Let's talk about Nash

[sp1derm00]

I feel like through this entire season, Nash hasn't been very vocal about the team. I don't recall him ever giving a strong opinion about the team or the losses. I don't know why that is, but he is very much a leader of this team and it's strange to me how silent he's been through all of this.

Nash has been great for us, despite taking a role playing off the ball. I think though, that with the return of Steve Blake, Blake should relieve Nash playing alongside Kobe while Kobe is running the offense. Nash should still start, but he should play more minutes without Kobe than with.

When Kobe sits and gets his rest, Nash should be running with the younger/quicker players on our team. This would give us two different looks.

Something along the lines of:

Nash
Meeks
Metta (shooting)
Clark
Dwight

This squad would be able to run D'antoni's offense.

[duane v]

Nash isn't capable of running anymore...... His effectiveness from this point forward at this stage of his career should be a spot up shooter... Plus this will keep him from dribbling the ball in circles because he's not quick enough to beat anyone off the dribble anymore

[leftymo]

Let's talk about Nash baby,
Let's talk about you and me,
Let's talk about all the good things,
That maybe..

Let's talk abouuuut Nash...
Let's talk about Nash.

When players come to LA, it puts a spotlight and pressure on them that they didn't get in their small market city. Dwight is the biggest example of this. Nash also falls into this category. It's one thing to be a superstar in a po-dunk Iowa... its another to be in a major media market like Los Angeles, NY, or Chicago.

[leftymo]

Steve Nash has morphed into Steve Kerr...

all that time in Phx... did that.

[sp1derm00]

Nash isn't capable of running anymore...... His effectiveness from this point forward at this stage of his career should be a spot up shooter... Plus this will keep him from dribbling the ball in circles because he's not quick enough to beat anyone off the dribble anymore

Really?

Nash was averaging around 10 apg running the offense before we switched to running it through Kobe. He seemed fine running the offense to me. Mostly, it was our defense that lost us games because our best players were all gassed and couldn't keep up the defensive intensity.

[jsthornton7]

I'm not convinced Nash is fully healed.

[duane v]

I'm not convinced Nash is fully healed.

I'm sure that is contributing as well, which is why using him as a spot up shooter at this point will maximize his effectiveness

[LAKobeBryant]

Were not going change the offence the way were playing right now.

[duane v]

Really?

Nash was averaging around 10 apg running the offense

Really Really

And what was our record with Nash dribbling the ball in circles????? Our record was lousy

[jsthornton7]

I'm sure that is contributing as well, which is why using him as a spot up shooter at this point will maximize his effectiveness

One great thing I have noticed is that with Kobe as the primary playmaker, Nash's ability to create plays becomes much easier. Like that play in the 4th when he drove right down the middle for an uncontested layup.

I think the more comfortable Nash becomes in this role, the more effective he will be as a playmaker either for himself or for others and not just be limited to a "Fisher" type spot up shooter.

[duane v]

One great thing I have noticed is that with Kobe as the primary playmaker, Nash's ability to create plays becomes much easier. Like that play in the 4th when he drove right down the middle for an uncontested layup.

I think the more comfortable Nash becomes in this role, the more effective he will be as a playmaker either for him self or for others and not just be a "Fisher" type spot up shooter.

Nash is a much smarter player than Fisher, and a better shooter, but I see your point.... As defenses start running at Nash, he can more easily get past defenders and go to the basket

[jsthornton7]

Nash is a much smarter player than Fisher, and a better shooter, but I see your point.... As defenses start running at Nash, he can more easily get past defenders and go to the basket

Exactly, I think the key to having a successful offense is not to create space for Dwight, but to create space for Nash. If we give him options and space to shoot or fake and drive and kick or lob it up to Howard, defenses wont know what to do.

The last player I would want to face with a scrambling defense is Steve Nash.

[lpdunks8]

I think it's pretty amazing that a 38 year old who missed so many games is putting up the numbers he is:

51.5%FG 42.0%3FG 97%FT 8+ APG

[duane v]

I think it's pretty amazing that a 38 year old who missed so many games is putting up the numbers he is:

51.5%FG 42.0%3FG 97%FT 8+ APG

Look at what Nash was allowing the other teams point guards to do when Nash was running in circles. With Nash being a spot up shooter, he wont be expending as much energy, and he will be closer to the half court line which will allow him to get back on D

[LaLa_Land]

Really?

Nash was averaging around 10 apg running the offense before we switched to running it through Kobe. He seemed fine running the offense to me. Mostly, it was our defense that lost us games because our best players were all gassed and couldn't keep up the defensive intensity.

I think you hit the nail on the head. That constant, fruitless running 'n gunning was tiring out our old heads (a lot of them) - and thats why it looked like people were walking by us on D. If you slow it down, and take advantage of the clear cut half-court ability of this team, the defense naturally improves 5-10% i think.

All of my coaches - including the current ones - have always told me to work on D and rest on O. Simple concept , I like it.

Nash as a spot up shooter is golden, he could be the best in the game. Let him dribble in circles when the bench comes in. If kobe keeps facilitating like this guys, I am freakishly excited for the rest of the season. I've never seen Kobe dominate two games like this in a row - essentially without breaking a sweat or over-straining himself