Bill Simmons - How can Nash be MVP??

[elindholm]

You're right, Andy, I exaggerated. But the Stoudemire who put up great numbers on his own during the second half of last season seems to have disappeared. Of course there was the stretch during Nash's injury when he shot something like 29%, but even during all of the other games, he doesn't seem to be nearly as effective when Nash is resting. Maybe it's because defenses are keying on him more, or maybe he needs the easy dunks to get himself focused.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

You're right, Andy, I exaggerated. But the Stoudemire who put up great numbers on his own during the second half of last season seems to have disappeared. Of course there was the stretch during Nash's injury when he shot something like 29%, but even during all of the other games, he doesn't seem to be nearly as effective when Nash is resting. Maybe it's because defenses are keying on him more, or maybe he needs the easy dunks to get himself focused.

It could be, and it could also just be that he has become used to the game with Nash this season. The biggest problem with the Suns when Nash doesn't play is that they do not alter their style at all. It no longer fits the team perfectly, so there are hiccups.

I think the time when Nash went down was a combination of a slump, and him trying to force things in order to prove himself. That was back when there was a real national presence for Amare getting an MVP bid. It has more to do with maturity than his skill IMO.

Amare can play great without Nash, he just has to let it happen naturally.

 

[cly2tw]

Simmons had some point but missed a bigger point. Amare matured faster than anybody expected in this season, to a great extent to the leadship of Nash on this team and the success both he personally and this team has had. Nash is the most efficient at setting up for good shots. The smooth environment has been crucial to Amare's development. With so many points coming his way so easily, he don't need to complain about the number of shots he gets or how important his role on offense is. For a ensuing superstar, these are very important issues to worry about. And, IMO, this was the more important issue that we dealt Marbury away to avoid the inevitable fight for pecking order between him and Amare. None of that is happening here. Just imagine what'd ahppen if our offense weren't as smooth and it more frequently became individual one-on-one plays. Nash is the piece that glues everything together! For that he deserves the MVP award!

 

[jibikao]

The MVP voting has ended? Shaw won already?

Oh, what a shame. Shaq does not deserve it this year. He is great but he didn't improve Heat as much as Nash has.


Many people say you can just throw in any good PG and this team will be just AS GOOD because we have Amare, Marion, Q and JJ. Well, I weren't a Suns fan until this season.

Can you guys HONESTLY tell me what you were thinking before Nash got here. Did you guys think this "little long-hair guy" can bring us 62W?? I really want to know because all those Nash-haters out there are trying to discredit what Nash has done for the Suns. He may not score that much (hell, he doesn't even take that many shots) but he has helped Amare developed his game much more so than what Marbury had done!

I guess my point is you don't just throw in any PG and say they can give Suns 62W.

 

[F-Dog]

Simmons has been a fan of the Suns for a few years; I think his point is that the rest of the team (besides Nash) doesn't get enough credit for the team's success, and Amare in particular doesn't get enough credit. And when you think about it, Simmons has a point: every GM in the league would take Amare over Nash if they were starting a team, and not just because Nash is old. That inside presence is tough to find.

That said, I don't think game 2 was a good barometer for judging relative importance--Amare had a very good game, and Nash had a bad game by his standards. When Nash starts hitting his shot again, his value will shoot up.

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm not sure I agree with those who say that the Phoenix Suns can't win without Steve Nash, or that they aren't very good without him. Earlier in the year when he missed a stretch of games the team really struggled. There's no doubt about that. However they also didn't have Jim Jackson, and Barbosa was injured during that stretch. Later in the year when Nash missed a game or two the team looked a hell of a lot better. I know they beat Dallas once without him.

I honestly think Shawn Marion might be the guy the Phoenix Suns would miss the most if he had a prolonged absence.

I would love to see Steve Nash voted as the MVP, but I wouldn't feel ripped off if it was Shaquille O'Neal either.

Joe Mama

 

[mribnik]

I'm not sure I agree with those who say that the Phoenix Suns can't win without Steve Nash, or that they aren't very good without him. Earlier in the year when he missed a stretch of games the team really struggled. There's no doubt about that. However they also didn't have Jim Jackson, and Barbosa was injured during that stretch. Later in the year when Nash missed a game or two the team looked a hell of a lot better. I know they beat Dallas once without him.

I honestly think Shawn Marion might be the guy the Phoenix Suns would miss the most if he had a prolonged absence.

I would love to see Steve Nash voted as the MVP, but I wouldn't feel ripped off if it was Shaquille O'Neal either.

Joe Mama

I agree. Nash clearly makes the offense go so when he initially went down the rest of the team didn't know another way and they struggled. The second time he missed some games the team realized how to play without him and played some solid games (I believe we beat Dallas in Dallas without Nash).

 

[George O'Brien]

Actually Nash's value is more than just his +/- and record when he doesn't play. Nash has been an on the floor coach who has completely changed the way the Suns run their offense - even when he's not there.

BC and D'Antoni knew what they were doing when they took Nash and let him do his thing. D'Antoni is a legitimate coach of the year candidate because he knew enough not to over-coach.

BTW, as this team continues to play together, Nash will be less crucial as other guys learn what to do. But it is infinitely easier to learn through watching than just listening.

 

[fordronken]

I'm not sure I agree with those who say that the Phoenix Suns can't win without Steve Nash, or that they aren't very good without him. Earlier in the year when he missed a stretch of games the team really struggled. There's no doubt about that. However they also didn't have Jim Jackson, and Barbosa was injured during that stretch. Later in the year when Nash missed a game or two the team looked a hell of a lot better. I know they beat Dallas once without him.

I honestly think Shawn Marion might be the guy the Phoenix Suns would miss the most if he had a prolonged absence.

I would love to see Steve Nash voted as the MVP, but I wouldn't feel ripped off if it was Shaquille O'Neal either.

Joe Mama

What I said during that losing streak, and I still believe, is that it wasn't just Steve Nash going down. It was like we were going into a bad, struggling stretch and Steve Nash happened to get hurt at the same time, which compounded things tremendously.