Steve Nash Update 01/27: Tweeked his back at home

[leeprettyp]

Now I wouldn't be upset if Nash returns if both he and Mike Dantoni agree on not starting him going forward. As a backup PG Nash would flourish with that 2nd unit because of the athletes around him. I'd much rather start Steve Blake until Farmar gets back and healthy then hand of the starting PG position to him.

http://www.dailynews.com/article/LA/20131204/SPORTS/131209788

It sounds weird to ask given Steve Nash’s inevitable Hall of Fame credentials.

But with his persisting back injury and his early-season struggles, would the 39-year-old guard accept a bench role with the Lakers?

“I’ll do whatever I can to help the team,” Nash said. “But the first thing I have to do is try get myself in a position where I can sustain the demands of the game. Right now my back is susceptible to those things.”

The article from Mike Medina also has quotes from Jordan Farmar feeling optimistic about returning before the 4 week timeline.

“It’s two weeks of being patient and letting the body do what it does,” Farmar told this newspaper. “After that, I’ll see how it feels and then begin my rehab. Hopefully it will be before four weeks, but I’ll see how it responds.”

[Danny Darko]

hmmm I agree he's not starting material anymore, but the second unit might bog down with him at point when a strength of theirs is transition basketball. I'd rather see him with Pau and Hill

[leeprettyp]

I thought about that but he cant start in todays NBA. A starting lineup with Pau and Nash is just asking for early deficits in almost every important game

[Danny Darko]

I agree with that too. I think we're talking about the 3rd best pg on our team at this point.

[dockingsched]

was there ever any doubt nash would do whatever is asked of him?

[gotokyo]

I like steve nash too much to joke about what would actually be "best" for the team.

[Kilroy]

Sad to see Nash being forced to face the realities of his age induced physical limitations...

[kblo247]

I agree with that too. I think we're talking about the 3rd best pg on our team at this point.

I think we are talking about the 6th best guard on our team period. Blake, Farmar, Young, Meeks, and Kobe are all better than him easily so he shouldn't even get a second of anyone's time.

Question is will Dantoni do it? He had no problem doing it to guys that weren't his boys but doing it to Nash is a question mark. If he would have thought about it, it should've been done when he couldn't even practice at camp and was starting games without practicing or playing b2bs. This isn't like Phil starting Fish or Luke, they had life and were active roster participants whereas Nash is like the substitute teacher who pops in and out of a school

[SlimShady83]

was there ever any doubt nash would do whatever is asked of him?

Never had any doubt, just didn't believe MDA would be able to bench him due to his love affair

I can't believe I'm saying it, I'm starting to love MDA

Great to see Nash being benched this time in his career:)

[LApwnd]

retiring would help the team much more Steve!!!

[Sofa King]

I'm open to him staying on the bench or better yet traded back to the Suns for Bledsoe.

[RJM]

Consummate professional. Love this guy.

[Edrees]

What class. I think he'll be good for the Lakers off the bench. His clutch shots, make some plays, and veteran presence. He only hurts playing with the starting unit.

[DEEP3CL]

Whatever MDA decides has to be for the team first. The most important thing for me is limiting Nash's minutes as much as possible.

[Dr Aki]

10 minutes less of nash per game, means 10 minutes less of turnstile defense

[Fresh360Waves]

Definitely a bench role but that is when it gets tricky. Lakers have 2 other PG's who both need minutes as well I think Mitch may end up making some type of trade, and perhaps Steve Blake gets the boot since he has value.

[Slava]

He likely didn't have a choice either, MDA isn't going to play Nash ahead of Blake, the way Blake is playing right now despite his loyalty. Kobe & Nash might have worked in 2006 but now both are more ball dependent and if it comes between choosing Kobe initiating from the post and Nash running incessant pick and rolls with Pau, the former option is a lot more versatile and better.

[LAKEROLOGY]

While recovering, the dude needs to work on his shooting aswell, the guy is shooting only 26% from the field this season. Total class act though, i hope he comes back and becomes atleast a productive member of the rotation.

[Cyrusman122000]

If Ray Allen is coming off the bench Nash should be too! He's 2 years older than Ray, and was drafted the same year

[dockingsched]

ray allen is playing behind dwade. you might have a good point that nash should come off the bench, but the logic you used is lacking substance.