Potential to Get Blasted Post : NASH

[asubennett]

I love Steve Nash. Let me say that first.

Two games into a season is a sample size so small, no real reason to panic. Let me say that second.

However, you have to trust your gut on a few things. My gut is telling me this : I dont think Nash is the right PG for our system any more.

Nash forces a lot on offense. Lots of turnovers in key situations.... this is now a trend dating back to mid last season. He is an amazing scorer, crafty, top three shooter in the game. He is also a bottom 10 defender, a huge liabilty.

I think our team would be better in the long run with a capable PG on offense (we have plenty of scorers) who can also lock a guy down. I like Goran's defense but cant run the offense. Grant Hil has to or Boris when Nash is out. I would love to see us use Shaq and Amare in the post every game, nearly every possesion

Who is the answer? I have no idea. Maybe a Mike Conley? Maybe Devin Harris. I am not sure.

I would love to see us use Amare and Shaq more often and spread to shooters and punish our opponents inside. Demoralize them. Make them strain themselves defensively with effort keeping our two bid bodies away from the bucket. 7 seconds or less is dead and I fear our team may be too if we dont find a new home for Nash and get good defensive value back in return from the PG position.

[rsavaj]

He may not be the "right" PG for our offense(especially if we're not running as many pick and rolls as we used to), but I'd rather keep him and let his contract expire along with Shaq/Hill/Raja instead of moving him for cheap.

He's still a Top 5 PG in the league(behind Paul and Williams for sure, Chauncey and Parker debatable)

[eastsidecrossover]

Im going to say...........LAMO post. A post like this should get blasted because it is kind of stupid. Nash is still one of the best PG in the game. Yeah, he did have a lot of turnovers, but that is what happens with a guy who sees the floor and takes chances. Hes kind of like Brad farr. Not ever TO is his fault, and the rest of the team was making stupid TO's too. It was a team effort, not just nash.

Nash is still so good that he can still run this team, half court or run n gun. To say we need some other point guard is kind of stupid. Look at reality, we screwed up by trading Rondo away, and are taking a chance on a player that I think is never going to pan out in Dragic. For one of those players to come here, its going to be a little while, a big trade or FA signing. Not an easy thing to do.

Its only the 2nd game of the season, so relax.

[scootfu602]

OMG! the roof is falling the roof is falling. For Christ sake it's 2 games. Lets at least wait til the end of Nov before we freak out. New Coach, New system, New style, give it time to gel.

[HootieRules]

You think Nash is a bad fit? We're the fools who traded a perfect complement to him in Marion for a guy who complements nobody anymore in Shaq.

Nash is perfect for this team - if we use him right. Having him dribble around and try to create without any slashers is a disaster. If we're going to trade for Shaq then use him. Make Nash a spot up shooter and it won't be a bad thing - he's one of the best shooters in the league if not the best. This trade was a disaster from the start but not using Shaq in the 4th and not having an offensive identity is only going to make it worse.

[skEwb]

You think Nash is a bad fit? We're the fools who traded a perfect complement to him in Marion for a guy who complements nobody anymore in Shaq.

Nash is perfect for this team - if we use him right. Having him dribble around and try to create without any slashers is a disaster. If we're going to trade for Shaq then use him. Make Nash a spot up shooter and it won't be a bad thing - he's one of the best shooters in the league if not the best. This trade was a disaster from the start but not using Shaq in the 4th and not having an offensive identity is only going to make it worse.

Steve Kerr is a moron

[albasuna]

it's true... the old Nash style doesn't fit in our system completely anymore. He needs to change up his playing style. I know it's one game but if you remember last night vs the Hornets we were mounting a comeback late in the 4th with Nash on the bench... the moment he came in the Hornets knocked down 3 open threes, followed by 3 Nash turnovers.

If anything Nash has to lessen the amount he carries the ball. I would say maybe he should cut that in half.

[MaryvalesFinest]

The Suns should look into trading Nash for a solid point guard that can play defense, that way the Suns will still have a shot to win this year or the next. Some names that come into mind are Andre Miller, Chauncey Billups, etc...

[cavsfan_osiris]

I don't think Nash is the right fit for the team the way they are constructed now. Steve Nash was nothing special at all as a PG before Nellie's system. Then he went from Nellie to D'Antoni. Those systems are perfect to maximize Nash's game.

Of course Nash is still a good player, but I don't think Phoenix has a roster and consistent style of play which maximizes his abilities.

Losing Marion and acquiring Shaq hurt Nash's game two-fold. Phoenix loss nearly a perfect compliment to Nash and acquired a player who is nearly a perfect anti-compliment. I wonder if the Suns should bring Shaq in off the bench. Start Nash and play as close to the old Suns style as possible, then slow things off the bench with Shaq, while Nash is resting.

The way this team is constructed they cannot have one consistent identity and hope to maximize their personnel, simply because the skill-set throughout the roster is not all complimentary, certain players play better with others. They are going to have to be a versatile team with different gears and strategies depending on who is in the game.

[b-ball forever]

Nash was off in the 2nd half of the Hornets game, but that's prolly just cuz of fatigue kicking in.
Don't forget that it was the 2nd game of a B2B and in recent year's he's often had a hard time stayin top level while we play 2 days in a row.

Also don't forget that in the Spurs game we were +17 while Nash was on the floor and -12 while he was on the bench...

The only PGs I'd trade Nash for are CP3 and Deron (and maybe Billups), but NO and Jazz would say hell no to that trade.
We just need Raja and Barnes to do their job on the perimeter D and that should be enuf to cover up Nash's defensive liabilities most the time.
Now that we got Barnes, I'm more worried bout our post defense (between Amare and Shaq) then our outside defense. I mean Melvin Frikin Ely was killing em inside at one point

[-SDU-]

nash was one of the few yesterday who did something


he will make it work

[Go7enKs]

The Suns should look into trading Nash for a solid point guard that can play defense, that way the Suns will still have a shot to win this year or the next. Some names that come into mind are Andre Miller, Chauncey Billups, etc...

Yeah! I agree! let's get Andre Miller guys! A ring is coming to PHX with the new big 3: Andre Miller, Shaq and Amare!

Please, cut the bull. Nash is still top 3 PG in the league and he is smart enough to adapt to a new system. Which, btw, is still not very well identifiable. And for our sake it better resemble last years system because this roster is made to play fast.

[walkingart]

This is a **** joke right?

At one point we had 14 turnovers, and Nash had....wait for it....1. So what, he turned it over 3 times late in the game because he was forcing it trying to make something happen. The game was over at that point, with the outside chance of a miraculous come from behind victory lurking about.

Peja owns us, and guys like MoPete, Posey and Butler fed off of that and killed us from behind the arc. Bell and Barnes need to step up and earn their keep by playing some defense. Where is the edge? The dirty work? That is what needs to happen. Put a forearm into Peja's throat just once and I guarantee you he will be thinking about it the rest of the night. I hate to agree with Charles Barkley, but if you are getting lit up, the least you can do is hit him a few times and make him think about.

I still think we are one of the top 5 teams in the west, the only problem with that is, I also believe their is a large gap between the top 2 teams (LAL and NO) and everyone else. If we don't win the west it is not going to be because of Nash, it is going to be because Sarver is not willing to lose his ass, and bring on salary for guys like Gasol and Artest.

Transforming guys who are not known for playing defense is a difficult task, one that could take all season or even multiple seasons. Let's be patient.

[NashtyNas]

I agree, but let him expire and trade for someone like, my favorite choice, Kirk Hinrich. Him and STAT worked well with TEAM USA a few years ago, and if we can pick him up along with resigning STAT in 2010, and maybe get Nash as a backup for 2 years, then we'd be set with Diaw (who I love for these past two games), Lopez, Barbosa, Hinrich, STAT, and Nash. We all know Diaw can fluctuate, but, if he gets consistent minutes, which he will since we don't have another good backup PF who can play offense (which is what we're lacking), then he should continue to produce (not up to a 9million/year potential obviously, because he wont get enough minutes for that). BUT, we right now have to let Nash expire for sure. No way we get fair value for him, unless of course we trade the Knicks for Jamaal Crawford, David Lee and Wilson Chandler (of course we throw in picks / other people haha , maybe they'd take Diaw from us too, who knows )

EDIT: look at this deal I worked up http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/t ... &te=&cash=

[asubennett]

This post was by no means intended to be a "sky is falling post"

Nash is still top 5 pg in this league. I agree. I just think our team is no longer suited for his style. If you listen to his comments you get the feeling he doesnt care for Porters system. I fear a divide could develop. Nash is one of my fav players all time and I would hate to see him go.

I just think with the amount of size and power we have inside we should really begin using it.

Diaw is a very skilled post player. Shaq can still seal guys off down low. And Amare is Amare. We could be a punishig team but with Nash you get stuck in a two man game with pick and rolls. If Nash would throw the ball down there more often and spot up (deadly shooter) I would be much more comfortable with him.

I just dont see that happening. You can tell he wants to dominate the ball still. My opinion is that we would be better with a defensive oriented PG and let Amare and Diaw and Shaq dominate the ball.

[The Diesel]

I know many have blamed Shaq for Nash's decline since he came, but let's not forget that Nash is the one who wanted the front office to make the trade.

It was him, Amare, and D'Antoni who told Kerr to make the trade.

[DrFunk]

I seriously doubt that Nash "demanded" Shaq to join the team. The more likely scenario was Kerr forcing his agenda to DA Nash and Amare about the potential of Shaq with some game left while getting rid of an allegedly locker room cancer in Marion.

Every star player will have an off night, Nash is just showing his age that he can't play perfectly when he's tired (specially from a back to back). Until they "figure" out exactly wtf they are suppose to do offensively Suns are going to look like they have a broken wheel. I'd wait a few weeks before coming to any reliable conclusions, this team still has a lot of holes (as long as Shaq is here), so unless they plan on breaking the bank coasting till his final year of his contract and letting Amare grow even more is prob the safest course for the Suns.

[The Diesel]

Nash never "demanded" that the front office get Shaq, nor was he the one who approached them with the idea.

When Miami first called Phoenix, D'Antoni, Nash, and Amare all wanted Kerr to make the trade while Kerr was the one who was reluctant.

[garrick]

I agree that Nash is not a good fit in a more slow tempo offense but at this point there is no one available that is better.
By the way why us it that Sean is not getting any minutes? Is Dragic playing that well?

[nevetsov]

^^ Dragic will get the minutes irrespective of how he plays, because he needs game experience in order to develop.

Singletary is there for garbage time and in case of injury/ foul trouble.