Steve Nash is Fucking Awesome
Here's the genius of the Phoenix Suns: Late in the fourth quarter, Sacramento's Cuttino Mobley gave the Kings the lead with a 3-pointer from the corner, then left his arm in the air as he jogged slowly back on defense. Meanwhile, Amare Stoudamire blows past him, takes a pass from Steve Nash and hits a short jumper to make it a one-point game. In the NBA, where a decade of walk-it-up offense has slowed the game, players' internal clocks say they have a few seconds to celebrate an important basket. By running, even after made shots, Phoenix steals a ton of easy points. The Suns take nearly half of their shots in the first 10 seconds of a possession and nearly three-quarters before the shot clock hits 9. That is a commitment to playing the game a certain way. It has some statistical basis as well, since, according to 82games.com the chances of scoring on a possession decrease considerably as the shot clock ticks closer to 0.
Stats aside, I found myself sitting in the auxiliary press area at Arco last night hoping that a generation of 8-year-olds is watching tapes of Steve Nash. Watching him drive the Suns is incredible. His court vision is amazing, which is sort of a shock given that when I had long hair like that, it interfered with my peripheral vision. Nash scored 33 points and dished out 17 assists as Phoenix beat Sacramento 125-123. I have to admit I'm a little spoiled when it comes to Nash. I've only seen him in person against the Kings. That means he's being guarded by Mike Bibby, who can't (or won't) defend him. I mean, Nash doesn't defend Bibby either so it's usually a fun match-up (Though Phoenix actually used someone named Joe Johnson, who is actually really good, against Bibby for most of the game last night.)
It's in vogue in NBA pressrooms to question whether the Suns can keep this up during the postseason, when teams actually get back on defense. I think Phoenix will kill halfcourt defenses in the playoffs just as they do in the regular season because when Nash comes barreling down the court at 60 miles per hour, defenses are like deer in headlights having to react. It will be interesting to see if teams start to pick up Nash fullcourt in the playoffs and really commit to it. I don't mean the 3/4 court stuff you see in the NBA where someone walks the floor with a point guard but no real defense is attempted. I mean pressure, when people get into Nash and force him to give the ball up before he gets players into scoring positions. Nash does turn the ball over, but the Suns' style (as did the Mavs of the last four years) creates so many extra possessions that it's not a big deal. Maybe people have tried that and I just haven't seen it. I really can't say.
Anyway watch the Suns if you get the chance. Hopefully they'll win a couple of rounds in the playoffs and get teams to start emulating them.
Stats aside, I found myself sitting in the auxiliary press area at Arco last night hoping that a generation of 8-year-olds is watching tapes of Steve Nash. Watching him drive the Suns is incredible. His court vision is amazing, which is sort of a shock given that when I had long hair like that, it interfered with my peripheral vision. Nash scored 33 points and dished out 17 assists as Phoenix beat Sacramento 125-123. I have to admit I'm a little spoiled when it comes to Nash. I've only seen him in person against the Kings. That means he's being guarded by Mike Bibby, who can't (or won't) defend him. I mean, Nash doesn't defend Bibby either so it's usually a fun match-up (Though Phoenix actually used someone named Joe Johnson, who is actually really good, against Bibby for most of the game last night.)
It's in vogue in NBA pressrooms to question whether the Suns can keep this up during the postseason, when teams actually get back on defense. I think Phoenix will kill halfcourt defenses in the playoffs just as they do in the regular season because when Nash comes barreling down the court at 60 miles per hour, defenses are like deer in headlights having to react. It will be interesting to see if teams start to pick up Nash fullcourt in the playoffs and really commit to it. I don't mean the 3/4 court stuff you see in the NBA where someone walks the floor with a point guard but no real defense is attempted. I mean pressure, when people get into Nash and force him to give the ball up before he gets players into scoring positions. Nash does turn the ball over, but the Suns' style (as did the Mavs of the last four years) creates so many extra possessions that it's not a big deal. Maybe people have tried that and I just haven't seen it. I really can't say.
Anyway watch the Suns if you get the chance. Hopefully they'll win a couple of rounds in the playoffs and get teams to start emulating them.
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