Nash lost the Hornets game(s) on both side for us

[cly2tw]

Whoever is guarded by Nash gets confident with their shots through all game, even no more guarded by Nash. Pargo, Peterson. Why can't Nash forget helping out and stick to the shooter no matter what? And whenever possible channel them into the middle where Amare and Shaq await them?

On offense, with Shaq, his dribble penetration normally is leading nowhere, or more precisely leading to turnovers or wasted time and rushed shots. Plus Nash's pullups bouncing off long, the opponents (not only Hornets) get a lot of fastbreak chances. With Shaq and Amare trying for off. rebounds, we are always late on that.

The best stretch we got offensively, is either when Nash was not on court, like from late 1st to middle 2nd q, or when Shaq gets touches on the lowpost. We gotta change that.

BTW, Linton was very good in this game. Very good defender and good shooter.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Pretty obvious Nash has lost a half a step and it has made his defense significantly worse.

And let's be honest, Nash was a terrible defender before he slowed down. Now he's literally one of the worst in the NBA.

 

[Griffin]

Why do you start another thread if there is already a 20-page game thread? If every poster started his own thread on the same topic, this board would be unreadable.

 

[BC867]

Why can't Nash forget helping out and stick to the shooter no matter what? And whenever possible channel them into the middle where Amare and Shaq await them?

Aging superstars learn how to "cheat" on defense. They learn how to make it easier for themselves to do their job and minimize or budget their efforts.

I love what Steve Nash has done for this team. I don't like the passive role that Mike D'Antoni has taken as Coach.

Not rendering Nash acceptable on defense is one of the areas where lack of a strong Coach-influence is showing.

Some of you are going to say that I'm singling out the Coach again. But damnit, he has responsibility in this. His job is more than turning Steve Nash free and watching.

 

[elindholm]

Some of you are going to say that I'm singling out the Coach again. But damnit, he has responsibility in this. His job is more than turning Steve Nash free and watching.

Well, it is now...

 

[cly2tw]

Why do you start another thread if there is already a 20-page game thread? If every poster started his own thread on the same topic, this board would be unreadable.

Because the points I made are relevant beyond this single game. It's been a problem with Nash and the System throughout the whole season, whenever we meet a quality opponent. It gets aggrevated after adding Shaq.

Right now, to win with this roster, Less (of Nash) is More (for the team). Reduce Nash's ball handling on offense, let Shaq touch the ball more, then we'll have more space even for Nash's penetration after the other team trying to adjust to the postup games with Shaq.

I believe they will go there eventually, but it's just painful to see them lose the way they are clinging on the Nash-penetration offense with Shaq and Amare clogging up the paint.

 

[arwillan]

Whoever is guarded by Nash gets confident with their shots through all game, even no more guarded by Nash. Pargo, Peterson. Why can't Nash forget helping out and stick to the shooter no matter what? And whenever possible channel them into the middle where Amare and Shaq await them?

On offense, with Shaq, his dribble penetration normally is leading nowhere, or more precisely leading to turnovers or wasted time and rushed shots. Plus Nash's pullups bouncing off long, the opponents (not only Hornets) get a lot of fastbreak chances. With Shaq and Amare trying for off. rebounds, we are always late on that.

The best stretch we got offensively, is either when Nash was not on court, like from late 1st to middle 2nd q, or when Shaq gets touches on the lowpost. We gotta change that.

BTW, Linton was very good in this game. Very good defender and good shooter.

we were -15 with amare on the floor, -13 with shaq on the floor,-13 with barbosa, -13 with bell on the floor, and -12 with nash on the floor. it's really hard to blame him when everyone around him had such a negative impact as well...

 

[Lorenzo]

chris paul is darn near unguardable. nash....is not to blame for tonight's loss. blame chris paul. nash made and still makes a living doing to others what paul did tonight. that's all.

 

[sly fly]

Why do you start another thread if there is already a 20-page game thread? If every poster started his own thread on the same topic, this board would be unreadable.

Steve Nash's quick decline is definitely worthy of it's own thread.

Unless he comes out of whatever kind of funk he's in, the decline is official.

 

[Mainstreet]

chris paul is darn near unguardable. nash....is not to blame for tonight's loss. blame chris paul. nash made and still makes a living doing to others what paul did tonight. that's all.

And what about guarding Pargo? A few years back a team could have had him for nothing.

 

[Darth Llama]

Is it really Steve Nash? Or is it the fact that the rules don't favor the defender? Honestly, can you think of one single point guard in the NBA that is known as a "great defender?" It just always seems to me that point guards on every team are getting trashed lately. Maybe it's just me, but it does seem to be a pattern with more teams then just Phoenix.

 

[French Fries]

Is it really Steve Nash? Or is it the fact that the rules don't favor the defender? Honestly, can you think of one single point guard in the NBA that is known as a "great defender?" It just always seems to me that point guards on every team are getting trashed lately. Maybe it's just me, but it does seem to be a pattern with more teams then just Phoenix.

good point. although a teeny bit more defensive effort wouldn't hurt either. it IS steve nash AND the rest of the team. if you got a good team defensive scheme, bad individual defense can somehow be overlooked...

 

[Griffin]

Because the points I made are relevant beyond this single game. It's been a problem with Nash and the System throughout the whole season, whenever we meet a quality opponent

Steve Nash's quick decline is definitely worthy of it's own thread.

Unless he comes out of whatever kind of funk he's in, the decline is official.

I wouldn't say that this is the start of his decline just yet. My problem with Nash is that he didn't adjust his game much from the last time we played the Hornets when he had 10 turnovers. He did "only" commit 4 tonight, but he made the same mistakes driving into traffic and not respecting Hornets defensive abilities. Last time, in the steals category it was 14-1 in favor of Hornets, and 9-20 in turnovers. Tonight, same story: 12-2 steals, 10-18 turnovers. But this is not solely on Nash.

 

[mojorizen7]

Grading players by the +Plus -minus
system is overrated IMO. Look at a guy like Boris Diaw.
Leave that for the NHL.

 

[TJ]

This whole team is declining. Nash, D'Antoni, Shaq, run and gun philosophy. Suns need a complete change of character next season

 

[Lorenzo]

I agree about the PG. there are so many PGs in the west that all dominate the game. Which is why I believe dallas jumped all over kidd when he asked to be traded. they knew they were lacking at that position. steve nash makes his living by giving easy baskets to others...in paticular amare at the rim. Paul did it tonight with chandler it seems unless i'm wrong.....I didn't see the game but i saw all the easy dunks chandler got.

 

[arwillan]

Is it really Steve Nash? Or is it the fact that the rules don't favor the defender? Honestly, can you think of one single point guard in the NBA that is known as a "great defender?" It just always seems to me that point guards on every team are getting trashed lately. Maybe it's just me, but it does seem to be a pattern with more teams then just Phoenix.

it is rare that you find a pg with good defensive skills. i can think of a few though. Fisher, Baron, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Chauncey, to name a few.

 

[Lorenzo]

chauncey is a great defender. and that says a lot because he's a great offensive PG as well. chris paul as well is looking to be a good defender as well. he had 9 steals against dallas last week. davis is good when he wants to be. I also think kidd is a good defender as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

This whole team is declining. Nash, D'Antoni, Shaq, run and gun philosophy. Suns need a complete change of character next season

Have fans noticed, that when the Suns now get involved in a shootout, more often than not, they are losing. This used to be the Suns bread and butter.

 

[Joe Mama]

It's not just Steve Nash. If Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. They are two of the worst offenders at their positions in the NBA, and whoever they are matched up with consistently kill the Phoenix Suns. Even if the guys they are guarding aren't scoring every time down the floor they are breaking down Nash and/or Amare giving easy opportunities to their teammates.

And if I see Shaquille O'Neal handling the ball at the top of the half court set one more time I'm going to lose my mind.

Joe

 

[arwillan]

chauncey is a great defender. and that says a lot because he's a great offensive PG as well. chris paul as well is looking to be a good defender as well. he had 9 steals against dallas last week. davis is good when he wants to be. I also think kidd is a good defender as well.

paul is a gambler, but a good one. 9 steals is hard to deny. However, i am a firm believer in the theory that steals do not necessarily mean "good defense". Paul's defense is different from chauncey's or kidd's. I forgot to mention Jason. Excellent hard-nosed defender. When baron wants to be, he is as good as anyone (and can guard 1-2 as well). Last year he did a nice job in the playoffs on D.

 

[Mainstreet]

Nevermind an outstanding PG like Chris Paul, just tell me how the Suns can shut down players like Navarro and Pargo who eat the Suns lunch.

 

[Lorenzo]

paul is a gambler, but a good one. 9 steals is hard to deny. However, i am a firm believer in the theory that steals do not necessarily mean "good defense". Paul's defense is different from chauncey's or kidd's. I forgot to mention Jason. Excellent hard-nosed defender. When baron wants to be, he is as good as anyone (and can guard 1-2 as well). Last year he did a nice job in the playoffs on D.

you are right. I also didn't realize how well jason steals the ball and gets to loose balls before others. the mavs transition game looks completely different in the few games he's played. the real test comes thursday against SA.

 

[Lorenzo]

Nevermind an outstanding PG like Chris Paul, just tell me how the Suns can shut down players like Navarro and Pargo who eat the Suns lunch.

pargo is another great player on that team. they have so many offensive weapons. earlier in the year dallas had a three point lead against them at the end of regulation. and peja hit a rainbow three to tie it right over diop. they won the game in ot. they just have so many offensive weapons.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Just Steve?

LOL

This team has one very large discernable flaw and that is every player on the floor is no better then average defensively and 3 of the 5 are outright poor. The team defense has actually rapidly declined. After all the killing of our defense previously who would have thought?

As much as I wanted to trade Marion he did tie us together defensively.

Not trading for a stellar perimeter defender is going to come back to haunt us this post season.