What's up with all the Steve Nash hate?

[jaypo]

Well, I'd rather watch a "less entertaining" team play longer into the season than watch a fun team go home in teh 1st round. It's not his lack of defense that bugs me. Hell, Shaq can't play the PNR as well as his peers, but it is from lack of physical ability, not effort. Same as Nash's defense. It's the turnovers. This is an MVP that is supposed to be one of the best at running the offense, but he keeps throwing the ball away in addition to his lack of defense. He doesn't seem like he's giving the team a chance this year. Last year in the SA series, he had 4 costly turnovers in the last game of their season. So his lack of defense is not my biggest concern. I'm concerned that he seems to be giving up because he can't run the SSOL offense and now that his BFF is gone, he's gonna pout his way thru the rest of his contract to sign with his other BFF in New York. This team still has one of the best rosters in the league on paper. I doubt they are giving Porter the axe, so if this team sucks it up, buys into what he's trying to do (and play defense) and starts giving a crap about a title, I think they can make some f'n noise. But their little general needs to wipe the tears, get over the fact that you have to play defense to win a title, and accept that your BFF is now on another team, and bust your arse to get to the top of the mountain!

[scootfu602]

Question? How is Nash answering questions that were asked to him considered crying to the media? The guy was asked a question and answered honestly, big f-in deal. Seriously, now we are all like "he needs to go". Sure thing, he only brought us back to an elite/championship level and everything. unless a trade involving Nash nets a PG like CP3 or Deron Williams, than shut that ish down son. So he was upset his boy got traded...they aren't aloud to have any type of emotional feelings when a friend leaves town? Get real man, they aren't robots.
Here we go, seeing as damn neer everyone here is dead set on dealing Amar'e and Nash than go offer Utah both for Deron Williams and Boozer, plus whatever else has to be added.

[jaypo]

Shaq's statements are not self serving. He isn't saying to "give it to me so I can score 40 PPG to pad my stats". He's saying that running the offense thru the post is what got him to the finals 6 times. And he's correct. They have plenty hi % shooters on the team to kick the ball to when the defense collapses. He is saying that they should take advantage of that instead of just running around and putting up a stupid shot. He is one of the smartest players in the league with the ball in his hands. He can kick the ball out if he's doubled, or if he's singled, he shoots about 56% from the field. So why try to run an offense any other way? Just to make the game "pretty?" Screw pretty. I think the O'Brien trophy is pretty. That's what they're playing for!

[scootfu602]

I say we make a run at GSW's Marcus Williams as our back-up/future PG. I know that kid is better than the PT that is given to him. Maybe Dragic and Tucker for Williams + whatever

[TASTIC]

Totally agree with Williams. I remember wanting to spew when we passed on him in the draft...Thought to myself "YES WE GOT WILLIAMS!" and then BAM. Right in the kisser.

[scootfu602]

I felt the same way draft night. He played well in NJ from what I remember. Maybe Nellie just doesn't like him for his style.

[TXSun]

I say we make a run at GSW's Marcus Williams as our back-up/future PG. I know that kid is better than the PT that is given to him. Maybe Dragic and Tucker for Williams + whatever

lets do it!!

[Rip2137]

Years later and I still find knocks on Nash's defense kinda funny. He isn't a good defender. But he isn't bad either.

When you have a big that doesn't step out AT ALL on a screen, there is nothing the guard can do. Its funny that when Amare went down and no shaq was here, how much better the Suns D was with Kurt Thomas in there. It came down to the effort of others.

People like to take the simple view of things. Parker is guarded by nash, if Parker scores 30 points, Nash is a horrible defender. They don't look at it like, Parker ran the pick and roll all day, Amare didn't step out once to slow him down, Parker scored 30.

Defense has NEVER been about the ability of the perimter players. The Spurs have Parker, Ginobli, Finley and others on the perimeter. They are all horrible defenders. They give the same effort Nash has, only they have two bigs to funnel the offense too, understand their place on defense and count on their man to make the play they are supposed to play.

That man for us is/was Amare. Thus, our defense is going to suck.

Bottomline, you are a 30+ player in the NBA. You have a team that is built to win a championship and they break it up because....um...they felt like it? You watch Deng, Rondo, Rodriguez, Fernandez, James Jones, Kurt Thomas, Joe Johnson and others that could have been part of the team but all are gone because management didn't drop the ball, they sold it for nothing. Your best chance to win a championship is gone because some idiots actually believe the talking heads about how a offensive powered team couldnt win the championship and blah blah blah(completely ignoring the true and obvious reason the suns didn't win a championshp). He has a right to be pissed. He has a right to not be happy.

[Frank Lee]

Years later and I still find knocks on Nash's defense kinda funny. He isn't a good defender. But he isn't bad either........

Bottomline, you are a 30+ player in the NBA. You have a team that is built to win a championship and they break it up because....um...they felt like it? You watch Deng, Rondo, Rodriguez, Fernandez, James Jones, Kurt Thomas, Joe Johnson and others that could have been part of the team but all are gone because management didn't drop the ball, they sold it for nothing. Your best chance to win a championship is gone because some idiots actually believe the talking heads about how a offensive powered team couldnt win the championship and blah blah blah(completely ignoring the true and obvious reason the suns didn't win a championshp). He has a right to be pissed. He has a right to not be happy.

The Gospel according to Rip... amen

[TASTIC]

Must be maddening to Nash to see Amare with all his physical gifts, NOT using them on D. Nash's effort can never be questioned, granted he doesn't dart around screens like he used to, but he's drenched after every game from running and trying - can't falt him for that, he just doesn't have the frame/physical make up to play good perimeter D.
Amare in cruise mode can block 2-3 shots a night, what if he actually meant that statement about wanting to play D like Artest?

Sad.

[JohnVancouver]

Totally agree with Williams. I remember wanting to spew when we passed on him in the draft...Thought to myself "YES WE GOT WILLIAMS!" and then BAM. Right in the kisser.

+1

The first knock on him was the computer-theft thing, then NJ loved him and he was the PG of the future, then he wasn't, then it looked like he'd get a real shot in GS and .... pfft. The guy can play

[daveang]

I don't think Nash ever acted like a pretty boy, pouting, complaining or otherwise for any reason other than positive change. Voicing your dislike at the way things are being run isn't a bad thing, if that change is positive. The Suns were in a hole, Nash, like other players, wants to be happy in a system that takes advantage of its strengths - communicating that to the people at the top of the chain isn't always easy I guess.

And echoing Frank Lee's sentiments:
"Nash has seen 'His' team dismantled, right when they were on the brink. You think we are the only ones who F-n wonder WTF is going on ???"

Just think of how the Suns would look with D'Antoni and without Nash and I think you'll realise just how valued he was, and still is.