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Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash takes 'a step back'
by Paul Coro

Most of the time, a step back is good for Steve Nash.

The Suns star's step-back jumper to create space between him and taller defenders is one of the better ones in the league. His step-back dribble can pull a defender away from his assist target. But the step back he took in Thursday night's Suns loss to Denver could sideline him for Sunday's game against Orlando.

Nash's ongoing pubic symphysis irritation worsened despite the two-a-day workouts he had been doing in order to avoid missing a game with one month remaining in the season.

"It's been bothering for a couple of weeks," Nash said. "I thought we were getting better and then (Thursday) night, for whatever reason, took a big step back. Frustrating and another obstacle but just got to try to work every day to get better."

Nash was limited by the return of the issue in a few games but first felt pain eight days ago in a win at Milwaukee. "It's worse than that," Nash said. "This is the worst it's been.

"Definitely Sunday is in question but we'll see how it goes. If I can improve in time, then I can play. But if not, I can't play the way I was moving on Thursday night . . . I just can't move. Too much pain and immobility."

On Thursday night, Nash said compensating for his injury also made his back - with its chronic spine issue - and hamstrings lock up and spasm. He said he did not feel strong in warm-ups and "it just went downhill."

Nash played 27 minutes and had seven points, seven assists and six turnovers on a night that began with Nash missing a driving layup.

The Suns' Plan B is a mixed bag of good and bad. They now have two other point guards, former full-time Houston starter Aaron Brooks and rookie Zabian Dowdell, but Brooks has been with the team only two weeks and still is learning the system and teammates.

Brooks has averaged 16 minutes in seven games with the Suns but started 82 games for Houston last season.

"That's a possibility and I've got to be ready for it," Brooks said of starting. "I'm going to be all right.

"Where everybody needs to be at, the flow of the game, just being comfortable. Last game, I had some shots I normally hit and missed. But as far as being comfortable, I'm getting there."

Nash did not practice Friday, putting his time into rehabilitation exercises and therapy. He rehabilitated the same injury in November but missed two games to do so.

"The hardest thing is we fought ourselves out of a hole to get right on the doorstep," Nash said. "That is as big of a reason as any as to why I tried to play (Thursday) night. But it got to a point where I just can't play like that. I've got to try to get that right first.

"All movement is difficult. Offense actually is harder because you have to be more specific and I just don't have a lot of control."

Nash is wrestling with the balance of helping or hurting his team. Suns coach Alvin Gentry said it is unfair to ask Nash to play if he is struggling physically again.

"You don't know what a warrior he is," Gentry said. "We're here every day and we see him and he's physically hurt and beaten up. He said to me during the game, 'This is just really important. I've got to see if I can find a way to play well enough for us to win.'

"He's done everything he possibly can to help us win games but when you're just not physically there to do it, you can't do it."