Can Spurs stop Nash?

[spursfan09]

I don't know if we can. He ran around anywhere he wanted and he really looked unstoppable. Was game 2 a bad defensive effort by the Spurs or is Nash going to be running circles aroudn this team the whole series. What tactic can the Spurs to slow him at least?

[Trainwreck2100]

They need to let him be a scorer and not a distributor

[tlongII]

Bowen might injure him. That's the only chance the Spurs have in this series.

[mardigan]

Probably not stop him, hopefully they can just slow him down enough

[spursfan09]

They need to let him be a scorer and not a distributor

Sounds good to me.

[spursfan09]

I also realize Tony didn't have a good game. I think if Tony can almost match Nash point for point we will win. I love tony, but sometimes I wonder about him.

[ctpsb]

I always thought Bowen guarded Marion and Tony plays Nash well? It has always seemed to work great. Now why is Bowen guarding Nash? Who guards Marion?
Just like last year with the small ball BS, Pop sometimes outthinks himself!
Or am I missing something?

[Durruti]

I googled "stop Nash" and this popped up.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2016431088

Good luck. You'll need it.

[Durruti]

Also found this...

Stop Nash? Got some banana peels?

http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070201/080201_steveNash_hmed3p.hmedium.jpg

Stopping Nash, which means stopping the Suns, has become one of the great mysteries, like Adam Morrison's hair or Gilbert Arenas' thinking. There's no figuring it out.

You can scratch your head, but then Nash has blown by, though how he does that is curious. It's easy to disparage Nash and suggest he's an aberration, like a shooting star soon to flame out. To paraphrase John Wooden, Nash is quick without looking like he's hurrying. He never mistakes activity for achievement.

Nash has a great first step and can control and hold his dribble, so the conventional wisdom of pressuring him and trying to trap him in a crowd is difficult because he doesn't give up his dribble easily. He has those always-talked-about intangibles.

Nash was good when he first came to the Suns as the 15th pick in the 1996 draft. I remember talking to staff members then with Nash third-string behind Kevin Johnson and Kidd, two of the best point guards of their era. They raved about Nash and said how he could be better than the other two. You figured it was one of those things teams do to make a bad draft pick sound better. And they did trade him after two seasons.

You can measure jumping ability and Nash could always shoot. But he has the court vision and decision-making ability to make the right pass and find the right guy that few players in the history of the game have had. And Nash is in amazing shape. He plays on soccer teams in the summer, and while you'd think that would make the Suns nervous, his conditioning is remarkable.

You can talk about pressing and trapping him, but few players have the endurance to do it. Yes, against that little guy.

Look, the Suns are Nash. Take him out and they are an ordinary team, which is no insult.

--

How to stop Nash

I'd first try to trap Nash in the backcourt, pressure him to try to give up the ball.

It does require effort and energy not enough players have, and the Suns are terrific in stepping out after a basket and throwing the ball in so quickly to Nash that it's difficult to get to him.

Also, because Nash pushes the ball so well and throws ahead, teams are concentrating on getting back to prevent layups.

The plan against Nash usually is to stay with the 3-point shooters, make him drive and turn it, and not let the Suns rain threes. But that discipline is difficult when he's breaking down the defense, and Nash has that uncanny ability to understand what defenses are doing and take advantage.

He'll get 30 points if he has to, and isn't that the most amazing statement about a player? Playing Nash requires discipline, not always a trait of great athletes.

You can try to go slow. The Suns will sink in on defense trying to get you to shoot jumpers, which most teams do, so they can rebound and break out. You need the discipline to slow the game, work the ball and keep going to your size. It's one reason the Clippers had some success against them in the playoffs last season, though Amare Stoudemire was out at the time.

Now that Stoudemire is back and playing well, the pick and roll again is a major weapon. Teams will switch up, perhaps going under early to allow Nash to shoot and then getting over late to give him a different look and perhaps force it out with stunts. But the Suns move the ball so well and have other playmakers that they don't stop.

On paper, a slow team with size like the Houston Rockets should have success against Nash, and perhaps this season they will after Yao returns.

Zones generally don't work because the Suns shoot so well and want to lure you into a running game which a zone can lead to with long shots and long rebounds.

Stop Nash? Anyone seen those banana peels?

[Chr!s Childs]

Nash sucks.

[mardigan]

I googled "stop Nash" and this popped up.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2016431088

Good luck. You'll need it.
Thats funny, I did the same thing and this came up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o4f6y8DbZE

[jmard5]

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1100/bandaidne3.jpg

brought to you by Johnson & Johnson.

[GrandeDavid]

I don't know if we can. He ran around anywhere he wanted and he really looked unstoppable. Was game 2 a bad defensive effort by the Spurs or is Nash going to be running circles aroudn this team the whole series. What tactic can the Spurs to slow him at least?

It wasn't a bad defensive effort in the fourth quarter. It was awful. There was also a major lapse in the second quarter.

Every great team is entitled to an off night, and Phoenix was in a virtual must win situation in their house. Besides, Phoenix is a great offensive team and they need to be praised for their defensive effort and all around intensity and focus last game.

But I'm quite sure the Spurs will be ready every game for the rest of the series to lay down a tough defense on Nash.

So to answer your question, I really need to know what your definition of "stop" Nash is. I think the Spurs have historically and can continue to "disrupt" his game. But when I think "stop", I think really lockdown. I don't think you ever do that to a smart, skilled player like Nash.

[Duncanoypi]

Bowen might injure him. That's the only chance the Spurs have in this series.

Bowen stole Nash's bike... :depressed

[Durruti]

They need to let him be a scorer and not a distributor

I understand this line of thinking since Nash has not shot particularly well during this series, so perhaps it might work, but it's not as cut-and-dried as you might think. I talked to a Suns fan who said he likes to watch Nash during warm-ups. He said that on three different occassions he has seen Nash hit every single shot during warm-up.

Many consider him not only the best passer in the NBA but top five (or even top three) SHOOTER.

Kobe will start chucking and score more points, but Nash will only take the shot when he considers it most advantageous -- and he very often hits.

"#1 fg% among guards, #1 adj fg% in the NBA, top ten points per shot in the NBA, top twelve ft% in the NBA (he's having an off year), #2 ALL TIME career ft% (if you count ABA as part of somebody's career), top 5 career three point % all time."

Dallas' strategy was to turn Nash into a shooter, and it proved dangerous.

He had "a 17-point laugher in Dallas with 27 points and 17 assists. Two nights later, he exploded for 48 points."

The main danger with this strategy, imo, is that it could make Nash even MORE effective. The last thing you want is 27 points and 17 assists.

Nash is perfectly capable of putting up Kobe numbers on a nightly basis, but he's a team player. Passing is his deadliest skill. He's a much greater threat on offense than Kobe ever was.

all that said, it may be your best bet at taking him out, outside of Bowen. But somehow I think he'll find a way to outsmart your defense. His b-ball IQ is like fucking Einstein. And the level his game is at now, I can't see anyone taking away his distribution capabiilities for any length of time. He'll adjust as you adjust.

[ctpsb]

I always thought Bowen guarded Marion and Tony plays Nash well? It has always seemed to work great. Now why is Bowen guarding Nash? Who guards Marion?
Just like last year with the small ball BS, Pop sometimes outthinks himself!
Or am I missing something?

Can anybody tell me why Bowen has switched to Nash??!

[Durruti]

Nash sucks.

Speaking of basketball IQ. :lol You're adorable.

[Testing]

This might be the difference maker in the series. Nash is playing at a completely different level this season, especially right now. He knows it's his last chance to win a title. Spurs have no one who can stop/contain him. You turn him into a scorer for only so long...he'll still find ways to get his assists up. Who knows if he didn't get injured in game 1, he still could have ended up with 10+ assists on those last couple of plays.

Not only that, but he's proving to be clutch this season, unlike seasons past which was missing. Not passing clutch neccesarily, but taking and making the big shot at the end of games for hte Suns. He did in Game 1 wiht the 3 pointer and layup, he did it countless times against the Mavs in the regular season, etc.

The best the Spurs can hope for is that Parker's productivity counters Nash's, as in Game 1. Otherwise, this series will go to him.

[spursfan09]

The best the Spurs can hope for is that Parker's productivity counters Nash's, as in Game 1. Otherwise, this series will go to him.

If Parker and Ginobili can play at a higher level than game 2, than that will be an improvement by itself. I think Ginobili will break out sooner or later, especially since next two game are in SA. The fans will cheer him on.

[Durruti]

This might be the difference maker in the series. Nash is playing at a completely different level this season, especially right now. He knows it's his last chance to win a title.

I disagree. I think he knows it's his best chance to win a title. He also knows that if he doesn't win it, his chances of doing so in the future will diminish, while if he does win it, they will rise.

Nash is a very unusual physical specimen -- he's peaking several years later than he's supposed to. Much of this has to do with maturity and knowledge gained -- his greatest asset, as stated, is b-ball IQ -- but he also one of the hardest workers in the NBA. During the Lakers series he was training twice a day while his teammates played video games. I think he has at least two more years of outstanding play; even after that, he will still be considered one of the pest pg's in the league for several years.

Just my opinion. If his spine moves an inch or two he could be finished tomorrow.

[kps0001]

Nash sucks.


:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

This coming from someone who appears to have a man crush on Chris Childs. yeah that guy was MVP material. Nice contribution.






I don't think the Spurs can stop Nash just as the Suns can't stop Duncan.

[Durruti]

If Parker and Ginobili can play at a higher level than game 2, than that will be an improvement by itself. I think Ginobili will break out sooner or later, especially since next two game are in SA. The fans will cheer him on.

I agree that both players will step it up in S.A. I think it's unfair of Spurs fans to attribute their lacklustre performances in game 2 solely to lack of energy -- great defense by Raja and Marion were also key -- but they were undoubtedly not playing to their potential.

I've been told that Manu had a poor series against the Nuggets as well, but keep in mind that Raja is his most feared defender. It will be a big test of Manu's mettle to see whether he can get over that psychological (and very physical) block know as Raja Bell.

I would be shocked if both Manu and Parker didn't step it up and take at least one game in S.A. I expect it to be game 3.

[Durruti]

I don't think the Spurs can stop Nash just as the Suns can't stop Duncan.

I agree, Duncan's just too good to be stopped. He's my co-MVP and imo should always be in the top three for consideration of that award (but as Spurs fans will say, it's the finals MVP that counts).

There is a difference, however. You can't let Nash "have his" when it comes to passing otherwise you're dead in the water; you CAN let Duncan have his when it comes to both scoring and passing.

If you can figure out a way to shut down Nash you're laughing. the question is : can ANYONE shut down Nash for more than ten minutes?

[spursfan09]

I agree that both players will step it up in S.A. I think it's unfair of Spurs fans to attribute their lacklustre performances in game 2 solely to lack of energy -- great defense by Raja and Marion were also key -- but they were undoubtedly not playing to their potential.

I've been told that Manu had a poor series against the Nuggets as well, but keep in mind that Raja is his most feared defender. It will be a big test of Manu's mettle to see whether he can get over that psychological (and very physical) block know as Raja Bell.

I would be shocked if both Manu and Parker didn't step it up and take at least one game in S.A. I expect it to be game 3.

I think Bell is great defender and does a good job, but I don't think that is Manu's only problem..something else is up with him.

[kps0001]

I think Bell is great defender and does a good job, but I don't think that is Manu's only problem..something else is up with him.


I agree. I, obviously, don't see as many Spurs games as you all but Manu was on my fantasy team. Seems like something happened around 1 month left in the regular season and he still hasn't gotten back on track.

[dmac]

I don't know if we can. He ran around anywhere he wanted and he really looked unstoppable. Was game 2 a bad defensive effort by the Spurs or is Nash going to be running circles aroudn this team the whole series. What tactic can the Spurs to slow him at least?
open up a can of Bowen on him!:ihit

[J.T.]

I googled "stop Nash" and this popped up.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2016431088

Good luck. You'll need it.

I would like an explanation as to why that video does not include any footage of Nash playing against the Spurs, or any footage of Nash playing in the NBA Finals.

[wildbill2u]

I don't know if we can. He ran around anywhere he wanted and he really looked unstoppable. Was game 2 a bad defensive effort by the Spurs or is Nash going to be running circles aroudn this team the whole series. What tactic can the Spurs to slow him at least?
The best you can do i to cover him the best you can--he's not exceptionally fast, but he doesn't pick up his dribble so he's always mobile--and stay with your man, keeping the lanes closed from his passing as much as humanly possible.

This guy is a great PG who has the best passing game I've ever seen, including Stockton and Magic. we have limited his effectiveness in the past, but it takes a major effort from everyone on the team.

[spursfan09]

Oh yeah! and if I see Tim get switched on Nash again....

[ALVAREZ6]

No they can't stop Nash because they let him drive without any resistance. They give him the open lane, instead of forcing him to make outside shots. Whenever they let him just drive, even though it's to his left side and the defneder is convinced he cannot use his left, he always puts points on the board ,wether it's accelerating real fast with good footwork and laying it efortlessy in with his left hand, dropping it off for Amare to put it, or crossing it over for a wide open Marion dunk.

The Spurs suck at covering Nash. Of course, so do many teams.

[bigfan]

To be honest, I thought the Spurs were just damn tired the last game. It wasnt like they played the Lakers in the first round and they might have won the first game just on adrenalin. Theyve had a good rest now and Im curious to see how they come out in the first quarter of the next game. I do think they can contain Nash by closing off lanes and making him shoot from outside. I hope to see alot of Oberto and Elson in the next game. Im sure Manu will be just fine.

[LaMarcus Bryant]

Unless you count fatigue, spurs have NEVER been able to stop Nash, he will get his, almost any way he wants, the KEY to beating the suns (like any other team with a bad ass point guard) is to lock down the other guys......Which is why we need to make Nash guard someone and Lock down someone Bowen can lock down.

[Durruti]

I would like an explanation as to why that video does not include any footage of Nash playing against the Spurs, or any footage of Nash playing in the NBA Finals.

Like I said, I googled the phrase and that's what popped up. That and the vid of Nash getting his nose split. I didn't make the video. I'm sure if you "youtube" Nash you'll find plenty of finals performances.

This year?

Well here's the first round against the Kobe fan club:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcSfnKK3kY8

Pretty hardcore, even against a dysfunctional squad like the Lakers. Show some respect. Suns fans respect Timmy, you should respect your opponent as well.

For the Spurs, see ongoing...

;)

[Kobulingam]

I also realize Tony didn't have a good game. I think if Tony can almost match Nash point for point we will win. I love tony, but sometimes I wonder about him.

Tony had headaches and a sore shoulder thanks to Barbosa

[LavaLamp]

Tony had headaches and a sore shoulder thanks to Barbosa


Could the headaches have been from the head collision with Nash in Game 1?

[Kobulingam]

Could the headaches have been from the head collision with Nash in Game 1?

Yes.