duncan228
04-23-2008, 10:02 AM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/8059366/Gutsy-Nash-always-gives-his-all-...-but-is-it-enough
Gutsy Nash always gives his all ... but is it enough?
by Mark Kriegel
The Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs offer that rarest of first-round series — as compelling a pairing as any the sport has to offer. What's more, it's even better now — with the addition of Shaquille O'Neal — than it was a year ago, when these teams met in the conference semifinals. That series began — some might argue, ended — with a spectacularly violent collision between Steve Nash and Tony Parker.
The resulting wound — a deep cut across the bridge of Nash's nose — proved resistant to conventional dressings. Nash didn't need a trainer so much as a cut man. Still, he hit a 3-pointer and a layup that kept Phoenix within a basket of the Spurs.
The gash kept spurting and dripping, though. Finally, Nash was removed from the game with a minute left. Without him, the Suns managed to score just two more points. They lost by five.
You may recall they lost Game 4 as well after Robert Horry body-checked Nash into the scorer's table. The ensuing melee cost Phoenix the services of Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw for the next game. The series, for all intents and purposes, was over.
So Nash took yet another hit. Still, I'll remember him bloodied as the emblematic image of the series. Recalling his crimson countenance — the point guard as club fighter — I'm sure he was described as a throwback. The term is most often employed to describe the virtues of gritty white guys. Nash is one of them, to be sure. But I'd argue he's a throwback for other reasons. After decades of isolation offense and bump and grind defense, Nash helped to revive some of pro ball's long-dormant beauty — the pick and roll and the running game.
No one wins on style points this time of year. The game changes now, becoming slower, more physical, more intense and defensive. The Suns, it is said (often by me), don't have what it takes to get to the championship, much less win one.
Isn't Nash partly to blame?
A friend of mine, Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA columnist for Yahoo, answers with a question of his own: "Just tell me what the guy could've done differently?"
The question, and the point it raises, are well-taken. With last year's Spurs series in evidence, no one can say Nash is anything but a fighter. He doesn't have Game 7s like his pal, Dirk Nowitzki, had against Golden State last year. Yes, it's difficult to find fault with Steve Nash, on or off the court.
He does a lot of charity work. He reads books (though I'm not sure "The Communist Manifesto" actually qualifies as one). What's more, Nash is living proof that Mark Cuban, who let him leave Dallas, isn't nearly as smart as he thinks he is.
But in the history of the game, there are only two MVPs who haven't played in the Finals. One is Kevin Garnett, who will likely get his chance this year. The other is Nash, who's won the award twice since leaving the Mavericks for Phoenix.
This might be his last best shot, or maybe his next to last. Adding O'Neal improves the storyline. But it's also an acknowledgement that the Suns of Steve Nash have but a year or two left as serious contenders. They're running out of time.
O'Neal is a very old 36. Nash is 33. With the ascension of Chris Paul, he's no longer the best point guard in the game.
I've never been one to bleed for a guy who hasn't won a ring — I've got my own problems. But as I watched Nash hit a fadeaway 3 that should have sent Saturday's game into triple overtime, I couldn't help but feel for him. The Suns managed to lose, of course. But I don't know what Nash could've done different, or better. I just know it would be a shame to recall Steve Nash as the best guy never to play for a championship.
Gutsy Nash always gives his all ... but is it enough?
by Mark Kriegel
The Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs offer that rarest of first-round series — as compelling a pairing as any the sport has to offer. What's more, it's even better now — with the addition of Shaquille O'Neal — than it was a year ago, when these teams met in the conference semifinals. That series began — some might argue, ended — with a spectacularly violent collision between Steve Nash and Tony Parker.
The resulting wound — a deep cut across the bridge of Nash's nose — proved resistant to conventional dressings. Nash didn't need a trainer so much as a cut man. Still, he hit a 3-pointer and a layup that kept Phoenix within a basket of the Spurs.
The gash kept spurting and dripping, though. Finally, Nash was removed from the game with a minute left. Without him, the Suns managed to score just two more points. They lost by five.
You may recall they lost Game 4 as well after Robert Horry body-checked Nash into the scorer's table. The ensuing melee cost Phoenix the services of Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw for the next game. The series, for all intents and purposes, was over.
So Nash took yet another hit. Still, I'll remember him bloodied as the emblematic image of the series. Recalling his crimson countenance — the point guard as club fighter — I'm sure he was described as a throwback. The term is most often employed to describe the virtues of gritty white guys. Nash is one of them, to be sure. But I'd argue he's a throwback for other reasons. After decades of isolation offense and bump and grind defense, Nash helped to revive some of pro ball's long-dormant beauty — the pick and roll and the running game.
No one wins on style points this time of year. The game changes now, becoming slower, more physical, more intense and defensive. The Suns, it is said (often by me), don't have what it takes to get to the championship, much less win one.
Isn't Nash partly to blame?
A friend of mine, Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA columnist for Yahoo, answers with a question of his own: "Just tell me what the guy could've done differently?"
The question, and the point it raises, are well-taken. With last year's Spurs series in evidence, no one can say Nash is anything but a fighter. He doesn't have Game 7s like his pal, Dirk Nowitzki, had against Golden State last year. Yes, it's difficult to find fault with Steve Nash, on or off the court.
He does a lot of charity work. He reads books (though I'm not sure "The Communist Manifesto" actually qualifies as one). What's more, Nash is living proof that Mark Cuban, who let him leave Dallas, isn't nearly as smart as he thinks he is.
But in the history of the game, there are only two MVPs who haven't played in the Finals. One is Kevin Garnett, who will likely get his chance this year. The other is Nash, who's won the award twice since leaving the Mavericks for Phoenix.
This might be his last best shot, or maybe his next to last. Adding O'Neal improves the storyline. But it's also an acknowledgement that the Suns of Steve Nash have but a year or two left as serious contenders. They're running out of time.
O'Neal is a very old 36. Nash is 33. With the ascension of Chris Paul, he's no longer the best point guard in the game.
I've never been one to bleed for a guy who hasn't won a ring — I've got my own problems. But as I watched Nash hit a fadeaway 3 that should have sent Saturday's game into triple overtime, I couldn't help but feel for him. The Suns managed to lose, of course. But I don't know what Nash could've done different, or better. I just know it would be a shame to recall Steve Nash as the best guy never to play for a championship.