Nash Playing Like an MVP Again

Shapecity · Nov 25, 2009

The play began Sunday as customary as any Suns pick-and-roll. Steve Nash wiped out his man, Detroit's Will Bynum, on an Amar'e Stoudemire screen.

With a weaving dribble, Nash glided by Ben Wallace on the left, drawing Rodney Stuckey's help defense from the corner. Splitting the two, Nash was basket-bound when Charlie Villanueva scooted in from his man in the right corner, where an advance scout undoubtedly told him Nash often fires that pass along the baseline.

Villanueva's wingspan cut off that angle but DaJuan Summers now had left his man at the 3-point line to attend to Nash. Nash now had drawn five Pistons into the lane.

"I saw him just a little bit out of the corner of my eye," Nash said of the moment he peered over Wallace's right shoulder and put the ball in his left hand while launching his body over the baseline.

Nash hurled a left-handed pass like a jai alai ball to the hands of Jason Richardson, who sank an open 3-point shot.

Just when you wonder if his well of creativity, athleticism and instincts is evaporating at age 35, Nash taps into new ways to amaze. He leads a Suns team to a surprising 11-3 start. He plays like that two-time MVP of four years ago. He makes a pass he never has before.

"How does anybody see that?" Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. "That was a shocking play."

Numbers don't lie

With Shaquille O'Neal out of his lane and court spacing restored, Nash has been as good as ever. He is averaging 11.6 assists, matching his career-best average, and shooting 52.4 percent, the second-best rate of his career.

With a burning desire to improve, Nash drove himself to college basketball, the NBA and future Hall of Fame status.

Five years ago, the worth of his six-year, $66 million contract at age 30 was challenged. He became MVP and the Suns surprised the league.

Extending that deal to 2012 with $22 million more was questioned this year, until the team turned NBA darlings again.

"I feel just as good as I've ever felt," Nash said. "I'm not sure if that's true or not. Maybe I'm fooling myself but I don't know where the difference is, if there is one."

Nash is the team's reluctant No. 2 scorer, having rescued it in Miami with a 25-point second half. He has delivered two 20-assist games and a pair of game-winning shots.

"I think he's playing better right now, or at least as well, as he did when he won his two MVPs," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "I don't think anybody gave our team a chance to be where it is. Obviously we couldn't be close to where we are without him.

"I'm sure he probably has lost a half-step but it's hard to tell when you're always on the move and always playing angles. He always sees the next play."

Gentry's influence

Nash no longer was frustrated, Kerr said, after the coaching change from Terry Porter to Gentry in February. Nash's shooting went from 47 percent under Porter to 55 percent for Gentry.

"I never take Steve for granted because I know how much he means to this franchise," Kerr said. "At the same time, I pretty much expect him to do what he does every night because he's so consistent. That guy is just an amazing player."

Nash beats defenders with inertia more than speed. He has kept quicker guards in front of him more often. That comes with having mobile big men to help his angles. Last week, Nash had one of his better defensive efforts ever against Houston speedster Aaron Brooks.

Kerr believes Nash's feet are quicker.

"It's a little easier because we're all on the same page defensively," Nash said. "You know what's going on as a team, whereas in years past sometimes you never knew what to expect. . . . I'll be the first to admit I'm not a great defender but I think I'm capable and adequate."

Nash always has been a leader by example but he has turned more vocal - from voluntary workouts to last week's loss at New Orleans. Nash was direct to teammates in sharing what he thought of the lackluster effort.

"Last year, there were so many ailments it was almost like wasted breath," Nash said. "I didn't want to confuse the chaos and create more chaos."

The team's makeup of mostly 20-somethings lends to clear leadership from Nash and Grant Hill.

"I think he truly feels this is his team," Gentry said. "The great thing about Steve is he's a visionary. He can see the potential in this team and he doesn't want it to be an underachieving team."

Better with age?

The numbers indicated that Suns point guard Steve Nash is playing as well as ever.

• 11.6 assists per game
Matches 2006-07 career best

• 17.1 points per game
Best since 2006-07

• 52.4 field-goal pct.
Second best of career

• 93.6 free-throw pct.
Career best

• 44.2 3-point pct.
Better than career average

• 1.36 fouls per game
Career low

• 32.9 minutes per game
Lowest in 10 seasons
Click to expand...

Source: AZ Central

kobe23 · Dec 1, 2009

The NBA really does love Nash's game... Potentially 3 MVP trophies huh... Let the Nash is better than Kobe and LeBron debate start LOL

Celtic Fan · Dec 1, 2009

kobe23 said: ↑

The NBA really does love Nash's game... Potentially 3 MVP trophies huh... Let the Nash is better than Kobe and LeBron debate start LOL
Click to expand...

there's a debate on this? I thought it was a given

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Nash Playing Like an MVP Again

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

kobe23 JBB JustBBall Member

Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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Nash Playing Like an MVP Again

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

kobe23 JBB JustBBall Member

Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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