Nash's hip injury may signal the end of his career.

[IamBBAnalysis]

Weird that Grant Hill and Nash looked like young guys that could play for 10 more years last year in Phoenix. Then Nash gets injury problems with the Lakers and could not have much time left and Grant Hill has not played much at all and says he is going to retire.

Anyway, I'm not sure there is reason to count Nash out Next year or even this year yet.

[AcecardZ]

I really hope Nash retires. As much as I like Nash $9mil is way too much to pay for what he has to offer at this point of his career.

If Nash retires, we trade Pau and amnesty Ron Ron would we have any shot at being able to sign a high dollar free agent?

I guess it would depend on what we get from Pau. If we can offload his $20 mil salary for picks or a player on a rookie contract there may be enough money leftover to sign a player. Kobe's $30 million certainly isn't helping anything...

[mcscotty]

I'd love to see a healthy Nash back. We'd have one the best PGs still playing in the playoffs (Yes, I'm serious). But, I'm losing hope and my mindset is playing without him.

[IamBBAnalysis]

I really hope Nash retires. As much as I like Nash $9mil is way too much to pay for what he has to offer at this point of his career.

If Nash retires, we trade Pau and amnesty Ron Ron would we have any shot at being able to sign a high dollar free agent?

I guess it would depend on what we get from Pau. If we can offload his $20 mil salary for picks or a player on a rookie contract there may be enough money leftover to sign a player. Kobe's $30 million certainly isn't helping anything...

That doesn't make any sense. The Lakers have no money next season whether Nash retires or not. An Amnesty to Artest will not help either. It also makes no sense to not want Nash next season if he is actually healthy. He's an excellent player (all-start last season). Its mostly a matter of chemistry next season. Now if you could trade Nash for a specific need that's another story. But that is highly unlikely.

You have to hope that Nash can get back to what he was pre injury. I also think a huge factor for Nash's kind of "average" play was a combination of how to play with the new teamates and having to play a secondary role on offense for the first time in awhile to Kobe (plus to Dwight as well). Look at Dwight all of a sudden. Kobe is gone and Dwight all of a sudden looks like the player we hoped to see.

[AcecardZ]

I really hope Nash retires. As much as I like Nash $9mil is way too much to pay for what he has to offer at this point of his career.

If Nash retires, we trade Pau and amnesty Ron Ron would we have any shot at being able to sign a high dollar free agent?

I guess it would depend on what we get from Pau. If we can offload his $20 mil salary for picks or a player on a rookie contract there may be enough money leftover to sign a player. Kobe's $30 million certainly isn't helping anything...

That doesn't make any sense. The Lakers have no money next season whether Nash retires or not. An Amnesty to Artest will not help either. It also makes no sense to not want Nash next season if he is actually healthy. He's an excellent player (all-start last season). Its mostly a matter of chemistry next season. Now if you could trade Nash for a specific need that's another story. But that is highly unlikely.

You have to hope that Nash can get back to what he was pre injury. I also think a huge factor for Nash's kind of "average" play was a combination of how to play with the new teamates and having to play a secondary role on offense for the first time in awhile to Kobe (plus to Dwight as well). Look at Dwight all of a sudden. Kobe is gone and Dwight all of a sudden looks like the player we hoped to see.

I hear what you're saying and I agree 100% with your point about us being salary cap snafu'd going forward. Kupchak is going to have to work something out because unless Nash is paired with some elite defenders in the primes of their careers he's going to be too much of a liability for us out there on the court. The guy is not only a bad defender he has become quite turnover prone in his old age. There's way too many good pg's in the WC to expect to be able to compete favorably with him on our roster going forward. To Nash's credit he has been battling injuries most of the year so perhaps with a full offseason to get right physically he can return and be a positive player for our team going forward. I wouldn't count on it though. It's far too risky!

[GeneralNash]

If he seriously got two epidural injections I do not see how he is in any shape to play in the nba.

If he does come back hopefully blake can still provide off the bench.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

[Slava]

Serena Winters ‏@SerenaWinters 19m

I asked Steve Nash if his career being over after all the injuries ever crossed his mind. He didn't have to think about it - NO.

[IamBBAnalysis]

Serena Winters ‏@SerenaWinters 19m

I asked Steve Nash if his career being over after all the injuries ever crossed his mind. He didn't have to think about it - NO.

I think Nash has a lot to prove and a lot he wants to prove still. You always wonder if a guy may have "gotten old" or injuries will catch up to them but it doesn't sound like Nash is at that point yet.

[AcecardZ]

I've gotten on many players this year:

Pau... Was playing awful early in the year. In part due to playing out of position but mostly due to playing with PF. Since his return he's been magnificent for the most part.

Dwight... Had been very inconsistent early in the year but has really stepped his game up since the All Star break.

Blake, mostly awful for the better part of the year, has been a beast lately.

Ron Ron... Well he still sucks!

All of these players except Ron Ron have redeemed themselves to some degree.


This leads us to one player, Nash! The time is now Nash to redeem himself! If he can somehow play well in this series I think the basketball world, and the Spurs will be in for a big big surprise. Even with Kobe out has Nash ever been with a more talented team than he's currently leading into the playoffs? Nash has been on some talented teams but he's heading into the playoffs this year with Dwight, Pau, Jamison and WorlolPeace. The team hasn't been on the same page all year and of course has struggled but what an opportunity for Nash to show he's still capable. Forget the injuries and throw our inconsistent play out the window. These are the playoffs and the Lakers are a veteran team very capable of putting the season's foibles behind them. The drag of a long season is behind them and the playoffs are here and while it may not be Kobetime this year I'm very comfortable with the team we're heading into the playoffs with. No expectations and tons of talent!! What could be better???

[GeneralNash]

I've gotten on many players this year:

Pau... Was playing awful early in the year. In part due to playing out of position but mostly due to playing with PF. Since his return he's been magnificent for the most part.

Dwight... Had been very inconsistent early in the year but has really stepped his game up since the All Star break.

Blake, mostly awful for the better part of the year, has been a beast lately.

Ron Ron... Well he still sucks!

All of these players except Ron Ron have redeemed themselves to some degree.


This leads us to one player, Nash! The time is now Nash to redeem himself! If he can somehow play well in this series I think the basketball world, and the Spurs will be in for a big big surprise. Even with Kobe out has Nash ever been with a more talented team than he's currently leading into the playoffs? Nash has been on some talented teams but he's heading into the playoffs this year with Dwight, Pau, Jamison and WorlolPeace. The team hasn't been on the same page all year and of course has struggled but what an opportunity for Nash to show he's still capable. Forget the injuries and throw our inconsistent play out the window. These are the playoffs and the Lakers are a veteran team very capable of putting the season's foibles behind them. The drag of a long season is behind them and the playoffs are here and while it may not be Kobetime this year I'm very comfortable with the team we're heading into the playoffs with. No expectations and tons of talent!! What could be better???

I would hope Nash is well rested. I remember him playing very well coming off injury. This rest period may of done his body some good, and could be the secret weapon going into the playoffs at this point.

[IamBBAnalysis]

I've gotten on many players this year:

Pau... Was playing awful early in the year. In part due to playing out of position but mostly due to playing with PF. Since his return he's been magnificent for the most part.

Dwight... Had been very inconsistent early in the year but has really stepped his game up since the All Star break.

Blake, mostly awful for the better part of the year, has been a beast lately.

Ron Ron... Well he still sucks!

All of these players except Ron Ron have redeemed themselves to some degree.


This leads us to one player, Nash! The time is now Nash to redeem himself! If he can somehow play well in this series I think the basketball world, and the Spurs will be in for a big big surprise. Even with Kobe out has Nash ever been with a more talented team than he's currently leading into the playoffs? Nash has been on some talented teams but he's heading into the playoffs this year with Dwight, Pau, Jamison and WorlolPeace. The team hasn't been on the same page all year and of course has struggled but what an opportunity for Nash to show he's still capable. Forget the injuries and throw our inconsistent play out the window. These are the playoffs and the Lakers are a veteran team very capable of putting the season's foibles behind them. The drag of a long season is behind them and the playoffs are here and while it may not be Kobetime this year I'm very comfortable with the team we're heading into the playoffs with. No expectations and tons of talent!! What could be better???

Gasol-Playing with an injury was probably the biggest reason he was terrible. He acted like a baby when not getting his way. His inability to move and perhaps his attitude was a major issue on defense.

Inability to adapt his game to a different style.

Dwight-Playing with an injury but the bigger thing with him is he is a selfish idiot...and I'm not saying that in a way that I hate him. I root for him and I'm happy he finally stopped acting like he has all year. He wanted the spot light, he wanted the glory, and when he wasn't getting it he acted like a 2 year old and wasn't trying on the court most of the time.

Watch how he tries now. Its embarrassing how good he is when he tries. I would be embarrassed if I was him. He is the key to the defense...and even when he was not trying he was still a net positive. But when he plays all out the team goes from bad to potentially a very good defense. He makes that big of difference.

Inability to adapt his game to a different style (never tried to learn how to catch a bounce pass).

Artest-He tries but unfortunately he can't really shoot consistently and takes bad shots. I don't really blame him...he goes all out for the team but he is not always a positive on the court.

Meeks-See Artest.

Clark-An asset on defense and a good hustle player. Streaky offensively and makes mental mistakes but plays hard.

Kobe-Always brings effort and will. He took on several different roles this year...from off the ball scorer, to post player, to pick and roll pg, to iso facilitator. Did a great job attempting to work with the coach but also put in his suggestions of how the team should play. He may be the biggest reason the coach is using the bigs more. A brilliant season with many huge shots and games. Increased his efficiency when it was really needed.

However, at this stage and with this team what the team really needed him for most was defense on the wing. He uses too much energy on offense and plays too many minutes. He saves his energy on D and gets lost. This along with Dwight/Gasol's inability or unwillingness to protect the guards much of the year has been the biggest issue with the team's defense. As well as general chemistry/communication.

Kobe (much like Dwight/Gasol) was not really able to play in a different system. He could not be a catch shoot guy. And in general the ball sticks much too much with Kobe (although when he is the facilitator he does very well passing the ball) as an off ball player.

Nash-Injuries have also limited him. A generally poor defensive player he does play the least important defensive position and he gives good effort so the importance of the poor defense is not nearly the factor some claim. Still, he needs help from the bigs off of screen roll so he is a net negative on the defensive side.

Nash has done what coaches have asked in terms of playing different systems...as the main facilitator or off the ball without complaint. Too many turnovers for Nash early on and some sloppy play. Did not play as hoped. As a facilitator in a spread floor system he did not seem to have players around him that were either willing or able to play with him.

He adapted to an off the ball player. The only one of the big four to really accept change willingly and prosper. You could argue Kobe did as well but he appeared to not really adapt/accept the off ball role well and did not play it properly as a catch/shoot player (which leads into spacing issues and turnovers. Poor spacing and Dwight's poor role man ability were a big reason for the many Nash turnovers also).