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No...
Another one for Nash?
By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
October 7, 2006
ROME Steve Nash's performance in the Phoenix Suns' preseason opener Friday night a 100-93 victory over the Italian team Lottomatica Roma was not exactly the stuff that MVPs are made of.
The man who has won the league's top individual award two consecutive years appeared rather mortal playing against a host of obscure Italian guards. Nash's line, in fact, is only worth mentioning because it was so un-Nash-like: five points on five shots, nine assists and six turnovers in 31 minutes of action.
Still, ask any of the Suns' coaches why the team was able to win, despite the jet lag, overall lack of team conditioning this early in the preseason and the unfamiliarity with the opponent, and all would point to Nash. He sets the tone for Phoenix with his constant pushing of the ball, his penetration and his knack for creating easy shots for his teammates. Even on his worst days, Nash still is the motor that keeps the Suns running.
But if you hadn't seen Steve Nash play a basketball game, you might have left the Rome arena Friday night thinking, "Does this guy really have a chance to join Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to win three MVPs in a row?" Sometimes it boggles the mind that a player so physically underwhelming Nash is 6-foot-2, 180 pounds and not particularly explosive could be one of the top players in a league of thoroughbred athletes who run so fast and jump so high.
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But when you watch him closely, you realize just how good he is in so many areas. The ball handling both dribbling and passing is amazing. His use of the left hand creates more passing angles than most players have in their sights. His change of pace and deception allows Nash to get past bigger, stronger defenders, and his shooting is exceptional. Last season he became one of the only NBA players in history to shoot better than 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from the three-point line and 90 percent on his free throws.
Perhaps most importantly, Nash seems to know the right play to make on every possession because he constantly is assessing the defense and making the choice whether to shoot or pass. Plus, his understanding of angles and ability to keep shotblockers off guard allows him to do what most small guards can't do: finish at the rim.
But even if you watch Nash and pick up on all of the physical qualities he offers his team, its the intangible ones that elevate him a step higher. He takes the blame on turnovers, pointing to his chest and making sure he lets his teammates off the hook even when theyre at fault. He listens to his coaches, encourages his team and plays through mistakes, generating positive energy in the process.
And he always seems to be in the right position defensively, plugging holes in the lane and helping stop penetration. In fact, against Lottomatica on Friday, Nash took a couple of charges and had six steals, many while stepping into passing lanes. And when the game is on the line, and other players are shrinking at the thought of taking the big shot, Nash is the one who steps up for Phoenix and demands the ball.
Is Nash really capable of etching his name next to three NBA immortals by winning the MVP award for a third consecutive season? It will be difficult, but then again, nobody expected him to be in the running the first two times. Nash was able to win the award twice because his stellar play and leadership led Phoenix to a couple of startling seasons.
In 2004-05, Phoenix came out of nowhere and won 62 games with Nash directing a fast-paced, entertaining team. As an encore, Nash led the Suns to 54 wins last season, despite most experts predicting about a .500 mark with the absence of the injured Amare Stoudemire. In other words, the two awards came in large part because of Phoenix exceeding expectations.
This season, with Stoudemire back in the fold, the Suns are one of the favorites to win the NBA le, and exceeding expectations isn't possible. They're supposed to be great, and Nash is one of the main reasons why. He won't sneak up on anyone.
Not that he'd want to. Nash has only one goal remaining in his NBA career, and that's to win a ring. Placing another MVP trophy on his mantle doesn't even enter his mind. Winning a le is what it's about for him, and in order to do so he will need more rest during the regular season. Last season, Nash played in 81 games and averaged a career-high 35.4 minutes a game. That's one reason the Suns signed Marcus Banks to a free-agent contract in the offseason. They would like for Banks to provide Nash with quality backup minutes so that Nash will be better rested and healthier for the playoffs.
For his part, Nash is as healthy as ever. His back, which has caused problems over the years, is fine due to continued work with his physical therapist. Nash spent the summer playing soccer in New York, maintaining his conditioning while refreshing his mind playing his "other" favorite sport. He seems as energized and physically prepared as ever, as does his team. The Suns are getting ready to take a run at a championship, and Nash is at the controls. He couldn't be happier.
Still, even if Phoenix wins its first le in franchise history, it's tough to see the names Chamberlain, Bird, Russell and Nash on a list of all-time greats next to each other. The most unassuming MVP in the history of the NBA couldn't possibly win another one or could he?
Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send Steve a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
No...
Nope. A lot of people didn't want to vote for him the first time. A WHOLE lot of people held their noses last year. Steve Nash just isn't an immortal, and that's what voters would be saying if they gave him #3 in a row.
No. No way he gets three in a row.
No.
no, He's a top 5 pg but no way in he gets it a third year in a row.
Sure, he'll win three in a row, and DPOY, too.
Nash is on the decline. His back will start to give out on him and he will be injured more this upcoming year.
Thats what mavs fan have been hoping for the past two yearsjust simply isn't going to happen
It'll be a joke if he wins it again...
It was a joke that he won it at all. Why shouldn't he win it again? Magic won MVP 3 times, doesn't Nash deserve to be right next to him?
Amazingly, not only do I not consider Nash all that, but there are THREE players on his OWN team (if Amare is healthy) who I'd take in silver & black before him!
immortal......nah...
why not, weirder things have happened, like the Heat winning last year...
a lot of hate for Nash here but I'd take him over parker in a millisecond
Three words for MVP folks:
"No.24"
I agree totally. Nash is overrated big time. Marion would be a great player for Dallas to have.
you guys are funny. Do you know what kind of a team the Suns would be without Nash?? they would be worse than the Grizzlies. that's what MVP is all about, making your team better. He makes the Suns a top 5 team in the league
The Suns without Nash might end up the same dismal failures the Mavs ended up without him.
Nash is valuable to his team, but three in a row to guy that hasnt seen the finals yet??
I think its sad that he got it this year at all. Dragging a mediocre team into the good category is not worthy of MVP'ness...
bull . They didn't have Diaw, Bell, Kurt Thomas, and some other players before Nash. Nash came to the suns on the rise. The reason the suns didn't make the playoffs the year before is because of Marbury getting traded and Amare going down with an ankle injury.
After his second MVP, anything is possible. Maybe this year he'll win for integrating Amare back into the team.
The suns with Marbury gave the spurs a tougher series than the suns with Nash.
There's a lot of BS being passed of as fact amongst these opinions.
I've hashed and rehashed this and really do not care to do so again, but it takes a lot to even be considered for an MVP. A LOT. So for a player to have won it two years in a row, he had to have done A LOT of things right.
They aren't going to award it to some schlup even once, let alone twice, let alone twice in a row.
Certainly he wasn't the only factor in Phoenix' success or rise, but you'll be hardpressed to convince me he wasn't more of a factor than inexperience (Diaw, Barbosa, Jones), journeymen (Bell, House, Jackson, TThomas) and solid contributors (KThomas, Richardson, Johnson).
Marion and Amare each hold a key, but last year Amare was out and they still won over 50 games, winning their division and advancing to the Conference Finals.
A Nash-led offense has ranked as the best all-arounf offense for the last five years. Last year the Suns led in every offensive category save for assist/turnover ratio, in which case they were second.
The team is built around his specific skills, so without someone of comparable skills themselves, I don't see the Suns having the staying power of the Mavericks the way ShoogarBear alluded to. In fact, if you look at the numbers, you'll see the Suns have won just once or twice in the nearly dozen games Nash has missed, going from the League's best offense to middle-of-the-pack while not even improving in team defense.
For all his flaws, for all the Suns talent, Nash is the engine that makes everything go and rank amongst the League's best - now, hold up... hold up... It's coming... - for all time. The Suns offensive efficiency numbers are top-5 all-time an breaking NBA records left and right.
Something must have been going great at an all-time level and all arrows point to Nash being why.
So please, stop with the hate. It's quite pathetic. He may not have been the most deserving, but he was certainly amongst them both years. First year Suns were the toast of the League, second year they were the scrappy underdog perservering through injury after injury while still breakin' record after record. He happened to have his two best years each year while being the focus off the record-breaking offense.
Again, and hopefully for the last time from me, he had to have done far more right to even be considered. It's not like they pulled his name out of a rabbit's ass or anything...
You can disagree with him winning without sounding like whiny es about it. You should learn to appreciate him as a player because they truly don't make PG's like that anymore. Pass-first with a great offensive arsenal, 50% FG, 40% 3-pt, 90% FT... The likes of which is very, very rare.
I get he's not even as good as Stockton whom never won the award, but you can't base the vote on Nash vs. Stockton in the course of NBA history, but rather said player's impact on said player's team vs. the rest of the League for that specific year.
That's it. For that, I think Nash was amongst the deserving both years. Not the most deserving, but most here claim he shouldn't even have been considered.
Please...
He's deserving of being in the right system for his game. He gets to play with Dirk and Finley and now he gets to play with Amare and Marion. Sure he is deserved to be considered an MVP candidate but no way I pick him over Dirk, Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Duncan, KG, and etc.
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