Nash skeptical of Suns’ plan to sit him

cpawfan · Aug 29, 2008

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/124314

It’s August, and Steve Nash is listening to his iPod as he walks to his car, so he really doesn’t want to talk.

But I give it a shot anyway.

“Can I get you for five minutes?” I ask.

“You’ve got three,” Nash says.

Nash isn’t big-timing me. Nor is he being rude. He simply doesn’t like to do interviews until after Labor Day. He figures if he does one, he’ll have to do 100, and then he’ll never get away.

But he’s just finished his workout at US Airways Center, and I’m standing right in front of him, so he acquiesces.

Knowing my time limit, I come right to the point.

“What do you think of (general manager) Steve Kerr’s plan to limit you to 70 games next season?”

Nash gives me that “you’re-not-going-to-get-much-out-of-me smile” and then proceeds to, well, not give me much.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he says. “Those are great intentions, but is it realistic? We’ll see.”

Nash, 34, is receptive to the idea of getting more rest. He played in 81 of 82 games last year and averaged 34.3 minutes per game. To put that in perspective, Dallas point guard Jason Kidd, 35, was the only player older than Nash to log as many minutes.

Nash points out that San Antonio point guard Tony Parker had fresh legs for the playoffs last May in part because he missed three weeks and 13 games of the regular season with an ankle injury.

Of course, Parker is also eight years younger than Nash.

“I feel like you can always use the rest,” Nash says. “If you can get to the postseason well rested, it’s perfect. But you can’t always afford to do that.”

And there’s the rub.

Is Phoenix good enough that it can sit Nash for 12 games?

“I don’t know,” Nash says. “Probably not.”

There’s no probably about it.

As good as newly imported backup Goran Dragic might become eventually, he’ll be a rookie this season. Then consider that the Suns expect Shaquille O’Neal to come down with one ailment or another and miss around 30 games.

Finally, the Western Conference is a bear. Five teams are clearly superior to the Suns: The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans, San Antonio, Utah and Houston. Portland and Dallas are on the same plane.

Phoenix likely will make the playoffs if Nash plays just 70 games — there isn’t a potential surprise team among the also-rans — but what chance will it have to get out of the first round if it’s facing one of the conference’s top three teams?

No, as well-intentioned as Kerr’s idea may be, I’m guessing coach Terry Porter quickly will learn what Mike D’Antoni knew: Nash needs to be on the floor.

Perhaps Porter can keep Nash fresher by playing him 30 minutes per game instead of 34. But sitting out 12 games?

Good luck with that.

“I’m willing to do it either way,” Nash says. “Whatever makes us play as well as we can and makes me feel as good as I can going into the playoffs.”

That’s Nash toeing the company line. But remember, he’s always disagreed with the assertion that he’s worn to a nub by the postseason.

Nash knows something else, too.

The Suns are 228-83 with him on the floor the last three seasons.

And 4-13 without him.
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Nash skeptical of Suns’ plan to sit him

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Nash skeptical of Suns’ plan to sit him

cpawfan Monsters do exist

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