, are you feeling OK?

    "Yeah, more or less, I'm doing fine," Suns star Steve Nash said. "I'm just not playing real well at the moment."

    More or less?

    Alas, speculation about Nash's health is simply part of the deal when it comes to his slumps, for this is a player whose reckless abandon has been injurious to his back . . . and his hamstrings . . . and his ankles . . . and who knows what else.

    "We're getting shots, that's not our problem," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "And that's his (Nash's) job, to get us shots."

    At the moment, consider this tale a cautionary flag in a time of great relief. Whether you slice it, dice it or carve it with a hunting knife, the Suns got what they needed during another road trip to Los Angeles.

    They regained home-court advantage. They almost stole Game 4. And as talented as the Clippers appear on paper, they seem a little weak in the knees when the pressure mounts, a little unsure about their offense, and they show a remarkable tendency to take dumb shots.

    If this were an intelligence test, the Suns win by blowout. All of this should be very comforting for Suns fans who are again facing the specter of a seven-game series.

    But with the series returning to Phoenix, the recent play of Nash is more than a little unsettling.

    Coach, is he feeling OK?

    "I don't know," D'Antoni said. "You'll have to talk to him a little bit about that."

    Hours after receiving his MVP trophy, Nash enjoyed a sensational Game 1. He racked up 31 points and 12 assists. He had a sensational moment in Game 3, a game-clinching shot in the waning moments that preserved a tense victory.

    Other than that, his numbers are frightening. In the past three games, Nash has scored a grand total of 34 points. He has made 12 of 32 shots. He is 0 for 8 on three-point attempts, an eye-popping statistic for one of the more dependable long-range shooters in NBA history.

    "The way they're playing me, I'm not going to have a prolific scoring series," Nash said.

    No doubt, the Clippers have made life difficult for the Suns' dynamic point guard. Cuttino Mobley, Quinton Ross and Shaun Livingston have taken shifts defending Nash. They're double-teaming the pick-and-roll, harassing Nash into quick passes and uncommon turnovers.

    "Sometimes we've been good, sometimes bad," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "But the percentages, whether we made them miss or they just missed on their own, I'll take them."</div>

    Source
     
  2. og15

    og15 JBB *********

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They regained home-court advantage. They almost stole Game 4. And as talented as the Clippers appear on paper, they seem a little weak in the knees when the pressure mounts, a little unsure about their offense, and they show a remarkable tendency to take dumb shots.

    If this were an intelligence test, the Suns win by blowout. All of this should be very comforting for Suns fans who are again facing the specter of a seven-game series.</div>This coming from the Suns, who with all their weapons have been the team that struggles to close out close games the most in the league. Nash who leads the league in assists for every quarter, comes out 5th in 4th quarter assists, a quite dissapointing number for the league leading assist man. He's not making the plays when it counts, so who are the ones that struggle and take stupid shots when the pressure mounts?
     
  3. dallasdude

    dallasdude JBB JustBBall Member

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    Duh.This was bound to happen.The Suns took a gamble and it worked for a couple of years. I was really surprised he has held up this long without missing many games. Luckily they have some young talent like Barbosa and Diaw to help them.
     
  4. Squishface

    Squishface JBB Ministering Fools

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    At this point, this team is hard up for points from their one. That's a dangerous prospect for Phoenix. They need their point to be scoring as regularly as anyone else. I hate to say it, but this Dallas series is going to be a rough one. Oh right, they haven't won yet. Anyone doubt that they will? Not me.
     
  5. playmaker15

    playmaker15 JBB Droppin Dimes

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    They just said on ESPN that Nash is having trouble with his lift and that it may end up hurting the Suns.
     
  6. B.e.

    B.e. The One Who Score Touchdowns and Spikes Mics

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    The slump continues in game 6...

    Nash needs to step it up, COME ON MVP!
     
  7. Squishface

    Squishface JBB Ministering Fools

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    That boy is definitely hurting.
     
  8. dallasdude

    dallasdude JBB JustBBall Member

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    Now y'all know what kind of an MVP he is..
     
  9. Squishface

    Squishface JBB Ministering Fools

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting dallasdude:</div><div class="quote_post">Now y'all know what kind of an MVP he is..</div>


    An old one?

    No worries, this fella will be back in a bad way for game 7.
     
  10. B.e.

    B.e. The One Who Score Touchdowns and Spikes Mics

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    Well its the playoffs Squish, nearly everybody is hurting.

    Look at what happened with Dirk. It looked as if he sprained his ankle pretty bad, but dude is still on his game.

    With that being said Nash has got to find a way to play through it.
     
  11. bball_spida

    bball_spida JBB JustBBall Member

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    The length of the seasons wearing his body down. He hasnt had chances to rest. His body just needs a couple weeks to rejunivate. He is fine but the body cant keep up with him atm.
     
  12. briang8818

    briang8818 JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting dallasdude:</div><div class="quote_post">Now y'all know what kind of an MVP he is..</div>Yeah, a 2 time kind of one.
     
  13. Squishface

    Squishface JBB Ministering Fools

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting B-22:</div><div class="quote_post">Well its the playoffs Squish, nearly everybody is hurting.

    Look at what happened with Dirk. It looked as if he sprained his ankle pretty bad, but dude is still on his game.

    With that being said Nash has got to find a way to play through it.</div>

    True enough, but not everyone is a 32 year old with spondylolisthesis. He'll get his buckets on Monday.
     
  14. The One & Only

    The One & Only JBB The Orlando Tragic

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting bball_spida:</div><div class="quote_post">The length of the seasons wearing his body down. He hasnt had chances to rest. His body just needs a couple weeks to rejunivate. He is fine but the body cant keep up with him atm.</div>
    Exactly, the human body isn't meant for what people put it through. Give him rest and I'm sure he'll be back to his good ol' self
     
  15. nkwu

    nkwu JBB shoehead

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nash shed a little more light on the nature of his struggles in the series, where his shooting has been off and he hasn't moved in the style that made him the league's Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.

    Nash has a chronic back ailment he has had to deal with for years. At times, the muscles around the damaged area don't provide the support he needs.

    After playing 12 playoff games in 23 days, Nash desperately needed the three-day break that precedes the series finale. "I have a stress fracture in my spine," he said. "It's a long story. The muscles shut off and I have to retrain them to work properly. I feel like I've been able to do that. I feel good.''</div>

    Source

    It's a good sign that he's feeling better for game 7(atlesat for the suns), but Nash's age is getting to him a little bit.
     
  16. bball_spida

    bball_spida JBB JustBBall Member

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    It Definetly Showed how tired he was.... i meen he put up 29 and 11 without having to worry about it lol. His three point shot was back too, 4-5, let alone his 2s which went 11-16. Welcome back lol. he definetly felt, READY lol
     
  17. Squishface

    Squishface JBB Ministering Fools

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting bball_spida:</div><div class="quote_post">It Definetly Showed how tired he was.... i meen he put up 29 and 11 without having to worry about it lol. His three point shot was back too, 4-5, let alone his 2s which went 11-16. Welcome back lol. he definetly felt, READY lol</div>


    He was definitely something else. I wouldn't be surprised if this fella went ahead and made quite a splash in the first game against Dallas and had to relax a little for 2 and 3. That's just the way the man has to play lately, it's unfortunate, but it's true.

    The more he stiffens up at the end of those games, the sooner his basketball career will come to a close. Nevertheless, he looked the part of the people's MVP, and I give him all the credit in the world. Some credit should go to guys like Leandrinho Barbosa and James Jones, as they showed great deals of confidence and ability in that Game Seven, and they earned whatever recognition they get.
     
  18. kingrex

    kingrex JBB JustBBall Member

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    Stopping Nash was the key to beating Dallas back in the day, and the same goes for your Phoenix Suns.

    He is the proverbial snake's head that the Mavs need to contain or lop off.

    The Mavs let him go because they thought he was on the downside of an impressive career, and 2 MVP awards later, the smake head might yet again bite them in the butt.

    May this series be as entertaining as the semi-finals.
     
  19. Squishface

    Squishface JBB Ministering Fools

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting kingrex:</div><div class="quote_post">Stopping Nash was the key to beating Dallas back in the day, and the same goes for your Phoenix Suns.

    He is the proverbial snake's head that the Mavs need to contain or lop off.

    The Mavs let him go because they thought he was on the downside of an impressive career, and 2 MVP awards later, the smake head might yet again bite them in the butt.

    May this series be as entertaining as the semi-finals.</div>



    Agreed, agreed, and amen. I just want to watch some good basketball.
     

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