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Nash showing MVP form once again
By Jerry Brown, Tribune
December 14, 2006
Those familiar whispers are starting up again. It’s mid-December, just about the time the annual “Steve Nash for MVP” campaign picks up the much-needed momentum that allows it to move from far-fetched to fathomable. The Suns go back East for their first extended road trip, roll through the big media markets and put on an offensive show that leaves coaches, writers and talking heads with jaws agape.
And every coach stands outside a losing dressing room, wishing aloud for a Nash of his very own for Christmas.
“Everything they do is set up by one guy, Steve Nash,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s just amazing to watch. For our young guards, it’s probably not bad just to sit there and watch (film) of that game two or three times, just to see how he sets things up. His vision is amazing.”
But to win this thing again — to join Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice) and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to win three straight MVP honors — Nash would really have to do something extraordinary, right? He’d have to come up with something above and beyond his past two seasons, rising to an even higher level.
Don’t look now, but Nash is on his way.
While the Suns have reeled off 12 straight wins — going from three games under .500 to one of the best records in the league — Nash has affirmed his superstar status in every possible way. Phoenix again is the top-scoring team in the league — that would be six years in a row that a Nash-led team has owned that category — and has his fingerprints everywhere.
Statistically, he’s averaged 21 points and 12.3 assists during the streak. He’s shooting 54.3 percent from the field, 51.9 percent on 3-pointers and recorded 10 double-doubles. Playing 37 minutes a game — the Suns just played five games in seven nights on the road — Nash battled through a nagging sinus cold but never coughed up an opportunity.
“Everyone sees the Suns back among the top teams, and the media starts rolling and Steve starts to get credit for what he always does,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “With Amaré (Stoudemire) back inside and Boris (Diaw) playing well, Steve has more options and more opportunities for big games. But then, you still have to make the big plays.”
And for nearly a month — if the Suns beat Golden State tonight, they’ll have the NBA’s longest winning streak since New Jersey won 14 in a row last March — Nash has made the big plays necessary to keep Phoenix on a roll.
He started the streak 25 days ago with a game-winning, 27-foot bomb in the final seconds to beat the Warriors. In New Jersey, with a media throng touting his matchup with Jason Kidd, he recorded a career-high 42 points in a double-overtime thriller, hitting an off-balance shot with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to rescue his team. The next night, he beat Rivers and the Celtics over the head with the pick-and-roll down the stretch, using every option to keep the points coming.
And Wednesday in Miami, after the Suns wasted most of a 25-point lead and he himself contributed to the meltdown with careless turnovers, Nash took matters on his shoulders again and buried a 3-pointer to help preserve the win.
“He had that frustrated look. He was angry,” Diaw said, watching from the scorer’s table. “Then, boom. Over. Very cold-blooded.”
Other Suns are playing outstanding ball during the streak. Shawn Marion has had huge offensive games and shut down opposing scorers of all shapes and sizes. Stoudemire is regaining his pre-injury game and mojo and is now looking for the next level. Diaw’s numbers and value are back on track.
But Nash is showing the way. Getting it done on the court, then working to keep things in perspective afterward. After two years where reaching the playoffs was the goal and his team overachieved to within a step of the NBA finals, Nash is quick to point out that this year’s team will be measured by where it is in June.
“I guess (the streak) is an accomplishment, something to be proud of,” he said. “But this team is about building for the playoffs. If this makes us a better team, great, but if this is going to be our high for the season, it’s probably not the be-all, end-all.”
Neither is winning another MVP, if it came without a shot at the championship that has eluded him. But if Nash pulls off the former and makes it an MVP trifecta, chances are Phoenix will be situated for a strong run at the latter.
“He’s on a roll. If he’s the best player in the league, then let him keep winning the trophy,” Stoudemire said.
BONUS SHOT: The first round of All-Star voting was released Thursday. Nash ranks third among Western Conference guards (432,083), trailing Kobe Bryant of the Lakers (720,375) and Houston’s Tracy McGrady (668,130). Stoudemire (281,051) is a distant second to Yao Ming of Houston (836,392) among centers. Shawn Marion (130,710) is seventh among forwards that are led by Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett (453,536), San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (423,228) and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki (405,613).
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=80640
By Jerry Brown, Tribune
December 14, 2006
Those familiar whispers are starting up again. It’s mid-December, just about the time the annual “Steve Nash for MVP” campaign picks up the much-needed momentum that allows it to move from far-fetched to fathomable. The Suns go back East for their first extended road trip, roll through the big media markets and put on an offensive show that leaves coaches, writers and talking heads with jaws agape.
And every coach stands outside a losing dressing room, wishing aloud for a Nash of his very own for Christmas.
“Everything they do is set up by one guy, Steve Nash,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s just amazing to watch. For our young guards, it’s probably not bad just to sit there and watch (film) of that game two or three times, just to see how he sets things up. His vision is amazing.”
But to win this thing again — to join Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice) and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to win three straight MVP honors — Nash would really have to do something extraordinary, right? He’d have to come up with something above and beyond his past two seasons, rising to an even higher level.
Don’t look now, but Nash is on his way.
While the Suns have reeled off 12 straight wins — going from three games under .500 to one of the best records in the league — Nash has affirmed his superstar status in every possible way. Phoenix again is the top-scoring team in the league — that would be six years in a row that a Nash-led team has owned that category — and has his fingerprints everywhere.
Statistically, he’s averaged 21 points and 12.3 assists during the streak. He’s shooting 54.3 percent from the field, 51.9 percent on 3-pointers and recorded 10 double-doubles. Playing 37 minutes a game — the Suns just played five games in seven nights on the road — Nash battled through a nagging sinus cold but never coughed up an opportunity.
“Everyone sees the Suns back among the top teams, and the media starts rolling and Steve starts to get credit for what he always does,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “With Amaré (Stoudemire) back inside and Boris (Diaw) playing well, Steve has more options and more opportunities for big games. But then, you still have to make the big plays.”
And for nearly a month — if the Suns beat Golden State tonight, they’ll have the NBA’s longest winning streak since New Jersey won 14 in a row last March — Nash has made the big plays necessary to keep Phoenix on a roll.
He started the streak 25 days ago with a game-winning, 27-foot bomb in the final seconds to beat the Warriors. In New Jersey, with a media throng touting his matchup with Jason Kidd, he recorded a career-high 42 points in a double-overtime thriller, hitting an off-balance shot with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to rescue his team. The next night, he beat Rivers and the Celtics over the head with the pick-and-roll down the stretch, using every option to keep the points coming.
And Wednesday in Miami, after the Suns wasted most of a 25-point lead and he himself contributed to the meltdown with careless turnovers, Nash took matters on his shoulders again and buried a 3-pointer to help preserve the win.
“He had that frustrated look. He was angry,” Diaw said, watching from the scorer’s table. “Then, boom. Over. Very cold-blooded.”
Other Suns are playing outstanding ball during the streak. Shawn Marion has had huge offensive games and shut down opposing scorers of all shapes and sizes. Stoudemire is regaining his pre-injury game and mojo and is now looking for the next level. Diaw’s numbers and value are back on track.
But Nash is showing the way. Getting it done on the court, then working to keep things in perspective afterward. After two years where reaching the playoffs was the goal and his team overachieved to within a step of the NBA finals, Nash is quick to point out that this year’s team will be measured by where it is in June.
“I guess (the streak) is an accomplishment, something to be proud of,” he said. “But this team is about building for the playoffs. If this makes us a better team, great, but if this is going to be our high for the season, it’s probably not the be-all, end-all.”
Neither is winning another MVP, if it came without a shot at the championship that has eluded him. But if Nash pulls off the former and makes it an MVP trifecta, chances are Phoenix will be situated for a strong run at the latter.
“He’s on a roll. If he’s the best player in the league, then let him keep winning the trophy,” Stoudemire said.
BONUS SHOT: The first round of All-Star voting was released Thursday. Nash ranks third among Western Conference guards (432,083), trailing Kobe Bryant of the Lakers (720,375) and Houston’s Tracy McGrady (668,130). Stoudemire (281,051) is a distant second to Yao Ming of Houston (836,392) among centers. Shawn Marion (130,710) is seventh among forwards that are led by Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett (453,536), San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (423,228) and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki (405,613).
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=80640
